Bag, Borrow, or Steal

Not everyone can own an “It” bag like the Fendi Bageuette or the Chloe Paddington. That’s why they’re such desirable items: exclusivity (and insane price tags). However, there is an abundance of fakes, knock-offs, and inspired-by bags to be found everywhere. (Raise your hand if you’ve never had the suspicion that someone carrying around a monogram Louis Vuitton bag or a Coach bag screaming out its “C’s” is not carrying the real deal.) While his featured Balenciaga Arena City Bag> retails for around, oh, $1,595, this very, very similar Primo Limited Loft Tote at Baghaus.com is only $58.00. If you just like the look of it, well, maybe this is perfect! But if you want the real thing, what are you to do? Are you going to plop down your savings or go into debt to own a handbag? Play the eBay game and hope, hope, hope you can get one, and not go bankrupt in the process? Or, would you consider an option like Bag, Borrow, or Steal, a website where you can rent out an it-handbag for a certain time period (and sometimes buy at used one at a discounted rate)? Rates aren’t cheap. If you are a member, renting this Balenciaga bag will cost you $60.00/week, and if you’re a non-member, it will cost you $89.00 a week. Is this worth it? Perhaps in very special cases, like a wedding or class reunion? Now, the site also rents out jewelry and other accessories, which, for something like a wedding, might not be such a bad idea. If you only need it for one day, it might not be such a bad idea to rent something like this beautiful diamond and pearl necklace by Vera Wang for $50.00/week ($70.00 as a non-member). more at twiigs.com...