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Vegas Magazine, "Angelia Bronson, In The Bag", March 2008
Wall Street Journal article, July 24, 2008 The Skinny on Handbag-Rental Services Sites Offer Alternatives By SUZANNE BARLYN Is the slumping economy draining your pocketbook? At least you have one. But handbag-conscious fashionistas may now have less cash for a pricey, new Louis Vuitton. Handbag-rental services want to fill the void by offering designer style, they say, on the cheap. "People who would normally buy handbags are now looking for a more economical way to expand their wardrobes," says Kara Richter, co-founder and chief executive of From Bags to Riches, a handbag-rental service in St. Paul, Minn. Retail sales of handbags in the U.S. jumped more than 11% to $8.96 billion last year from $8.06 billion in 2006, according to the Travel Goods Association in Princeton, N.J. While brisk sales of most handbags continued in the first half of this year, the organization expects that a continuing economic slowdown could hurt handbag sales in the second half of 2008.
To see if renting designer handbags is practical and cost-effective, we tried four national online services. All of the sites were well-organized in categories such as styles and designers. The companies provided excellent, prompt service and hassle-free return procedures using preprinted labels. Rental fees can add up quickly, especially for customers who don't purchase a membership, which entitles them to discounts. A $29 weekly rental at one site would have cost only $15 if we had added a monthly $4.95 membership fee. Customers also should look beyond straight rental costs, because shipping and insurance fees can add to the bill. Insurance is usually optional, and can be purchased to cover potential problems such as damage, loss, or excessive wear and tear. Rates depend on the bag, but could run $59 to insure a pricey Chanel that rents for $450 a month. The services may be ideal for glamorous one-time evening bags that we wouldn't normally buy, such as a $990 Dior bag that we spotted online. But otherwise, it may be more cost-effective to purchase one or two designer handbags for everyday wear and own them indefinitely. A Dooney & Bourke satchel we rented can be bought online for $319, and a Coach signature bag can sell for as low as $298. Some services encouraged us to spend more. One site offered us a discount as we were checking out if we rented a second bag. Other sites offer used bags for sale -- what one site calls "gently carried" -- but even after big discounts these still cost hundreds of dollars. Shoes, clothing and accessories, such as trendy sunglasses, are also available for rental at some sites. At RentMeAHandbag.com, based in Mesa, Ariz., we shopped for a fashionable tote to use on our vacation. A black leather Prada design was out of stock, while another reminded us of funeral crepe. We settled for a Kate Spade suede drawstring bag, which arrived a few days later, in nice condition, although the packaging wasn't as nice as some of the other services. We paid $59 at the weekly "try it" rate, plus $15 for insurance. Monthly rates, which entitle users to two items from three collections of handbags, high-end clothing and shoes, range from $69.99 to $299.99. The "Runway Collection" costs $399 per week per item (yes, that's right) for access to "hot runway fashion couture" items such as evening bags by Dior and Jimmy Choo. We rented a Coach straw-and-leather-trimmed tote bag through From Bags to Riches. The company's Club Diva membership costs $15.95 a month or $110 a year and entitles members to rent handbags at a 10% discount and get one month's free rental a year from certain collections. We skipped the membership and paid $85.95 for a one-month rental, plus $9.50 for shipping. The bag was fashionable but looked a tad used. Ms. Richter, the CEO, said it had been rented by two other customers, and that she retires the bags after about six rentals. A leather satchel by Dooney & Bourke caught our eye at Las Vegas-based All That Bags.com. This site offers one flat-rate membership at $4.95 a month. Bags are organized into six collections. Member prices for "The It-Bag I" collection, for example, start at $275 a month for access to designers such as Chanel and Chloé. "The It Girl" collection costs as little as $20 a month, for designers such as Coach and Cole Haan. Weekly rates, ranging from $6 to $95 for members, are also available. We had trouble adding a membership to our order, which processed at the "guest" rate of $29 a week, instead of the member rate of $15. But the handbag that arrived was in brand-new condition. Our order didn't include a pre-addressed return label, but a customer-service representative emailed one within minutes of our call. It seemed a shame to stick with our usual preference for earth tones when we visited Bag Borrow or Steal, whose home page currently advises customers to "Shop All Things Purple." The Seattle-based service, one of the first rental handbag sites, offers a wide selection of handbags, jewelry and accessories. Despite the site's color advice, we selected a small, Fendi baguette-style bag in bright green, which set us back $154.95 for a one-month rental at the "preferred member" price. Our rental Fendi arrived promptly, neatly packaged in tissue, conveying a "new bag" feel. There's just one problem with adding color to our wardrobe: Now we need matching shoes.
