For many of us, swapping clothes with friends was the norm when growing up. So why not carry on borrowing from someone else’s wardrobe today? Luckily, a whole host of fashion rental sites have made it easier than ever to borrow a party dress for the night.
Indeed, the offering nowadays is a million miles away from the fusty dress hire shops you might have associated fashion rental with way back when. Thanks to curated edits and exciting brand partnerships, you can now access a whole host of designers, from Loewe and Stella McCartney to Simone Rocha and 16Arlington, at a fraction of the original RRP. Plus, it’s much better for the planet than buying a new dress that you’re only going to wear once or twice, before consigning it to the rubbish heap.
Below, we round up the best clothing rental sites in the UK.
Hurr
Founded by Victoria Prew in 2018, Hurr now has more than 80,000 items available to rent on its site, as well as working with more than 100 brand partners, including the likes of Net-a-Porter, Selfridges and Flannels. Earlier this year, it launched its Flex Pass option, which allows you to rent a bundle of items for a lower price. Meanwhile, a new partnership with Deliveroo allows customers in central London to get a dress to their door in as little as 20 minutes.
By Rotation
Peer-to-peer rental site By Rotation, launched by Eshita Kabra-Davies in 2019, describes itself as “the social fashion rental app”, building a community of more than 330,000 lenders over the past five years. Here you’ll find all your favourite brands, from Vampire’s Wife and Rejina Pyo to Self-Portrait and De La Vali.
My Wardrobe HQ
If you’re in need of a fabulous party-season dress, My Wardrobe HQ has you covered, with its offering ranging from Giambattista Valli gowns to Galvan sequins. It also offers a subscription service for more regular renters, allowing you to borrow two items a month for £59 and four items a month for £79.
Cocoon
There’s a reason that Cocoon is a Vogue-editor favourite. The rental service allows you to access a whole range of designer bags, from Dior Saddles to Gucci Jackies, at a fraction of the cost to buy. Its memberships start from £49 a month, while its Flexi option allows you to borrow a bag for just £19 a week.
Rites
Initially founded by Meg O’Hara as a side hustle, Rites has gone from strength to strength, offering both rental and resale for a fully circular approach. Bonus? You can go and try on its items – which includes brands like Cecilie Bahnsen, Reformation and Rat & Boa – at its store in London’s Broadway Market, meaning you can make sure it fits before you borrow.
Loan the Look
Founded by sisters Isabella, Bea and Claudia Hill in 2020, Loan the Look aims to provide a curated edit for customers, whether you’re looking for a Christmas party dress or a Perfect Moment ski suit to hit the slopes in. Handily, the rental site allows its London clients to try on up to five looks at home before committing, or you can visit its studio on Portobello Market to pick out something special.