The Mycenaean

Renting clothes is an innovative and cost-effective way to enjoy fashion without the commitment of ownership.

It’s common for teenage girls to buy an expensive dress, wear it just once, and never wear it again. This is not only costly but also wasteful.

Renting clothes is becoming increasingly popular because of the benefits. For instance, you can rent high-fashion and luxury items at a cheaper price. Many of these items may have only been worn once otherwise. 

Renting clothes can also help clear up closet space since customers don’t have to store their items permanently.

The most common type of clothing rental is dress rental. Popular online dress rental services include Rent the Runway and HURR Collective. 

However, a more local option for dress rentals is TrenLend.

TrenLend is an in-person and online rental company that allows customers to try on clothes before renting them. 

TrenLend was founded by Emmy and Amelia, two recent North Carolina State University graduates. Having experienced the struggle of constantly buying dresses they would only wear once, they took matters into their own hands and launched their own rental company. 

Since 2022, their mission has been to “transform the way people approach fashion by providing convenient clothing rental services within our local community”. 

TrenLend currently has two locations: one in Raleigh and another in Cary. Both locations are open Tuesday through Saturday, from 11 am to 6 pm.

No appointment is required. Everyone is welcome to drop in during their scheduled hours to try on their clothes. 

They also offer shipping anywhere in the US, along with pick-up orders at their shop.

TrenLend is incredibly cost friendly. For example, they currently have the For Love and Lemons Opal Mini Dress available for rental. TrenLend is renting this dress for $49, while the retail price at For Love and Lemons is $279.

They also provide discount codes. Customers who wish to rent multiple items for the same date can take 30% off three items or 40% off four or more items. 

TrenLend also offers a 70% discount to customers who rent two sizes through their backup dress service.

Once you have agreed to the terms, then you can keep the clothes for 4, 8, or 14 days.

Payment options are online or in-store.

Finally, when you return your dress, TrenLend handles all of the cleaning and damages.

If your dress is not returned on time, TrenLend sends $25 late fees every day until the dress is returned. These late fees will accumulate until the charges reach 150% of the original dress price.

TrenLend lists several styles, colors, and sizes to meet all of their customers’ needs. 

“They have great options for all events,” said Emily Mauro, senior.

I’ve personally rented from TrenLend on three occasions, and I love it. I’ve always been able to find beautiful dresses at great prices.

I tried on dresses for a vacation that was two months away, and reserved them. The pickup process was smooth, and the dresses were in perfect condition.

Agreeing with me, Mauro said, “I love that it’s Raleigh located, so you can go try on the options before renting unlike other renting sites.” 

Overall, if you’re looking for a one-time dress, you should check out TrenLend.

“I definitely recommend TrenLend. It’s perfect for when you want a high-quality dress but don’t want to pay the price for events where you would never wear it again,” said Mauro.

Dress rental services are a great alternative to purchasing dresses and shopping locally at TrenLend is the perfect place to start.