Kane County Chronicle, article Money bags: Purses empty wallets By GENEVA WHITE - gwhite@nwnewsgroup.com
When the milestone date arrived last year, they presented her with a Louis Vuitton bag. “It was very special,” said Dorsch of St. Charles. “I’ve always admired the bag. I appreciate the quality and the workmanship that goes into it. It’s certainly a luxury.” The demand for designer handbags by top names such as Gucci, Prada, Chanel and Fendi, proves that a bag isn’t just a bag anymore. Purses can do more than tote around wallets, cell phones and keys. They’re fashion statements, portable art and for some women, status symbols. And they’re expensive. On the low end of the price range, a luxury bag can cost anywhere from $500 to $1,500. The notorious Hermes Birkin bags, carried by celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan and Victoria Beckham, are listed on eBay for as much as $12,000. Dorsch, a sales associate for The Worth Collection, a New York-based clothing line, said her company unveiled its own selection of luxury bags in June. Priced between $800 and $1,500, the bags are 100 percent crocodile skin. “They’re beautifully made,” Dorsch said. “The customers really wanted something that coordinated with their outfits and was more of a complete package.” Laura McDowell, fashion spokeswoman for T.J. Maxx, said the right bag can help pull an outfit together. “A contrasting handbag can add a pop of color to a neutral outfit,” McDowell said. “It finishes off the outfit with a polished look.” Should you pay $1,000 or more for a fabulous looking handbag? Although one option might be to search for the perfect knockoff of the right thing, it’s not recommended. Susan Scafidi, a law professor at Fordham University in New York who specializes in intellectual property and fashion law, has testified before Congress about this issue. Scafidi, who operates the Web site counterfeitchic.com, said a loophole in the intellectual property law protects logos and trademarks, but not the designs. trying to close the loophole,” Scafidi said. A more ethical way to sport a trendy designer bag might be to rent one. You can live like a celebrity (at least bagwise) without actually being famous thanks to Web sites such as allthatbags.com. The Las Vegas-based site rents designer purses weekly and monthly. Starting at $235 a month or $80 a week, you can carry what the site calls “It Bags” by designers such as Prada or Chloe. The site’s “Fashionista” bags, which include Marc Jacobs, Fendi and Gucci, start at $175 a month or $60 a week. Another company, Seattle-based Bag Borrow or Steal, also rents expensive bags by the week or month. “As fashion has gotten more and more casual and you can wear your jeans to the opera, the bag is something that enables you to show a little style,” Scafidi said. “The other thing about bags is that everybody can wear the sample size. You don’t have to be a 6-foot-2, 100-pound model.” T.J. Maxx carries a selection of handbags from some high-end stores for more affordable prices, McDowell said. The store also sells bags by lesser-known Italian designers that offer some of the same qualities as the bigger names. This fall, McDowell said, larger, colorful purses are going to be in style, as well as clutches for evening wear. Gold and silver hardware is being seen more on purses now, as well as patent leather, animal print and embellishments, such as rhinestones, chains and tassels, she said. As for Dorsch, she carries her Louis Vuitton bag every day. Although she doesn’t feel any more glamorous than other women with the bag on her arm, it’s a reminder of how much her family cares. “This was such a special treat for me,” she said. “It’s beautiful. It’s actually something I can pass on to my kids.” Can’t afford a bag? Rent one Allthatbags.com: Bags are rented weekly or monthly. “It” bags such as Prada or Chloe start at $235 a month or $80 a week.
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