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Welcome to Skimm Tested, a series where we put viral products to the test and give you our honest, unfiltered reviews.
What We Tested…
Vivrelle’s Classique Subscription, which allows you to “borrow” one item (such as a handbag or piece of jewelry) for $139 per month.
Why We Tested…
How We Tested…
Myself and two coworkers utilized the subscription platform over the course of six weeks for a variety of events, travel, and everyday life. We paid attention to ease of use, if the subscription price felt worth it, inventory, and level of customer service.
Margo’s Results…
Ease of use. Vivrelle’s interface is easy to navigate and fun to scroll through. Once I made my selection for the month (I chose this Chloe bag), the platform makes next steps clear — from tracking to returns. The box comes with a pre-printed shipping label sticker, which makes returning at the end of the month nearly effortless. All I had to do was put the bag back in the dust bag it came in, place it in the same box, add the shipping label, and drop it off at UPS. For a subscription service like this, I appreciate that they didn’t make the ship-back process feel like a hassle.
Condition. Each bag varies in condition, but the consensus amongst the three of us is that they were basically like new. With a rental service like this, you anticipate that the bags will have a little bit of wear, but the state of the bag I rented exceeded my expectations. It was clean, had no scuffs, and the hardware was shiny.
Customer service. The bag I chose didn’t come with the crossbody strap it was supposed to come with. I emailed customer service and they responded promptly, ensuring that the strap I needed would come to me in two days. This is the kind of customer service I should expect, especially for the price. I was impressed!
Pricing. Our team tested the Classique tier, which allows you to borrow one designer bag or piece of jewelry per month for $139. While this is still pricey, I do think it’s a very affordable way to wear and test designer goods, especially if you’re thinking of eventually buying the designer bag you're borrowing.
Shannon’s Results…
Variety. I'm a total bag lover. In my eyes, Vivrelle is a smart way to test high-end pieces before a big investment. Since members can hold bags for extended periods, the selection can feel limited. If you're hunting for a specific, coveted bag, you need patience and flexibility, as availability isn't guaranteed.
Experience. I found the entire process to be seamless. Shipping was very fast, and I loved testing two dream bags, which saved my wallet as I realized they weren't right for my daily life.
Transparency. When the bags I had picked had minor wear, I was sent photos to see if I still wanted to continue with the rental and my account was credited $10. The application was smooth, upgrading tiers was simple, and you can keep a bag for as long as you want.
Event-friendliness. As someone who mainly works from home, I found Vivrelle to be a great option for events, special occasions, and trips — especially because I don’t need to invest in a big bag for commuting or everyday use.
Pricing. While the value is excellent when factoring in cost-per-wear and “try-before-you-buy,” the monthly subscription felt expensive when compared to saving up for a single permanent purchase.
Sam’s Results…
Ease of use. I loved the ease of selecting products. The selection is vast — even if your favorite picks are taken. You can set an alert for when a high-demand item is back in stock, too. I did this for a The Row bag and was able to snag it right away.
Customer service and transparency. I rented a navy Chanel bag and got an email that it was damaged immediately after I selected it. Vivrelle sent photos of the damage and said I could keep it or swap to another bag. I couldn’t see damage from the photos, so I decided to move forward with my selection. When it arrived, I still could not tell where the damage was (in my eyes, the leather was just more worn).
Practicality. I loved being able to get a special bag for my sister's wedding weekend. I then swapped it for a more practical everyday bag from The Row for work. If I were to ever purchase a bag from these brands, I would buy in a neutral hue, but being able to select and swap, I was more open to Vivrelle’s fun and unique bags in bright colors and patterns (sans major financial penalty). This is a great service for both special occasions and everyday use. If you're thinking of buying a designer bag, it's a nice way to try the bag out in everyday life before making the big purchase.
Sidenotes…
Vivrelle and Revolve recently introduced EllaAI, a styling tool that will help you create outfits with the pieces you borrow. The tool pulls shoppable links from Revolve, so you can buy an entire outfit in one swipe. This is now a part of Vivrelle’s membership. While we all didn’t feel like the tool was necessary, we did find it wonderful for any events coming up (especially ones with dress codes that are hard to understand).
The Fine Details…
You can sign-up for Vivrelle at vivrelle.com.
There are multiple subscription tiers, with its most basic tier starting at $139/month and increasing to $339/month. The more you pay, the more you have access to, whether that be the number of pieces you borrow or what is available to you.
For those in New York City, there is an in-person showroom where you can shop, try on styles, and borrow them by way of your membership.
If you love a piece and continue to borrow it, you can even buy it from Vivrelle at a discounted price.
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