Here’s the plain version. A private sale is a retailer’s early or invitation-only markdown, offered to its best or most engaged customers before the public sees it. Rick Owens itself doesn’t appear to run one for boots. Any access you get comes from the stores that sell the brand. Below I’ll explain who offers private sales, what it takes to get in, and how to improve your chances without spending thousands.
Private sale versus public sale
A public sale opens to everyone at the same moment. A private sale opens to a smaller group first, usually through an email, an app alert or an invitation.The rickowen.us may be the same, or slightly better. The real advantage is timing. You see the stock before it’s picked over, which matters for a boot in a popular size.And Rick Owens boots? They’re just one product among many on a retailer’s sale page. Whether a particular pair appears in a private sale depends entirely on that store’s stock and agreements with the brand.
Who actually runs them
Several luxury retailers do, in different forms.
SSENSE, a major seller of Rick Owens, offers regular private sales for early access to discounted products, and VIP sales that open even earlier to a wider selection of inventory, according to a 2025 Complex piece. Mytheresa is described by one sale guide as hosting an invitation-only event that gives loyal customers early access to markdowns before they go public. That’s a third-party summary, so check Mytheresa’s own pages. Mr Porter has a formal version. Its EIP programme says you become eligible once you’ve spent more than £10,000, net of returns, taxes and duties, in a 12-month calendar year, and the benefits include early sale access. Department stores do it too. Nordstrom has given credit card holders early access to its anniversary sale.
What it takes to get in
Mostly money, sometimes engagement.The £10,000 threshold above is the high end, and it’s clear. Most other stores keep their rules vague. One guide to Rick Owen shoes sales says private events run through email lists, loyalty programs and app notifications, and notes that the more you engage with a brand’s loyalty channels, the more invites you get, while passive subscribers rarely get the same access as active ones. That matches how luxury retail works. Spending counts. But opening emails, using the app and saving wishlist items seems to help too, though I can’t prove how much.
Realistic ways in for ordinary buyers
You don’t need a five-figure budget. You need to look like an engaged customer.Pick one or two retailers you’d actually buy from. Create an account and sign up for emails. Download the app and turn on notifications, since some retailers give app users a head start. One guide says many send app-exclusive early access 30 to 60 minutes before any other channel. That’s a small edge, but on a popular size it can matter. Save your Rick Owens boots to a wishlist, with your size selected. And buy something now and then. Consistent purchases signal you’re a real customer.
The polite ask
Sometimes you can simply ask.The same guide says that if you’re a repeat buyer, a quick inquiry about private sale access can sometimes get you added to a list. It won’t always work. But a short, friendly email to customer service costs nothing. Mention that you’re a returning customer and you’d like to hear about early access. I wouldn’t push beyond one message. If they say no, move on.
Do private sales include Rick Owens boots?
I can’t say. Not reliably.I found no source confirming that a specific retailer’s private sale includes Rick Owens boots, so treat that as unknown. Retail agreements differ, and brands sometimes restrict discounting. A boot that’s marked down in a public sale might be excluded from a private event, or the other way round.Check the sale page itself once you’re inside. Filter by designer, then by shoes. If Rick Owens is missing, it’s not part of that sale.
Is the discount actually better?
Don’t assume so.The guide I cited explains the logic: for luxury brands, a secret sale keeps prices low for loyal shoppers while the public price stays intact. That tells you why retailers do it, not that the discount is bigger. Sometimes it’s the same percentage with first pick of sizes. Sometimes it’s better. Sometimes it’s no different from what’s available a week later. So compare. Check the same boot at two other stores, look at price history if you can, and decide whether the early access is worth acting on.
Watch for fake “private sales”
Exclusivity language is a favorite tool for scammers.
Be wary of emails or ads promising a private Rick Owens sale at huge discounts, especially from sites you don’t know. Counterfeit stores love VIP language, because it makes people rush. If the deal looks far below every authorized retailer, skip it.Also remember the retailer landscape is shifting. The Complex article notes that luxury e-tail is struggling as a whole, with Matchesfashion shut down and Farfetch facing continued public struggles. Stick with established stores, pay by credit card, and check whether the item is final sale.
My honest take
For most people, private sale access is a nice extra, not a strategy.If you want a rare size, early access can help. If you’re flexible, a normal sale a few weeks later often gets you a similar price. Don’t spend more with a store just to qualify. Instead, pick one retailer, engage with it sensibly, and treat any early access as a bonus.
The short plan
Choose a store, sign up for emails and the app, wishlist your boots and size, and buy occasionally. If you’ve shopped there before, send one polite request to be added to the early-access list. That’s the realistic route to private sale access for Rick Owens boots, and it won’t cost you anything extra.