Have you ever attended a dress up event and saw another person wearing the exact same dress?  It can be awkward, and you two can come together and laugh about it or make sure to avoid each other for the rest of the affair.  

Something like this happens when you buy clothes off the rack.  When people shop for clothes to attend an upcoming affair, the guests could easily be hitting the same malls, or checking out the same stores, around the same time, and then you have a “Who wore it better?” situation.

One way to avoid this from happening to you is to have your clothes made to order.  But that’s expensive, and takes more time and effort – from picking a designer to making an advance order and possibly coming in for a fitting once or twice.  If you’re not really the star of the affair, but a side character, this may be a bit much.

Good thing there is now a 3rd option:  you can rent your attire and spend a fraction of the cost compared to the 1st and 2nd options.  While the idea of renting clothes is not new, it’s still not a popular choice.  But those who have tried it are usually hooked, and regret not having tried it sooner.

If you’ve been doing the 1st and 2nd options, and want to consider the 3rd choice, here are a few good reasons that may help.

#1 Spend half or less of your clothing budget

Renting will definitely be cheaper than buying a new dress, or having one made.  In the past, there were only a few rental shops and they were mostly for costumes or gowns, but there’s now a growing number of choices.  I discovered some ateliers offer the service too, and you can call around to ask.  There are also a lot of choices and recommendations from social media platforms.  You can also check out online selling apps such as Carousell.

#2 Choose from a wide range of styles

You would be surprised at the range of options for clothing available for rent.  While most offer formal wear, you can also rent casual clothes including beach wear!  It’s good to start with some idea in mind.  Long gown or cocktail dress?  Classic black or all glittery? Have your measurements handy so you can filter the right fit for you.  If you already have shoes, even the bag, then filter the colors and styles that will complement them so you spend less.

#3 Men can rent too

It’s not just women that are starting to rent their formal attire, but men too. Some tailoring shops offer made to order suits plus rental for those who only plan to wear it once.  This has become a convenient option for groomsmen – they can follow the color theme of the wedding, which can be maroon, blue or green, without actually buying a maroon, blue or green suit.

#4 Avoid the Me Too situation

When renting clothes, you can choose only those that are made to order.  This way, you won’t discover the same dress on another person in the event you are attending.  Some ateliers are even willing to customize the dress (or suit) to your size for a better fit, and make some alterations that will make it uniquely yours for the duration of the rental.

#5 Keep your closet tidy

With renting, you won’t be stuck with clothes you only had to wear once, or even never.  Formal wear tend to take up space, and ideally, your closet will only have clothes that you do not wear.  Anything that you do not need for 3 to 6 months should be folded or disposed.  

My final push: renting clothes is also more sustainable and better for the environment.  And if you are not too sure if it’s cool to rent, well no one needs to know you are renting.  Try it at least once and see if it’s for you.