You Can Now Borrow Designer Handbags From Nina Dobrev’s Closet — Well, Kind of

Imagine this: You now have full access to your favorite celebrity’s luxe closet. Clothes, designer handbags, fine jewelry, haute couture, all of it. Each item available to borrow at any given moment. We imagine that would look a little something like Cher Horowitz’s revolving rack of outfits. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, subscription rental site Vivrelle is making fashion dreams come true this fall by partnering with actress and fashion darling Nina Dobrev to give fans an exclusive peek inside her closet.

For the uninitiated, Vivrelle is a rental retailer that exclusively offers subscribers the chance to borrow high-end designer handbags, accessories, and fine jewelry for a fraction of the cost. Created by a bag lady for bag ladies, Vivrelle was founded by Blake Cohen Geffen alongside her husband Wayne Geffen back in 2018. Dobrev was initially drawn to Vivrelle because of their fearless female leader, and it wasn’t long before Nina “fell in love” with the concept. In fact, she loved it so much, she invested in the company. 

“I just fell in love with the idea to be able to have access to designer and couture fashion in a more sustainable way and at a more affordable price,” she tells InStyle. “I've been borrowing [from Vivrelle] since I got involved and have been really benefiting from the program. It's amazing to be able to have such a variety. It's almost like all of the bags are in your wardrobe — yet none of them are.”

It was a no-brainer for Dobrev to team up with the brand and curate its first-ever celebrity edit, featuring more than 25 designer pieces from some of her favorite fashion houses like Bottega Veneta, Chanel, Hermés, Fendi, and more. Members of the luxury accessory rental service will have the opportunity to scroll through and borrow pieces from her collection, so there’s no time like the present to join. Memberships start at just $45 per month, and can run up to $309 per month depending on your preferred tier.

Dobrev’s edit arrives on vivrelle.com on Friday, Sept. 29, just in time to supplement your autumn wardrobe, which was the actress’s intention from the start. The change in seasons can be hard on your wardrobe and your wallet (transitional dressing, am I right?). 

“We put [the edit] together with the fall in mind,” she explains. “Now that I [am in] New York, it's all either staples or statement pieces. It's so important for me to have basic things, and then when you borrow a bag from Vivrelle that can be the statement because the rest of the outfit is kind of simple, chic, and classic. The bag is what stands out.”

Speaking of fall mood board inspo, Nina’s go-to outfit formula this season is actually something that you probably already have in your closet — with a few pieces from her Vivrelle closet (which you can now borrow too). The star tells us that she’s going to be living in a wool coat, straight-leg jeans, and a beanie styled with Louis Vuitton Monogram Palm Springs backpack, or something a little more classic like a quilted leather Chanel tote. She’s even made sure to incorporate the color of the season in her lineup of bags.

“There are a few red bags in my closet that I'm excited to bring into my rotation to add a bold color with something that's maybe a little bit more neutral or monotone,” she shares.

Besides having the ability to exponentially elevate your wardrobe, Nina thinks Vivrelle is the perfect platform to make luxury goods more accessible — and sustainable, as renting or buying secondhand helps encourage reuse over buying new things.

“More people are able to experience luxury and do it at a more accessible price point, which gives endless opportunities [to] play around with their personal style,” she says. “With fashion trends changing faster and faster, it's a little bit easier to experiment with different trends and styles [by] borrowing instead of having to buy. Plus, it's also the more sustainable option in my opinion.”

We were lucky enough to get more of Dobrev’s style wisdom in honor of the collab. Ahead, InStyle talks to Nina about her first ever luxury handbag, her biggest fashion regret, and the oldest thing in her closet.

What excites you most about this partnership with Vivrelle?

I'm just really excited to be the first celebrity edit on the website, to spearhead that whole movement, and for people to hopefully browse and check it out. And, if it speaks to them, to also become members, that would be incredible too. I think that they'd love it and I'm excited. It's going to be awesome.

What was the first designer item that you owned?

My very first piece was a Chanel. I don't remember the actual name of it, but it was a red Chanel wallet purse. It was really little, and I remember it being a couple thousands of dollars. At the time — I mean it still is a lot of money — I remember being like, “Oh my god.” I had to get the smallest thing that they have just to say that I got something. I was so nervous about spending that amount of money on anything that I didn't necessarily need but I wanted, and I was probably 20 or 21. I was in Paris. I was like, “Well, when in Paris you have to buy Chanel.”

What is your best vintage find?

I recently found a vintage Rolling Stones band tee from I feel like the seventies and it's in such good condition. It's an XL, and I have an idea in my mind: I want to wear it as a dress and then wear really high leather over-the-knee-boots.

And style it with your first ever Chanel bag! What’s the oldest thing in your closet?

I have a Burberry trench coat. It was a gift when I was 20. It's functional, and it's made really well, so it still holds up.

Where did your love of fashion come from and who was your style inspiration growing up?

I always loved fashion, but I can't say that I necessarily was all that great at it. If you look at my style from when I was 18 to 22, it wasn't great until I hired a stylist. Then, I started picking up little things here and there from stylists that I work with, magazines, seeing others take chances and imagining myself in those outfits, and sort of playing around with different things.

Do you have a red carpet regret?

I think there was one year where I found this feather or something in a flea market, and I asked the hairstylist to put it in my hair for a big red carpet event or maybe my first upfronts. I think that might've been the day that my publicist was like, we need to get you [a stylist].

What about your favorite red carpet moment?

My first ever Emmys red dress was probably my favorite. I love the red. I warned you.