We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
Dress Hire: The Best Fashion Rental Sites In The UK
From wedding guest dresses and party-ready ensembles to the hottest designer bags of the moment, these are ELLE editors' go-to fashion rental platforms.
It's no secret that our voracious buying habits are damaging the planet. The fashion industry is one of the greatest global polluters, according to OneGreenPlanet, and while structural changes are crucial in solving this problem (we're talking legislative changes here), little old you can do your part too.
In fact, individual consumer behaviour can have a huge impact. The Instagram account 1 million women reported that 'if everybody in the UK stopped buying new clothing for one day, the emissions saved would be equivalent to driving a car around the world 8,640 times.'
And there are worthwhile alternative options to buying new, too – namely, looking after what you have and shopping second-hand wherever possible. However, we know all too well that sometimes the need for 'new' prevails... And when it does, sustainability-minded fashion insiders turn to rental.
Already the norm in the US thanks to websites like Rent The Runway, fashion rental platforms are increasingly making their way across the pond. An unsurprisingly fact given since the sharing economy is growing rapidly, and is projected to be valued at £269 billion by 2025, according to Forbes.
Be it a wedding guest dress, a Christmas party ensemble, a holiday-perfect wardrobe or a Fashion-Week ready handbag, some items or events feel like they're not worth the permanent investment – both economically and ecologically – and that's where dress hire comes in.
Though fashion rental isn't without its downsides, we already rent our homes, cars and even our dogs, so why not our clothes next?
These are the best places that fashion rent a dress (or bag, or shoes, or jewellery, or all of the above) from now:
HURR
The first rental platform to achieve certified B Corp™ status in 2022, HURR is comprised of peer-to-peer, pre-owned and brand rentals.
Now working with the likes of Nensi Dojaka and Coperni as official partners, alongside having a physical space in Selfridges and continuing to facilitate people sharing their own wardrobes, HURR's rental offering is one of, if not the, most expansive available in the UK.
'HURR is based on creating accessibility and a route to luxury fashion for a mainstream market,' CEO and co-founder of HURR Victoria Prew told ELLE UK.
We recommend you book in your Christmas and New Year's Eve outfits right this second.
Net-A-Porter
Luxury retail behemoth Net-A-Porter has joined the rental revolution. Partnering with both By Rotation (on their app) and HURR (on their website and app), the e-tailer has curated two edits of cult designer items that are perfect for all your event and party dressing needs.
Think dresses from Simone Rocha, 16Arlington and Taller Marmo, alongside Jacquemus and Paco Rabanne bags, that can be yours for one special night only and for a fraction of the usual price. You'll also find luxury skiwear available to rent just in time for the winter months.
'Our first step into fashion rental brings an exciting opportunity to introduce Net-a-Porter’s exceptional curation of partywear to new and broader audiences,' Vikki Kavanagh, managing director of Net-a-Porter and Mr Porter explains.
'The launch of our rental edit is key to enriching the global ambitions of our circular fashion offer, inspired by our customers’ voices and their growing interest to keep exploring how we can extend the life of luxury products together.'
Flannels
Powered by the aforementioned HURR, designer retailer Flannels is the latest to join the rental game. The edits are curated by top buyers and stylists, so you know you're getting the best of the best – from Loewe jeans and The Vampire's Wife dresses to the coolest new bags from JW Anderson.
It's super easy, too: just choose how long you want to keep your rental for (options range from 4 to 30 days) and before you know it, it'll be delivered straight to your door. With free delivery, returns and dry cleaning, there's really no excuse not to.
By Rotation
The first UK fashion rental service to have an app, and the only purely peer-to-peer platform, By Rotation is facilitating the sharing of people's personal wardrobes on a whole new level. With a community boasting more than 500,000 members, you're guaranteed to find something you love.
The platform also has a resale functionality, so if you've loved a borrowed item so much that you're dying to keep it in your wardrobe forever, there might be an option to purchase it.
Founder Eshita Kabra-Davies says, 'After receiving significant feedback from our Rotators to offer the option to sell an item (and selling two items myself directly on the app!), we are rewarding all our verified lenders with the ability to sell their pieces that are also available to rent. This is in line with our mission to transform fashion consumption for good.'
