The best fashion rental platforms for wedding season
The fashion industry is the second most polluting industry in the world. That’s why an array of creative and forward-thinking businesses have sprung up to help us rent instead of buy, which can not only save us some serious cash but is also MUCH kinder to the environment.
I don’t know about you but when it comes to shopping for an upcoming wedding, it’s often slightly last minute (just me?!) and it will rarely get worn again.
Renting a fabulous dress by a brand that you love but wouldn’t normally splash out on, really is a genius option.
If you’re currently planning a wedding this is also an amazing option for your bridal gown or your bridesmaids, with many of these platforms stocking bridal brands + creating bridal edits for your perusal.
Read on to discover our edit of the best fashion rental platforms on the market right now.
Fashion rental platform HURR was set up in 2017 by CEO Victoria Prew. The platform is peer-to-peer and is coined the ‘Airbnb of fashion’ by Forbes magazine.
HURR believe that by getting women to rent instead of buy, they can ‘still get their kicks from the latest luxury trends and pieces, without burning a hole in their pocket or the planet.’
Check out their bridesmaid and bridal edits for some serious inspiration.
Brands: Acne Studios, Alexa Chung, Alexander Wang, All Saints, Alice + Olivia, Anine Bing, Anthropologie, Needle & Thread, Ghost, TH&TH, RIXO, Rat & Boa + many more
A cult label rental and resale service with a huge sustainability focus. Their packaging is made from recycled materials (bulkier items are sent in reusable fabric bags) and they plant a tree for every rental.
They hold the items centrally (so this is not peer-to-peer) and offer next-day delivery in the UK. You just select your outfit, the rental start date and duration and at the end of the rental you simply pop it in a pre-paid DPD bag and send it back. Rotaro deal with all of the cleaning and this is included in the price.
If you are worried about size, they even allow you to order two sizes, and send them both back at the end of the rental period. As long as the ribbon is still attached to the item you didn’t wear, they will refund you or give you store credit.
Check out their wedding edit for some inspiration.
Brands: Alexa Chung, Dream Sister Jane, Ghost, Reformation, Rat & Boa, Rixo, Ganni, Reformation, Cult Gaia, Vampire’s Wife, Zimmerman, Stone Goya, Self Portrait, Shrimps, Max Mara and more.
The first platform where you can shop each style in three ways: rent, buy new or buy good as new. They hold all of their items centrally and I love the fact you can buy an item you’ve rented if you just can’t let it go. They even discount your rental fee.
They encourage you to rent a few styles and sizes and will refund you for any items you didn’t end up wearing (as long as the ribbons and swing tags are still attached).
Check out their wedding guest edit here.
Brands: Musier, Free People, De La Vali, Whistles, Never Fully Dressed, Olivia Rubin and more.
You can both rent and buy on Girl Meets Dress from a mixture of high street and designer brands. You can rent dresses for 2 or 7 nights starting at around £19 or you can sign up for a monthly subscription of £99pm for three dresses.
Check out their wedding guest edit here.
Brands: Ghost, Needle & Thread, Saint Laurent, Miu Miu, Self Portrait, Quiz, Jenny Packham and many more.
Front Row is London’s premiere destination for on-demand designer items, straight from the runway. They stock over 50 designer brands and some items are new season. They have a showroom in Mayfair where you can go for a personal styling appointment or you can have a virtual consultation online and ‘try on’ some looks.
Brands: Chanel, Gucci, Burberry, as well as Indian evening wear from designers such as Manish Arora.
Onloan works directly with brands (not peer to peer) and works as a monthly subscription service; £69 for two items (worth an average of £500) or £99 per month for four items (worth an average of £1000). Although it is a subscription model, you can try this for one month and cancel your subscription at any point. If something is the wrong size you can easily switch this with their next day delivery service and they also allow you to buy and keep any items that you just can’t part with.
Brands: Mother of Pearl, Maggie Mariyln, Stine Goya, Shrimps, Alexa Chung, Kitri Studio and more.
We hope this has given you some inspiration - happy renting!
Shopping for your bridesmaid dresses? Check out our article Bridesmaid options you’ll want to wear again.
If you have any questions for us or would like to chat to like-minded couples also getting married in Italy, join our private Facebook group and get involved!
Written by Beth Butler, marketing person and lover of all things weddings; with a particular passion for beautiful photography, muted florals and a good cup of tea.
