Luxury’s Quiet Markdown Moment

Why Gucci, Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik and Valentino are suddenly at much larger discounts and how to seize the opportunity.

From “Never on Sale” to Routinely 30 to 50% Off (or More!)

For years, the most coveted labels barely budged on price. Luxe Brand Deals’ own brand dossiers spell this out. And for these brands the discounts have skewed toward the lower end of the discount ranges shown here and have been focused on seasonal styles.

Brand	Typical Discount
Christian Louboutin	< 25%
Gucci	25 – 50%
Manolo Blahnik	25 – 50%
Valentino	25 – 50%

Yet during the latest sale cycles, the typical discounts are being shattered. Manolo Blahnik typically moves its discount from 40% to 50% during its end-of-year and mid-year sales. This season it has pushed the discount to 60%! There are more Gucci items discounted 30% or more at Gilt and Rue La La than what we typically see. Same for Christian Louboutin. Larger discounts and more handbags and shoes available. Luxury markdowns are proliferating.

Real-time Proof: Deals Now Live

The nuance is that while the discounts on Gucci, Manolo Blahnik and Valentino could hit 50% in the past, it typically excluded classics like the ones currently available below:

• Gucci Marmont and Ophidia handbags at 34-48% off (Gilt.com)

• Louboutin Kate heels at 40% off (RueLaLa.com)

• Manolo Blahnik BB or Hangisi heels at 40-50% off (ManoloBlahnik.com and Gilt.com)

• Valentino Rockstud heels at 40% off (Gilt.com)

Across all four labels, both the depth of discount (-50 % or more) and the breadth of selection (dozens of SKUs per drop) dwarf what shoppers could find even two seasons ago.

 Why the Markdown Flood Is Happening

Consumer appetite for top-tier luxury cooled sharply in early 2025: YouGov BrandIndex shows consideration for eight marquee houses—including Gucci and Louboutin—falling nearly 25% between January and April. Slower sell-through means heavier inventory on retailers’ books, forcing deeper promotions to convert hesitant buyers.

Outlook for Finding Luxe Brand Deals

With traffic softening and brands guarding margin by trimming future buys, retailers are using price—not volume—to clean the stockroom. Other than Chanel and Louis Vuitton, it’s a signal that most exclusive fashion houses are not immune to macro-pressure—an insight worth watching as the economy remains influx. Retailers will be watching The Fed closely for clues to the direction of the economy and any interest rate relief.

The upshot is that retailers will likely be pulsing attractive discounts through at least Holiday 2025. For fashion enthusiasts, this is a generational chance to acquire evergreen luxury pieces at democratic prices. Savvy shoppers will be rewarded.

Bottom Line

Keep your notifications on. The red-soled shoes and interlocking-G totes that once never budged are now available at substantial discounts relatively regularly. Shop deliberately, but don’t hesitate—these deep cuts prove that luxury’s “never on sale” era is changing to the benefit of shoppers.

Happy Shopping!