If you're still not sure whether to take the step... read this.
Renting is an activity we’ve become accustomed to in various forms over the past decades. You might have rented a car or an apartment for a vacation, or borrowed books from the library for research or your studies. While renting clothes is not a novel concept, it’s not as widespread as these examples (though it has gained substantial popularity in many major cities).
But consider this: haven’t you ever wished to have an outfit just for a single night—a stunning piece you’re eager to flaunt at a party but know you’ll only wear once for that specific occasion? How many times have you declined a purchase because, deep down, you knew you wouldn’t wear it as frequently as you should? Or how often have you made a purchase that you later regretted or forgot about after its initial use? Well, renting steps in at the intersection between « I really want that » and « but I’ll only wear it once or twice, » where you genuinely desire to wear the outfit while also recognizing that you don’t really need to own it .
But how can we distinguish whether our purchasing decisions are impulsive or truly necessary? At GGB, we could delve into this subject extensively, but we’ll save the depths of this discussion to a future post. Just as a preliminary idea, consider a few items in your wardrobe that you’ve worn for several years without losing interest in them. These clothes define the authentic you, reflecting your identity, making you feel great, and being worn regularly—these purchases have proven to be valuable. Now, think of a few items you bought a while back and hardly ever wore—perhaps because they are « one-time wear » outfits, too attention-grabbing to be worn more than once in a short span without seeming like you’re « always wearing the same clothes. »
Now, imagine you could have access to these « impulsive purchases » without them taking up space in your closet, without needing to weigh the pros and cons of buying them, and without depleting your budget just to look stylish for every occasion. Sounds pretty cool, doesn’t it? This is one of the many advantages of clothing rental. What else? Here are some other appealing aspects of renting:
Numerous factors can influence our style preferences and trigger a shift in our dressing choices. One primary reason for overhauling our wardrobe is changes in our body shape. Let’s be honest, how many times have you got rid of a piece that doesn’t fit you anymore to go back to that size a few months/years later and have to invest in a new set of correctly sized clothes? If you believe your body shape is subject to change, renting might be the perfect solution to avoid accumulating a wardrobe that won’t fit in the near future. It will save money, closet space and resources.
Body changes aside, the simple evolution of our tastes over time affects and guides the way we dress – think of your teenage years, experimenting with different styles ranging from Rue to Maddy (You’ll only get the ref if you watched Euphoria, sorry not sorry.)
As adults too our tastes evolve and some life-changing events can also lead to a desire for transformation such as changing one’s haircut or clothing style. Regardless of the reason, whether you’ve discovered your signature style or not, borrowing and renting are among the most practical, budget-friendly, and sustainable ways to explore diverse fashion choices.
Rent a sexy dress for a date night and see its effect on your self-confidence. Love it? You might contemplate purchasing a similar one, knowing it’s a style you’d like to revisit. Dislike it? Well, then you’re fortunate you didn’t buy it yet! You spent less money by renting it, you avoided accumulating another unfit outfit in your closet and even better, you prevented the waste of an underused garment.
Consider GGB’s example: you get to wear high end designer dresses and outfits for a mere 10% of their retail price. Of course, with the same amount of money, you could purchase something cute from a fast-fashion store (no need to mention any names, you know ‘em!).
However, as delightful as it may be to own your clothing, the experience of wearing something exquisite and extraordinary for a lavish event can easily surpass that of possessing lower-quality products that tend to look worn out prematurely after a single spin in the washing machine.
It’s also undeniable that for a black-tie affair, renting an Elie Saab gown won’t have the same effect as wearing a massively produced fast-fashion item – as pretty as its design might be.
So, bluntly put, dispel the notion that you must own every piece of clothing you wear. A great wardrobe isn’t necessarily one that you fully own, it is simply one that is made good use of and makes you feel like your best self.
By choosing to rent, you are endorsing a slower and extended fashion cycle. You recognize that there’s no need to amass a multitude of outfits in your closet to appear always more original and stylish. You embrace the notion that what truly matters is not “where you got it” but how you rock it! You make fewer purchases, but they are more significant and practical.
If you can resonate with this perspective, it means you are assuming responsibility for your own consumption, carefully considering your acquisitions, and resisting the influences of an industry that seeks to shape your perceptions of desires and needs. It’s undeniably cool and empowering, isn’t it? You’re willing to engage in a consumption system that prolongs the lifespan of garments and actively seeks ways to prevent clothing from ending up in landfills. Additionally, you support a movement aimed at alleviating the burden on underpaid workers within the supply chain.
Environmental consciousness is one of te greatest aspect of the rental industry, but it’s only truly effective if certain considerations are kept in mind. It’s important not to inadvertently accelerate your consumption rather than slowing it down. While the allure of endless wardrobe updates through renting is appealing, it should not lead to an insatiable appetite for constantly new clothes and styles. The goal here is to remain modest and sensible, so keep the renting for what we might term « special » occasions. Garments that are part of your daily or regular wear should better be bought than rented, in a responsible manner, as we discussed at the outset of this post – by asking the right questions and being driven by genuine necessity rather than impulse.
Always keep in mind that the most sustainable choice is to wear what’s already inside your closet. Businesses like GGB step in for specific occasions that don’t occur frequently enough to warrant owning an extensive wardrobe dedicated to them, but happen frequently enough to avoid repeating outfits each time. For example, if you’ve been invited to multiple weddings this summer, you’d ideally want to avoid wearing the same gown to every one of them. However, purchasing several dresses can strain your budget and fall into the « wear-it-once » category of purchases. This is an ideal situation to consider renting. Your Instagram feed will appreciate it later! 😉
Here’s another scenario: imagine a last-minute ball, gala, or any fancy event you hadn’t planned on attending and don’t want to rush into buying something for. In such a situation, renting can indeed be the best solution you could hope for!
All in all, although it’s not all sunshine and rainbows and the rental industry does come with evident risks – renting offers numerous advantages and is a blessing in many ways. It can bring about significant environmental, social, and personal benefits, whether you choose to do it for yourself or for altruistic reasons.
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