Splurging on a designer handbag is one of the bigger fashion purchases a person can make. With prices equivalent to (and sometimes beyond) my Brooklyn apartment’s rent, they call them “investment bags” for a reason. Luckily, Vivrelle is making these big-ticket items more accessible through its membership-based monthly rentals, allowing you to carry a designer bag for a fraction of the retail price.
With a selection of vintage and current bags, Vivrelle has options for every type of shopper. There are classics like the Chanel flap bag or Dior Saddle bag, as well as trend-driven pieces that are super hot right now. For example, Vivrelle cofounder and CEO Blake Geffen points to the popularity of more outgoing, colorful bags. “The past few seasons have featured quiet luxury with muted colors such as brown, black and gray, so I’m really excited to see these bright pops of color back in the rotation” she says.
Putting these trends (and classics) to the test, four Underscored editors tested Vivrelle memberships over the past three months to find out whether or not the designer rentals are worth it.
Vivrelle's rental program makes nabbing your dream bag a reality, even when on a budget. You can choose from four membership levels, with the most basic starting at just $45 a month. At any tier, you get access to designer handbags and jewelry from the likes of Gucci, Chanel, Bottega Veneta and more.
What we liked about it
Designer bags in mint condition, delivered to your doorstep
For style enthusiasts and practical shoppers alike, it’s fun to comb Vivrelle’s pages of inventory. You’ll spot bags from all the major fashion houses — Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Saint Laurent, Gucci, etc. — plus designer and fine jewelry too. You can filter your search by the subscription tiers and also toggle on an Available Now filter so that you can ensure the bag you’ve set your sights on is actually ready to be added to your closet. All four testers were impressed with Vivrelle’s overall selection, and we were even more impressed with the quality of our bags.
We all opted for a Couture+ subscription, which is the highest tier — allowing you to pick one Classique item and one Couture item — and goes for $309 per month. Since I go to a lot of media events as a beauty and fashion editor, it seemed worth it when I signed up. I picked out a vintage Chanel vanity case and a trendy Balenciaga shoulder bag for my first month. When they arrived, they looked brand-new. I was especially surprised by the vintage bag, which was completely spotless and scratch-free.
I opted to switch my two bags out each month, but other editors who tested the Couture+ membership took advantage of Vivrelle’s flexible rentals and their favorite styles for longer (which is an option for any subscription tier).
“I didn’t think I would have so much fun with a rental experience (and believe me, I have tried them all!), but I loved looking through the different bags across the three tiers and choosing two to call my own for a full month or more,” one of them shares. “I ended up picking four bags over my three-month trial membership.” This editor was looking for a statement bag as well as an everyday carrier and ended up finding two options she fell in love with. She went for a colorblocked Chanel bag — which she calls “a showstopper, perfect for dressing up a more casual look for a night out with friends” — and the Celine Micro-Luggage tote, which was a perfect work bag, holding her laptop, wallet, sunglasses and a few other essentials.
Vivrelle also offers three other membership tiers: Couture ($219/month), which allows one rental at a time from the Couture closet, including handbags, jewelry and limited-edition pieces; Classique ($119/month) where you can rent one item per month from the Classique closet, inclusive of designer bags and jewelry; and Premier ($45/month) which gets you one item out of a limited selection of bags and jewelry up to $1,000 in value.
Quick and secure shipping and returns
Once you place your Vivrelle order, shipping is super quick. Each time, I received my package within two days. Signature is required for delivery, which I appreciated since I do not have a doorman or package room — it would make me sick to have a four-figure handbag swiped from my doorstep.
Returning the rentals was equally easy, with a return label included in the shipping box. If you happen to misplace it, you can also log into your account and print a new one at home.
