A Kate Spade boutique. Read more to find out about it's virtual counterpart! Wikipedia Commons/Paul Keleher.

On a recent episode of Gossip Girl, Lily Van der Woodsen spends her time shopping online on the designer boutique website Gilt Groupe while under house arrest. No matter how ridiculous her situation (and these days the entire show) may be, it reflects the latest trend in online shopping, the members only boutique.  For many fashionistas, the days of going into Bloomies, Bendels or Saks and walking out with bags of designer items are coming to a close.  Over the past few years, the business of members-only online designer boutiques has expanded into a niche market targeted at the customer base of exclusive department stores.  Some of the most successful of these companies include HauteLook, Gilt, and Rue La La.

On its website, Rue La La describes itself as “an exclusive, invitation-only online destination where Members discover premier-brand, private sale Boutiques, each open for just a brief window of time”.  On Rue La La, boutiques are typically open for around 48 hours.  These boutiques carry in-season items from designer collections for heavily discounted prices.  Rue La La features a diverse array of boutiques, ranging from affordable designers like Michael Kors and BGBG Maxazria to high-end luxury brands like Prada, Versace and Chanel.  Like high-end department stores, online boutique destinations have something for everyone.  However, their virtual addresses make them more accessible and convenient, and far less expensive.

The fact that these websites are invitation only solves one of the biggest problems that bargain shopping entails. In the past, shoppers have had to compromise exclusivity for discounts. Discount stores like Daffy’s and Loehmann’s are famous for their bargain prices, but with their fluorescent lighting and plastic shopping bags these stores repel many shoppers looking for a luxurious shopping experience. Unlike discount stores, the sales that are featured on botique shopping websites are private.  Members are the only people who can access the boutiques and are the people who get to choose who else can join.  Like Rue La La many online shopping companies are invitation only, a feature that creates a sense of exclusivity among shoppers.

So instead of buying that beautiful Marc Jacobs wallet at full price during a shopping trip to Nordstrom ask around and see if any of your friends are members of these shopping websites. If they are, they will gladly send you an invitation as most companies offer $10 in credit for getting new members to join!