italist is an online marketplace for designer fashion that ships items directly from partner boutiques in Italy. The site is organized into Women, Men, Kids and Home areas plus a Sale section, and this guide reviews four featured pieces priced from $615 to $2,828. It also covers sizing, offers and return terms.
Key Takeaways
- Each item shows a struck through retail price, italist’s price and a discount percentage.
- Duties and taxes are calculated at checkout and are not included in item prices.
- Product pages list 14 day returns, while refunds exclude shipping costs, customs duties and processing fees.
- Delivery is estimated at 7 to 14 business days, with tracking sent by email.
What italist Is and How Shopping There Works
italist is an online marketplace for designer fashion from Italy, and its shipping policy says all items “ship directly from our luxury partner boutiques in Italy.” That means orders do not come from an italist warehouse. Each piece is sent from a boutique, and italist sends tracking information by email once an order ships. The homepage sums up the pitch in its own words: “Brands you know. Prices you don’t.” It also states that its items are “Always brand new & authentic,” which is italist’s own claim.
The boutique network is a core part of the model. A 2021 MR Magazine article said italist’s buyers curate from 250 luxury multi brand stores in Italy, and the homepage says it also adds new boutiques to the site regularly. Treat the 250 figure as a 2021 number from that article, since the site does not give a current count.
Women and Men: What the Menus Include
Women and Men are italist’s two largest areas. A 2021 MR Magazine article gave the merchandise mix as 50% womenswear, 40% menswear and 10% kidswear, so treat those shares as a 2021 snapshot. Both areas are built the same way, which makes it easy to move between them. The homepage also groups designers into a “Top” list and a “Trending” list, which gives a quick starting point if you do not have a brand in mind.
- Shared menu: Both Women and Men list New, Clothing, Shoes, Bags, Accessories, Designers and Shop By.
- Top brands: The homepage lists Brunello Cucinelli, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Gucci.
- Trending brands: The homepage lists Valentino, Chloé, Saint Laurent and Bottega Veneta.
The sources do not include size charts, so check the size information on each product page before you order.
Kids: Baby and Ages 2 to 16
italist’s Kids area is split by age. Baby Girls and Baby Boys cover ages 0 to 36 months, and Girls and Boys cover ages 2 to 16 years. The sources reviewed here say little more about this area, so its brand lineup, item details and sizing guidance are Information could not be verified. The 2021 MR Magazine article put kidswear at about 10% of the mix, a small share compared with womenswear and menswear.
Home: Décor, Tableware and Linens
italist is not only a fashion site. Its Home area lists four groups: Home Décor, Personal Accessories, Tableware, and Textiles & Linens. This gives shoppers a place to look for items for the home as well as for their wardrobe. The sources reviewed here do not name any brands or products in Home, so check the Home pages on the site for what is available.
The Sale Section and How Prices Are Shown
italist has a separate Sale section, and its homepage banner reads “Up to 60% off retail.” The site shows prices in a consistent way: each item lists a struck through retail price, italist’s price and a discount percentage. That lets a shopper see the gap on the page without leaving it.
One example on the homepage is a Dolce & Gabbana sweater listed at $420 against a struck through $2,102, marked 79%. Other items on the same page showed discounts from about 4% to 79%. These listings are a snapshot and can change, so check the product page for the current price and percentage before you order.
The sources give different figures for average savings, so this guide does not quote one. Read the discount on each item as shown, and treat the retail price as italist’s own reference point.
Featured Pieces: Prada, Ferragamo, Gucci and Saint Laurent
This section looks at four pieces from italist’s Women and Men areas: the Prada Midi Saffiano Leather Shoulder Bag, the Ferragamo Gancini Calfskin Leather Shoulder Bag, the Gucci Cotton Bermuda Shorts and the Saint Laurent Harley Belt. Prices run from $615 to $2,828, with discounts from 4% to 50% against the retail price shown on each page. All four list express shipping in the price, with duties and taxes calculated at checkout. Check each product page for current prices, sizes and availability before you order.
Prada Midi Saffiano Leather Shoulder Bag
This is a small black Prada shoulder bag in Saffiano leather, sold in one size. It suits shoppers who want a compact designer bag to carry by hand or over the shoulder. It is a Women’s bag from italist’s Top brand list, shipped from Italy with duties and taxes calculated at checkout.
- Size: W 20 x H 11.5 x D 8 cm, one size.
- Material and color: Saffiano leather in Black.
- Carry: Single top handle, plus a shoulder carry with an adjustable, detachable strap.
- Closure: Snap button.
- Buying terms on the page: Free express shipping, 14 day returns and free exchanges, with italist’s “Brand New & Authentic” label and an authenticity guarantee section.
