Bernadette Olivier

Favourite designer? Rixo and Acler

What events do you rent for? Birthday parties, dinners, everything!

What are your current top picks? I love the new Acler and Aje ranges. The Aje Gracious cut out dress is stunning in both black and white.

Do you rent items from your wardrobe? Yes. I have always loved earning money from my designer pieces. It also means that I can shop and know that I’m reducing the carbon footprint of my wardrobe.

Advice for first time renters? Ensure you choose a delivery date a few days before your event so you can ensure that you receive the item on time. Always reach out to our great customer service team if you have any questions. They rise to the occasion on all dress emergencies.

Has the global pandemic changed the way people think about dress rental? I think everyone is excited to be out and about and wanting to enjoy reconnecting with friends and family. It has made us value events and occasions like we haven’t before.

Kym Atkins

Favourite designer? Zimmermann

What events do you rent for? Dinners with friends and birthday parties.

What are your current top picks? Cult Gaia and the latest drop from Acler.

Do you rent items from your wardrobe? Yes I rent my own items and love earning extra cash from my own wardrobe. This enables me to purchase more dresses.

Has the global pandemic changed the way people think about dress rental? Covid has changed the way we celebrate, shop and dress, leading people to dress up for almost any occasion. As we started to come out of lockdown we saw more people than ever take to The Volte to hire premium fashion for events. We are seeing a lot more mid-week events and people hiring for smaller celebrations such as dinner parties or date nights. Everyone is excited to be able to celebrate with friends again and be together again, so they want to look and feel their best too.

Jade Hirniak

Favourite designer? I can’t go past Zimmermann. Whenever I throw on a Zimmermann mini or maxi I instantly feel good. I find their styles feminine and flattering and easy to dress up or down. 

What events do you rent for? When we first launched I would only rent for black tie events and weddings. Now I use any excuse to rent an outfit; baby showers, dinners and weekends away! Times have changed and renting has become more mainstream and as a result we have seen a huge increase in rentals for everyday events. 

What are your current top picks? Acler new season is amazing and at an affordable hire price. For a show stopping dress The Volte has some stunning runway pieces by Zimmermann which range from $200 – $350. 

Do you rent items from your wardrobe? Yes I do; it’s a great side hustle. I usually make a profit by renting a few times then selling via The Volte. I no longer feel guilty about buying quality designer pieces knowing they will be worn more than once and eventually pay for themselves! It’s a win-win. 

Advice for first time renters? Try and book your outfit at least a week before your event to ensure you secure it. For last minute rentals book via a lender in the same state. We pride ourself on having great customer service 24/7 so we urge users to reach out to our team at support@thevolte.com with any questions. 

Has the global pandemic changed the way people think about dress rental? We’ve all be forced to live more simply during the pandemic and I think people are now more conscious about how they shop. The Volte has seen a huge uptick in rentals since the pandemic. It makes sense to rent designer fashion when it is seen as a fashion crime to be photographed in the same outfit twice! 

Genevieve Hohnen

Favourite designer? Dolce & Gabbana, Acler, Zimmermann.

What events do you rent for? Dinners, drinks with friends, weddings; basically everything!

What are your current top picks? I love the new Acler collection.

Do you rent items from your wardrobe? Of course! It is the right thing to do on so many levels. It is a sustainable way to enjoy designer clothes without having the guilt of using disposable fashion. It also allows my to justify purchasing legitimate designer items.

Advice for first time renters? Send through photos of yourself in the clothes and tag The Volte. I always search this way as I’m not a standard size 8 or 10 and want to see how the dresses look on different sizes.

Has the global pandemic changed the way people think about dress rental? Absolutely. I think people are more economically conservative but also the idea of being able to shop in a way that is completely contactless is appealing. I also think people are really embracng the idea that when we are able to go out, even just for dinner/drinks, it is worth going all out as who knows when the next lockdown is coming. Life is too short for bad clothes.