With many people looking to cut back on non-essential outgoings, it’s no surprise that clothes shopping is on the decline, with research from financial app Revolut showing a 2% spend decrease at UK clothing stores in June compared to May.
At the same time, spending on clothing rental services has increased by 27%, and has jumped by a massive 105% compared to June 2021.
Clearly, consumers still want to indulge in new outfits, but they’re opting for more affordable options – and the desire to move away from fast fashion brands could also be a deciding factor.
Even celebrities are getting in on the act, with style queen Holly Willoughby wearing a yellow The Vampire’s Wife dress rented from HURR Collective on the This Morning Platinum Jubilee special.
If you’re yet to try borrowing a fabulous frock, designer bag or trendy suit from a rental site or app, you may be wondering how it all works.
The process is essentially the same for the various sites: scroll to find the item you want, decide how many days you want to hire it for, wear it, then return.
But how do you find the right fit? Are there hidden costs? And what if you spill wine all over a borrowed dress?
We asked experts to answer seven commonly asked questions about clothing hire…
1. Can you only hire dressy outfits for parties or weddings?
This is probably the biggest misconception about hire sites. While there are plenty of occasionwear options, you can now find all kinds of clothing and accessories.
“The most popular items are party dresses, designer bags and items from trending brands of the moment, but there