This post is from GRS staff writer April Dykman.
Most of us, at one time or another, have seen a photo of a celebrity with an “it” bag, even if just in tabloids at the supermarket check-out. Most of the time they are over-sized totes, logo prominently displayed, on the arm of an actress or pop star. (Sometimes I wonder if the tinier celebrities could, in fact, fit inside their own handbag.)
And as ridiculous as it might seem, you can bet that if a pop star is carrying a bag, the masses are sure to want it, too.
The problem is the price sticker. Most people can’t afford a $2,000 bag. Besides, usually the Hollywood elite, who can afford these bags, receive them as gifts (think product placement).
Riches for rent
I’m a bit late to this party, but I recently learned that one can rent designer bags, sunglasses, and jewelry. Yep, companies like Avelle, Bling Yourself, and Wear Today, Gone Tomorrow will rent merchandise by the likes of Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Chloé, Herve Leger, and more. For a monthly fee, you can carry the “it” bag.
One site, for example, will rent a vintage Birkin bag for $600 per week. The cost to buy a vintage Birkin is about $17,000 (I’ll give you a moment to stop choking…mmkay, better now?). A Coach bag that retails for $350 can be rented for about $30 a week, or $20 per week if you keep it for a month. And so on. You also have the option to buy anything you rent and can’t bear to return, and there’s insurance available if you’re worried about a cosmo spilling on your rented Gucci.
The arguments for renting
According to the companies, renting allows people to enjoy items they can’t afford to buy. Also, if someone decides they need a change, they can send the item back and choose something else.
Some members say that the monthly membership is actually less than what they spend on bags and jewelry in a given year, and that they wind up with less Stuff, since the items go back into circulation for others to borrow.
Fair enough.
My arguments against
Full disclosure? I think it’s nuts. Let’s take that Coach bag, for example. It costs $350 retail, or it can be rented for $20 per week. In about 4-1/2 months, the amount spent renting the bag could be saved to purchase it.
No, it can’t be returned on a whim. No, it can’t be exchanged at will. But it is more cost-effective to purchase one or two quality handbags and own them indefinitely. If you continued to rent bags at $20 per week, in one year the total amount of fees would come to $1,040.
More disclosure? I don’t necessarily have a problem with $350 handbags. If that sounds like an insane amount of money to pay and/or you couldn’t care less about fashion, that’s good news for your pocketbook. Do what works for you and spend your money on what matters to you. If, however, you do love a little fashion in your life and you believe in quality over quantity, forget bag rentals and abide by these guidelines:
- Choose a handbag in line with your discretionary income. There are nice things at most price levels.
- Wait for a sale. Salespeople are always happy to put you on their mailing list, which will alert you to store sales and special events.
- Check out online discount retailers like Bluefly.
- For in-store deals, try T.J. Maxx, if there’s one nearby. I am always surprised by the quality brands they carry—at a fraction of the cost in the boutique stores. Be sure to check out your item carefully for marks and scratches, since the merchandise isn’t handled with kid gloves.
- Pay for it in cash (or put it on a credit card that you pay in full at the end of each month).
- Purchase something classic. If it’s trendy, you probably won’t love it by next season.
- Baby the heck out of it. Get it professionally cleaned if you aren’t sure how to do it yourself.
- Store it carefully. Fill the bag with tissue to hold the shape, and place it in a plastic bag when not in use.
I wasn’t able to find much about company profits, but since these rental companies continue to grow and add new products for rent (clothing, jewelry, golf clubs), I assume they’re doing well. But it’s not for me.
If I’m being dismissive and overly critical, feel free to comment and tell me so! Have you ever rented a luxury item through a monthly membership fee? If not, would you try out a service like this?
This article is about Clothing, Consumerism, Shopping
SEARCH FOR RECENT ARTICLES
You obviously don’t do enough volunteer work with underprivileged families.
loading....
@Ann #149: My name’s Shana. I didn’t say you’re lacking in sense, I said the wailing about how expensive handbags ARE TOO worthy, totally legit, wise expenditures and OH YEAH? WHAT ABOUT YOUR STUPID VIDEO GAMES AND CARS??! makes women look shallow and lacking in sense. Which I think it does. I stand by my original statement, not your slanted rewrite.
