It is possible, in these bag crazy times, to carry a this-season Balenciaga for just $60.
A week.
Don’t choke on your Chloe Paddington padlock. When “It” bags carried by the likes of Lindsey Lohan and Jessica Simpson run thousands of dollars each, paying to rent one might pay off. After all, that pricey leather sack’s not going to be so hot next year.
Two Internet sites offer designer bags for rent–Bag, Borrow or Steal and From Bags to Riches. The deal is the same on both sites: Browse through their handbags, pick one, decide how long you want it and type in your credit card number. The bag arrives in the mail about a week later. When you’re done with it, send the bag back in the box it came in (a prepaid shipping label is enclosed).
Prices range from $6 a week for a fun Frye mini hobo at Bag, Borrow or Steal to $189.95 per week for a Balenciaga City Bag at From Bags to Riches.
I started at Bag, Borrow or Steal. After 10 minutes of searching the site’s second-tier “Diva” bags (from brands like Marc Jacobs, Chloe, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, all rentable at about $30 a week), it became clear that it’s not easy to land one of those really hip bags. In fact, of about 400 “Diva” bags, only about a quarter were available, none of those was celebrity-magazine hot, like the Chloe “Paddington” bag, or even Tylie Malibu’s cheeky “Benatar Bag.
I settled on a suede Gucci hobo that retails for about four figures. The cost? $90 for a month, plus $10 insurance (in case it incurs more damage than just regular wear and tear), $9.95 for shipping and another $9.95 for a month’s membership.
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From Bags to Riches sported a smaller selection, but seemed to have better availability. I picked a $600 Fendi “Mama” bag. The cost: $44.95 for a week or $80.95 for a month.
A few hours later I received an e-mail informing me that my Fendi Mama was not available. Would I like to borrow a “G”-covered Gucci tote or a Gucci pouch instead? Ugly, I thought. How about a cloth Fendi baguette? OK, and the company threw in an extra week for free.
The Fendi arrived first. It was a chic, charming bag, and in good shape, though it definitely didn’t look brand new.
A day later, the Gucci arrived. It was gorgeous–soft chocolate brown suede, trimmed with leather reminiscent of horse reins and chunky brass hardware. And, best of all, the bag was seemingly brand new. Carrying it on the “L,” I felt like a million bucks and wondered if there was any way I could afford to buy one.
Not likely.
But rent one? That’s doable.
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Bag, Borrow or Steal, www.bagborroworsteal.com
From Bags to Riches, www.frombagstoriches.com
Depending on the bag, $6 to $189.95 per week
Get creative! Going to a swanky wedding? No need to blow lots of cash on a clutch you’ll carry for one night. Rent a posh purse for a fraction of the cost instead.