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When the weather gets great, it’s the first sign of the festive time of year for celebrities — awards season. And while we can sit and stare at celeb’s outfits all day (in fact, that’s one of my favorite pastimes), the reality is they have teams that help them out every step of the way, from making sure their makeup and hair look glam, to ensuring their outfit is one of a kind.
So I know what you’re thinking: Well, how can I look like a celebrity at my event on my budget? The answer is super simple, one that has grown from the constant need of fast-fashion and accessibility to designer threads. Yep, we’re talking about renting.
There are two main benefits to renting out an evening gown or a dress to be a guest at a wedding or even for date night. First of all, most services offer the dresses at a discounted rate, usually based on how many days you’ll keep it. Secondly, you can rock a designer dress for a fraction of the cost, and if you don’t do evening wear often enough to justify a $1,000+ splurge, then it works out for you.
Okay, so where can you look? Here are sites that let you rent a variety of things, including beautiful gowns. So go, have fun, rent away!
Model Citizen
How it works: You create an account and list the items that you want to rent. Interested parties send you a rental agreement, which you can accept or deny. Once you accept, there are a variety of ways to get it to the person, and then it finishes off with a review! You can list your dresses and make money OR you can just shop off from the wardrobes of fashionistas. They go up to a size 26!
Why I love it: Because you’re renting through MC, you’re protected by their insurance policy, which means guaranteed payments and care of your items.
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Rent the Runway
How it works: You can browse the site to pick out the dress you’re going for, then mark how long you want to rent it as well as your delivery date!
Why I love it: You can snag designer dresses for next to nothing, and they also provide a backup size for free if you don’t know what size to get.
Charlotte’s Closet
How it works: You can either rent designer items, rotate your closet for three casual items a month, or try items on while home before you borrow.
Why I love it: Having a home try on option really takes the guess-work out of wanting to have something for your special night, whatever that is.
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Couture Collective
How it works: Definitely built for those who frequent fancy soireés, this company requires you to sign up for a membership, where you can then reserve your clothing selections.
Why I love it: Though it’s definitely more work than the average, it boasts high-end ready-to-wear looks like Valentino, Dior, Stella McCartney, and countless others. Oh, and you only pay 20% of the retail price.
Gwynnie Bee
How it works: GB’s an online clothing subscription that offers free shipping and free exchanges. You can pick up to a certain number of items per monthly subscription box. They specifically offer items across sizes 10-32.
Why I love it: Aside from ensuring more sizes have options to formalwear, the brand offers a great selection of options you can utilize for any moment or time in your life.
