BackHigh fashion is just a click away
A party to attend or a friend getting married? Here is how to rent a designer outfit to wear
PremiumOTHERS :
When Andria D’Souza urgently needed a designer outfit for a party, she didn’t know who to turn to. “I had nothing to wear, it was a day before the party and I was desperate," says the 30-year-old Mumbai-based actor. Then someone suggested Delhi-based Swishlist, a designer-wear rental website. D’Souza browsed it and within an hour had selected the perfect outfit, a half-stitched sari by designer Bhaavya Bhatnagar. “I ordered at 10pm and they FedExed me the dress, dry-cleaned and ironed, the very next evening," she says. D’Souza, who owns a designer gown bought for Rs80,000, which she has worn only once, says this kind of rental service is a boon. “Spending Rs80,000 on a dress which you wear once kind of pinches," she says. “On the other hand, renting a designer outfit for as little as Rs2,000-4,000 is a boon." Here are a few sites that you can look through to have a sparkling wardrobe this party season at a fraction of the cost. All websites and services may charge extra for shipping and may also have a refundable security deposit, depending on what you order.
The clothing rental
Looking for a tuxedo or a sequined dress? The Clothing Rental is a Mumbai-based rental site that offers more than 5,000 clothing options, for both men and women, from designers like Ermenegildo Zegna, Hugo Boss, Marchesa, Calvin Klein, Alexander Wang and Armani. They are open to taking orders from any city in India. “For customers who like to visit, touch and feel the product, try it on , we have two stores in Mumbai," says Shilpa Bhatia, founder and director, marketing and business development, The Clothing Rental. When you order, you have to give a security deposit twice the rental cost of the garment and this is refunded when the outfit is returned. “If the person damages the product beyond repair, we decide costs on a case-to-case basis," says Bhatia. This season, they have a wide range of dresses, including sequined gowns and clutch bags for women, and coloured suits, tuxedos, bow ties, lapel pins and pocket squares for men.
Rental charges: Rs500 onwards. Order on Theclothingrental.com.
Swishlist
Swishlist keeps a curated designer collection of Western, Indian and fusion wear for women so that you find the perfect outfit, says Vedika Oberoi, co-founder of this Gurgaon-based service. To help you find the right fit, the website has detailed measurements next to each dress and also suggestions on what kind of body type it will suit. “Choose an outfit online, enter the date you want to wear it and hit Book Now. You’ll get the outfit two days before the date and we will pick it up a day after," says Oberoi. Swishlist has over 200 outfits from 30 Indian and Western design labels, including Anita Dongre, Rohit Bal and and Hervé Leger. They currently delivers in over 40 cities in India, including Ludhiana, Jaipur and Ahmedabad.
Rental charges: Rs1,450 onwards. Order on Swishlist.in.
Flyrobe
If you’re worried that what you order online won’t fit you, place an order on Flyrobe. They offer a concierge custom-fitting service. “Once a customer orders ethnic wear from Flyrobe, a fit expert visits them at home to take all their measurements and deliver the garment before her (event) date," says Shreya Mishra, CEO, Flyrobe, based in Mumbai. With more than 3,000 styles for both men and women, from designers like Ritu Kumar, Masaba Gupta and Aneesh Agrawal, it’s a perfect place to go for wedding attires. Their smartphone app has already seen 100,000 downloads.
Rental charges: Western wear starts from Rs350; ethnic-wear starts from Rs1,000 per outfit. Order on Flyrobe.com.
Rent It Bae
Show off a different fashion item every day of this month by renting out a whole closet with the “Unlimited" option at Rent It Bae, a designer store which offers women’s clothes, bags, clutches, jewellery, watches and even sunglasses on rent. Choose from international brands like Chloé, Miu Miu, Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo and Indian brands like Anita Dongre, Satya Paul and Ritu Kumar. Other than Unlimited, where you can keep outfits for as many days as you like and exchange for others in a month, the site also offers one-time rentals, free shipping and free repair of minor stains, nicks and damage to buttons or zippers. “If you send us an order at 4am under the feature Fashion Emergencies, we will even deliver the outfit next morning at 7am for a morning function," says Saini. In case you’re worried about the fitting of the dress, the delivery person will wait while you try out the clothes. The only downside is that at present they operate only in the Delhi-NCR area, though they will be opening in Mumbai soon.
Rental charges: ₹ 3,250 per month for the Unlimited offer. Individual rentals begin at ₹ 99. Order on Rentitbae.com.
Stage3
Want to replicate the complete look that actors Sonam Kapoor or Alia Bhatt wore at a recent party? Head to Stage3, a curated site which has 150 looks for women on offer from Indian designers like Gauri and Nainika, Anju Modi, Payal Singhal, Anamika Khanna and Sabyasachi. Created by stylists and fashion designers, Stage3 lets you pick any three curated looks and try at home, with your measurements to alter the garments, explains Sabena Puri, CEO and co-founder, Stage3. If you’re looking for a new look to flaunt, they have a team of stylists to help you but don’t forget to book a free consultation. Currently it delivers in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Ludhiana, with plans to expand in other cities.
Rental charges: Rs1,500 onwards. Order on Stage3.co.
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
