When faced with a week of LMFF events, fashion parades, business seminars and intimate dinners with friends, the age old question of what should I wear is raised to new heights.
While a change of shoes and a new pair of earrings can reinvent an outfit, nothing beats having something shiny and new to bring out of the closet – especially when the eyes of the Melbourne fashion community are upon you.
With limited funds and a taste for Aussie designed labels, I was just a little bit excited (jump up and down and dance around the room excited) when GlamCorner got in touch and suggested I rent my dresses for the week.
I’d seen rental places in the past – the Sex and the City movie made renting designer a part of our lives with some loaned LV and a whole lot of attitude – but had always thought that renting would be too hard when the time came to part with the fabulous items.
But as I scrolled through the fabulous frocks on offer at GlamCorner, and the who’s who list of designers (Alex Perry, Jayson Brunsdon, Nicola Finetti et al) I conceded I wanted something new to wear and this was the place I was going to find it.
I selected three dresses (an Alex Perry, a Sara Phillips and a Nicola Finetti) and sent through my submissions to the team at GlamCorner. Within 2 days, the dresses had arrived on my doorstep and even the packaging was exciting. The Australia Post box was big enough to keep the dresses in immaculate (ie – no need to iron or steam!) and with gold ribbons and special samples of perfume to pretty up the deal, my excitement at having three gorgeous new frocks to wear was pretty obvious.
Sara Phillips Animalia Dress, Mimco clutch. Image thanks to Jennifer Estrada.
But then I tried on the dresses and – shock, horror – two of them didn’t fit! The stunning Alex Perry and equally elegant Nicola Finetti were too big and all of a sudden my excitement at having new dresses was now the scary realization that I had to find other things to wear in my wardrobe.
Grace & Hart Savannah Dress. Vintage clutch and Tony Bianco Heels. Image thanks to Jennifer Estrada.
A quick call to the team at GlamCorner and their attention to detail and ability to please was quickly evident. Alex and Nicola were back in the mail on their way to Sydney and within 24 hours a new set of dresses was on its way to me – a second Sara Phillips, a replacement Nicola Finetti and a new label, Grace&Hart.
Sara Phillips Undercover Dress. Clutch from Myer, shoes by Ksubi. Image thanks to Matthew Raabus.
My fashion week had begun and the Sara Phillips Animalia dress made its first appearance at the David Jones Opening Night parade. I wore my own Jolet Paris print dress on Day 2 before the new dresses arrived, and strutted my stuff in the Grace&Hart Savannah on Day 3. Sara Phillips Undercover made an appearance on Day 4 while the Sara Phillips Animalia dress had a second outing on Day 5. I rounded out the week in the Nicola Finetti Insert Pleat dress – a favourite – for the final day of the festival.
Nicola Finetti Insert Pleat Dress. Shoes by Tony Bianco. Image thanks to Breece Gevaux.
I didn’t want to send the dresses back come Monday. But I did. For free. Because part of the GlamCorner offering is free delivery, and free returns. Did I mention they also have a fit guarantee, a try-on service for just $30, free $100 damage insurance and they supplied Hollywood Tape! They really have thought of everything.
I’m seriously considering hiring dresses week to week just so I have something fun to wear while sitting on the couch watching the footy and eating Thai on a Friday night. At prices as affordable as GlamCorner, you really can justify wearing designer all the time.
