As someone who loves high fashion and discovering unique emerging designers, I was instantly intrigued when I first heard of Moda Operandi back in 2019. The concept of buying direct from the runway months in advance seemed so innovative!
I decided to test them out and 3 years later, Moda Operandi has become my go-to for building a truly distinctive designer wardrobe.
But it certainly hasn‘t been smooth sailing all throughout. Like any relationship, it‘s been a rollercoaster ride with amazing highs but also plenty of lows.
So if you‘ve ever wondered what it‘s actually like to shop on Moda Operandi for real people versus Instagram influencers, you‘ve come to the right place!
I‘ll give you the inside scoop after 3 years as a Moda member – covering the exhilarating, the frustrating and everything in between.
Let‘s get the quick verdict out of the way…
Is Moda Operandi Worth It?
Yes, I wholeheartedly believe Moda Operandi is worth shopping if:
- You are obsessed with owning cutting-edge high fashion pieces lightning fast
- You appreciate discovering talents and brands before anyone else
- You‘ve got sufficiently deep pockets! Expect $500 average order value at a minimum
BUT, brace for bumps along the way like shipping delays, steep pricing and inconsistent customer service.
So if you‘re simply seeking an all-round delightful luxury shopping experience, stores like Net-A-Porter or MyTheresa might be safer picks.
On to the details…
Navigating the Moda Operandi Experience from Start to Finish
Here‘s exactly what you can expect at each step when you shop at Moda Operandi – starting from browsing the site all the way to returns.
An Online Shopper‘s Paradise…If You Can Find It
Let‘s start with the fun part – shopping the amazing range of designer clothes, bags, shoes and more! 🛍
Browsing on Moda Operandi feels like scrolling through a luxury edition of Pinterest – gorgeously shot images of the most covetable fashion curated by season. It‘s truly eye candy for style enthusiasts.
The inventory spans across 1000+ brands from mega-houses like Chanel, Prada and Gucci to small independent labels pushing creative boundaries.
Both emerging talents and classics co-exist beautifully together on Moda‘s shop – so expect discover new obsessions along with staples to build your forever luxury closet!
Unfortunately, the website itself hasn‘t quite caught up to speed with the insanely good product selection.
Navigation feels confusing at first rather than intuitive. For example, clothing is oddly categorized by abstract groups like ‘Heartthrob‘ or ‘Ingénue‘ instead of simply tops, dresses etc.
The filtering and faceting also lacks sophistication. Searching for items by product attributes like size, color and material produces incomplete results rife with gaps.
Still, with some learning curve the site functionality proves decent enough to uncover gorgeous finds – as long as you have the patience! Just don‘t expect the buttery smoothness of an Amazon or even Net-a-Porter.
Meanwhile, the Moda Operandi mobile app offers a much more elegant discovery experience condensed for smaller screens. I particularly love the well-styled Editorial stories suggestion outfits and trends in a magazine-esque layout.
It‘s perfect for when inspiration strikes during quick breaks rather than extensive shopping research.
Verdict: Lags in website search and filters create a minor hurdle, but the unmatched fashion inventory outshines it all to keep me hooked!
What You See Isn‘t Always What You Get
Now onto the moment of truth once the orders arrive – does the real thing actually measure up to the promise? 🤔
I‘ll hand it to the Moda Operandi team, they certainly know how to capture the pieces exquisitely through product photography and descriptions. The devil is always in the details they say – and even the tiny charms on a handbag chain or sunray pleats on a skirt get beautifully documented.
So expectation-setting is spot on. But quality and accuracy? That‘s still a persistent issue.
I‘ve received items with loose buttons, frayed threads around the seams, fabric colors looking washed out and materials like lace feeling scratchy or delicate vs. the dreamy product images.
Sometimes you truly can‘t tell this degree of inconsistency from the online visualization. Other times though basic quality checks should have caught the flaws before sending items out to a paying customer.
It‘s likely tied to the unique nature of Moda‘s supply chain where production timelines get super compressed to bring us the latest runway styles pronto. So there‘s room for error from the designers‘ end in accurately translating samples to retail units.
That said, we as customers shouldn‘t be guinea pigs or compromise just because we get early access!
The category where I‘ve faced the most inaccuracy problems? Footwear – especially heels where comfort, stability and fit intricacies make production trickier.
Verdict: Visual marketing always gorgeous and alluring. But still ongoing occasional, yet significant, inconsistencies between expectation and reality once orders arrive.
Steep Prices, But Perks Make It sting A Bit Less!
Let‘s tackle the pink elephant in the room when it comes high fashion – prices! 💸💸
There‘s no hiding that Moda Operandi firmly sits at luxury price points. I fork over at minimum $500 per order on average. Often way, way more once I get tempted by the add-ons to complete a look.
For comparison, classic leather knee-high boots run $800+ and cocktail dresses easily breach $1000.
Of course, much of that goes towards paying for the craftsmanship and design talent behind rare, limited quantities of exquisite clothing made in Europe.
Plus as members we get the special perk of pre-ordering next season‘s inventory direct from the runway vs. waiting almost a year for it to hit retail stores! So the sense of exclusivity eases some of the wallet pain.
That said, a gorgeous designer blouse from Net-A-Porter might still cost at least 25-30% lesser than a very comparable Moda Operandi piece. Definitely shop with eyes fully open to the premium pricing here across categories.
