It’s Net-A-Porter’s 20th Birthday – So Here Are 20 Of The Best Buys To Celebrate From £50

The luxury e-tailer changed the face of fashion as you know it.

Net-a-porter 20th Birthday

by Laura Antonia Jordan |
Updated on

Back in 2000, when former fashion editor Natalie Massenet launched Net-A-Porter from the kitchen of her Chelsea flat, critics dismissed it as doomed it to fail. After all, would people ever really buy fashion (and luxury fashion at that) without first trying it on? Well, the proof is in the pudding (or, to be precise, those satisfying ribbon-tied black boxes): they would, and they did – in their millions. Proving the naysayers not just wrong but seriously out of touch, what Massenet created wasn’t just a successful business but a bona fide fashion retail revolution.

And now, this week, Net-A-Porter celebrates its 20th anniversary. It’s come a long way from a kitchen in London (Massenet departed the company in 2015). Some stats to get your head around: today, the e-tailer stocks over 800 fashion brands and 200 beauty brands. There are, on average, 1220 new products uploaded each week. Those black boxes wing their way to over 170 countries worldwide. In the past two decades, Net-A-Porter has shifted enough shoes to stretch all the way from London to Milan three times over and so many Gucci GG belts that they could wrap around the whole of Manhattan (AKA, a lot).

‘For a company that has always been about shaping the future of fashion, turning 20 feels like a significant moment,’ says Alison Loehnis, President of Net-A-Porter and Mr Porter. ‘We take the greatest pride and satisfaction in serving a community of incredible women from all over the globe. Delivering excitement, joy and the very best fashion in the world to our customers’ doors is what drives and inspires us. We might have been around for two decades, but we know we’re only as good as the last beautiful package we send out’.

Net-A-Porter has succeeded where so many other dotcom ventures have failed by consistently remaining ahead of the curve in predicting how we will want to shop. It was back in 2009 that the brand launched the first shoppable iPhone app (today, more than 50% of all sales are made via a mobile or the app). In 2017, it was one of the first partners of WhatsApp for business, meaning the companies 100 personal shoppers can connect directly with customers.

Of course, all this wouldn’t really matter if the site didn’t stock pieces that we really, really want (as you no doubt know, it does – and it’s dangerous). Today, the world’s leading power brands – Gucci, Prada, Saint Laurent, the list goes on, and on – take their place on site alongside emerging names like Christopher John Rogers. Understanding that you’re as likely to need workout gear or a holiday refresh as you are a killer dress, Net-A-Porter also has its dedicated Net-A-Sporter and Jet-A-Porter edits. Best of all, last year, it launched Net Sustain, a platform which celebrates conscious, sustainable and ethical brands – now a non-negotiable factor for many shoppers.

The only downside? You do run the risk of losing hours browsing. Allow us to help, here’s our edit of 20 of the best pieces to shop on Net-A-Porter now.

SHOP: 20 Pieces From Net-a-Porter To Buy Now

Gallery

20 Things To Buy From NAP On Their 20th Anniversary

Self-Portrait, Belted shirred cotton-poplin midi dress, £3001 of 20

Self-Portrait, Belted shirred cotton-poplin midi dress, £300

Jacquemus, Les Mimosas beaded gold-tone earrings, £2152 of 20

Jacquemus, Les Mimosas beaded gold-tone earrings, £215

Proenza Schouler + Birkenstock, Arizona topstitched glossed-leather sandals, £3303 of 20

Proenza Schouler + Birkenstock, Arizona topstitched glossed-leather sandals, £330

Khaite, Maddy ribbed-knit sweater, £9754 of 20

Khaite, Maddy ribbed-knit sweater, £975

Gauge81, Florina asymmetric cotton-poplin shirt, £2305 of 20

Gauge81, Florina asymmetric cotton-poplin shirt, £230

Dodo Bar Or, Lena floral-print stretch-jersey turtleneck midi dress, £725.226 of 20

Dodo Bar Or, Lena floral-print stretch-jersey turtleneck midi dress, £725.22

Roxanne Assoulin, Gingham and Daisy set of two beaded bracelets, £1207 of 20

Roxanne Assoulin, Gingham and Daisy set of two beaded bracelets, £120

Faithfull The Brand, Hanna tiger-print linen tote, £113.338 of 20

Faithfull The Brand, Hanna tiger-print linen tote, £113.33

Rixo, Agyness cutout tiered floral-print fil coupu00e9 cotton maxi dress, £3059 of 20

Rixo, Agyness cutout tiered floral-print fil coupé cotton maxi dress, £305

By Far, Otto glossed-leather and linen flip flops, £24510 of 20

By Far, Otto glossed-leather and linen flip flops, £245

Horror Vacui, Alice tie-detailed gathered cotton-poplin blouse,  £269.9311 of 20

Horror Vacui, Alice tie-detailed gathered cotton-poplin blouse, £269.93

Ray-Ban, Wayfarer square-frame tortoiseshell acetate sunglasses, £14012 of 20

Ray-Ban, Wayfarer square-frame tortoiseshell acetate sunglasses, £140

Ganni, Leopard-print underwired bikini top, £7513 of 20

Ganni, Leopard-print underwired bikini top, £75

Ganni, Leopard-print bikini briefs, £5014 of 20

Ganni, Leopard-print bikini briefs, £50

Paco Rabanne + Peter Saville, knotted printed tie-dye cotton-jersey T-shirt, £17015 of 20

Paco Rabanne + Peter Saville, knotted printed tie-dye cotton-jersey T-shirt, £170

Lug Von Siga, Serena ruffle-trimmed pleated cotton-poplin midi dress, £50516 of 20

Lug Von Siga, Serena ruffle-trimmed pleated cotton-poplin midi dress, £505

Isabel Marant, Radja whipstitched leather-trimmed raffia bucket bag, £51017 of 20

Isabel Marant, Radja whipstitched leather-trimmed raffia bucket bag, £510

LouLou Studio, Bermuda pleated linen shorts, £20018 of 20

LouLou Studio, Bermuda pleated linen shorts, £200

Fendi, Reversible printed stretch-chenille swimsuit, £45019 of 20

Fendi, Reversible printed stretch-chenille swimsuit, £450

Zimmermann, Carnaby belted cropped floral-print linen flared pants, £34020 of 20

Zimmermann, Carnaby belted cropped floral-print linen flared pants, £340

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