RENT YOUR SUNDAY BEST
Jade Parfitt in Vilshenko, me in Saloni, Candice Lake in LoveShackFancy and Kelly Eastwood in Vilshenko - all rented from My Wardrobe HQ
Sustainable fashion is a very important part of my life, and I love supporting ethical and eco-friendly designers, but that doesn’t mean that I spend all day or all of my bank balance shopping. Many of us (me included) have the reflex of wanting to buy something new for every occasion, but there’s now a very simple solution for fashionistas who don’t want to default to buying new every time: along with borrowing clothes and accessories (if you are lucky enough to have fashionable AND generous mates), the fashion rental market has also taken off — a clever platform to support both design AND the environment. Many times if you see me in a wow dress for an event, I’ll have rented it so that I can enjoy all of the fun without any of the stress of it impacting the planet, overfilling my wardrobe or hammering my bank balance — not to mention you can wear something designer for the price of a high street find.. Keep reading for some of my favourite sources for renting out outfits.
MyWardrobe HQ is a clever community of fashion lovers who can rent designer items from one another in an effort to purchase less and protect the environment. If you need an outfit but don’t have the time to browse, let one of their stylists pick for you! They’ll then ship it anywhere in the UK or Europe for you to wear.
Oprent allow you to rent high fashion from brands, influencers and boutiques, and they handle all the logistics so you don’t have to worry about pesky insurance or dry-cleaning. All you have to do is book an outfit for 4 or 8 days and you’re all set to look like a movie star!
Another peer-to-peer clothing rental platform, HURR Collective allows you to rent coveted items from other members in a fast, safe and efficient way, so that you can reduce your impact on the environment and change up your wardrobe without purchasing new.
HIGHER STUDIO operates on a nifty subscription or pay-as-you-go basis, with several plans tailored to your needs, depending on how many items you want to rent at a time, and how often. They partner with a selection of hand-picked brands, so you’re renting from the labels directly rather than from individuals. Expect edgy pieces from the likes of Comme des Garçons and Phoebe English.
Wear the Walk offers several membership options, ranging from 8 “rental credits” per month to 40, so members can browse items from over 100 designers chosen for their sustainable and unique designs.
Front Row lets London-based fashion lovers rent from the biggest names — like Chanel and Fendi — for five days at a time, to take away the stress from purchasing an item you might never wear again.
Dubbed the “Airbnb of fashion,” By Rotation is a peer-to-peer rental service for mid to upmarket fashion, where you build your profile, upload any wardrobe items you’re willing to rent out, and browse other profiles to find what you’re looking for. Simple as.