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Ilus
|
248 Elizabeth St.,
New York, NY 10012
|
Hours
Mon-Fri, noon-7pm; Sat, noon-6pm; Sun, noon-5pm
Nearby Subway Stops
F, V at Lower East Side-Second Ave.; B, D, F, V at Broadway-Lafayette St.
Payment Methods
American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Profile
Wall Street vet Linda Pratka made the wedding rounds throughout her twenties, buying a new dress for each occasion, then stashing it in her closet. Sick of spending hundreds on one-hit frocks, she opened this “luxury on lease” boutique in 2008, where women can rent dresses from a cache of fifteen designers for a fraction of the retail price. The pink-tinged shop offers more than a hundred styles, including chiffon Badgley Mischka cocktail dresses, red-carpet looks from Marchesa, funky Nicole Miller silk trapeze styles, and floor-length Marc Bouwer gowns. The attire is size 0 to 10 (though those in the 4-to-6 range are most prevalent), and fees average $100–$200 for three nights. Women dressing for weddings, weekend trips, or hot dates can try on items in store or browse online, and shawls, clutches, and jewelry are also available for rent. The gowns are in impeccable condition—rentals include a $10 cleaning fee—and the shop operates under a “you wreck it, you buy it” policy, so beware of that Cabernet. And don’t worry if you find yourself hopelessly attached at the end of three days: Clients can deduct the rental price and purchase a previously worn design at a 10 percent discount.
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While the rest of the city scurries up and down Broadway, these three micro–shopping districts remain blissfully unpicked-over.




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