Now you can rent Kate Middleton's favourite clothes! British brand L.K. Bennett launches platform where fans can borrow two pieces a month for £79 (and you don't have to wash them before returning)
- LK Bennett unveiled its fashion-for-hire concept - LK Borrowed - yesterday
- Gives fashionistas 'unlimited access' to its current styles for a flat monthly fee
- For £79 a month you can rent two ready-to-wear pieces at a time in UK sizes 8-16
- You can also swap your items up to eight items, with free shipping both ways
If owning a piece from Kate Middleton's wardrobe previously seemed out of reach, one of her favourite brands has now launched its own rental platform.
LK Bennett unveiled its fashion-for-hire concept - LK Borrowed - yesterday, which gives fashionistas 'unlimited access' to its current styles for a flat monthly fee.
For £79 a month, you can rent two ready-to-wear pieces at a time in UK sizes 8-16, which includes the high street brand's popular dresses, jumpsuits, coats and separates.
You can also swap your items up to eight items, with free shipping both ways, and what's more, you don't have to shell out for dry cleaning.
If owning a piece from Kate Middleton's wardrobe previously seemed out of reach, one of her favourite brands - LK Bennett - has now launched its own rental platform (pictured: the Duchess in one of the brand's dresses last month)
For an additional £9, should you be in a rush to get your items, you can sign up to its 'Dart' service which allows you to customise your next shipment and speed up the processing time.
The aim of LK Borrowed is to enable shoppers the opportunity to create 'the ultimate wardrobe from hundreds of LK Bennett styles', offering them 'the option to wear fantastic quality clothing at a more affordable price'.
While a yearly subscription will set you back £948, pieces start at £225 should you buy them outright, so you'd be getting access to considerably more outfits for your money.
Should you fall in love with a piece, you'd then have the option to purchase it for up to 50 per cent off its retail price.
After LK Bennett went into administration in 2019, it's likely this is a move to lure a new, younger and more environmentally-conscious customer base.
Darren Topp, LK Bennett chief executive, said in a statement: 'We believe this new rental offering will attract a new customer base to LK Bennett, as it will satisfy those seeking a more sustainable way of shopping.
After LK Bennett went into administration in 2019, it's likely this is a move to lure a new, younger and more environmentally-conscious customer base (pictured: Kate in an LK Bennett number in 2016)
'We don't see this replacing core e-commerce, but rather complementing it and adding choice.
'Rental will allow customers who can’t afford or don’t want to spend the amount required to own an LK Bennett item to wear an outfit for a special occasion.
'If they’re already an LK Bennett fan, this service enables them to rotate their wardrobe regularly and get fresh items for their everyday wardrobe.'
The service is the first of its kind from a high street brand, as while some labels offer their garments on rental platforms like Hirestreet, LK Borrowed is run wholly in-house.
The launch is well-timed, as fashion rental is certainly having a moment. Carrie Johnson hired her £2,830 Christos Costarellos wedding dress for £45 from MyWardrobe HQ when she married Boris Johnson in May.
Much of her wardrobe at the G7 Summit in Cornwall the following month was also rented.
Mr Top told The Times: 'With the rise of other rental services in recent months our customers were looking for this option from us.
LK Bennett shoppers have previously complained its clothes became too expensive once the Duchess of Cambridge started wearing them (pictured in an LK Bennett dress in 2018)
'Customers are telling us that they want more sustainable choices in the products we sell and the services we offer. There is a huge amount of work to do but this is hopefully a small first step.'
LK Bennett recently set up shop on eBay's brand outlet to shift 'dead stock' after their stores were forced to close due to lockdown.
Among the items listed were its popular Floret court shoes - worn by the Duchess of Cambridge in a nude patent leather - which were reduced from £195 to £59.
LK Bennett shoppers have previously complained its clothes became too expensive once the Duchess of Cambridge started wearing them.
The brand is reportedly considering closing five of its retail outlets. It joined eBay three months after the Bicester Village outlet centre in Oxfordshire closed its doors in the first lcokdown.
