Fashion | Rent2Buy Blog

Accessorize Like a Diva With Rent To Buy Handbags: From Chanel, to Gucci, to Prada

January 18, 2011

Posted by Sandie under All Things Rent To Buy, Fashion, Rent2Buy Concept

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I’m sure by now we’ve got you thinking about the endless possibilities of the rent to buy market: Rent to buy homes, rent to buy skis, rent to buy autos. But what about the market for rent to buy goods in the fashion industry?

There are several websites that let you rent or lease bags with the option to buy them. You can find big-name bags from designers like Chanel, Coach, Tracy Reese, Gucci, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and more for rent on the web.

Why rent to buy a handbag? Many people turn to this option because it is a financially sound way to rent or buy a bag they cannot afford to buy up-front. Buying a brand name bag is a big commitment, both when it comes to the high price you pay for the designer name and quality as well as the commitment you are making to owning that accessory for life. For those of us who aren’t ready to dish out the money required for a purchase of that size and seriousness right off the bat, choosing to rent or lease the handbag first is a great alternative.

Even if you have the money to spend on a high-priced bag and can afford to walk into a store right now and buy the most expensive one, why not take some time to weigh your options and try out a bag before you buy it? The option to rent for a little while, trying as many different bags you like for however long you desire, will allow you to make an informed decision about which bag is right for you. You can rent a super trendy bag for a while, and when a new one comes out that you like better you can trade in the one you have for the newer piece. You’ll never feel obligated to keep using a bag that you no longer like, just because you spent a ton of money to buy it originally.

There are several sites on the web catering to shoppers looking to try out designer handbags before they buy them. One such site is called Bag Borrow or Steal. On the site, you can rent handbags, jewelry, and other accessories for a week, a month, or for an entire season. If you decide you want to purchase an item while you’re renting it, you can go on the site and request to ‘steal it.’ If the item you are renting can be purchased, you will be shown the rental equity you’ve earned on that item. Even when you’re renting a bag, you won’t be losing money on it if you eventually decide to purchase it.

Some other sites that offer rent to buy handbags are Bag Borrow or Steal, From Bags to Riches and All That Bags.

Dress Like the Stars – For A Fraction of the Price

December 9, 2010

Posted by Sandie under Fashion

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Your closet is brimming with one-time-use articles of clothing. That special event came and went, and you were left with the pricey dress, shoes and accessories that will stay untouched on the hanger for months or even years to come. But what if you could help someone else look stunning in your old, as-good-as-discarded apparel? And next time you’re searching for that perfect outfit for a party, what if you could rent it, and only buy it if you liked it?

Websites like Wear Today Gone Tomorrow let you rent designer clothing for ridiculously low prices. They charge about 10% of the item’s retail price per week for your choice of designers like Stella McCartney and Dolce & Gabbana. By renting a dress instead of buying it, you can avoid burning your budget, but you’ll have to return it after the week is over. What if you fell in love with the dress and want to keep it? No such luck, you’ll have to head to your nearest department store and find it, with the full price tag attached.

Bag Borrow or Steal has caught on to the rent-to-buy concept with their designer accessories. The primary concept of their site is to “borrow” a top-of-the-line purse, watch or piece of jewelry, also for a fraction of the accessory’s original price. By borrowing, you get to wear the item for a pre-determined period of time without the hefty price tag, but of course, you have to give it back.

But what if your friends continue to ask about that swanky Gucci watch you were wearing, and you really want to keep it? Well, Bag Borrow or Steal will let you play the “steal” card – but don’t fret, unlike the name implies, it’s all legal. They’ll appraise the item since it’s used, and you’ll be able to own it. The best part is that any rental equity you’ve built up for that item will be taken off of the total price. So if you were a frequent renter of the necklace or sunglasses that you’re buying, it will all count toward the purchase price. This embodies the concept of rent-to-buy.

However, Bag Borrow and Steal doesn’t offer any clothing yet, and we haven’t found a site that does. If this concept appeals to you, why not post some of your own one-use-only items on Rent2Buy? Would you rent-to-buy clothing, considering someone else has worn it? What sort of brands would you want to see?

Try It Before You Buy It: Shoes!

November 29, 2010

Posted by Sandie under Fashion, Rent2Buy Concept

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The economic downturn has caused many consumers to reconsider the traditional ways they make purchases. When money is tight and the future uncertain, big ticket purchases are not a priority. Making fiscally responsible decisions should not mean sacrificing the way we look or feel. It is for this reason that people are exploring creative approaches to obtaining big ticket items.

When it comes to shoes, consumers are looking for affordable options that don’t require a sacrifice when it comes to fit and style. More and more consumers are relying on shoe repairs to spiff up an old pair of shoes. Others are swapping accessories with friends to update their look without incurring the expense of a new style. An alternate option that more and more people are turning to is shoe rental.

One Night Stand is a shoe boutique that has started offering clients the option to rent formal shoes. Unlike running shoes or winter boots, formal shoes are typically worn just a few times before they end up in the back of a closet, completely forgotten. Renting a pair of formal shoes for an event is also a great option for those of us who cannot afford to invest in a nicer pair.

