Can you really hire a classy dress online?
Do you have a looming social date in your diary, but nothing to wear? Why not hire an outfit?
There’s been a huge growth in online rent-a-dress services claiming it’s easier — and more affordable — to hire a designer outfit for a big occasion and return it the morning after.
I put five dress hire companies to the test — picking out a garden party outfit and a red- carpet showstopper from each. Here’s what I discovered . . .
MIXED-UP ORDER
Chic By Choice (chic-by-choice.com)
WHAT IS IT? This shop has more than 1,000 dresses from 40 designers in sizes 6 to 16, for a wide range of events. Jewellery and evening bags are also available.
It couldn’t be easier: select your size and the date of your occasion. you can request colour, length, type and even neckline.
PRICE: £50-£200, including dry-cleaning. Standard shipping (£9.90) and insurance (£4.90) for minor damages are extra.
ORDERING: Choose a four or eight-day window for delivery and return. order at least 48 hours and up to eight months before an event. Dresses arrive by courier the day before the event. Exchanges and refunds are available.
THE DRESSES: I picked a gorgeous pink day dress by Monique Lhuillier, which cost £89 to hire for four days and would have cost £595 to buy, and a black and white striped sequin- covered evening dress from Alice By Temperley, for £81.
My day dress arrived, but not my evening gown. The company said there had been a problem with the courier and arranged for delivery by noon the next day. But when it came, it wasn’t what I ordered — though it was the same designer. They offered me an £80 refund.
RETURNS: Free, collected by courier. RATING: Beautiful dresses, but I didn’t get what I ordered. 5/10
SO MUCH GREAT CHOICE
Girl Meets Dress (girlmeetsdress.com)
WHAT IS IT? A huge site with 4,000 new season dresses from 150 brands, a mix of high end, High Street and designer, for many events. Bags, hats and jewellery are available. Enter your size and style of dress. Refine by colour, price or body shape, with sizes from 6-16. you can also enter the event date.
My two favourite designer evening dresses were not available, so I opted for another dress, only to receive an email a day later saying this wasn’t available, either. So I started again.
PRICE: £29-£200 approximately. Next-day delivery is standard at £9.95. optional £7 insurance for minor accidental damage.
ORDERING: Choose two or seven nights’ hire. order up to three items at a time and anything unworn will be refunded. Exchanges and refunds are available.
THE DRESSES: The chiffon evening dress by Ariella at £89 fitted well, and the silk felt luxurious, but it badly needed a steam. I ordered a Victoria Beckham shift dress, worth more than £500, for daytime, but it was too small. The firm helped me find a cheaper replacement by Chi Chi London at the last minute.
RETURNS: Free. use original box. RATING: Lots of choice and the dresses fit well. 8/10
WONDERFUL LUXURY
Dream Wardrobe (dreamwardrobe.com)
WHAT IS IT? Luxury rental with around 100, mostly designer, dresses, including wedding gowns. Click on a dress and add in your size and event date. Dresses come in sizes 6-16.
PRICE: £30-130 approximately. Standard shipping costs £9.95.
ORDERING: order a maximum two styles. Hire period five days, or eight or 14 days at an extra charge. Bookings can be made up to four months or a minimum of 24 hours in advance. Exchanges and refunds available. The dresses arrived by courier the day before my event.
THE DRESSES: They were a £30 turquoise lace shift by Adrianna Papell, which would have cost £100 new, and a strapless dress by JS Collection — £180 new. They looked and felt wonderful. RETURNS: Free. Return in bag provided with pre-paid label. RATING: Beautiful dresses and there were no hitches. 9/10
CELEBRITY LETDOWN
My Celebrity Dress (mycelebritydress.com) WHAT IS IT? ‘The UK’s 1st Celebrity dress hire site.’ Specialises in dresses seen on celebrities (don’t be put off by the fact that this includes Kim Kardashian).
Input your size and style. Chose colour, occasion and, yes, celebrity — a long list, including Amanda Holden and Britney Spears.
PRICE: £15-£100 approximately. Next-day shipping costs £8.99.
ORDERING: Choose between a three and eight-day rental period. you
can have up to three dresses and send back the unworn items for a refund, minus the shipping cost.
It also offers dresses for sale. Exchanges and refunds available. Arrived two days before my event.
THE DRESSES: The day outfit, a figure-flattering, Fifties-style satin skirt with a beaded top, was in very good condition and fitted well. The evening gown by Sherri Hill was a horror. It had loose and missing sequins, the bust seemed misshapen and there were what looked like bleach stains on the front. It cost £69 to hire; retail price was £450.
The firm apologised and explained it was under new ownership. It offers a free replacement if you speak to them on the day of delivery. I missed that, but was offered 20 per cent off my next order. RETURNS: Paid for by you. RATING: Great concept for the Instagram generation, but my evening dress was a disaster. 3/10
BUDGET GLAMOUR
Hire The Catwalk (hirethecatwalk.com) WHAT IS IT? Lancashire-based hire company. Offers more than 150 dresses from boutique brands. Dresses can be filtered by colour or price. There’s a small selection of full-length gowns, but it’s mainly shorter party dresses.
PRICE: Very reasonable: £ 24.99£44.99. Shipping costs £9.95.
ORDERING: Fast and uncomplicated. Choose from a three or seven-day hire period. Refunds available if the dress is returned unworn within 24 hours. Mine arrived two days before my event, neatly packaged.
THE DRESSES: The day outfit, a coral lace two-piece (£34.99 by Forever Unique) was a perfect fit. But the evening dress, a blue fishtail (£34.99, by Forever Unique), drowned me. I could hardly walk in it. RETURNS: Free, pre-paid envelope. RATING: This is good for glam on a budget. 7/10