Rent a Dress, Save Money

on March 27, 2009 at 12:30 PM

Photo from Wear Today Gone Tomorrow

There are two good reasons to rent a designer dress.

1. It's cost effective and you get the style and fit of a designer dress without the price tag.

2. It's eco-friendly. One dress gets a lot of use.

Some CafeMoms would rent a designer dress, others just aren't into it. But for those of you who are interested, there is a new online shop that rents out clothing from Lela Rose, Vera Wang, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, Jill Stuart, Diane von Furstenberg, and so many more for about 10 percent of the cost of the item. And it's free to sign up.

Wear Today Gone Tomorrow offers what those other clothing rental websites do as far as renting outfits, but they say what sets them apart is that they have current season clothing and there isn't a membership or late fee.

Most items can be rented for a week for around 90 percent off the ticket price. So a $300 item will cost you $30 to have for the week; a $2,000 item would set you back $200.

When returned, items are cleaned by organic, chemical free cleaners and prepared for the next renter.

WTGT also has plans to sell their gently-worn items for over 80 percent off.

Renting dresses is a great idea for bridal parties or if you have a fancy event and nothing to wear.

What do you think? Would you rent a dress?

About the author Michele Zipp

loves vintage and will defend skinny jeans to the death though she is highly superstitious and "death" is probably a bad word choice. She has a touch of the hoarding disease and enjoys sleuthing, the worst reality shows, and wearing high heels, even at the playground. She's an AP mom of twins, slightly crunchy but with a pedicure.

Filed Under: bargains, clothes, designers, style

Comments (12)

Momma_Halo

on Mar 27, 2009 at 12:50 PM

I do my own thing. I like designer but I do my own designs at the same time. My family wasn't really rich or have money to spend so at the age of 15 I learned how to be a little fashion designer.

There is this store in Idaho called Ross and I could literally find the style I wanted for like 10 dollars. The most I spent at the store was 20 dollars for a designer shirt when it was originally priced at 140 dollars. Well it was baby phat so it was worth it. My husband is begging me to do video blogs on how I do this. Apparently a lot of women do not know how to be thrifty. And it shocked me when I asked women in my own Medical class where no one has money if they knew how to be thrifty. Only two said yes.

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AMsMommy212

on Mar 27, 2009 at 1:33 PM

They have Ross here in Texas too, my best friend and I went to a formal christmas party, we bought our dresses there for under $20 I think mine was $13 and hers was $18!! You'de have never known it though!!

on Mar 27, 2009 at 2:02 PM

I was always the best dressed at the dances during high school thanks to Ross. And if I couldn't find it at Ross I shopped around at other places.

Ross just rocks! And Ebay too lol.

Fistandantalus

on Mar 27, 2009 at 2:15 PM

If I had the kind of lifestyle that required dressing up, I would certainly look into this as a viable option. It's really a neat idea!

corbysmom531

on Mar 27, 2009 at 2:23 PM

The problem that I and my son have with Ross, is that their stuff is weirdly sized. I bought my son a four piece suit there, and the tie's point at the bottom was WAY off center, and the pants are the same length as his other pants that are a smaller size. And with me, I find that the shoulders are much smaller than what they should be, and the waist bands always get ruined after getting washed. But, some things work out GREAT there.

LaNette000

on Mar 27, 2009 at 3:54 PM

I love shopping at ross. I wish I had the extra $ at this moment I would be there. Yes, I would rent a dress, if it was cheaper than buying it.

mars33me

on Mar 27, 2009 at 9:19 PM

I have a 17 year old daughter who is going to two prom's this year, would be nice to rent a prom dress...

LuminousMom

on Mar 28, 2009 at 1:14 AM

Nah.. I wouldnt. But I dont have a problem with buying second hand dresses. Most of the dress shops here in Utah buy back your dress, and sell the bought back dresses at a huge discount.

Get this... one mom said she bought her daughter a $300 prom dress in white (LOL, yep you get where I am going, right?) They returned it, got a $200 refund for it.... then bought it for $50.00 three weeks later. Shes having it tailored to remove the "cap" sleeves (her high school has modesty requirements and required sleeves) and to remove some of the "poof" underneath.. essentially remove one of the petticoats.. and the daughter is going to wear it in her wedding next fall. Basically, they got the dress for HALF after all is said and done, and she will have worn it twice. Tricky.. but it worked for them.

on Mar 28, 2009 at 1:15 AM

And I agree with everyone else.. ROSS!! Ross rocks! I find the best stuff there sometimes.. it all comes down to being willing to dig.. and sometimes sew on a button or stitch a loose hem.

RanaAurora

on Mar 28, 2009 at 2:29 AM

Depending on what I was attending, SURE.
I never go to fancy things, but say hubby REAAAALLLY wanted me to go to the Naval Ball... I'd have no problem with renting a really nice dress for the event. I think it's a cool idea.