Discussions

Renting Designer Handbags

Posted by stillchic • 10/02/07 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: designer handbag rental, designer handbags, designer purses

I recently started working for this company called Still Chic (www.stillchic.com) and am now running their corporate blog. As an avid blogger, I'm having a great time with it and my boss is super lenient on what I can post, etc.

Weird thing is that the company rents designer handbags, which I had never heard of before and is apparently super popular in France. It's getting a lot of mixed reviews here in Canada. I guess I was wondering...

what do you guys honestly think about renting designer handbags? I know some people think designer handbags are stupid in general, but if you like them... would you rent one?

Let me know. I'm curious.

Thanks!

User Comments

10/02/07

scorpy01

Nope. I have several Coach bags, a Fossil, a DKNY, a Prada. I'd never rent one. I'll save up until I can buy my own.

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10/03/07

stillchic

Yeah, I think part of me would definitely rather own then rent, although the other part of me thinks it might be pretty cool to trade up bags often and be in style for a change. It's an interesting concept.

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1. 10/03/07
  
  ThriftShopRomantic
  
  I found a Roberta DiCamerino vintage purse at the Goodwill for $6 one day... on Ebay these things are apparently going for hundreds of dollars. I chose it, not because of the name, but because of the obvious quality.
  
  I can be patient until the goodies come to the thrift stores. :-) Renting really suggests people are into status of the name more than the item itself.
10/03/07

Bricore

Renting is not for me but that doesn't mean other people wouldn't do it. I am not into layaways, leasing cars, or anything like that either but many people do. If, I am going to spend my money it'll be for something I will own, be it a good investment or not..lol

Then again I am an odd ball I guess. A lot of the ladies I know will spend big $$ when it comes to handbags. Not this cheap gal. I'll just make them. Like I said thats just me tho.

Dora Renee' Wilkerson

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10/03/07

antibarbie

I could care less about purses or any other fashion accessories. I can't imagine renting them. I can understand renting jewelry for an awards show but renting a purse? I mean... that's just being so obsessively shallow that it's creepy. I think some people really need to get a grip. I've never been into the whole fashion scene or trends though, go figure.

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10/03/07

RecycleCindy

Having a blog site with bags, I've gotten Google ads at my site for these companies that rent the bags. I wondered too if people really do rent these expensive bags. I personally wouldn't but then someone must be doing it somewhere...

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10/03/07

stillchic

See that's me too. I love owning things and have never been into leasing/renting/etc, but I do understand why some people would. I cringe at the thought of having to pay so much just for a purse. Most of the purses I have are gifts or bags I bought for under $20.00.

I don't know if I necessarily agree that renting designer handbags is all that shallow. They are stylish and usually pretty high quality, so if you really wanted to "dress to impress" for a formal occasion, I don't see why renting a handbag instead of buying it would make a person shallow.

Thanks for sharing though everyone. I appreciate everyone's comments.

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10/03/07

antibarbie

You wrote: 'I don't know if I necessarily agree that renting designer handbags is all that shallow. They are stylish and usually pretty high quality, so if you really wanted to "dress to impress" for a formal occasion, I don't see why renting a handbag instead of buying it would make a person shallow.'

There is a difference between dressing to impress and going overboard with designer trends. If a person thinks they need designer purses to impress people, I think they may have a problem with substituting expensive possessions for self-esteem. I have yet to meet a man that has said that a woman was "beautiful, funny and intelligent but man, her purse..."

We as women are the ones who care about such things and it's normally only the other fashion obsessed women who even notice what designer stuff you have, the rest of us don't even notice or care. Dressing up and looking nice should not require designer clothing unless you are mingling with the social elite, and if you are, you should be able afford your own purses.

Just my two cents.

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1. 10/03/07
  
  ThriftShopRomantic
  
  I'm with ya on that. Only my female friends notice if I have anything new on. Or even a whole new haircut.
10/03/07

stillchic

Fair enough. Valid points.

I guess I was trying to say that if you were into designer fashions to start off with, renting a designer handbag wouldn't be a terrible idea if you had some sort of occasion to attend where you would benefit from having a nice purse.

You're completely right. My boyfriend would definitely not notice if I had a designer handbag over just a bag from the GAP, but I would know and sometimes I like feeling like I'm a celebrity and can afford "the finer things in life." Just a thought.

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10/03/07

scorpy01

Women dress for other women, not men. Unless they're dressing trashy, but that's a whole different issue.

As for designer bags, one of my coach bags is at least 10 years old, maybe older. They last forever if cared for properly. I've paid $20 for a wal-mart or kmart purse and was lucky to keep it a full year. When you have a 4 year old yanking on the strap when you're in the store or a teen who tosses it to you when you asked them to get it from your room, you want something that will last.

Admittedly, I splurged on a small Prada that is suitable only for evening because I loved the feel of it. I seldom carry it but I do enjoy it on occasion. Not much different than the my vintage Stratton Compact collection. I seldom use them but I love looking at them, holding them in my hand, arranging them, then putting them back. They're just pretty.

Of course, I sometimes line up all my eyeshadows and just smile at all the pretty colors. I'm a girly girl and if that makes me shallow in someone's eyes, that's fine. To each his or her own, you know?

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1. 10/03/07
  
  ThriftShopRomantic
  
  I don't think being a girly-girl and being shallow are necessarily synonymous. A person can take pride in their appearance without being a slave to trends.
  
  A gal can be girly and enjoy the colors of her eyeshadow without having to work two jobs to pay for a handbag that costs more than a car payment, is all. :-)
2. 10/03/07
  
  scorpy01
  
  I disagree with your opinion. It's a judgement call whether a purse is worth that kind of money and saying that someone who thinks it worth it - whether they must save up for it or sacrifice something else - is shallow is imposing your own standards and preferences on others.
  
  Another example, one of us is all about rescuing abandoned dogs, usually of mixed breed, from shelters. The other of us loves the perfection of a specific breed and the training process of bringing that show quality dog to a point where it can compete. Both of us treat our dogs with equal amounts of love and care. Is one of us more noble or less shallow because we paid $50 for our dog rather than $1500? There are those who would argue so.
3. 10/03/07
  
  ThriftShopRomantic
  
  Hi, Scorpy- My intention certainly was not to irritate or offend you; I respect your opinions.
  
  I think a bit of my post was misconstrued-- I understand your dog analogy but don't personally view it as equivalent to designer purse rental-- but let's leave it as simply a differing perspective.
10/03/07

stillchic

I like the girly girl notion. I'm not always girly, but I definitely enjoy moments of it.

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10/03/07

cooper

I find it kind of pathetic. Renting purses?

I love purses but will buy one or tow good ones and use them until they are dead.

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10/03/07

robinj

I think everyone has their own truth I dont think renting a handbag would be high on my list of things to do with my money but I think everyone needs to nurture themselves in some way every now and then and if that is what brings you some joy who am I to judge.

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