It’s no longer just designer labels, now you can hire from the High Street too

Luxury labels renting out their clothes for a snip of their hefty price tags has been hailed as the planet- and purse-friendly future of fashion.

Carrie even ‘borrowed’ her embellished tulle gown to marry the Prime Minister — instead of paying £2,830 for the Christos Costarellos floorsweeper, it cost her just £45.

Now the trend has reached the High Street with everyone from Asos and French Connection getting in on the act.

Duchess of Cambridge favourite, LK Bennett, has launched LK Borrowed, letting customers hire unlimited items for £79 a month.

A new initiative, Hirestreet, rents out clothes from Hobbs, Whistles and Zara from just £7. So next time you need to dress for an event, or refresh your wardrobe, consider one of these rental options…

Amy Kester reveals a selection of High Street rental options available in the UK. Pictured: Tencel-linen jumpsuit, RRP £275, rent from lkborrowed.com

1 LK Bennett

Silk print dress, RRP £350, rent at lkborrowed.com

It’s easy to see why Kate is a fan, given how well LK Bennett does classic occasionwear. But looking as good as the Duchess comes at a cost — a silk dress comes in at just under £400. Head to the store’s new rental site LK Borrowed, however, and you can now rent an unlimited number of clothes for just £79 a month. There are two catches. First, this is a monthly membership.

Secondly, although you can swap items as many times as you like, you can only keep two at any one time. This means realistically you can rent about eight pieces a month, at just under £10 a wear.

LK Bennett doesn’t offer the full instore collection, but has many dresses and separates that can make up a look or add to something you own already. Available in sizes 8-16, this is super for anyone who rotates their wardrobe or has a diary full of events.

2 FASHION’S FAVOURITE ECO LABEL

London-based label Baukjen, uses responsibly sourced fibres for 85 per cent of its collection. Now, customers can rent many of its designs — everything from print dresses to leather jackets. Each item has a two-week rental period. Baukjen’s maternity brand Isabella Oliver also takes back unwanted maternity wear to be re-sold, repurposed or recycled. If sold, 50 per cent of net proceeds go to charity.

RRP £99, rent for £19,

baukjen.com

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3 WHISTLES AND FRENCH CONNECTION ON HIRESTREET

Founded by Oxford graduate Isabella West, Hirestreet has translated the designer rental idea for the High Street. Brands offered include Zara, Ghost, Whistles, French Connection and Asos, among others. It’s purse-friendly with a welcome no-strings-attached approach. A £90 Zara silk top can be hired for £17, but prices start at just £5 for four days, with a maximum hire time of 16 days. As the brand says: ‘Own your style. Not your outfit.’

French Connection pink co-ord, RRP £235, rent from £37

RRP £179, rent from £28, 

hirestreetuk.com

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4 M&S AND HOBBS FROM GIRL MEETS DRESS

with everything from daywear to occasionwear, Girl Meets Dress is one of the UK’s leading rental firms. From a floral Hobbs dress (£69 for two nights) to a Marks & Spencer pillbox fascinator (£19 for two nights) as worn by Meghan Markle, pictured right, there is a big choice of brands. There are no monthly fees and no deposit. But those who do sign up as a member, for £99 a month, get exclusive offers, unlimited access to the website and can order up to three items with no delivery fee.

5 REISS AND ALL SAINTS ON MY WARDROBE HQ

One of the first rental services, My Wardrobe HQ is known for fabulous luxury and contemporary womenswear. But less well known is the number of High Street favourites it loans out too. All Saints, Free People, Hobbs and Reiss all feature. As well as being available to rent, some items can be bought. As each item is pre-loved, they cost a fraction of the original price. Sticking to true sustainable style, whether you’re looking to rehome a garment or simply share the item to earn some money back, you can list it back on the platform to be rented by others.

RRP £295, rent from £10 a day (minimum four days), mywardrobehq.com

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RRP £165, rent from £6 a day (minimum four days)

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6 PHASE 8 AND TED BAKER ON THE AIRBNB OF FASHION

Hurr Collective founder, Victoria Prew, was one of the first to give women access to luxury fashion without burning a hole in their pockets, or affecting the planet. The site has thousands of renters and lenders who have come together to build a smart solution for fashion. 

It uses reusable packaging and sustainable dry cleaning — and the listing for each item gives the exact environmental savings of renting compared to buying. 

Dubbed the ‘Airbnb of fashion’, you’ll be in direct contact with the owner of any rental item, making the experience more personal. As well as designer names, you can find brands such as Kitri, Phase Eight and Ted Baker.

Kitri dress, RRP £145, rent from £26, hurrcollective.com

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk