Saks Fifth Avenue vs. Bloomingdale's: Which brand is better? [2026]

Saks Fifth Avenue is a high-end luxury destination known for its exclusive designer collections and a refined, premium shopping experience. In contrast, Bloomingdale's offers a broader mix of luxury and contemporary brands, creating a more accessible, trend-focused atmosphere with more frequent promotions and sales. Saks prioritizes timeless elegance and personalized service, while Bloomingdale's caters to a modern, style-conscious shopper who appreciates having options at various price points.

Let's compare them directly to help you decide which iconic department store is the right fit for your shopping style.

Saks Fifth Avenue: The Epicenter of Classic Luxury

Saks Fifth Avenue is synonymous with sophistication, serving affluent consumers who seek the world's most desired designer labels. Its reputation is built on curating an exceptional edit of high fashion, offering everything from runway looks to timeless investment pieces. Saks is the go-to for shoppers who prioritize quality craftsmanship and an exclusive, high-touch retail experience.

• Product mix: Features top-tier luxury brands like Gucci, Prada, and Saint Laurent, alongside exclusive collections and limited-edition collaborations. The focus is on designer apparel, fine jewelry, luxury handbags, and high-performance beauty.
• Price point: Firmly in the luxury category. Designer handbags often start around $1,000, and women's apparel from leading designers typically falls between $500 and several thousand dollars for a single item.
• Style &, Aesthetic: Embodies timeless elegance and refined sophistication. The selection favors classic silhouettes and polished styles, catering to customers building a wardrobe of enduring investment pieces.
• Quality &, Materials: A heavy emphasis on superior craftsmanship, with many items sourced from luxury manufacturing hubs in Italy and France. The quality reflects the premium price tags.
• Shopping Experience: Offers a highly personalized and luxurious environment with services like private shopping suites, personal stylists, and VIP events to create a seamless and exclusive journey.

Saks Fifth Avenue is the premier destination for those who want a meticulously selected collection of the world's best designer brands and value personalized, high-end service.

Shop Saks Fifth Avenue: saksfifthavenue.com

Bloomingdale's: The Hub for Contemporary & Accessible Style

Bloomingdale's strikes a balance between designer luxury and contemporary fashion, catering to a style-savvy but broader audience. Known for its iconic "Big Brown Bag" and vibrant store atmosphere, it attracts customers who enjoy staying current with trends while also having access to established luxury labels. It successfully makes high fashion feel more approachable and exciting.

• Product mix: Carries a wide selection of both major designer names and more accessible contemporary fashion brands. Home goods, beauty, and accessories are also significant categories, offering a complete lifestyle selection.
• Price point: Covers a wider spectrum. While it carries designer items at prices comparable to Saks, Bloomingdale's is known for more frequent sales and promotions, with handbags often available for $300–$500 during promotional events.
• Style &, Aesthetic: Eclectic, vibrant, and trend-driven. The aesthetic is more modern and youthful, with a clear focus on current streetwear influences and casual-chic styles alongside classic pieces.
• Quality &, Materials: A mix of high-quality designer items and well-made contemporary fashion. While premium materials are common, the varied price points mean there is also more variety in construction.
• Shopping Experience: Energetic and user-friendly, both in-store and online. The brand is famous for its Loyallist rewards program and regular promotional events that attract deal-savvy shoppers.

Bloomingdale's is ideal for the fashion-forward consumer who enjoys a lively shopping experience and wants a dynamic mix of designer and modern brands with more opportunities to save.

Shop Bloomingdale's: bloomingdales.com

Saks Fifth Avenue vs. Bloomingdale's Comparison

Price & Value

The most significant difference lies in their pricing strategies. Saks Fifth Avenue operates almost exclusively in the premium and ultra-luxury space. Prices are high year-round, with sales typically reserved for specific seasonal events or offered to VIP clients. The value proposition at Saks is based on brand exclusivity, exceptional service, and access to premium designer goods that are rarely discounted elsewhere.

Bloomingdale's, while also a luxury retailer, embraces a more accessible pricing model. The store combines full-price designer collections with an extensive range of contemporary brands at lower price points. More importantly, Bloomingdale's is known for its frequent sales, Friends & Family events, and a robust loyalty program that makes luxury feel more attainable for a wider audience. If your primary driver is value and finding a deal on a designer item, Bloomingdale’s is the clear winner.

Style & Aesthetic

Saks is for the classicist. Its aesthetic is built around timeless luxury, sophistication, and polished elegance that transcends trends. The edits found in-store and online are for a discerning customer looking for investment pieces from the world’s most prestigious fashion houses. It’s where you go for a classic Chanel bag or a perfectly tailored Max Mara coat.

Bloomingdale's is for the trendsetter. The store’s vibe is more dynamic, youthful, and attuned to what’s happening in fashion right now. While you’ll find classic luxury brands, the focus is often on bold, contemporary collections and streetwear-influenced pieces. It’s a great destination for discovering new brands and embracing current trends without fully abandoning a luxury feel.

Fit & Sizing

Both retailers offer standard U.S. sizing, but differences can appear due to the brands they carry. Saks Fifth Avenue's inventory is heavy on European designers, whose pieces often have a slimmer, more tailored fit and may require sizing up compared to U.S.-based brands. Recognizing this, an incredible feature of the Saks shopping experience is its extensive network of in-store tailoring and personal styling services, ensuring a perfect fit on any investment piece.

Bloomingdale's stocks a wider variety of brands, including many American contemporary lines that often have a more generous, true-to-size fit. While this can make online ordering slightly more straightforward, sizing can be less consistent from brand to brand. Their website counters this with detailed size guides and customer reviews to help shoppers make the right choice.

Shopping Experience

Shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue is designed to feel like a five-star experience. The atmosphere is calm, luxurious, and highly personalized. Associates are attentive, and services are geared toward creating a high-touch, exclusive feeling, whether through a private shopping appointment or at the beauty counter. The online experience mirrors this, with expertly curated sections and a clean, sophisticated interface.

The Bloomingdale's experience is more lively and energetic. Stores have a bustling, vibrant feel, encouraging browsing and discovery. The model is built on interacting with promotions, sales, and loyalty rewards. Its website is equally dynamic and user-friendly, with prominent features for sale sections and loyalty perks, making it accessible and engaging for everyday browsing.

Which One Should You Choose?

The right store depends entirely on your shopping priorities, budget, and personal style.

Choose Saks Fifth Avenue if:

• You are investing in a timeless luxury handbag, coat, or fine jewelry from a top-tier designer.
• You value an exclusive, highly personalized shopping experience with expert stylists.
• Your personal style leans classic, polished, and sophisticated.
• You seek out limited-edition pieces and exclusive collaborations from heritage luxury brands.
• You're willing to pay full price for unparalleled quality, service, and brand prestige.

Choose Bloomingdale's if:

• You enjoy mixing high-end designer pieces with more accessible contemporary brands.
• You love the thrill of finding a designer item on sale and making the most of loyalty points.
• Your style is trend-driven, modern, and eclectic.
• You want a one-stop-shop for fashion, beauty, and home goods for the whole family.
• You prefer an energetic and dynamic shopping atmosphere, whether online or in-store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Saks Fifth Avenue or Bloomingdale's more expensive?

Saks Fifth Avenue is generally more expensive. It focuses on the highest tier of luxury designers, and its items are less frequently discounted. Bloomingdale's offers a broader range of price points and holding frequent sales makes it a more accessible option for luxury shoppers.

Which store has better quality clothing?

Saks Fifth Avenue typically offers superior craftsmanship and materials because its collections are curated from the world's most exclusive luxury designers. However, Bloomingdale's also maintains very high quality standards for its designer selections, offering strong quality throughout its inventory.

Can I return items easily at both stores?

Yes, both retailers have well-established and reliable return policies for online and in-store purchases, typically allowing returns on unworn merchandise with tags attached within 30 days. It's always best to check their specific policies before purchasing, especially for sale items.

What is the biggest difference in style between Saks and Bloomingdale's?

The biggest difference is classic versus contemporary. Saks focuses on timeless, elegant, and sophisticated investment pieces from heritage luxury houses. Bloomingdale's is more trend-driven, offering a vibrant, modern, and often more casual selection from a mix of designer and contemporary labels.

Which store has better sales?

Bloomingdale's has better and more frequent sales. It is well-known for its "Friends & Family" events, seasonal promotions, and a robust loyalty program, providing numerous opportunities to get discounts on designer merchandise. Saks sales are typically less frequent and more exclusive.

Where can I find more unique designer fashion?

Saks Fifth Avenue is the better choice for finding unique and exclusive high-fashion pieces directly from the runway. Its buyers are renowned for securing limited-edition items and collections from elite global designers.

Do both stores have loyalty programs?

Yes, but they function differently. The Bloomingdale's "Loyallist" program is a prominent part of its value proposition, allowing customers to earn points on every purchase that convert to "power points." The SaksFirst card offers points as well, but its benefits are more geared towards higher tiers of spending and unlocking VIP perks like private sales and experiences.

Which store is better for a special occasion dress?

This depends on the occasion. For a formal, black-tie event where a timeless and elegant gown is needed, Saks Fifth Avenue's selection is unparalleled. For a trendy cocktail party or a more contemporary wedding guest look, Bloomingdale's will likely offer more options.