The closest alternatives to Saks Fifth Avenue are Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Mytheresa, Net-a-Porter, Printemps and SSENSE. For authentic Italian designer pieces at reduced prices, Urbalenti is the option to add. Each store fits a different need: service, assortment, in-store experience or price. This guide compares them on the points that decide a purchase.

Key Takeaways

• Nordstrom leads on service. Neiman Marcus leads on evening wear. Saks leads on assortment breadth.
• Mytheresa, Net-a-Porter and SSENSE are the main online-first options for runway-level designer fashion.
• Saks and Neiman Marcus now share a parent company, so they are less independent of each other than they look.
• Urbalenti sells authentic designer fashion shipped from Italy, with up to 60% off retail, free worldwide shipping and U.S. import duties included.
• Check authenticity guarantees, return terms and duties before you buy, whichever store you choose.

Table of Contents

• Why shoppers look beyond Saks
• Saks alternatives at a glance
• Neiman Marcus
• Nordstrom
• Bloomingdale’s
• Mytheresa
• Net-a-Porter
• SSENSE
• Printemps New York
• Saks Off 5th
• Saks on Amazon
• Urbalenti
• How to choose: five criteria
• Which store fits which shopper
• Our perspective
• Shop authentic designer fashion from Italy
• FAQ
• Sources

Why shoppers look beyond Saks

Saks is a high-end retailer known for designer apparel, fine jewelry and contemporary fashion. Reviewers describe it as a store for runway trends and investment pieces. Its strengths are real: a strong menswear offer, quiet-luxury labels such as The Row and Khaite, and a large home category.

Shoppers still look elsewhere. The usual reasons:

• Price. Full-price designer fashion costs more than the same item from a discount-focused seller.
• Brand availability. Shoppers on forums report that favorite labels have dropped out of the Saks range over time.
• Service style. Some prefer a store with a different return or styling model.
• Delivery. International buyers compare duties, taxes and shipping speed.
• Ownership. Saks, Saks Off 5th, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman sit under one corporate umbrella, Saks Global, after the Neiman Marcus Group acquisition completed in December 2024. Choosing Neiman Marcus as an alternative therefore means choosing a sister company.

Saks alternatives at a glance

Neiman Marcus

Neiman Marcus is the most direct substitute for Saks. Market analysis puts it ahead for evening-wear relationships, meaning shoppers who build a long-term connection with an associate for gowns and occasion pieces.

Choose it if you want a top-tier luxury floor and in-person appointments. Remember that it and Saks now belong to the same group, so brand selection and promotions may overlap.

Nordstrom

Nordstrom positions itself as approachable luxury. It mixes high-end designer labels with contemporary fashion and offers service perks such as free alterations and a flexible return policy.

It also stands apart on price policy. One 2026 comparison reports that Nordstrom keeps a formal price-match policy for current-season merchandise that Saks and Neiman Marcus do not match. Confirm the current terms on the store’s own policy page before you rely on it.

Choose it if returns and service matter more to you than a couture-heavy range.

Bloomingdale’s

Bloomingdale’s covers designer, contemporary and everyday luxury in one store. It suits shoppers who want a wide mix of mid-to-high designer labels, beauty and home in a single order. It is a step below Saks and Neiman Marcus on top-tier luxury labels, but often easier to browse.

Mytheresa

Mytheresa is a German e-tailer. It is a strong online alternative for curated, high-end designer fashion. Its CEO has argued that profitable luxury growth comes from focusing on top-spending customers and service quality rather than price competition. The same report notes that its deal to acquire Yoox-Net-a-Porter was slated to close in 2025, pending regulatory approval.

Choose it if you want a tightly edited assortment and full-price service.

Net-a-Porter

Net-a-Porter is a first-party retailer founded in 2000. It owns its stock, which supports authenticity for designer goods. One independent 2026 review also reports mixed feedback on return processing, so read the current return terms before ordering.

Choose it if editorial styling and a wide women’s designer range are your priorities.

SSENSE

SSENSE leans toward contemporary, streetwear-adjacent and avant-garde labels alongside established houses. It suits younger shoppers and collectors of newer designers more than shoppers who want classic department store luxury.

Printemps New York

Printemps is a French retailer that has entered the U.S. market. Vogue reports that it focuses on sensory in-store experiences and mixes famous brands with lesser-known labels. It is a destination store, not a general replacement for online shopping. Choose it if you are in New York and want to browse in person.

Saks Off 5th

Saks Off 5th is a sister brand, not a separate competitor. Saks opened the first Off 5th clearance store in 1990, and it has since become an off-price chain of its own. Both brands now sit within Saks Global. The assortment is built for lower prices, so expect different stock from the main Saks floor.

Saks on Amazon

In April 2025, Saks launched a storefront on Amazon with designer brands. It listed a Balmain cardigan with free one-day shipping for Prime members. This is a delivery option for Saks stock, not a different store.

Urbalenti

Urbalenti is an independent online destination for authentic designer and lifestyle fashion, curated in New York and shipped from Italy. The model is direct: we source from Italian boutiques, which is how we offer pieces at reduced prices.