Now. Maybe that’s your situation. Great financial shape, loads of investments, cash out the yin-yang and nothing to spend it on but pricey bags. If so, I would argue that you’re the exception to the rule. Personal finance blogs, frugality sites, and massive consumer debt don’t exist because the majority of us fit the Best Case Scenario. I see this all the time, when people who arguably overspend/frivolously say “but how do you KNOWWWWW that I don’t give half my money to charity? YOU’RE JUDGMENTAL!!!” Most people don’t give loads of money to charity — they way outspend that on themselves, and use the “but you don’t know!” to excuse/deflect it. I’ve seen it on GRS before, several times, and I think there’s a good chance you’re guilty of it, too. Maybe not.
loading....
@ Shana (#152) – My apologies on the incorrect name.
Now you’re being sexist because I rather enjoy video games. And please continue to believe I’m lying. It’s not the first time it’s happened on this site. Apparently, successful people can’t read PF sites.
loading....
#151… I have done plenty of work with underprivileged families (mostly math tutoring and teaching… something I have also done for children of the wealthy and middle class) and the statement that there’s a correlation between intelligence and income levels (and implying that you would know that if you interacted with poor people) is disgusting. Very Bell Curve. That kind of statement seems calculated to keep the poor in their place, because obviously they’re not smart enough to get out of it. Which, I assure you is not true, especially among populations economically disadvantaged because of race or ethnic or geographic origin. (And even if there is a correlation on average, individual differences are always much greater than group differences.)
I was really really enjoying your comments up to that point. Wasn’t there a better way to defend yourself against #150 without putting down an entire class of society?
loading....
The fact that there even is a “purse forum” should be a little bit of an embarrassment to the human race.
Does anyone use the word “pretentious” anymore? Maybe it should make an appearance, since it’s found its context.
loading....
@ Nicole (#154) – Actually, no. I stand by my statement because my family started off as underprivileged. Heck, we were dirt poor immigrants and had to collect welfare, but we used education to better our lives. When I volunteer, I see people who are in the same situation as I was but I can usually tell when that’s temporary because they’re willing to use their brains to help themselves and I won’t see them within a year or so. And then there are others I see year after year. Very anecdotal, but that’s my experience.
loading....
@ Shana
I guess we’re confusing people by being one character off.
The comment about video games and such was about renting such things, and how this argument wouldn’t happen about renting video games or a number of other luxury items.
I agree the conversation has gotten off topic. But that happens.
loading....
#45- shoes, purses and glasses…
I will stick to my odd way of dressing- well on my way of being a millionaire instead of just pretending I am one:>)
loading....
Renting seems like a reasonable (frugal) way to have a ‘stable’ of purses, dresses, watches etc without having to buy all the items individually. Having watched Sex and the City movie and The Devil Wears Prada, while I don’t personally value luxury clothes I can at least appreciate that some people do.
loading....
#156 Ann: Well, there’s plenty of dumb rich and dumb middle class people out there too (and not all of them go into politics).
It’s still a horrible generalization to make. Especially since there are tons and tons of very bright kids out there from poor families with hardworking parents who don’t have the advantages that many of us do. The American dream is going to work for a lot of these people, but not in the first generation. That sounds like your story.
You’re even saying that some of these folks are bright (or have some sort of “ganas” to quote Jaime Escalante) and some aren’t. That is true across all classes. Rich families often just do a better job supporting their dumb/unmotivated kids and giving them more second and third and fourth chances. For example, students from poor families never get the chance to take 8 years to graduate from college, or 6 years to eventually not graduate.
loading....
I’m not into owning these myself, but I do find the concept of vintage purses, like the Kelly, fascinating. How neat that a product designed to become outdated has been considered stylish for going on eighty years. I would definitely appreciate this if I were to inherit a bag, and got to carry a little bit of a beloved ancestor around with me.
loading....
I think Karen’s post (#144) hit the nail on the head. There’s a world of difference between being frugal and being cheap. Given the choice, I would happily buy a $500 of Hugo Boss shoes (low-grade designer, but still) over a $100 random Italian brand. I enjoy knowing that I can afford a luxury item – and I don’t think I’m the only one, neither in this world, nor on this blog.
Like Karen said, there’s a world of difference between idiots who squander their money on only God knows what and people who simply appreciate the finer things in life – and, as another poster indicated earlier in this discussion, just because you can’t tell the difference between a $50 purse and a $5,000 one doesn’t mean it’s not there.
Like it was said time and again in this discussion, being frugal is means, not an end in itself; once you get rich by being frugal, continuing to control your expenses in just the same way and never enjoy the luxuries and finer things that life has to offer kind of defeats the whole point of living frugally in the first place.
loading....
