Rent a Dress? There’s Risk, but the Rewards Are Big

You can’t try the cheap cocktail dresses under 200 on and change options are limited. But when you want to put your best fashion foot forward at a wedding or fancy event, it’s worth considering a rental Q: I’m interested by the idea of leasing instead of buying a costume that we will only wear once before it goes out of style. But I have many concerns of what could go wrong. What if a dress arrives two days before I need it, as you rental website recommends, and it doesn’t fit? And then it’s too late to go for another dress.


 With leases, no alterations are allowed—the site suggest I take advantage of some sort of completely removable recording they sell to manufacture a do-it-yourself hem if I must shorten the Red Sweetheart Short Tulle Homecoming Cocktail Dress. But will the recording stay in place if I’m dancing? What are the track records of companies that rent dresses? —M. Michael., Scarsdale, In. Ymca. A: You’re right that it’s risky to rent an event dress or gown: You can’t try it on and you can only alter the length of the masturbator sleeves or hem with special recording. But when you want to put your best fashion foot forward at a wedding or fancy event, it’s worth considering a rental—for just $40 for a beverage dress or $100 or over for a gown, plus $5 insurance. Leases are just like when you’re shopping at the shopping mall.


 Look for complementing, trendy styles that fit you well. And make use of skilled personal consumers to drive you to the best choices. Well ahead of your big party, cover all your bases. While you’re looking into dress leases, you should also tap your favorite retail resources—just in case you buy, after all. To get the most hammer from working with a stylist (who’ll serve as your personal buyer at dress-rental services), you should send over all your measurements as well as several full-length photos of you in your favorite outfits, to show your hairdo and personal style. Be sure to get pointers on accessories—jewelry, purses (also available for rental) and shoes. Think of the stylist (the way celebrities do) as a member of your personal glam team. For leases, I researched the popular Rent the Runway.com, which in 2009 began renting designer dresses online. The New York-based service is all about the trendiest designer labels specializing in party wear, including thousands of styles from Carolina Herrera, Reem Acra, Badgley Mischka. Herve Leger. Vera Wang. Carmen Marc Valvo and Monique Lhuillier.


 Dresses come in sizes from 0 to 22, available for rent to its 5 million members who maintain idea boards of dresses they might want to rent in the future. Rent the Runway users benefit from each other as users do their social media duty, nicely sharing their experiences. They submit pretty photos of themselves all decked out at events, along with lots of very subjective comments about fit, fabrics—and all the comments they got. “The best part of advice we give women is to work with our stylists, on the phone, live chat and by email—who can speak to how much stretch a particular dress has, ” says Letty Lawrence, a spokeswoman. “They have the design ability and know-how when it comes to specific dresses and how they might fit a certain body and frame measurements. ” It also helps that robes come in two or three different lengths—and the double-stick fashion recording really does hold overnight, she says. With each rental, consumers receive two sizes (when they are available) and for an extra $35 you will get a backup dress. Rent the Runway has showrooms in New york, Wa, D. C., Chi town or Nevada where you can put on before you rent.