ASOS just launched a rental service and it’s perfect for bridesmaid and wedding guest dresses

We've all been there - scrolling through ASOS, looking for a wedding guest dress, trying to plan in our diaries at what point we can order it, wear it, and return it within the 30-day window. All without spilling red wine all over the fabric whilst boogying to ABBA on the dancefloor. Suffice it to say, it is a tricky process, which is a shame because no one does a fancy, formal dress quite like ASOS. Well, our prayers have been answered. Today it was announced that ASOS has partnered up with Hirestreet to create their first-ever ASOS rental service.

Available from 23 May, the ASOS x Hirestreet rental service collection includes over 180 styles focused on women’s occasionwear dressing – just in time for the summer wedding season. Selected from ASOS’ homegrown brands ASOS DESIGN, ASOS EDITION and ASOS LUXE, the edit includes Curve, Petite and Tall sizing options.

As well as a wedding guest dress, you can hire bridal dresses and bridesmaid dresses too. So we all get to bask in the glory of this new phenomenon. No more looking for space in your wardrobe to fit a once-in-a-lifetime dress that you'll never wear again. We've got the pictures to remember it, what more do we need?

Keep reading to find out more about this revolutionary rental edit. As well as this, we've got some picks of our favourite ASOS wedding guest dresses you should look at renting for your next event.

RENT: Hirestreet x ASOS

How does the ASOS rental service work?

With RRPs ranging up to £275, individual items can be hired for four, 10 and 30-day periods. Prices start from £20, and customers can also take advantage of Hirestreet’s two-for-£35 offer.

As self-described on the ASOS x Hirestreet website, "Find your favourite outfit, select your size, pick your rental period and choose your dates using the calendar. We recommend booking in advance if you can, especially if your event falls on a popular date!

"All orders will arrive on or before your designated delivery date. Once your item has been dispatched you'll receive an email with tracking details. If your item arrives early don't worry. This does not impact the original rental dates you chose when placing your order - you just get to keep your outfit for a longer time!"

"Every order contains a pre-paid returns label. Once you have worn your outfit, pop it in your bag, seal it and take it back to the Post Office before 12 pm on your designated returns date. Please note that orders returned late will be subject to late fines. Please keep proof of postage receipt for your returned items."

And the dry-cleaning part of renting? (AKA the worst part of the process) "Don't worry about cleaning, as we do that for you!" What a dream.

We spoke to Isabella West, CEO of Hirestreet about the benefits of rental dresses. "In the UK in 2023," she said, "the average cost of attending a friend’s wedding is over £500. That’s why 'wedding guest' is our most popular occasion category at this time of the year. We’ve loved working with the team at ASOS to curate this collection, and we strongly believe this will be our most popular brand collaboration to date."

Is renting clothes more sustainable for the planet?

Jag Weatherley, Corporate Transformation Director at ASOS, spoke on the sustainability of the service. "Our customers love our wedding and occasionwear ranges designed for special events. We’re delighted our new partnership with Hirestreet enables even more people to enjoy ASOS’s unique fashion-led styles. Clothing rental is a growing market offering exciting commercial potential while supporting our goal to be more circular."

The facts back up the claim. Research done by Global Fashion Agenda found that maintaining the life of clothing by renting it to different people around the UK has a significantly positive impact on the planet. "Extending the life of clothes by an extra nine months reduces its carbon, water, and waste footprint by around 20-30% each. It cuts the cost in resources used to supply, launder and dispose of clothing by 20%". Whilst a majority of us might wear a formal dress once and be done with it, with a rental hire, it can be passed onto someone else to enjoy, and then someone else, and so on. We all get to bask in the fashionable glow of ASOS, together.

Check out the full over-180 style collection at ASOS x Hirestreet and thank us later.

Ruby Barry is a Product Writer for Closer Online, specialising in fashion and beauty. The team has nicknamed her “dupe queen”, as there’s not a product in the world she can’t find a cheaper alternative for.