Just wanted to point out that the jewels worn to Red Carpet Hollywood events are usually loaned out as an advertisement. Many times the (custom) clothes are as well. So big name stars of varying earning power can all get dressed up and show off someone else’s product, but I’d argue that the smart ones find a way to borrow or reduce the costs. Especially when one sees the size of the jewels needed to catch the magazine photographers, I get it that they’re marketing the brand they’re wearing and marketing themselves.
Sure, peer pressure and selling yourself in a certain light could be connected. That is to say I think there’s a difference between a broke person with a lot of debt who doesn’t have any financial or future-perceived-financial returns on designer goods incurring more debt for a “must have” designer item and a person who is making a periodic investment in their perceived value whether they care about designer goods or not.
As another aside, fitting in to what people expect seems to be an important part of getting other people to give you what you want. It’s nice to think that people shouldn’t be evaluated on what they wear or how much money they earn but I do believe that this matters to a lot of people in different earning classes and demographics, both at the higher earning end and the lower, which results in being treated differently based on how you’re perceived to fit in. Not always for the better, either. Knowingly challenging this can be a good thing, I think, but not without understanding and respecting that such perceptions matter to many people.
loading....
“The fact that there even is a “purse forum” should be a little bit of an embarrassment to the human race. ”
I can think of plenty things of proper magnitude to be “an embarrassment to the human race.” Funny, an online forum that serves only the purpose to bring together like-minded individuals regardless of topic is not one of them.
Once again, a keyboard warrior wielding judgement on people he or she will never know.
loading....
@Tyler – In case you really do want an answer, not a debate. Some say designer purses are of better quality. Other than cosmetic appeal, I have the following criteria on how I discriminate on purses, many of which are some sort of name brand (though none in the > $500 range because I haven’t come across one that is needed in my social situation ) -
1. Is the name brand and styling sufficient enough to take to a fancy mall/restaurant to convince them to serve you with sufficient speed. This is the girl equivalent of sticking your credit card with credit limit on your forehead or pulling a “Pretty Woman”. The male equivalent is usually a flashy car at valet/keyfob, watch, shoes, or other accessory. You might not be able to tell the difference but I guarantee you the sales person at Nordstroms or seater at fancy-pants-restaurant can. These are places you go for the service, not necessarily the cost/value of the goods.
2. Will it keep the shape of the bag when I stuff it. Good stout cloth or leather with quality stitching usually helps my bag look like a bag instead of a mess. If I wanted to show I was carrying a mess, I’d use a ziplock bag and some packing tape for free.
3. Is the workmanship going to hold up for a long duration. Getting a decent quality handbag that holds up to frequent use saves me time in getting it repaired or replaced. It also hopefully won’t give out on me in the middle of a busy street.
4. Can it be easily cleaned and repaired. I just paid a lot of money for something that I hope will stay together, but old-school definition of quality should mean it can be repaired.
5. How is it organized and how does it function- Not all interiors are the same in terms of pockets, visibility, or usable space. Good straps also help. I will pay extra for this and not buy purses that are a big black hole with straps which cut into my shoulder.
6. Is it a classic style or shape that can be used over several years.
Performance wise, the hardware on a good quality with/without designer logo purse should hold up better and longer under heavy use than the econo-line model from Target or Forever 21. If the design is iconic of the designer you can use it longer, as well. Kind of like a Porsche 911′s styling.
If there’s one thing that kind of sums it up, I’d relay this story about what one girl said to another about her Prada purse I read about years ago in a fashion magazine (the iconic Prada is essentially a black nylon purse one would think could be purchased for $50) – (paraphrasing) “The Prada bags are fantastically made from such durable material. I threw up in mine in the cab and it held it all in there. It hand washed out without any trouble at all. Good as new!” (Yes. Seriously)
I have a few nylon purses including one Prada which I spilled the verboten-death-to-nylon-bags spaghetti sauce on, I can corroborate that statement. The Prada’s corners and stitching have held up really well and with a bit of soap and water, spaghetti sauce came out and smelled fine too. This isn’t true of all brands which is partially why there’s a purse forum.
loading....
I think it’s a great idea.
It seems to me a lot of the people who care about having an “it” bag are also the ones who don’t want to be seen twice with the same one. Rather than buy a new bag every week, renting one is obviously much, much cheaper.
It’s good that the option is available. Of course then you just do the math: if you keep the same bag for 4 months or more, it’s better to buy it. And even if you do want to “get rid of it” afterwards, you can resell it.
