The concept and service of handbag rentals has actually been around for a few years, but it's just now starting to pick up steam. With the often absurd price tags attached to high-end luxury accessories, a lot of fashion enthusiasts are resolved to merely window shopping and doing without the quality products that they would like to own. On top of that, even when one can manage to scrape together enough cash to purchase an extravagant purse or handbag, it's not uncommon for it to go out of style by the next season.
Possibly taking cues from Netflix, a couple different companies have answered the call and made designer handbags available as rentals to those who probably could not afford them otherwise. The two companies dominating the handbag rental business right now are Bag, Borrow, or Steal and From Bags to Riches. The former of the two recently landed a prominent product placement in the new Sex and the City movie, which has served to boost the company's popularity and brandability, considerably.
By offering purse rentals for as little as $6 a week (in some lower-end cases), these companies have made it possible for the "average" American to walk down the street carrying the latest Burberry, Chanel, or Louis Vuitton bag (and just about every other designer you can think of). The renter may keep the bag for as long as they like, and when they're finished they either return it or exchange it for a new bag. In the event that their customers become terribly attached to the rented purse, they take into account a few factors pertaining to the purse (age, condition) and then give the customer a fair price that they can purchase it at - usually significantly less than it would cost to buy the purse brand new.
In the past, many who wanted designer handbags have settled for counterfeits. Some counterfeit bags are created so masterfully that the average handbag aficionado can't tell the difference. Of course, there are those that can tell the difference, and that fact alone makes many people hesitant to be seen wearing something that may be obviously fake to someone. Handbag rentals are an ideal alternative because you still get the huge price break, and to sweeten the deal you get a 100% genuine designer bag to tote around.
On the downside, the most popular bags (specifically the ones that celebrities have been spotted with that month) tend to get snatched up quickly, and in order to get your hands on one you might have to get on a waiting list.
In addition to their handbag collection, Bag, Borrow, or Steal also recently added jewelry, as well as sunglasses to their roster. The idea of renting sunglasses doesn't seem quite as clever to me, but I suppose designer sunglasses can also get into pretty daunting price ranges.
If you decide to rent a purse from another purse rental company (aside from the two reputable ones mentioned above), be sure to do your research online and make sure they are a legitimate company that is lending out authentic handbags. With all the attention handbag rentals are getting lately, it's inevitable that the crooks will be trying to get a piece of the action soon. So, do your homework, and happy borrowing!
For more information on handbag borrowing and to see a complete list of available designers, check out: http://handbagborrowers.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_P_Anderson
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Why You Need Sandals With Heels - Or Not
There are those of us who like to wear sandals as a comfort shoe, and then there are those of us who wear sandals because they look hot with our outfits and show off our pedicures. It is possible to combine both worlds - simply add heels!
A heel is a very easy way to dress up a sandal. If you are looking to wear sandals at work or for a night out on the town, you don't want to grab a pair of beach flip-flops for your tootsies. No way - it's time to break out the big guns, or as this season's designers would have it, a whimsical and architectural heel that is sure to impress.
Before you start groaning, consider this - heels can be comfortable. That's right. If you get a wedge heel or a thicker heel, you'll barely notice that your feet are somewhat elevated. Besides, isn't feeling sexy comfortable for most of us?
If you are wondering where to find the more showy heels of the season, you'll have to look at a higher end sandal. Besides, you want to make sure that such a lofty perch is built well and will endure the test of the first sidewalk crack it gets stuck in!
If it is a night out on the town and some dancing that you are looking for, make sure to stick to something with a thicker heel as it isn't good for your feet to be using killer dance moves on thin heels. Save these for the dinners out and the patio after. If you plan to be popping up a storm in your sandals, make sure that they have a back strap to hold them in place.
If you are looking to pick up a higher end sandal and can't quite afford the $600-$800 range of the top name brands, don't fret! Shoes may not all be created equal, but sandals are much harder to create differently from one another. For this reason, a sandal costing $75 to $200 isn't really going to be that much different from the extremely high end ones - we're willing to bet you can't even figure out the difference between the two if they are put side by side with labels ripped off. Besides, who exactly is going to see the label that your soles are covering up? Exactly; nobody is going to know the difference!
Getting back to the architectural heel. What exactly does this mean? It means a heel with cutouts, a heel with stature - a heel that looks like the Guggenheim rather than the Met. A heel that looks... designed. Sandals have become the hot item rather than handbags, and its all about the heel on the sandal when it comes to the dressup and salivation factor. The more structured, the better.
If you can't possibly envisage a heel on your sandal, there is hope for you. There are gladiator sandals with strappy good looks, and flat sandals with embellishments that will have you tiptoeing through the tulips just to pick a pair off the proverbial vine. While structured heels may be the it thing, those of you with heelphobia are not completely lost in this season's landscape.
Save money by shopping for athletic sandals online. Also shop online for beige dress sandals.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angela_West
A heel is a very easy way to dress up a sandal. If you are looking to wear sandals at work or for a night out on the town, you don't want to grab a pair of beach flip-flops for your tootsies. No way - it's time to break out the big guns, or as this season's designers would have it, a whimsical and architectural heel that is sure to impress.
Before you start groaning, consider this - heels can be comfortable. That's right. If you get a wedge heel or a thicker heel, you'll barely notice that your feet are somewhat elevated. Besides, isn't feeling sexy comfortable for most of us?
If you are wondering where to find the more showy heels of the season, you'll have to look at a higher end sandal. Besides, you want to make sure that such a lofty perch is built well and will endure the test of the first sidewalk crack it gets stuck in!
If it is a night out on the town and some dancing that you are looking for, make sure to stick to something with a thicker heel as it isn't good for your feet to be using killer dance moves on thin heels. Save these for the dinners out and the patio after. If you plan to be popping up a storm in your sandals, make sure that they have a back strap to hold them in place.
If you are looking to pick up a higher end sandal and can't quite afford the $600-$800 range of the top name brands, don't fret! Shoes may not all be created equal, but sandals are much harder to create differently from one another. For this reason, a sandal costing $75 to $200 isn't really going to be that much different from the extremely high end ones - we're willing to bet you can't even figure out the difference between the two if they are put side by side with labels ripped off. Besides, who exactly is going to see the label that your soles are covering up? Exactly; nobody is going to know the difference!
Getting back to the architectural heel. What exactly does this mean? It means a heel with cutouts, a heel with stature - a heel that looks like the Guggenheim rather than the Met. A heel that looks... designed. Sandals have become the hot item rather than handbags, and its all about the heel on the sandal when it comes to the dressup and salivation factor. The more structured, the better.
If you can't possibly envisage a heel on your sandal, there is hope for you. There are gladiator sandals with strappy good looks, and flat sandals with embellishments that will have you tiptoeing through the tulips just to pick a pair off the proverbial vine. While structured heels may be the it thing, those of you with heelphobia are not completely lost in this season's landscape.
Save money by shopping for athletic sandals online. Also shop online for beige dress sandals.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angela_West
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