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Want to try renting clothes? These are the best fashion rental services in the UK
Team Cosmo roadtests the UK’s leading clothes rental sites 🛍️
Is it just us, or has there been a marked increase in the number of fashionistas choosing to rent clothes, rather than buy them afresh, recently? Something that can only be considered a good thing, IMO. Yep, if it's hip to be cool, it's cool to be sustainable.
That's right – aside from being a more affordable way to incorporate the latest season's fashion trends into your wardrobe, fashion rental services are also a far more sustainable option than purchasing new outfits from fast fashion brands. It's a win-win!
If you like the idea of hiring outfits but still feel a little reluctant to try it out for yourself, don't worry, we've got you covered. Naturally, we wanted to see what all the fuss was about and whether it’s actually worth doing, so we gave the UK's leading sites a spin to find out how it works. Here, you can find responses to all your unanswered questions (do you have to clean the items? Is returning a pain?) as well as all the deets on how you go about renting plus everything involved in the returns process.
With so many different dress hire services now available, we chose to try out dedicated clothing rental services, specifically:
- By Rotation
- Borrowed From
- Hurr
- Rites
- My Wardrobe HQ
- Hirestreet
Scroll through to see what the Cosmo team thought of each clothing rental service and how they compared on cost, product range and platform usability.
By Rotation
Rented: Faithfull the Brand and Rejina Pyo dresses, Sleeper pyjama set
Product range: 5/5
Cost: 4/5
Platform: 5/5
“I hadn’t tried fashion renting before but this platform made me fall somewhat in love with it. For starters, you’re spoilt for choice with a wide range of options including everything from high-end designers such as Dior and Rejina Pyo to Insta-famous brands like Sleeper and Roop. By Rotation is also the UK’s first peer-to-peer fashion rental app, meaning you can follow other lenders’ accounts, including celebs, which is kind of like following your favourite style stars on Instagram (and then borrowing their outfits).
The items arrived looking clean and in good condition. An added bonus is that you don’t have to worry about washing the clothes after you’ve worn them – the lender tends to look after that side of things. I’d definitely use BR again for occasions like birthdays and weddings, or if I’m contemplating forking out on an expensive designer piece but want to test it out first.” – Natasha, Former Fashion Editor
Make sure to check out Natasha's in-depth By Rotation review.
Borrowed From
Rented: Aje dress
Product range: 4/5
Cost: 4/5
Platform: 5/5
“Borrowed From was founded by Phoebe Dawson in 2022, so it's still a relatively new platform and as such, has a smaller – though arguably more manageable in terms of browsing – selection of products to choose from compared to the big dogs on the rental service scene. It's certainly not lacking in quality though, with some of the buzziest brand names going, including Aje, Rat & Boa and Self Portrait all on offer.
Almost all of the product – dresses, jackets, co-ord sets, bags, accessories and more – is managed by Borrowed From, with items coming directly from Phoebe and her three sisters' wardrobes ranging from a UK size 6-16. Renters can browse online, or London locals can book an appointment to visit the showroom and try on potential pieces before committing. This option really appealed to me, so I headed in and had a mammoth try on sesh in the gorgeous space. After trying on about 10 dresses, I walked out with Aje's dreamy Falling Water Gathered Midi Dress (that looked brand spanking new, FYI) to wear to a friend's wedding that weekend, costing £58 for 3 days. A bargain, IMO for a designer dress.
If you opt to receive your item by post and it arrives only to find it doesn't fit (or you don’t feel amazing in it), simply return it unworn within 24 hours and receive store credit to borrow another item within 12 months, so you don't lose your money. Returns come with a prepaid label to be sent via post, with cleaning being taken care by Borrowed From. Easy peasy! I will definitely be turning to Borrowed From again for all my renting needs.” – Alex, Fashion Writer
Hurr
Rented: Rotate dress
Product range: 4/5
Cost: 3/5
Platform: 4/5
“I often need to dress up for work events and it’s gotten to the point where I’ve rotated all the fancy dresses in my wardrobe now, so renting seemed like the best way to switch things up. The Hurr website was really easy to navigate and filtering down by both brand and size was simple.
Offering dress rentals up to size 32 is great, but the choice is definitely more limited for bigger sizes, especially from size 24 to 32. As a size 12/14, I had a good amount to pick from and ultimately settled on an off-shoulder Rotate dress from the site’s Managed Stock. These are items managed by the Hurr team on behalf of lenders and it means your order is guaranteed to be sent out on time. Plus, sending the dress back was super easy and all prepaid.
