Net-A-Porter launched in 2000 and, as the ultimate destination for luxury online shopping, the website quickly became a hit-maker, a vital link in the chain to a dress/a belt/a bag/a coat earning cult status. So what have been its best-sellers over the past 20 years?
2004’s is sure to ring a few bells. It was Chloé’s banana-print top, an item of clothing that was actually inspired by a vintage design, truffled out by stylist and queen of second-hand Bay Garnett, that appeared on Kate Moss in a 2003 edition of Vogue.
Jump one year ahead and it won’t surprise many red carpet watchers to know that Roland Mouret’s Galaxy dress, the sveltest of svelte dresses worn by Naomi Watts, Halle Berry and Keira Knightley, topped the best-sellers chart and ushered in a new era of ‘power’ wardrobing.
If, like me, you were obsessed with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen in your adolescence, then you’ll probably recall their collection of Alexander McQueen scarves. The brand’s skull-patterned style was 2008’s best-seller and, 12 years later, is still going strong.
And what about It bags? 2006 belonged to Chloé’s Paddington - the rectangular leather bag with a chunky lock - that was a favourite of Kate Bosworth’s, Halle Berry’s and Mischa Barton’s. 2009’s was Proenza Schouler’s PS1 Satchel, 2010's was Alexander Wang’s Rocco Tote and 2014's was (the ubiquitous) Mansur Gavriel Bucket.
Last year’s biggest hit was a pair of barely-there and still available sandals from The Row, where skinny straps of leather wrap gracefully around the foot, and this year’s? Bottega Veneta’s Pouch, the pillow-like clutch bag that every influencer seems to own in, oh, at least three colours.
Take a trip down memory with the below gallery, where we pick what to buy now if you bought these best-sellers from the last 20 years. Happy shopping!
SHOP: What To Buy Now If You Bought These Hits Over The Years
1 of 262000: Luella's ‘Daddy's I Want A Pony’ T-shirt
In its inaugural year, Net-A-Porter's best-seller was Luella Bartley's tongue-in-cheek 'Daddy, I Want A Pony' T-shirt. Today's slogan tees, in the vein of Dior's 'We Should All Be Feminists' style, come with in-built empowerment.
2 of 26Ninety Percent, International Women's Day Printed Organic Cotton-Jersey T-shirt, £50
3 of 262004's Chloé's Cropped Banana-Print T-shirt
Styled on oh-so-willowy Daria Werbowy for Chloé's's SS03 catwalk and campaign, the banana-print tee was one of Phoebe Philo's fruitiest designs for the French house.
4 of 26Gucci, Fringed Printed Cotton-Jersey Top, £620
5 of 262005: Roland Mouret's Galaxy Wool-Felt Dress
Worn by Hollywood's great and good, including Halle Berry, Keira Knightley, Naomi Watts, Rachel Weisz and Cameron Diaz, the Galaxy dress made serious sculpting a power dress essential in 2004.
6 of 26Roland Mouret, Vernon Draped Wool-Crepe Dress, £1,395
7 of 262008: Alexander McQueen's Chiffon Skull Scarf
Alexander McQueen's skull-print scarf, pictured here on Ashley Olsen, was the leather jacket's ultimate accompaniment in 2008.
8 of 26Alexander McQueen, Printed Silk-Chiffon Scarf, £165
9 of 262009: Proenza Schouler's PS1 Satchel
Anyone who's anyone has carried Proenza Schouler's PS1 Satchel, including Hollywood royalty (Sally Fields) and poster-girls of the early Noughties (Leighton Meester). The satchel is still a strong-seller, 11 years after it topped the charts in 2009.
10 of 26Proenza Schouler + Harmony Korine, PS1 Micro Printed Leather Shoulder Bag, £1,020
11 of 262011: YSL's Arty Ring
YSL's chunky gold ring, with a brilliantly-coloured stone that swelled just by the knuckle, was the ultimate piece of eye candy circa 2011.
12 of 26Alighieri, The Infernal Stone Gold-Plated Ring, £210
13 of 262012: Acne Studios's Pistol Leather Ankle Boots
The Cuban-heeled cowboy boot might have been de rigueur a few years back, proving that Acne Studios's cult Pistol Boot was way ahead of the curve in 2012.
14 of 26Isabel Marant, Dicker Suede Ankle Boots, £380
15 of 262013: Givenchy's Black Bambi Neoprene Sweatshirt
Givenchy's Bambi-print sweatshirt was a hit in 2013. The cool-girl way to wear it? According to Lily Collins and Anna Della Russo, with no bottoms.
16 of 26Givenchy, Printed Cotton-Jersey Hoodie, £434
17 of 262014: Mansur Gavriel's Leather Bucket Bag
Mansur Gavriel's sleek leather bucket might have topped the charts in 2014, but it's still a hit today, and counts Issa Rae's character on Insecure as a mega fan.
18 of 26S.JOON, Milk Pail Croc-Effect Bag, £495
19 of 262017: Castañer's Carina 80 Canvas Wedge Espadrilles
Sisters-in-law Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton both have Castañer's wedge-heeled espadrilles in their smart-casual shoe wardrobes. At £90, they're one of Net-A-Porter's most affordable chart-toppers.
20 of 26Castañer, Chiara 80 Canvas Wedge Espadrilles, £90
21 of 262018: Gucci's Skinny Leather GG Belt
Gucci's belt, with its interlocking double Gs, became an Instagram favourite in 2018. Kendall Jenner, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Chrissy Teigen rarely took theirs off.
22 of 26Gucci, Leather Belt, £320
23 of 262019: The Row's Bare Leather Sandals
The barely-there sandal spread its wings in 2019 - and the ultimate version has to be The Row's micro-heeled, spaghetti-strapped style that perfectly frames the foot.
24 of 26The Row, Bare Leather Sandals, £650
25 of 262020: Bottega Veneta's Pouch Large Gathered Leather Clutch
Bottega Veneta has become the cultest cult brand since the creative directorship passed to Daniel Lee - and its puffed leather Pouch is Instagram's number one piece of catnip.
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