The latest lifestyle, fashion and travel trends
The latest lifestyle, fashion and travel trends
Summer is here, and with it the doubling of demands on our wardrobe.
We panic buy summery mini dresses after work and splash out on expensive wedding guest dresses we’re not even sure we like. All of which we wear once or twice, get the ’gram, then banish them to the back of the cupboard.
But rather than panic splurging, why not tackle the summer party season’s dressing pressures by hiring some seriously chic designer kit to wear to that next wedding or garden party instead?
Not only is dress rental a more economically effective option, but it’s also a far more sustainable solution, which right now couldn’t be more in vogue.
Be the girl at the party to tell everyone your dress is hired – the good money says you’ll start a trend.
Here are the services to know:
Hurr
This peer-to-peer dress rental platform is perfect for renting something quickly in London, and has a good stock of wedding guest-ready styles.
Brands: Everything from &Other Stories through to Dior and Dolce & Gabbanna.
How it works: Hurr is a peer-to-peer rental platform, which means the company doesn’t have a central hub, but rather lenders are responsible for posting, couriering or exchanging their items in person. To rent or loan clothing on the platform you must first be approved by the Hurr team – apply here.
For those living in central London, items can be sent using fully green bicycle courier service Pedals.
Lenders are responsible for dry cleaning the item once returned. They can use any provider but Hurr has partnered with award winning eco-friendly dry cleaners Blanc on special rates. The platform currently offers a £5 protection charge, which covers minor stains and damage on any returned item. Renters can borrow items in seven day increments, up to one month.
Price: Renters can access designer pieces for around 20 per cent of the retail price. The company makes money by taking 15 per cent of the rental price from the lender and 15 per cent from the renter. Seven day dress hire from £30 upwards.
For more info on Hurr, read our in-depth review here.
The Endless Wardrobe
Founded in January 2019, The Endless Wardrobe currently has a fairly limited stock of dresses, but what they do have is super cool.
Brands: Currently cool-girl brand De La Vali dominates the dress selection, with other items from the likes of Alexa Chung and Free People.
How it Works: Unlike Hurr, The Endless Wardrobe is not a peer-to-peer service, instead they buy and hold all the stock themselves, meaning they have multiple sizes in almost all items.
Pick a dress on the site and choose from a 5, 10 or 16-day rental period (you can book up to 3 months in advance), with a slight price increase for longer periods.
If you wish to try the item in advance, book in a five-day rental, try it on and then return it for just £4.99. They also offer refunds on up to two unworn items, so you might as well try a few options on, or order your piece in a few sizes to be safe.
Return in the original packaging by attaching your pre-paid returns label and taking to your nearest DPD drop-off point. Prices include delivery and dry cleaning, and they cover you for any normal wear and tear.
Price: Items are listed for 10-20 per cent of the retail price. Five day dress hire from £19.
Girl Meets Dress
Founded by the ex-head of UK PR for Hermes, Girl Meets Dress is one of the largest dress rental services in the UK, boasting an impressive range of 4000 dresses from 200 designers.
Brands: Everything from cool-girl brands like Ganni, Dodo Bar and Self Portrait, to major designers like Alexander McQueen and Dolce & Gabbana. Dresses are current season and popular items are continued for longer on the site.
How it works: There’s no need to register or subscribe, you don’t even have to create an account with them. Just browse and order a dress to hire for two or seven nights. You can try on up to three dresses and only pay for the dress you wear. Dresses are delivered within 24 hours (next day in UK and same day in London) and returns are free. Alternatively sign up for a VIP membership and get a rolling delivery of three dresses at a time.
They also have a showroom in Fulham where you can pop in and try on as many dresses as you like.
Price: Two night dress hire from £19 to £119. VIP membership £99/ month.
Chic by Choice
Chic by Choice specialises in evening wear, stocking everything from white and black tie, to cocktail and flirty party dresses.
Brands: From Badgley Mischka and Self Portrait, through to Valentino, Preen and Marchesa Notte.
How it works: They have over 1000 dresses to rent and ship to 15 countries in Europe overnight. They offer a free second size to ensure the perfect fit, and full refunds for any unworn and exchanged dresses, so you might as well order a couple extra to try.
They also offer same day delivery in London, for any party dressing crises.
Price: £50 to £200 for four or eight days