All in all, it was a hassle-free experience. I honestly think this is a game-changer for those special occasions, be it fancy work events, birthdays or weddings. The ‘fit guarantee’ also means that if you’re concerned about whether something will suit you, you can rent a couple of sizes and send back the one that doesn’t fit for a refund (minus dry cleaning and delivery fee).” – Keeks, Beauty Director
Rites
Rented: Ganni dress
Product range: 3/5
Cost: 4/5
Platform: 5/5
“I left it last minute as ever to sort my outfit for a big occasion and, feeling uninspired by everything hanging in my wardrobe, decided to rent something from Rites. With just a few days for my selected outfit to arrive, I was pleasantly surprised by the vast array of options available to rent at such short notice. Though the size range only extends up to a size 14, unfortunately.
Ultimately, I settled on a Ganni dress. I did play it safe, opting for a floaty silhouette that would be more likely to fit. But, if whatever you order doesn't quite work for you, Rites has a Fit Guarantee in which they'll happily arrange credit or an exchange so long as you get in touch with them right away. The rental platform also has a physical store in East London where you can try on items before renting to make sure you're 100% happy.
Once you've got the goods, it's as simple as popping it back in the box with two totally free returns options. For London renters, a courier comes and collects from your door, while those located elsewhere in the UK can use the included free returns postage label.” – Alex, Fashion Writer
Hirestreet
Rented: ASOS Edition Curve Midi Dress
Product: 3/5
Cost: 5/5
Platform: 5/5
“I've always been interested in using a fashion rental service, especially in the lead-up to party and wedding season. But, the one thing that has stopped me from renting fashion items has been the lack of size inclusion. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Hirestreet has a dedicated Curve edit, albeit far more limited than their main collection. Hirestreet provides a variety of trendy curve options for an affordable price, from brands such as ASOS, Lavish Alice and Saylor.
The rental service also includes a tracked postage sticker, which makes returning the item simple and easy. I'd be interested in using the service again, especially for a special occasion.” – Lauren Nicole, Contributing Curve Editor
My Wardrobe HQ
Rented: Gucci blazer (owned by Arizona Muse), Needle & Thread dress (owned by Poppy Delevingne), David Koma dress
Product range: 5/5
Cost: 3/5
Platform: 5/5
“I’m a clothes hoarder. I still own coats from when I was 17, and tops and leather boots from my university days. Basically, I have a tough time parting with things and, when I do, I get pangs of regret months later, so I was apprehensive about renting as I knew I would struggle to let go of something I love. I was comforted by the My Wardrobe HQ site showing you the ‘buy’ price alongside the daily rental fees – an excellent ‘try before you buy’ system if you end up falling in love with the item you’re renting.
They also show you the original RRP which satisfied my bargain-hunting tendencies. The incredible list of designers they have on offer, as well as celebrity and influencer-owned pieces, are ideal for one-off fancy occasions. If you want a little guidance for an event or trip, there’s also a Golden Service where HQ’s in-house stylists will pick out items for you.” – Sophie, Bookings Director
Selfridges Rental
Rented: Bec & Bridge Portia Drape Maxi Dress
Product range: 3/5
Cost: 4/5
Platform: 5/5
“I recently tried out Selfridges Rental, which lets you rent pieces from top designers and brands that have been handpicked by expert buyers. It’s part of the brand's RESELFRIDGES initiative, encouraging customers to discover more sustainable ways to shop.
I loved using the Selfridges rental platform – the selection was so good that it left me spoilt for choice! I was looking for something to wear for a work panel in front of an audience, so I wanted a look that felt sophisticated, fun and true to my style. I've had sizing issues with rented items before, so I went for a dress that seemed a bit more flexible for my UK size 8-10 frame.
The dress arrived quickly and was beautifully packaged. When I tried it on it was a perfect fit, immediately alleviating my biggest worry about renting. I paired it with long black boots and a leather jacket, and the whole look came together even better than I’d imagined. It was amazing to feel so put together in a designer piece, especially one I wouldn’t normally be able to afford.” – Jaime, Art Editor
Alexandria Dale is the Digital Fashion Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from the celebrity style moments worth knowing about to the latest fashion news, there’s nothing she loves more than finding a high street dupe of a must-have designer item. As well as discovering new brands, she’s passionate about sustainable fashion and establishing the trends that are actually worth investing in. Having worked in fashion journalism for six years, she has experience at both digital and print publications including Glamour and Ok!
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