LOUE 1 ROBE: RENT YOUR NEXT DRESS IN MONTREAL

Rent a dress in Montreal for your wedding or your upcoming social events.

I had the pleasure of recently meeting Sarra Ghribi, the owner of Loue 1 Robe in Montreal, in collaboration with Le Snack Bar.

Sarra is a French businesswoman of Tunisian origin who has been living in Montreal for 13 years.

Other than the concept of being able to rent outfits for various events at a lower cost compared to buying them, the philosophy behind Loue 1 Robe is even more appealing.

The philosophy behind Loue 1 Robe

Sarra has no so-called academic experience in the world of fashion design. She owes her experience to herself.

In the past, she had weight problems and had a real difficulty to get dressed. It was a trip to Italy that opened her eyes.

In Italy, women are beautiful and not necessarily bags of bones.  No, they have forms, are round and yet they know how to show off their bodies.

It is from there that Sarra decided to dress her body without conforming to what she found in the stores.  She knew how to sharpen her eye to find out what looked good on her body.

It is a quality that she used to help her friends to get dressed and then turned into a business.

Consume less and better

Other than the physical aspect of the company, there is the ecological and financial aspect.

Slow fashion is a movement that is gaining more and more momentum.  It is pointless to buy a dress to wear it only once.  Thanks to Loue 1 Robe, it’s another way to consume fashion and at a lower cost.

Personalized experience

Sarra knows what complexes are.  We all have them, don’t we? Our complexes often come from our childhood and society.

A stylist takes an objective look at a woman’s body.

Why does a 13-year-old girl think about the problems of four butt cheeks? You know, it’s when you’re wearing a piece of clothing and because of the panties, which may be a little too tight, you feel like you have four butt cheeks?  Therefore, the 13-year-old decides to wear a thong.  

But where does this complex come from?

It’s because mom talks about it or they see it on TV. Often, we are sold the message that being round is not good. By the way, have you watched the movie Cuties on Netflix?  The film is a good example of how young girls today can be influenced by the media.

The experience at Loue 1 Robe goes further than just the clothes.

Sarra Ghribi

We all have different body types.  The challenge at Loue 1 Robe is to give women back their self-confidence.  The goal: to help these women feel good about themselves and to pass it on to their daughters. 

How does it work?

To rent a dress in Montreal at Loue 1 Robe is by appointment only. The showroom is located on the lower level of the Sheraton Hotel (1201 René-Lévesque Blvd.). The closest subway stops are Lucien-L’allier (orange line) and Peel (green line). However, you can also come by car and get a 10$ discount on parking when you come to visit Sarra.

The consultation is free if you decide to rent a dress, otherwise there is a $30 fee.  It’s normal, after all, you are entitled to a 45-minute appointment that is totally personalized.

Sarra relies more on the quality of the experience than on traffic.  That’s why there will never be other clients at the same time as you.

The goal: to help the client feel comfortable when she leaves the changing room.

It is possible to make a consultation via Skype.  Sarra had to do it for 15 women at a party near Quebec City.  Anything is possible!   It doesn’t take long for Sarra, looking at you from every angle, to see which style of dress would suit you best, but the final choice is yours. 

How much does it cost to rent a dress?

The price of the consultation is included in the rental of a dress, as well as alterations and cleaning.  The rental price varies between $50 and $500 for dresses compared to a purchase value ranging from $150 to $5,000.

Accessories are also available for rent.  Prices range from $5 to $90.  There are bracelets, necklaces and handbags (Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton).

You can pay by bank transfer, credit card or cash.

Upon your first rental, you’ll be entitled to a free loyalty card. At the end of the fourth visit, you’ll get a 50% discount on your rental.

The Uber of the dress

The dresses come from Quebec, the United States, France, England and Italy.  They are varied and unique. 

There are different sizes. From 0 to 20 for women and from small to XXXXXL for men.

A dress from Christian Dior is even part of her collection.  Moreover, at the McCord Museum, there is currently an exhibition about this great French fashion designer.

Rental period

Generally, the rental is for 48 hours or from Friday to Monday.  An extra day’s rental costs $10.  It’s possible to rent for up to a month, but there will be a fee of 20% for each additional week.  So yes, you can take it with you on your trip!

You can also reserve a dress to wear later. You’ll have to leave a 50% deposit on the value of the rental.

Dress styles

There is something for every taste, event, and budget.  Even if the outfits are mainly for women, it’s also possible for men to rent a tuxedo!

Sarra has seen in her showroom, CEOs, the mayor of Montreal, and celebrities whose names she cannot reveal.  However, she went to the hotel where the American actress, Annalynne McCord, was staying in order for her to try on dresses. 

Wedding

Avant-garde to traditional wedding dresses can be found in Sarra’s showroom.  Bridesmaids’ dresses are available in different styles but same color so that every woman can feel good in her outfit.

Ladies, there is even a dress by the fashion designer Vera Wang!

To give you an idea of cost: the wedding dress on the left cost $350 to rent ($800 value) and the bridesmaid dress or like I call it my Academy Award dress costs $130 to rent (value $350).

Galas, Christmas Party, New Year’s Eve Party

There is something for every occasion at Loue 1 Robe in Montreal.

A grandmother rented the dress below.  I was curious to try it on.  It’s so not my style!

You can rent this dress for $50 which includes cleaning cost.

Business outfits

Sarra made me try a jump-suit with cleavage! Ooh la la.  In the end, I was very happy with the result and very comfortable.  Moreover, with a Chloé bag as an accessory, I felt much more confident. Ah psychology!

If you have a business meeting, it’s possible to rent an outfit for that, but without a plunging neckline.

Also, there is a semi-annual sale of these dresses generally in February and September. The dresses cost between $20 and $150. This is perfect if you want to renew your closet without having it cost you an arm and a leg!

Consignment

Another aspect of Loue 1 Robe in Montreal is consignment.

Do you have a wedding, bridesmaid or gala dress that takes up space and dust in your wardrobe?

You can rent out your dress at Loue 1 Robe, in Montreal.  You’ll receive a 30% commission each time it is rented.  Be careful, the dress will not be rented at the purchase price.  Therefore, don’t expect to make a lot of money on the rental.

If you ever need to get your dress back, don’t worry.  You’ll be able to do it easily.

As a result, following my interview with Sarra, I’ve put two of my wedding dresses, like these ones below in consignment.

What’s next for Rent a dress (Loue 1 Robe) in Montreal?

When I interviewed Sarra, there were things in the air, but nothing official. The suspense of waiting for the unveiling!

You won’t have to wait, because I’m announcing it here!

Sarra had already received, thanks to her journey as an immigrant entrepreneur, a recognition award from the Quebec National Assembly this year.

In October 2020, Sarra was elected as a member of the Chamber of Commerce du Montréal Métropolitain. Congratulations Sarra!