Style on rent!

Elaborate arrangements, festivities, family get-togethers and expensive clothing ��� it���s impossible to think of the wedding season without these. But, it gets really difficult to think through every expenditure and be able to prioritise.
The tightened purse strings have made people curtail their expenses and make more intelligent spending decisions.So much so, that people are opening up to the idea of hiring dresses for the big occasion! Mostly, it���s the younger siblings of the bride and the bridegroom who are making the most of this trend.
Ratan Jain, a store owner in Pune, says, ���The trend existed in Mumbai and a few other metros, but has picked up more recently in Pune too. We rent out sherwanis and other designer outfits starting from Rs 1,100 to Rs 5,000 depending on the dress, the actual cost of which can go up to Rs 22,000.��� Ratan says that in the past month alone 18-20 customers had hired dresses for weddings and other occasions. People can choose from a variety of designs and fits, he adds.
Milind Karambelkar, another store owner, says, ���Earlier, I used to rent out clothes for theatre shows and cultural performances. Now, as people want to flaunt their best look in designer wear on special occasions, there is a growing market for rental dresses too. We have sherwanis, embroidered kurtas, blazers and ghagras besides Puneri Pagdi and Puneri Joda. On an average, we have 12-14 customers in a month.���
There are strong reasons, too, for making this choice. Ashish Joshi (name changed), a marketing executive, explains, ���People generally prefer ethnic wear like kurta or sherwani during weddings, especially if it���s a close relative who is getting married. Such occasions are few and far in between. So, one need not necessarily spend exorbitantly for a one-time wear when the same can be had on rent.��� After the wedding, these traditional outfits adorn the wardrobe and one has to wait for an occasion to wear them again. And, more often than not, it becomes a boring repetition, adds he.
Media person Ketan Desai says, ���For something that costs a lot of money, I would certainly prefer something that can be worn temporarily for a lesser price. This way I can also save money and, at the same time, be richly dressed for the occasion. I would spend a little extra and get the dress dry-cleaned before donning it.���
So, with weddings round the corner and recession hitting too ��� there���s no reason to worry. You have the option of managing your expenditure during weddings, too.