But for people who change bags and accessories all the time, well it’s pretty good. Still costs more than I’d ever be willing to spend, but it must save them a LOT of money.
loading....
@George I think you raise an interesting point on the whole exclusivity thing. What I think will be even more interesting is how fashion evolves to overcome this now that anyone can rent a bag or any other once-exclusive fashion item.
Because evolve it will: some other creative way of saying “Only myself a few other people are wearing this.” It’ll be interesting to see if that expresses itself in something like limited items produced of a certain product or what.
loading....
I’m really surprised no one has brought up Netflix. Netflix is based on this exact same premise as renting these purses. We don’t “need” movies. Yet thousands of people rent them all the time (me included). I pay $15 a month for unlimited movies vs. paying $15 (or much more) for a single movie. Especially when you are talking about some of the foreign films they carry.
We consider Netflix to be a regular part of our lives. No one would say “well, if you can’t afford all the movies you rent, you shouldn’t be renting them” or “How dare you spend your money on these luxuries?”. Of course not!
These bags are rented for a fraction of what you’d buy them for and have the same value in our society as Netflix. The difference is that I spend $15 a month for movies that would cost me hundreds of dollars if I bought it and they spend $100 for a purse that would have cost them thousands. Just because the dollar amount goes up automatically makes it “not worth it”.
loading....
1. Photoshoots / Glamour shots?
, body shape is harder to tailor for, and there is a lot more labor that goes into a dress that looks good on a person….
than the stuff — everyone has seen those celebs without makeup and hair websites… it’s amazing & scary.
2. Mrs. Obama talked about how she bought stuff from JC Crew, I don’t think anyone was critical of her clothes.
3. There is a group of women who I know, lovely, sensible, etc. except when it comes to fashion. Then they float in another world. I’m thankful my wife isn’t one of them… but I know they ooh and ahh over clothes, what a woman is wearing etc.
4. Can someone tell me why it matters? It’s a bad to hold stuff in…
5. But then this is a MALE thing.
6. Let’s flip it to another rental I heard about from a friend… Camera Lenses… He rented for $90 for a day a lens that costs $2000, to take pictures of race cars on a race track, something he loves. It was a tool to do a job, and far less money than buying the lens for a short period/rare use. I think he does this once a year… You can see that it is a great use for him, because the outcome is great pictures, ones he couldn’t have gotten any other way.
7. Utility — or as one guy commented in DC going to big parties… there is a need to blend in with the mob, and not feel like you are dowdy. A happy wife/spouse priceless!
8. The era we are in now… people talk about how affordable is trendy, but really women love dress up. Men could care less, that’s why no one who doesn’t go to at least 5 parties a year would bother with a tux… it’s just not worth it. But also, practically, I’m told,
9. Matching accessories then are part of the look, and women know such things… $2000 dress with $10 shoes…
10. I’d be far happier if she wanted to rent something for our rare party, than if she had to buy it… but happier still if she found something she liked for the same price, and didn’t worry about what people thought… cause outside of the celeb. orbit, who cares!?!
11. Car rental for road trips… does make sense after a certain point, until you have X amount of stuff, or people, vs. a cargo carry on top… but emotions will will out over everything else.
12. Finally, how will the people feel about you after they find out you rent stuff, vs. own it… are you a bigger poser? Self-Confidence, and professional level makeup seem to go a long way, spending the money on the hair and face
A happily married male….
loading....
@Shana (106):
“So much of J.D.’s message has been about ignoring what people think.”
“Let’s all conform to the image of Americans as wasteful, shallow overconsumers!”
I’m guessing you don’t see your own contradiction there, do you?
Which is it? Do we care what other people think about us, or not? If your first statement is true, then why should I care if the rest of the world thinks I’m a wasteful, shallow overconsumer?
loading....
@Tyler:
Regarding your car analogies, are you seriously suggesting that BMW pricetags have nothing to do with BMW’s image as a luxury brand?
A buddy of mine bought a used BMW. He had this image of BMW’s as being made completely out of top-quality materials, in a pristine factory in Germany, hand-assembled by 10,000 of Germany’s smartest engineers. When he needed new wiper blades, he was shocked when I suggested he pick a new set up at the local hardware store. “It’s a BMW – it takes BMW wiper blades. Regular blades won’t fit,” he said. I laughed. He didn’t. He was serious. He actually thinks that BMW hand makes every last part of their cars, and that generic parts are incompatible with BMWs, or would somehow compromise the overall “awesomeness” inherent in BMWs.