With everything from The Vampire's Wife dresses (very Kate Middleton) from £50 a day to a Totême coat for £36, the rental options were already a great lure, so the new resale option is sure to bring even more popularity to the brand.
Selfridges Rental
As part of Selfridges' sustainability initiative, Project Earth, the historic department store has put a curated selection of designer pieces up for rent – and there are some absolute gems to choose from.
Think everything from full-on red-carpet worthy gowns and playful summer dresses, to more casual (but no less chic) tailoring that's perfect for the every day, from buzzy brands like Acne, Alaïa, Magda Butrym and Bottega Veneta.
Selfridges also offers dedicated rental subscriptions for those who have a particular penchant for designer bags, starting at £60 a month and including cult designs from Prada, Gucci, Miu Miu and more.
Rites
New Zealand native, Meg O’Hara, founded Rites initially as a means of ‘celebrating rituals, seasonality and the idea that what is good for the planet is good for us.’ A few iterations later, and Rites has evolved to become a peer-to-peer rental site with one clear aim: to prove that feeling good doesn’t have to cost the earth.
‘We believe that the most sustainable garment is one that already exists,’ O’Hara tells ELLE UK. ‘We are here to help women feel their best every day, in a community where they can more freely express themselves and dress for the incredible lives they lead.’
Following a successful IRL pop-up earlier this year, Rites has now opened a permanent store in London's Broadway Market, where you can pick up – and helpfully, actually try on pieces from the likes of Rat & Boa, Self-Portrait, Reformation and Aje.
Cocoon
An editor favourite, Cocoon has emerged as the bag rental (and resale) service par excellence. With Instagram-perfect handbags on offer from the likes of Bottega Veneta and Gucci from as little as £49 a month, it's no wonder the service (that has partnered with repair service The Restory to keep everything in top-notch condition) has been such a hit.
'We’re a subscription model, we’re bag experts, we’re on the pulse and we’re highly specialised in our approach. We also own all of our product, which means we can guarantee the selection and quality,' Cocoon co-founder and CEO Ceanne Fernandes-Wong informs ELLE UK.
'With our monthly membership model, Cocoon becomes a part of your daily life. You’re not loaning a handbag for a one-off occasion, you’re developing a long-term relationship with us and enjoying luxury more responsibly.'
Hirestreet
Housing brands such as Marks & Spencer, Rixo and Ghost in a wide range of sizes – including curve, tall and maternity options – Hirestreet is one of the most accessible and inclusive rental platforms out there. We love it for wedding guest dresses in particular.
Items are searchable by occasion, and there's a try on service too. Simply choose from on-demand rental or a subscription that includes five items each month, free shipping, returns and damage cover.
MY WARDROBE HQ
Hosting both rental and resale – with a subscription service also available – MY WARDROBE HQ has more than 500 designers to choose from, making it likely the broadest selection available in UK rental sites.
MWHQ also has next day delivery available, meaning you can choose a Gucci dress on Thursday, and have it ready to wear for the weekend ahead. The site has recently launched skiwear rental for children, too, offering a far more eco-conscious – and affordable – alternative to buying new sets as they continue to grow.
For The Creators
If the idea of buying new clothes for the length of a mere trimester fills you with eco-dread, For The Creators is here for all your maternity and postnatal clothing needs.
Carrying brands such as Bump & Milk, Sezane and Whistles, For The Creators ensures you can feel like yourself no matter the shape your bump takes on. Even better, they plant a tree in partnership with Ecologi for every rental, and there's £10 off your first order too.
Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.
Naomi May is a seasoned culture journalist and editor with over ten years’ worth of experience in shaping stories and building digital communities. After graduating with a First Class Honours from City University's prestigious Journalism course, Naomi joined the Evening Standard, where she worked across both the newspaper and website. She is now the Digital Editor at ELLE Magazine and has written features for the likes of The Guardian, Vogue, Vice and Refinery29, among many others. Naomi is also the host of the ELLE Collective book club.
Vintage Fashion Inspiration From Goodwood Revival
Everything You Need To Know About eBay's LFW Show
Lucy Williams Shares Her Summer Fashion Wishlist
How To Clean Earrings Like A Pro