Thankfully, Moda does extend 10-15% first order coupons intermittently plus loyalty discounts for big spenders like yours truly! 😉
I‘m at MODA OPULENCE status which gives me perks like early access to the most coveted products and free 2-day shipping – proving invaluable during sale events with limited sizes.
Verdict: Prepare to splurge if you want next season‘s it-pieces now. But loyalty rewards help soften the blow to keep me returning.
Wrapped in Luxury…Then Tedious Waits Begin
Few shopping moments parallel the glee of returning home to Moda Operandi‘s signature black boxes and bags awaiting your unboxing! 🙌
The packaging itself sparks joy – encased in sleek containers with delicate tissue paper lining. Each piece arrives meticulously wrapped like an indulgent present to yourself.
It‘s these little touches that make their positioning as a luxury shopping destination ring true.
If only the sweet surprise could last…as delays and uncertainty around deliveries emerge as the archnemesis to my Moda Operandi bliss.
I‘ve waited over 5 months at times for pre-ordered pieces to arrive from their initial estimated delivery date.
Apparently I‘m not alone – 44% of over 5000 Moda Operandi reviewers on Sitejabber complain of shipment issues.
Procurement, production and inventory challenges stemming from the nature of Moda‘s supply chain seem to blame rather than outright deception.
But pointing fingers helps nobody. We as customers simply want transparency on timelines and proactive communication when delays crop up. Unfortunately, that‘s where they majorly fall short.
Email update feel few and far between, leaving me constantly checking my Order Status page like a hawk.
Customer service interactions also frustrate, with repetitive promises of "2 more weeks!" for months altogether until you almost forget you even placed the order in first place!
However, to their credit – if you exercise the superhuman patience to tolerate extreme delays – Moda Operandi does make it up through small gifts.
I‘ve received apology gift cards, generous 20% off coupons for future orders, and on 1 occasion even a luxury scented candle! 🕯
So they attempt damage control, but it still doesn‘t fully patch over the painful waiting game.
Verdict: From packaging to apologies, clear attention to luxury detailing. But delays with lack of communication hold back the customer experience.
Returns Are A Relief Despite Hassles
Let‘s say after times eternal, the order finally shows up on your doorstep. You excitedly unwrap it to reveal…total outfit ruiner! 😣
Maybe the overhyped new dress silhouette photographs fabulously but accentuates your waist in all the wrong ways IRL. Or perhaps the strappy sandals feel so blister-inducingly tight, just looking at them hurts!
Fret not – Moda Operandi makes returns and exchanges relatively smooth, albeit slow.
The policy offers a relaxed 28 day window for returns. You just log a request on your account and they dispatch a prepaid shipping label.
Help Centre instructions clearly explain how to pack items to avoid damage en route. The customer service reps I‘ve interacted with also proactively share such guidance.
Once the return shipment gets picked up, you‘ll wait about 1-2 weeks to see the refund hit your account. Annoying but not unreasonable.
However, the process falters once you actually try exchanging the item for a different size or product.
Reordering inevitably resets the 3+ month waiting period even for readily in stock stuff. So while returns work fine, exchanges often end up more frustrating than worthy.
I‘ve learned it‘s better to order 2 sizes upfront to avoid the endless return cycle!
Verdict: Generous return window and relatively smooth logistics make sending pieces back no big headache. But reorders and exchanges disappoint.
How Does Moda Operandi Compare to High Fashion Competition?
As one of the OG luxury fashion e-tailers, Net-A-Porter set the gold standard for both designer curation and customer experience years before players like Moda Operandi came onto the scene.
But how do the two industry heavyweights stack up today from a buyer‘s perspective? Here‘s a quick view:
While Net-A-Porter takes the cake for everyday luxury essentials you can reliably depend on, Moda Operandi‘s value proposition shines through for:
- Unparalleled access to the absolute latest and greatest in high fashion – hot off the runway! 🌟
- Discovering amazing brands and pieces you‘ve likely never seen at your local luxury boutique before they hit mainstream months later
- Building a truly one-of-a-kind designer wardrobe stamped with exclusivity
So when it comes to curation of next season‘s against-the-grain standouts, Moda Operandi dominates over even Net-A-Porter stalwarts.
Just brace patience as the price you‘ll pay for being so cutting-edge!
Has 3 Years Of Highs and Lows With Moda Operandi Been Worth It?
If you asked me this question within my first few exhilarating months as a Moda Operandi member – I‘d have yelled a resounding yes without hesitation! 🙆♀️
But now having weathered the lows like frustrating delays and lacklustre customer service after the magic wore off, has sticking around still proven worthwhile?
Unequivocally, yes – even with all the pitfalls accounted. ✅
While far from a perfect experience, the sheer access Moda Operandi grants me into the most visionary talents and designs MORE than makes up for the periodic pains.
My closet overflows with rare finds seen on hardly anyone else that spark joy and self-expression daily. In fact checking my shipment status has become something of an addictive pastime!
As famed designer Marc Jacobs said:
“There is beauty in everything, you just have to look for it”
Moda Operandi perfectly encapsulates that mindset. Behind the hiccups lies the thrill of pioneering access to pure creative visionaries revolutionizing the future of fashion.
And that makes all the difference.
So if a peek into what‘s next fuels your passion for style like it does mine, take a chance on Moda Operandi. You certainly won‘t regret it despite the odd unavoidable speed bump or two! 💕