BMWs are every bit about image as much as a Gucci handbag is. There are tangible, quantifiable differences in both cases (Gucci bags use higher quality leather, better stitching, will last longer, etc. – BMWs have more horsepower, better handling, etc.). But there are also intangible differences, too, that are used to justify the higher price. Exclusivity. Image. Desirability.
To pretend otherwise makes you look like you’ve drank the marketing Kool Aid.
loading....
Like Kim, I find the idea of a $12,000 bag disgusting. However, I wouldn’t ordinarily say it because I do recognize that many rich people are very very generous – not only with money but with their time, energy and connections. And if they want to buy a $12,000 purse or drive a $100,000 car should I say they are wrong. (perhaps) I used to look down on the rich as vulgar, grasping folks. However, having worked for non-profits I see that rich people are like other people. Some are vulgar and grasping and some are generous and open-hearted. Victoria’s point is well taken. However, I still have a problem with the $12,000 purse in part because it is emblematic of the materialism that has run rampant over our society these past two decades. And now look at the mess our economy & society is in. I do believe that all of us – rich, poor and middle income have an obligation to each other and not to expect too much or too little from one another. I think its a good idea once and a while for someone wealthy to be challenged on how they spend their money.
loading....
@ #172
Marian, I couldn’t disagree more with the following statement you made:
“I think its a good idea once and a while for someone wealthy to be challenged on how they spend their money.”
I firmly believe – and I don’t think I’m the only one – that no one has the right to challenge anyone how they spend their money. Rich or poor, it’s money they made in one way or another (by hook or by crook, you could say) – and how they choose to spend it is up to them. Whether they donate it to an orphanage or pile it all up and set it on fire, it’s their right to do with it as they please.
Also, not to get too philosophical here, but I see little problem with materialism, and I don’t think that it is in any way responsible for the current economic issues. A lot of women I know would kill for a $12,000 bag – and, even as a guy, I see nothing wrong with that. In fact, although us men are typically not very alert to the intricacies of female attire (to most of us, a bag is a bag is a bag, and is just something you carry things in), I have since come to appreciate the beauty and elegance of a woman carrying an expensive purse that matches her outfit and projects a certain air of exclusivity and luxury (you see a lot of those here in Geneva).
loading....
@ George
I am shocked, SHOCKED that you are okay with women being willing to kill for a handbag. Condoning murder is NOT in the spirit of GRS!
loading....
I say, it’s ok to kill over a purse, so long as it’s a limited edition issue!
loading....
Yes and no. This story is about a service which pitches the ability to be in a permanent state of leasing purses, to which the April flat-out states, “I think it’s nuts.” She then asks readers to think about whether that makes sense for them. Many are talking about “Hm, renting a formal or purse occasionally could be useful, like renting a tux.” That’s using the service differently than the service’s creators intend, but you know what? I would submit that there’s a LOT of services that GRS readers use in ways other than the services’ creators intend.
- Credit card companies want customers to charge a lot (to drive up merchant fees), to carry a balance (to drive up interest) and pay late (to drive up fees).
- Banks want customers to use our debit cards as VISA cards (to drive up merchant fees) and to be on the ragged edge of spending all our cash (to increase overdraft fees).
- Brokerages want customers to do lots of buying and selling (to increase transaction fees).
- Stores want to sell me things I don’t need and don’t want. I don’t have a Christmas tree. Why not? Because I’m a grown-up and I don’t wanna and you can’t make me
There’s a lot of other examples I could make. Point is that we “break the rules” in a lot of ways for our own benefit. Why not here?
loading....
Haha, interesting discussion. As a guy I’ve never understood a woman’s infatuation with purses. I was in a pinch with what to get my mother for her birthday so I asked my sister what she would want. When she told me it was some $300 purse I laughed and then bought it anyway. Even though I have no idea why anyone would buy one, the fact that my mother loves it makes it a good purchase for me.
loading....
@ Nicole (#160) – I think my point got lost somewhere. Someone made a crack about no correlation between income level and intelligence. My point is there is (I was being snide, though, so I apologize for that–but only to you, not the person who made that crack) and I see proof of it when the underprivileged who are also intelligent lift themselves out of poverty through education and hard work.
