Beg, borrow and style!

Christmas is the party season of the year, which means endless wardrobe dilemmas and fighting through busy Christmas shoppers to search for the perfect dress. But to what avail? If you buy from the high street you run the risk of another girl at the party having bought the same piece, and will spend your party trying to avoid standing too close to one another. Designer dresses look beautiful in magazines and boutique windows, but if you’ve got three outfits to buy and all those Christmas presents, wearing designer isn’t really an option, or is it?

Savvy stylists spotted that no one caters for those of us who want to wear high fashion labels but can’t always afford the price tag. Forget having to spread the cost of a Marc Jacobs dress over various credit cards, and simply borrow it instead.

The genius idea of renting out designer labels has exploded online and various sites now offer fashionista’s clothes, shoes and bags at a fraction of their retail price. Everyone now has the chance to party in a Marc Jacobs dress, dance in Louboutins and swing a Chanel 2.55 long into the night.

The Upcoming has found some great sites for you to add to your fashion favourites. With a wardrobe boasting over 500 gorgeous dresses, Girl Meets Dress will make sure you’ll never get snapped in the same dress twice. Shopping the vast selection couldn’t be easer as dresses are helpfully divided into specific occasions such as cocktail, black tie and girls’ night out. However, if you’re not quite sure what style suits you, or which colour to opt for online, style advisers are on hand to help. Girl Meets Dress’s collection of designers include Chlöe, D&G, Fendi, Hervé Léger, Marc Jacobs, Vivienne Westwood and YSL to name but a few, and with rental prices starting at as little as £29, who can resist?

You can borrow your dress for two or seven nights and can order in advance, so get shopping now! You shall go to the ball thanks to Cinderella shoes. With more than 200 designs on offer, there’s a pair for everyone for any occasion. Designers stocked include kings of footwear Jimmy Choo and Louboutin, as well as Chanel, Gucci and Prada, and are yours for a week from £29.95 (that’s just over £4 a day!). Maybe you’ll meet your Prince Charming this party season; just make sure you end the night wearing both shoes!

If you’re desperate to get your hands on an “it” bag, then Fashion Hire is about to become your new best friend. Choose from this season’s Chlöe Paraty, the classic Mulberry Bayswater, or the timeless Chanel 2.55 and make your friends green with envy. Members can have the bag of their choice from £20 for an entire month! Forget the one night deal, this is true love.

Hollie Bracciale

Visit Girl Meets Dress here, and Fashion Hire here.