Jan 22, 20223 min read

Bags on a Budget

Let’s face it, we love the designer handbags. If you’re anything like me, you do frequently partake in window shopping. In my case, it’s usually the window of my computer screen. I have a specially curated wishlist of MY bags. Bags that deserve to be in my closet. Given a nice and supportive nurturing forever home. But alas, you look at the price and you look at your bank account and there is some sort of disconnect. Clearly your account didn’t get the memo that there was supposed to be enough funds in there. And your account is staring back at you like:

But I digress…. Don’t give up hope. I have a few alternatives that could be alternatives that are affordable for some of us out here.

Consignment Sites & Apps

Sites such as tradesy.com, rebag.com, fashionphile.com, therealreal.com (just to name a few) are fabulous ways to snag CERTIFIED AUTHENTIC (no fake bullsh*t) luxury items at discount prices. Tradesy, Fashionphile, and The Real Real aren’t limited to just handbags either. You can find jewelry, clothing, wedding dresses, shoes, and all different types of accessories. Some pieces are even brand new with tags. These sites offer coupons and sales very often on top of the discounted prices. They are definitely worth checking out. Consignment sites are also a fabulous way to obtain vintage and pieces from previous seasons. And yes, my wishlist runneth over on these sites.

Luxury Bags & Accessories Subscription

Bag subscriptions are another great way to get your hands on some designer items and it may be perfect for your budget too!

Vivrelle (vivrelle.com). With Vivrelle, you have the option to borrow items (bags, designer jewelry, and fine jewelry) for as long as you’d like, then swap it or buy it. Vivrelle offers different membership tiers (Premier, Classique, Couture, Couture+) with prices starting as low as $39/month and go up to $279/month. Some of the brands you can find are Jacquemus, Cartier, CELINE, Fendi, Givenchy, Hermes, Chanel, Goyard, Prada, Tiffany & Co, Van Cleef Arpels, Louis Vuitton, and Proenza Schouler just to name a few. Visit: https://www.vivrelle.com/how-it-works for more deets.

Bag Borrow or Steal (BBOS) (bagborrowsteal.com) is the most well-known of the designer bag loaner program and has been around the longest. BBOS allows you to rent, buy used and/or brand-new items, as well as sell your bags. No membership is required and there are no hidden fees. The price you see includes everything (rental & shipping). There is no time limit for borrowing. As long as your account remains in good standing, the frequency of item rotation is up to you. Your payment method will automatically be charged at the end of the rental term if you have not yet returned the rental item. To find out more about borrowing, buying, or selling, checkout: https://www.bagborroworsteal.com/howitworks.

Payment Plans

Lastly, there are payment plans/financing. Purchasing items in this fashion are definitely on the rise and can be used on some luxury designer sites as well. Gucci and Oscar de la Renta are just 2 with these options, however it gets better. Companies are now allowing purchases with payment plans via PayPal, Affirm, and Klarna. When checking out, sometimes you will see the option to use one of these 3 payment plans (there are others, but for this discussion, these 3 are the most used as options for luxury purchases) as an option. If you choose PayPal as an option, PayPal gives the option to pay in 4 installments and/or divide the payment onto 2 cards. Affirm allows you to pay over time, but is subject to credit approval. You have the option to select this option at checkout, or you can make a one-time digital card to use on any site of your choosing if the option is not provided. Klarna also allows for payment plans over time that are subject to a credit check as well as paying in 4 interest free installments even if it is not offered on the website as a payment option. Take a look here to see how digital card creation works for both Affirm and Klarna.

https://helpcenter.affirm.com/s/article/affirm-virtual-card

https://www.klarna.com/us/customer-service/what-is-a-one-time-card-and-how-does-it-work/

Take a look at some of the items available below. Thanks for reading! Happy Shopping!!!