And trust me, I know there are plenty of deadbeats in the upper classes who make regular withdrawals from the Bank of Mom and Dad.
loading....
for years i delayed getting a coach bag, going instead to TJ or TK Maxx. the purses did not last 6 months.
with the exception of tiganello – they’re pretty good.
when i paid off the debt and fully funded my emergency fund, i did go out and buy the black all leather coach sabrina handbag (roughly 350 – 400 bucks). it is superb and holding up well.
did you know coach bags are considered kinda lower class in the purse world?
rentals – in my mind renting is throwing money away, unless it is for a one day event.
now, drooling over the purses and chanel shoes in needless markup, i could easily cross over to the dark side. but my inner miser takes over and says I can get that used for cheaper.
i have hurty feet, i wear expensive birkenstock boston and london clogs for work, and daniel pliner shoes for dressup. i will not buy cheap shoes for any reason.
loading....
@178 Ann
Thanks for the clarification! It really did sound like you were saying the opposite. I will go back to my regular enjoyment of reading your comments.
loading....
I couldn’t bring myself to spend $350 on a bag, and I can easily afford it. My most expensive handbag was bought for $170 at TJ Maxx – this was a few years ago, and I still use it. Same applies to shoes – I was once looking at $300-something shoes that were very light and looked very comfortable, and I thought “if I could be sure that this pair would last me for several years, I’d buy it”. But the problem is – shoes don’t last that much. Still, if I had some foot problem e.g. pain then I could see spending this much money to be comfortable. But just for looks – I can find very pretty shoes for double digit amounts. In fact, just recently I bought a couple of pairs at TJ Maxx, one for $30 and one for $70 – both designer brands and all-leather, very pretty.
I do look at fancy clothes and handbags, and now I can afford some of these things though most of them I don’t even like, they are too weird. But even for things I like, I have really no place to wear them. At work, people don’t really care, and nobody I know can say if something is expensive or not. I sure can’t. The only place I occasionally go to where (some of) the people may dress expensively is the Metropolitan opera, but a) I don’t go to the overpriced premiere events when rich and famous show themselves b) I don’t know these people and they don’t know me c) I don’t go to opera to show myself but to listen to opera. I dress prettily, and I don’t really think anybody but really rich or really into fashion can say how much a particular item costs. And these people aren’t going to invite me to their social events regardless of how I dress.
Once though, I was terribly underdressed. This was many years ago when I went to Germany on vacation and decided to got to Bayreuth festival which is this famous festival for Wagner operas. I woke up early and was the first in line to the box office, so I managed (luckily) to get one of the returned tickets. This was a nice ticket, pretty expensive – about $80, and this was probably 20 years ago. I’d imagine most if not all people here would spend that much money for an opera ticket, but then I’d imagine most people here have no appreciation for opera, certainly not Wagner. The only dress I had with me was a pretty summer dress, not only it wasn’t expensive, it wasn’t even a cocktail dress. But everyone in the audience was black tie. Women were wearing fur coats, and this was August. I felt a bit funny during the intermissions, but then I thought – I don’t know these people, they don’t know me, the performance is great, the voices are amazing, I got a ticket when people are buying theirs several months in advance, so I am not going to worry about it. Seeing all these people wearing furs in the middle of summer was just part of the experience.
In terms of renting – maybe if I am invited for an audience with the English queen, but I doubt it’s in the cards. Barring this type of a special event, I just don’t see spending money on renting luxury items.
But – different people like different things. $80 I spent for an opera ticket 20 years ago meant more to me then than a $350 handbag would now, yet I spent the money. Someone else wouldn’t be caught dead in opera, but gets a lot of joy from an expensive bag. So why not, if they can afford it?
loading....
I once bought a gown for a company event I was on the hook to attend. I never had occasion to wear it again. It hung in my closet in the dry cleaning bag for nearly 5 years until I sold it for $20 at a resale event. I would LOVE to have rented a dress for the evening and ended it at that. I wouldn’t pay a monthly fee for such a service since I’d use it so seldom. For people who need clothes like that regularly but don’t need to own them, that’s the way to go!
loading....
I would never consider renting a purse, nor buying one that costs thousands of dollars. Although I have the means to do so, I would be so embarrassed to carry around an uber expensive bag and would not want others to think I was insecure enough to do so. No one I know carries expensive handbags, and they are mostly multi-millionaires.
loading....
Laura,
I guess it is a matter of what society you end up in. Most of the people I know are descendants of multi-millionaire families, and most would be appalled by the idea of NOT wearing an expensive purse, dress, jewelry or hair-do to a reception/event/nightclub.
loading....