Price: $2,828 USD against a struck through retail price of $2,964, which is 4% off. Express shipping is included, and duties and taxes are calculated at checkout and are not in the price.
Ferragamo Gancini Calfskin Leather Shoulder Bag
This is a mini shoulder bag in cognac calfskin leather with a turn lock closure, sold in one size. It suits shoppers who want a small designer bag in a warm brown tone. It is one of the lower priced bags from the pieces featured on italist’s homepage.
- Size: Mini, width 20 cm, height 11.5 cm, depth 5.5 cm, one size.
- Material and color: Calfskin leather in Cognac.
- Carry and closure: Shoulder carry with an adjustable strap, and a turn lock closure.
- Buying terms on the page: Free express shipping, 14 day returns and free exchanges, with italist’s “Brand New & Authentic” label and an authenticity guarantee section.
- Duties and taxes: Not included in the price and calculated at checkout.
Price: $749 USD against a struck through retail price of $1,099, which is 31% off. Express shipping is included in the price.
Gucci Cotton Bermuda Shorts
These are tailored Bermuda shorts in 100% cotton from Gucci, listed under italist’s Women’s clothing. They suit shoppers who want a single designer piece with a structured cut. The page suggests styling them in a monochrome palette.
- Fabric and color: 100% cotton in Black.
- Design: Contrasting Gucci embroidery on the upper part, belt loops at the waist and pressed front creases.
- Construction: Zip fastening with a concealed hook closure, and side slash pockets.
- Sizes: IT38 | S and IT40 | M. Check the size guide on the page before ordering.
- Buying terms on the page: Free express shipping, 14 day returns and free exchanges, with duties and taxes calculated at checkout.
Price: $801 USD against a struck through retail price of $1,635, which is 50% off. Express shipping is included in the price.
Saint Laurent Harley Belt
This is a men’s belt from Saint Laurent, built around a caramel suede body and antiqued goldtone hardware. It suits shoppers who want a single accessory that works with both tailored and casual outfits. The frame buckle carries the YSL monogram charm, and the belt is hand finished in Italy.
- Size: Sizes 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105 and 110. Check the size guide on the page before ordering.
- Material: Exterior 100% calf with antiqued golden metal finishing. The description calls the body suede, so the page uses both words.
- Details: Frame buckle with the YSL monogram charm, and a 3 cm width per the description.
- Finish: Hand finished in Italy.
- Buying terms on the page: Free express shipping, 14 day returns and free exchanges, with duties and taxes calculated at checkout.
Price: $615 USD against a struck through retail price of $984, which is 37% off. Express shipping is included in the price.
Before You Order: Duties, Shipping and Returns
Duties and shipping
- Duties and taxes: italist says “Duties & taxes calculated at checkout, no extra fees on delivery.” They are not included in the item price, but you see them before you pay.
- Shipping cost: Product pages show express shipping included in the price.
- Delivery time: The shipping policy estimates 7 to 14 business days, and italist emails tracking information once an order ships.
Returns and refunds
- Return window and exchanges: Product pages list 14 day returns and free exchanges. The refund policy page does not state who pays return shipping, so check the Returns & Refunds help page before you order.
- Refund method: Refunds go to the original payment method or to store credit.
- Refund timing: Allow 7 to 10 business days after UPS tracking confirms the return arrived.
- What is excluded: The refund does not include shipping costs, customs duties, processing fees or courier charges, and customs duties are nonrefundable through italist.
Current Offer
italist’s homepage offers 5% off a first order when you subscribe, and a banner reads “Up to 60% off retail.” The retail price and discount are shown on each item, so the savings differ from one piece to the next. Check the site for the terms that apply at checkout.
Summary
This guide covered italist’s four shopping areas: Women, Men, Kids (baby 0 to 36 months and ages 2 to 16) and Home, plus a separate Sale section. It featured four pieces, the Prada Midi Saffiano Leather Shoulder Bag at $2,828, the Ferragamo Gancini Calfskin Leather Shoulder Bag at $749, the Gucci Cotton Bermuda Shorts at $801 and the Saint Laurent Harley Belt at $615. It also covered the 5% first order offer for subscribers.
Two features stand out. Every item shows a struck through retail price next to italist’s price, such as the Gucci shorts at 50% off and the Prada bag at 4% off. Orders also ship directly from partner boutiques in Italy, with express shipping included in the price. The homepage lists Brunello Cucinelli, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Gucci as Top brands, which gives a starting point for browsing.
Two checks can prevent surprises. Duties and taxes are not in the item price, so look at the total at checkout before paying. Refunds also exclude shipping costs, customs duties, processing fees and courier charges, and customs duties are nonrefundable through italist, so read the return terms before ordering a higher priced piece.
