One shopping genre that's been slow to hit the Internet is high-end, designer clothing. This is due to several reasons--designers want to maintain the exclusivity of their brands and they also worry about knockoffs and counterfeiting, which the Internet disables and enables, respectively. The pioneering website in the luxury fashion world, of course, is Net-a-Porter, which stocks an excellent mix of high-end and contemporary clothes and accessories, like Chloe, Miu Miu, Marc by Marc Jacobs, and Paul & Joe. And while Barneys, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf's, and Saks give the site a run for its money in terms of accessories, no site matches Net-a-Porter's fashion assortment. But two established websites are trying to take a piece of the high-end pie with new designer additions. And here's where things get interesting.
eLUXURY, which is owned by fashion conglomerate LVMH, has long carried Louis Vuitton handbags and fashion from Marc Jacobs and Gaultier, as well as contemporary lines like Citizens of Humanity and Ella Moss, but they're now stepping up their game considerably. Case in point? You can now find up-and-coming and critically hailed lines from Doo.Ri and Nina Ricci, plus Thakoon, Zac Posen, and Peter Som. Of course, dropping $1,000 online on a handbag is a bit different than doing the same on a dress (like, say, this awesome Doo.Ri bubble dress), so when in doubt, check the return policy before placing an order. 
The other site hopping on the high-end bandwagon is one of my personal favorites, shopbop.com. Their new Designer Boutique isn't fully shoppable yet, but you can click through the "look book" for a taste of what's to come: Chris Benz, Jenni Kayne, Derek Lam, and other hot labels on every cutting-edge fashionista's wish list (shoes, handbags, jewelry, and lingerie are in the works as well). There's no ETA on the Designer Boutique, but, rest assured, it should be up and running in time for your fall fashion shopping spree; you can also sign up to be notified when it launches. (Or you can just keep checking back here, because I will definitely be covering it.)So, high-end online shopping might not be the same experience as, say, a trip to Jeffrey, but if you're stuck at work (or in the middle of nowhere, fashion-wise) and jonesing for a new frock, it might just be your best bet.
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