Will You Wear It Again?
Every shopper has been in the situation where, in the store you find something you must have but upon moving it into your closet, it gets relegated to the rack of never-worn purchases. Fortunately bright minds in the fashion industry have created a solution for this dilemma, and you can now rent, instead of buy, clothing for any period of time, from one weekend to months.
If you know you are only going to wear it once, or perhaps not at all, why not rent? In our high-speed fashion world, where trends change quickly and leave 80% of our closet untouched, one option to keep up with this zooming industry is to rent.
Current offerings from Rent the Runway. Image Credit: Rent the Runway.
In the United States you can rent clothing online from sites like Rent the Runway, which the New York Times describes as "a Netflix model for haute couture." This service was the first of its kind when it launched in 2009 as a way to make the fashion seen on glossy magazine pages attainable. You can now wear high-end fashions without paying retail price for them to hang in your closet. These rentals will be shipped directly to your door and will run you an average of between $50-$200 for a four-night loan (some pieces can cost $400+ to rent). When you are done with the garment or accessory, you simply place it into a prepaid envelope and drop it in the mail. If you live in New York, Chicago, Washington D.C. or Las Vegas you can make an appointment or drop by one of its brick-and-mortar stores.
The LENA Fashion Library in Amsterdam. Image Credit: Victoria Onken.
In Amsterdam, one company broke away from the mold of online rentals with a library for checking out clothes. The LENA Fashion Library opened its doors in December 2014 with the slogan, "Own less, live more." Although the concept of a fashion library is not new — New York is home to the legendary Albright Fashion Library, a clothing and accessories archive that serves as a resource for stylists, costume designers, and editors looking to borrow pieces for jobs — what sets LENA apart is its accessibility to the public and its emphasis on everyday wear.
Paris too has a wonderful offline clothing rental shop, Mabonneamie, in the first arrondissement. If a special event calls for formal attire, Mabonneamie is the go-to address for a dress when you don't want to spend a fortune. In addition to its rental service, Mabonneamie offers a makeover and image coaching service that will assist you in finding your unique style.
It seems like lending libraries are no longer just for books.
