Credit: Stylist
5 min read
Instead of buying a new outfit for every event in your diary, try the sustainable option of renting a dress instead.
New Year’s Eve looks a little different for each of us. While some will be dancing until the early hours of the morning, others will be fighting for the best spot to see the fireworks, and a good handful will be snuggling up on the sofa, perhaps popping a prosecco before getting a good night’s rest. However you’ll be stepping into 2024, we hope you’ll be doing it on a high note.
If you are planning a bit of a party, whether it’s at home, at a friend’s house or in one of countless bustling bars, part of the fun will likely come from planning your outfit. And as we all know how expensive New Year’s Eve plans can become, you’ll likely want to lower the cost of your party look.
Luckily, rental fashion sites such as Hurr, Rites and Flannels Rental can help on occasions like this, especially when we’re looking to shop more sustainably and make more sensible decisions about how we shop. After all, how many times are you likely to wear that sparkly mini dress or that sequin suit? These are often the perfect picks for a big NYE celebration, but not so much for your day-to-day dressing.
Kitty McGee, Stylist’s executive fashion and beauty director, is a big fan of opting for occasion outfits from fashion rental sites. “Rental sites have revolutionised how we get dressed for special occasions,” she said. “Hurr and ByRotation have democratised luxury by making luxury accessories and ready-to-wear available to everyone for an event or occasion – even more so now Net-a-Porter and Matches have teamed up with them,” she added.
To offer a sneak peek at just how wonderful these rental sites can be, we’ve selected 11 of our favourite looks below that are all available to hire. Just be sure to read the fine print to see the different hiring processes, dates and delivery offered by each site.
Aje Fallingwater gathered midi dress green
“Rites.co has an amazing selection of contemporary brands and dresses, particularly from lots of the fashion industry’s go-to brands like Sir and Aje,” says McGee. “It’s more affordable than other sites, making it possible to rent a holiday wardrobe for a special trip, too.” This gorgeous green gathered gown is a perfect example. It’s available on the site in sizes 8 and 10, meaning two people have the chance to rent it for a big NYE bash.
Rent Aje Fallingwater gathered midi dress green at Rites.co, from £69 for four days
Taller Marmo piccolo dress in purple
Taller Marmo is famous for its loose-fitting frocks, and this pinky-purple pick is quite the standout style. In keeping with the brand’s delicate designs, feathers line the hem and sleeve, while the one-shouldered shape is simple and sleek. This option is available to rent for £32 a day and is available on By Rotation in a size 16.
Rent Taller Marmo piccolo dress in purple at By Rotation, from £32 a day
Rixo Lana halter shell-detail dress
Rixo is quite the fan-favourite brand, so being able to rent one of its dresses for just £8 a day is incredibly exciting. This sleek black midi certainly deserves to be picked up for a special occasion, whether you’re off to a dinner party or dancing the night away. Gold accessories will liven up the look and accentuate the sparkly shell in the centre. It’s available in size medium.
Rent Rixo Lana halter shell-detail dress at MyWardrobe HQ, from £8 a day
16Arlington Minelli feather midi dress
For a more formal frock, this 16Arlington Minelli dress perfectly fits the bill. While the light blue colourway may not be particularly festive, it’s certainly chic and will wow at any cocktail party, dinner party or even a winter wedding. It’s available on Front Row London in a size 10 and will work seamlessly with silver shoes and accessories.
Rent 16Arlington Minelli feather midi dress at Front Row London, from £245 for three days
The Vampire’s Wife black rain Falconetti dress
Beloved by Kate Middleton, The Vampire’s Wife is also a favourite among fashion fans. It’s also famously quite pricey. However, thanks to Flannels Rental, you can now wear this shimmery black option for just a fraction of the cost, and it even has a fireworks design perfect for New Year’s Eve celebrations. Flannels Rental has the style available in an 8 and a 12.
Rotate Birger Christensen sequin-embellished Sierina dress
Copenhagen-based brand Rotate Birger Christensen is an expert in partywear, and this silver sequin frock is a perfect example of why. While the midi length will leave your feet free to dance, the gathered front will create more dimension It’s available in sizes 4–14. We’re marking this one as disco ball dressing.
Nadine Merabi Stella star dress
If you’re after a shorter style of dress, this black and silver style from Nadine Merabi will go down a treat. Brightening up the dark design are striking, sparkly silver stars that will certainly wow any other revellers. Silver shoes and simple accessories will make it rather easy to style, too. It’s available in sizes 6–10 on the Hurr site.
Rent Nadine Merabi Stella star dress at Hurr, from £55.23 for four days
Rachel Gilbert Xanthy feather-trimmed gown
If you’re looking for a more modest outfit, this Rachel Gilbert gown could be the perfect pick. Also following the disco ball dressing design, thousands of sequins make it sparkly and shine while feathers accentuate the flute sleeves. It’s currently available in a size 14 (although it’s a loose-fitting cut, so might work for a range of similar sizes as well).
Rent Rachel Gilbert Xanthy feather-trimmed gown at Rites.co, from £145 for four days
Rixo sequinned Lara mini dress
“Flannels has a brilliant edit of eveningwear by young designers and pieces aimed at a more Gen-Z audience that is exciting and inspiring,” says McGee, and this Rixo number is a rather great example. Pretty in pink, it’s one of the brand’s bestsellers and couldn’t be more perfect for party season. It’s available on the site in a 14 and a 16.
Rent Rixo sequinned Lara mini dress at Flannels Rental, from £295 for four days
Ilta Stevie dress
Ridding any notion that black means basic, this long sequin embellished gown is quite the statement style. Designed in a halterneck, backless cut with no sleeves and a thigh-high split, it has plenty of sexy elements and is incredibly sleek, making it suitable for very special occasions. Sizes 8 and 10 are available on the site, and we imagine this one will be on many people’s wishlists.
Rent Ilta Stevie dress dress at Hurr, from £100.16 for four days
Images: courtesy of brands
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