Customer service
When luxury products are involved, there’s also an expectation of top-notch customer service, and Vivrelle certainly delivered. They were quick and attentive to answer any inquiries, and it was clear they wanted to ensure a positive experience. More than once I picked out bags that had minor scuffs or stains, and each time I was promptly contacted by Vivrelle’s customer service to alert me of the marks. They sent multiple, detailed pictures to accurately show the severity of the blemishes — which, to be honest, were quite minor. I then had the choice to continue with the rental and receive a $10 credit or pick a different item. One other editor experienced the same thing and was satisfied with the efficient and transparent customer service. “They are prompt with response time and always eager to help,” she adds.
Our Vivrelle bags.
Customer service will also help you purchase any rental you love enough to keep, which two editors inquired about and one ended up carrying through with. For both, it was easy to email the membership team to request a quote for the sale price of the bag. The editor that ultimately purchased her dream bag even got a deal. “I loved all the bags I rented (a total of three over three months) and ended up buying one because they were offering an additional 20% off for the 4th of July,” she says. “This was on top of the already discounted price, which factored in your membership costs. I browsed online to see what my bag was going for on other resale sites, and this was the best deal by far.”
The showroom
For those in the New York City area, Vivrelle has a showroom on East 32nd Street where you can schedule an appointment and browse the offerings in person. You can also choose to pick up your rentals there rather than have them delivered.
Two of the editors visited the showroom and loved seeing the array of rainbow-colored bags lining the walls. In person, you even have the opportunity to grab a style before it hits the site. “Walking into the Vivrelle NYC showroom was my version of heaven on earth,” one editor says. “If you do pick up in the store, they let you browse the floor to see if anything just came in and you can swap your pick.” The other editor raves, “The customer service in-store was truly top tier. Also, it was just straight-up fun to browse, feel and touch each bag and, ultimately, helped me with my next trade.”
What we didn’t like about it
You may be left waiting for your wish list items
Even though Vivrelle has pages upon pages of handbags and jewelry to choose from, each of the editors found that the actual available inventory was much more limited. “There were a ton of options; however, when reserving online, things go fast,” one editor says. I found it most helpful to always turn the Available Now switch on in order to avoid getting my hopes up.
We found that “hearting” items to add to your wish list helped us remember our favorite styles, but that was about it. You can opt into getting alerts when your wish list items become available, but even so, they’ll likely be snatched up by the time you log into your account. “I had email notifications on so I’d know as soon as my favorites were available, but this didn’t help if I wasn’t looking at my email constantly,” one editor says.
The price
If you want to unlock the higher subscription tiers and get access to the Couture closet (like us), you’re going to be shelling out around $200 per month or more, which adds up. Vivrelle lets you prepay three, six or 12 months to get a better deal for any of the tiers, but even so, a prepaid year of membership (with one month free) will cost you between $495 to $3,399.
Ultimately, each of the editors decided to downgrade their subscriptions or pause their membership. Personally, I would recommend going for the Classique subscription. Due to limited selection, I found that I would end up only really loving one piece and settling on another just to fill the quota for the Couture+ subscription. I would much rather save the money and find one piece that I really loved.
“Although I thoroughly enjoyed my experience as a Vivrelle Couture member the past few months, it’s pretty pricey and the limited selection of bags and accessories to choose from doesn’t justify keeping it,” another editor says. “That being said, I would absolutely re-up my membership leading up to my wedding this winter or when different events stack up so that I don’t have to splurge on full-price accessories and bags.”
In that case, freezing your membership is a good option if you know you’ll want to rent again within six months but don’t necessarily have the need or budget for it at the moment. “They have a long wait list, so this freeze keeps you as a member and you can un-freeze at any time,” one editor says.
Bottom line
Bag enthusiasts will appreciate the flexibility of membership levels and rental periods that Vivrelle offers, as well as the amazing condition and quality of its accessories. While we thought the price of the Couture and Couture+ membership levels were too steep to keep, we did fall in love with more than a few bags we rented and want to continue renting with Vivrelle at its more basic levels. Now that we know that we’re getting outstanding quality and customer service, renting a four-figure bag for under $150 a month feels totally worth it.