Renting shoes allows the consumer to try out a pair of shoes and decide whether or not they’re a good fit. A night on the town with a pair of sleek black high heels will give you a feel for how they fit your lifestyle and whether or not they’re something worth owning. If you don’t see yourself walking around in those heels more than once or twice, then just return them and try out a new pair the next time you attend a formal event; If you love them, buy them! The option to test drive shoes will inevitably lead to many more satisfied consumers with more comfortable and stylish feet.

Shop Like a Celebrity – Try It Before You Buy It!

November 23, 2010

Posted by Sandie under Fashion, Rent2Buy Concept, Uncategorized

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You’re at the mall with your friends, trying on clothes in the fitting room. Everyone else is done; they’re just waiting on you. You try on a red cardigan and ponder it in the mirror. You think you like it, and your friends say they like it too.

It does seem to fit well. But do you really need it? And the coloring looks kind of funny in the harsh lighting of the dressing room. If only there was a way you could wear the sweater at home for a little while, take some time to think, and see if you still like it in a day or two.

With Norma Kamali’s try before you buy concept, you can. Anyone can shop like a celebrity!

How it works:

Order what you want online
You have 48 hours to try out whatever you like
Keep what you want, send back the rest

The try before you buy concept allows customers to order whatever clothes they may be interested in without having to commit to purchasing them. Unlike with typical online shopping, you can test out the clothes you ordered and see what you like and what fits. After you’ve had a chance to try out the clothes and decide what you want to keep you just send back what you don’t want via courier to Norma Kamali.

There are many benefits of being able to try the clothes before you buy them. Shopping online, though quick and convenient, can be a real gamble. You never know which clothes are going to fit you; the process is so hit or miss. The risk of buying clothes that don’t fit properly and that you’ll never wear is completely eliminated if you can try out the clothes before you buy them.

The try it before you buy it process is both risk- and stress-free. You won’t risk buying clothes that don’t fit or that you just plain don’t like. On top of this, you won’t have to deal with stressful trips to the mall where you have to make split-second decisions in the dressing room about whether or not to purchase that red cardigan you think you like.

Norma Kamali makes the dream of shopping like a celebrity accessible to anyone. It’s really worth considering the possibilities of the ‘try it before you buy it’ concept as it applies to clothes shopping, or anything else for that matter.

Click here to try before you buy at Norma Kamali.

Skullcandy Lets You Try Before You Buy Headphones

August 20, 2010

Posted by Sandie under Fashion

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Skullcandy headphones are more than just a necessary means to an end. These headphones are about more than just listening to music. They’re a fashion statement; a conscious decision to portray your own personal style via unique over-the-ear headphones in any number of styles and colors.

The brand is now allowing customers to try out headphones before they buy them. Skullcandy is using an augmented reality feature to allow people to try out the Roc Nation Aviator headphones. You can get a feel for what it’s like to wear the headphones, what they will look like, and whether or not they’re a good fit for you and your personal style.

If the ‘try it before you buy it’ concept can be applied to a product like headphones, what else can it be applied to?

Rent a DVF Dress? Now You Can.

December 15, 2009

Posted by Sandie under Fashion

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Want to look like you just stepped off the runway, without putting down a few thou for your dress? Now you can.

Rent the Runway—which has been called a kind of Netflix for designer clothes—lets women wear dresses from designers like Diane Von Furstenberg, Hervé Léger and Proenza Schouler “for roughly one-tenth of what they would cost to buy in a retail store,” reports Jenna Wortham in the New York Times Technology pages. Through Rent the Runway, you can pay between $50 and $200 to rent a dress that would have cost you $1,000 or more to own.

We think that makes a whole lot of sense in the market for high-end fashion products—as it takes a lot of the risk away. If your designer dress turns out to be a $3,000 flop, you’re stuck with a $3,000 closet ornament. But if you can return the dress you’ve bought that week, that risk is eliminated. (Plus, a lot of people just don’t have the cash to pay a few thousand dollars for a party outfit.)

The site launched in November, and it got 20,000 users in the first week. Rather than fearing being devalued by the masses through a rent-a-dress service, many designers welcome a site like this—particularly up-and-coming labels seeking to gain brand recognition. Meanwhile, Rent the Runway co-founder Jennifer Hyman observers that “If someone wears a dress and absolutely loves it, she will go out and buy it.”

Of course, that sounds like a rent-to-buy opportunity in the works. Dress up and rent today, wear that great dress on the town, and buy it once you fall in love with your new threads.

We may be looking at a whole new model in high-fashion sales.

Rent2Buy Blog

Accessorize Like a Diva With Rent To Buy Handbags: From Chanel, to Gucci, to Prada

Dress Like the Stars – For A Fraction of the Price

Try It Before You Buy It: Shoes!

Shop Like a Celebrity – Try It Before You Buy It!

Skullcandy Lets You Try Before You Buy Headphones

Rent a DVF Dress? Now You Can.

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