What we offer:

• Apparel, shoes, bags, jewelry and accessories for men and women.
• Pieces verified new with tags.
• Up to 60% off retail.
• Free worldwide shipping.
• No hidden import duties on U.S. orders. U.S. import duties and taxes are included, as is EU VAT.
• Personalized, VIP-level customer support.

Brands in the current catalog include Gucci, Prada, Moncler, Dolce & Gabbana and Balenciaga. Stock changes with each season, so check the collection pages for what is available now.

Choose Urbalenti if price, authenticity and a clear total cost at checkout matter most. It is a curated selection, not a full department store with a home floor or in-store appointments.

How to choose: five criteria

1. Authenticity

Authorized retailers carry structural guarantees, but the risk is not zero. CNN reported on a shopper who spent $2,600 on a designer bag from a trusted store, and noted that luxury platforms are strengthening inspections to catch return fraud and counterfeits. Ask any store where its stock comes from and what condition it is in. Our guides on how to verify authentic designer clothing and how to buy authentic luxury online list the checks.

2. Price

Full-price retailers sell at retail. Off-price chains and direct-sourcing stores sell below it. Compare the same item across stores, and include shipping, duties and tax in the total. Nordstrom’s price match applies only to current-season merchandise.

3. Delivery and duties

This matters most for international buyers. Ask three questions: Is shipping free? Who pays import duties? Is VAT or sales tax shown at checkout? A low sticker price can grow after customs. Our stated policy is free worldwide shipping, with U.S. duties and taxes included.

4. Returns

U.S. e-commerce return rates stabilized at 17% between 2021 and 2022, and many retailers responded by adding fees for mail-in returns. Industry experts also note that “free” returns carried hidden costs. Read the return window, the fee and the condition rules before you pay.

5. Service

Business of Fashion observes that surviving luxury e-commerce players offer more than product selection, such as dedicated styling and operational excellence. Look for named support, fast replies and clear policies.

Which store fits which shopper

Men’s shoppers who like understated labels can also read our guide to quiet luxury brands for professionals and our overview of what quiet luxury is. Add a premium wool fedora to finish a tailored look.

For fragrance, which many designer shoppers buy in the same order, see this comparison of designer versus niche fragrance.

Our perspective

Most Saks alternatives compete on the same terms: a large floor, full-price stock and a strong brand name. We built Urbalenti on a different premise.

Authentic designer fashion does not need a department store markup. We source directly from Italian boutiques, curate in New York and ship from Italy. Pieces are verified new with tags. Prices run up to 60% below retail.

Cost clarity is part of the product. Free worldwide shipping, U.S. import duties and taxes included, and EU VAT included mean the price at checkout is the price you pay.

Service matters as much as price. Shoppers who spend on luxury expect a real person to answer questions about sizing, delivery and authenticity. That is how we run support.

Our view: compare stores on authenticity, total cost and service. On those three points, a direct-from-Italy model is a strong choice.

Editorial Team

Shop authentic designer fashion from Italy

Urbalenti carries designer apparel, shoes, bags and accessories for men and women, shipped from Italy with free worldwide shipping. Prices are up to 60% below retail, and U.S. orders carry no hidden import duties.

Start with the designer fashion from Italy collection. Browse designer bags, designer shoes or women’s. For a safety checklist first, read how to shop designer fashion online safely.

FAQ

Are Saks Off 5th and Saks Fifth Avenue the same company?

Yes. Saks opened Off 5th as a clearance store in 1990, and it grew into an off-price chain. Both brands now belong to Saks Global, alongside Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. The Off 5th assortment is different from the main Saks floor.

What are the best stores like Saks?

Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s are the closest department stores. Mytheresa, Net-a-Porter and SSENSE are the main online options. For authentic Italian designer pieces at reduced prices, Urbalenti is a direct alternative.

Who are Saks’s main competitors?

In the U.S., Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s compete most directly. Online, Mytheresa and Net-a-Porter compete for the same designer shoppers. Neiman Marcus is now under the same corporate group as Saks.

How do I know a designer item is authentic?

Buy from a seller that states where its stock comes from and whether items are new with tags. Check the return terms and the support options. Our guide to how to verify authentic designer clothing covers labels, stitching and packaging.

Do I pay import duties on international designer orders?

It depends on the seller. Some charge duties and taxes on delivery. Urbalenti includes U.S. import duties and taxes in the order price, and EU VAT is included. Check the checkout total before paying at any store.

Sources

• Can Mytheresa Keep Its Place at the Top of Luxury? | Business of Fashion
• How Printemps won over New York | Vogue
• Nordstrom vs. Saks: Which brand is better?
• Nordstrom vs Neiman Marcus vs Saks Fifth Avenue for Luxury Shopping
• She spent $2,600 on a designer bag from a trusted store | CNN
• Net-a-Porter Review 2026
• Fashion’s New Playbook for Online Returns | Business of Fashion
• Luxury E-Commerce: Who’s Surviving and Why | Business of Fashion
• Can Amazon finally crack luxury with Saks? | Vogue
• Saks Fifth Avenue | Wikipedia
• The Saks-Neiman Marcus Merger | University of Miami Law Review

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Editorial Note: Product availability, pricing, and shipping conditions may change. All products featured by URBALENTI™ are 100% authentic and original. Please refer to the applicable product page and store policies for current details.