Designer Labels for Every Season

I'm not a Sex and the City watcher, so I don't claim to know the topics that are discussed randomly throughout the seasons.  That's why I was so amazed at the concept of Bag Borrow or Steal, a website devoted to renting out designer handbags.  My friend Ashley & I had met for dinner just the other night and I noticed that she had a very interesting purse with her, and when I asked her about it she told me that it was a Betseyville handbag.  I don't claim to be a knowledgeable purse shopper, but I know that a single Betseyville purse can run rather expensive, and this particular bag came with a price tag of $350.  With Bag Borrow or Steal, however, purse-happy ladies (or gentlemen?) don't have to worry about the cost as they can browse, choose, rent, and return the handbags of their dreams.  Fickle hearts can finally be satsified with the ability to try everything without having to commit to that final sales price.

A membership into this website is $40 a month, but judging by their website you don't have to be a member to participate.  Membership offers a minimal discount on your weekly or monthly rental fees (about $3, dependent on the item being rented), so if you're planning on becoming a steady purse renter it's in your best interest in the long run to fork over the $40.  You can also opt to pay an extra fee for "purse insurance", so if you're renting a handbag for a wild night out you might want to consider the perils of projectile vomit on patent leather.  In addition to handbags, Bag Borrow or Steal offers designer jewelry, sunglasses and watches for rental - some pieces costing as much as $509 a week to rent ($15,000 retail).  As might be obvious, certain pieces cost more than others per week/month based upon their retail price & value; the rental price tag on some of these items may have you wondering why someone would spend hundreds of dollars just to own something for the span of a week, but if you're attending a major event or it's a special occassion I can see the justification in splurging.  Am I tempted?  No.  But I'm not one of those girls who can't be satsified with a Target purse...and if I feel the sudden need for labels I do what every smart woman does: I raid my mother's closet!  How cheap & easy it that??