Lorraine Kelly has shared her experience of renting a stunning dress for the first time this week after her recent adventure to Africa with her husband Steve.
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The TV presenter admitted she struggled to find the outfit she wanted to wear in her wardrobe for a celebrity-packed party and decided to rent one instead. Read all about her experience in her column with HELLO!...
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I had a big event this week, the annual ITV PALOOZA, where we get a sneaky preview of all the new up and coming programmes for next year.
It's a very glamorous and fun evening and a chance to get all dressed up. I have a couple of reliable "posh" frocks including a black velvet dress that I love dearly but have worn so often over the years that it no longer feels really special.
I really wanted to wear something new that would make me feel confident enough for the red carpet, but as I don't really NEED another posh frock I decided to do something a bit different and RENT one for the evening.
Lorraine felt confident in her outfit
It's actually becoming more popular to hire a dress or an outfit for a big occasion and you can save yourself an absolute fortune. A dress that cost hundreds of pounds can be rented for around £40 although prices do vary.
As well as big designers names, a lot of high street stores including "Whistles" and "River Island" are also offering this service and it’s a game changer. It’s also very easy. You choose your dress on line and it is send to you direct.
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The cost depends on how long you need the rental to be. Some people hire outfits for a few days, but others going on holiday can rent something they fancy for a couple of weeks.
You don't need to dry clean or wash the dress before you send it back, and there's usually you are a big pre paid envelope enclosed so there's no hassle about getting it back to the shop.
Lorraine shared her first experience of renting a dress
Obviously you have to take care not to get the dress damaged in any way, as there would be an added payment for repairs, but it is a really cost effective way to dazzle in a fabulous frock.
The only drawback is you can’t try anything on before you hire it, so you need to be very sure the size will fit. I chose a star studded sequinned dress with cheeky feathers at the cuffs.
It would have cost a fortune to buy, but was a fraction of the price to rent for the evening. With the Christmas party season almost upon us, its something to think about.
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