The holiday weekend has come and gone, and there were many exciting events that kept us busy. One of the highlights was Borrow a Dress Couture’s (BADC) one-year anniversary party at Bon V in the West Loop. It was a testament to BADC’s belief that the everyday woman can look like a million bucks and spend very little cash doing so. The event featured a cocktail hour, goodie bags, and a fashion show to display the new BADC summer rental selection, including Chicago label Bryan K. Osburn Collection. Bryan’s custom creations are a recent addition to the long list of designer frocks available for rent at BADC, which also includes names like Alexander McQueen, Badgley Mischka, Hervé Léger, Vera Wang, Marc Bouwer, Abaete, and more. You can either rent Bryan’s dresses or choose a style you love that he’ll custom create for you to own. Dress rental prices range anywhere from $25-$175, but if you’re interested in getting your own Bryan K. Osburn dress, prices start at $800.

All in all, BADC rocked the boutique with a stylish celebration commemorating a successful first year of business. And now, we can’t wait to celebrate year two with them as well!

By Danielle Parker

Images courtesy of Borrow a Dress Couture

EVENTS

BADC Fashion Statement Soiree at Bon V (1100 W Randolph Street)
Beginning at 9pm tonight (Friday), Borrow a Dress Couture holds it’s first annual Fashion Statement Soiree. The complimentary cocktail hour is followed by a 10pm fashion show.

Indie Designer Market at Plumber’s Hall (1350 W Randolph Street)
The Indie Designer Market returns on Saturday (10am-5pm) and Sunday (10am-4pm). This event will present an exclusive exhibition featuring some of the most original and provocative talent in Chicago.

SALES

Celebrate the Release of SATC2 at Gavin Boutique (1939 Central Street – Evanston)
Through Friday, shoppers are invited to don their stilettos and swing by Gavin to kick off the theatrical release of the hottest movie this summer, Sex and the City 2. One lucky shopper will be treated to the ultimate fan goodie bag.

Cynthia Rowley Sale at Cynthia Rowley Boutiques (810 W Armitage Avenue; 1653 N Damen Avenue)
Kick off your summer in style with the Cynthia Rowley Memorial Day Weekend Sale. Customers can enjoy up to 70% off select merchandise.

Bonanza Vintage Sale & General Store at Berlin Nightclub (954 W Belmont Avenue)
On Saturday and Sunday from 1-7pm, Shaina Rose & Action Jackson, in partnership with Berlin Nightclub, host the Bonanza Vintage Sale & General Store. The event will have live music, cocktails and and discounted clothing.

Sex and the City Celebration at Le Dress (1741 W Division Street)
On Saturday, Le Dress holds a special sale in celebration of SATC2. Purchase any dress, and get half off any accessory. Offer is good on one item only (not applicable to sale items).

Memorial Day Sale at Isabella Fine Lingerie (840 W Armitage Avenue)
Now through Sunday, take 20% off everything in the store. The discount is valid in-store or online (use code: SUMMER).

Fabulous 15 Memorial Day Sale at Akira (multiple Chicago locations)
Now through Monday, enjoy 15% off at Akira in honor of Memorial Day. Sale applies to Akira Red Label items.

Modern Vintage Chicago at the Beaux Arts Plumber’s Hall (1340 W Washington Street)
On Saturday (10am to 7pm) and Sunday (10am to 5pm), you’ll find the best dealers carrying clothes, estate and costume jewelry, handbags, shoes, hats, scarves, vintage fashion magazines, and much more. Tickets are $8 online and $10 at the door.

Anna Hovet Trunk Show at The 900 Shops (900 N Michigan Avenue)
On Saturday, Anna Hovet hosts a trunk show at the Incubator pop-up shop in The 900 Shops from 10am to 7pm.

Enjoy a Tax Break at Le Dress (1741 W Division Street)
On Saturday and Sunday, Chicago’s dress-only destination honors the end of tax season with a 2-day discount celebration. Shoppers will be treated to a 10.25% discount on their entire purchase.

Helen Yi Pop-Up Shop at 116 E Oak Street
On Saturday from 10am to 6pm, Helen Yi brings her goods to a pop-up shop just off the Magnificent Mile. Designer labels include Barbara Bui, Derek Lam, and Isabel Marant.

Spring Blowout Sale at BADC (3221 N Sheffield Avenue)
Borrow a Dress Couture is holding a Spring Blowout Sale this weekend. Dresses are being sold at up to 80% off retail.

Fix Offers Free Tote With Purchase (1101 W Fulton Market)
Through April 30, receive a free eco-friendly canvas tote with any purchase (tote shown above).

More upcoming Chicago fashion events and sales

Lusting after designer dresses goes hand-in-hand with watching Hollywood’s many red carpet affairs. With each glamorous award show, we long to wear what the celebs wear, even for only one night. Now there’s a new, less expensive way to make your dress lust a reality.

A new Chicago boutique, Borrow a Dress Couture (BADC), is one of those new retail concepts helping your designer dreams come true for a night—literally. The premise is simple: Go to the store, find a dress, and it’s yours for three days. Rental prices are a fraction of the retail cost, saving you hundreds of dollars on a dress you may only wear once. If you want, keep it a little longer for an additional $10/day. When your dress lease is up, BADC takes care of the dry cleaning for the next borrower.

BADC’s owners, Bree and Teonna, opened the boutique six months ago after borrowing dresses from each other for various events and engagements. Though the boutique is different from standard retail, Bree and Teonna run their store like any other boutique. They place orders directly with designers and change the inventory seasonally, filling the store’s racks with labels like Alexander McQueen, Badgely Mishka, Hervé Léger, Vera Wang, Marc Bouwer, Abaete, and more. BADC customers are renting the eveningwear for any occasion they see fit, including a date, girls’ night, a holiday party, wedding, or black tie gala. “Women have various occasions that they need special dresses for in their life, so it has been great for us,” says Bree.

Renting designer dresses is not only new to Chicago—it’s taking off around the county. With websites like Rent the Runway and Topshop’s Dress Me Up program, this is a trend that could soon become the norm. Rent the Runway is similar to BADC, except the members-only website mails the dress to your home, with a backup size just in case your chosen size isn’t the perfect fit. Topshop’s Dress Me Up allows you to “hire” a dress temporarily for the holidays, and the proceeds benefit two Topshop charities.

So, if you’re designer fund is running a little low this season, renting a dress may be your opportunity to look like a celebrity, even if it’s only for three nights.

Borrow a Dress Couture, 3221 N Sheffield Avenue, shopbadc.com

By Danielle Parker