Beg, borrow or steal...

Having watched the Sex and the City movie for what must be the millionth time last night, I was reminded of a website that I had been meaning to blog about since the beginning of time. Or thereabouts, anyway...

The concept behind Beg, Borrow or Steal, the online rental website for designer goods, is genius. It allows us mere mortals to sport that quilted Chanel, or that Hermes Birkin, without the full designer price tag. This means that designer beauty is not just reserved for the Carrie Bradshaw's or the Victoria Beckham's of the world. For a snippet of the price, that vintage Chanel (pictured above) can be yours, albeit temporarily.

Since birth, I have wanted a black quilted Chanel. But nearing two thousand sheets in price, it has thus far been a distant dream, just like the Mulberry Bayswater I've had my eye on ever since I spotted it in Harrods, and thus fell head over bag in love. As a young woman with somewhat expensive taste for staple items, Beg, Borrow or Steal has given me the opportunity to experience the joy of having the Chanel number on my arm, without having to sell myself for my bag fund.

This Hermes Birkin Gold Vachette is available to rent from Beg, Borrow or Steal for £1,190 per week, or £3,500 per month. One of the more expensive bags, but nevertheless, still a snippet of the RRP price tag.
This amazing Carlos Falchi Magazine tote is the perfect accessory to any outfit. Rent it from Beg, Borrow or Steal for a snippet at £43 per week, or £125 per month.

I have wanted this quilted Chanel ever since I saw it draped over Agyness Deyn's arm. It is pretty much me in bag form, combining two of my great loves: Chanel and British patriotism. The union jack, along with leopard print, is one of my all time favourite prints, and my love for the Queen is endless. I'm VERY tempted to rent this for Christmas time, at a snip of £66 per week or £195 for the month. I have a Topshop version of this bag, which I loved but it broke, and so I feel it would be the perfect excuse! And what with the royal wedding announcement (I am planning my London trip to wave my union jack as we speak), I feel it's very contextual. Any excuse Grace....

However, it seems that us mere mortals can have the Cinderella treatment too, with www.cinderella-me.co.uk bringing us Louboutins and Jimmy Choo's to give our tootsies the star treatment. With Louboutins costing over 400 sheets for a basic pair, cinderella-me is a wonderful concept. Let's face it, we all crave those ruby red soles that give a glimpse of femme fetale on a grey day.

These gorgeous Louboutins are the perfect leg lengthener, and that peep-toe is oh-so sexy. And for £85 per week from cinderella-me, what's not to love!? They're the first heels on my wish list.
Bang on trend with that milky nude shade, these Alexander McQueen shoes are perfectly understated. The inner platform adds a bit of height (which is a winner with me, standing tall at just 5'3...) and I love the colour. For £55 per week, they're positively bargainous. You couldn't even buy a pair of Topshop heels for that! Love them. Long live McQueen.
I HEART these Gucci shoe-boots. The peep toes stop them being prim, and then navy and cream contrast detail give them a very Chanel feel to them. Audrey Tautou eat your heart out!

My conclusion?? Whereas I originally anticipated waiting a lifetime to get a vintage quilted Chanel on my arm and a pair of Louboutins on my feet, it seems these rental websites will allow me to do that a bit sooner than I thought. Which can only be a good thing, surely?! When funds allow, I will make my desired purchase and get some of these babies for myself, but until then, I plan on renting my pocket money away to bring a little luxury to my early twenties. Hello Christmas list.