Bid, borrow or swap your way to a fabulous wardrobe

If eBay, Net-a-Porter, Rent the Runway and Gilt Groupe (all of my favorite shopping websites) had a baby, their progeny would look like I-ELLA.com.

Launched by a fashion-obsessed entrepreneur in New York, I-ELLA weaves enough elements into the shopping experience to make my head spin (in a really good way).

Here’s the gist.

I-ELLA translates the social aspect of shopping with friends to the
online setting by letting you “share” your closet with the rest of the
invitation-only community, which includes celebs, models and assorted
fashionistas. Once you post your new or gently worn goods on the site
for display, you can decide if you want to sell, lend or swap them, or
choose from the fare of the other stylish folk. The swap option comes
with a $5 fee.

Recent items I found on I-ELLA included a white
Jimmy Choo hobo bag for $200 to purchase or $30 a week/$40 a month to
borrow; a size 10 J Brand high-waisted jeans for $90; and a Marc by Marc
Jacobs pretty floral sundress in a size 6 for $125.

I-ELLA also
has a big heart. 10% of each purchase (or of the swap fee) goes to a
charity of your choice. With sites like these offering so many options,
retailers will have to come up with a pretty good reason for me to go
shopping outside of my living room. –Melissa

Visit I-ELLA.com for designer purchases, trades or loaners. Good news! CMP readers get special VIP access, use code CoolMomPicks to register.