Keeping Down the Expense of Dressing Up
Jeff and Sharon Gates help make dreams come true.
In their boutique, One Night Affair, the couple outfit brides, prom queens, Academy Awards invitees, wanna-bes and others who want to dress to impress.
One Night Affair specializes in renting dresses and accessories to women who want to trim costs on their way to the altar or glitzy galas. Discreetly located above a pharmacy on Westwood Boulevard in Los Angeles, the boutique eliminates the anguish of searching rack after rack for that perfect dress and paying department store prices.
“It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor,” said Jeff Gates. “Everybody wants to save money, especially in today’s economy.”
Current stock at One Night Affair includes 400 different bridal gowns, 150 mother’s dresses, 50 bridesmaid’s dresses and 900 styles of evening and cocktail dresses, all available in sizes 2 to 30 from such designers as Versace, Dior, Wong and Mackie.
Selections range from traditional fairy-princess designs with pearl or crystal beads to sexy, off-the-shoulder dresses representing the hottest fashion trends. Each dress is loaned only five times before it is resold to a used clothing dealer. All dresses are stored in a clear, plastic bag and then placed in one of the many “open” closets situated throughout the 3,800-square-foot store.
The boutique, which opened almost nine years ago, is operated by appointment; calls are screened to eliminate browsers. This, Gates says, ensures that wear and tear on the gowns is kept to a minimum and that customers receive personal attention.
When a customer arrives, she is assigned a sales consultant and shown pictures of hundreds of dresses to help her identify the styles and colors she likes. Then the dresses are brought out and tried on.
“I have had two children since I went to a formal affair,” said West Los Angeles resident Meghan Serwin, who was trying on a cocktail dress. “I have a closet full of clothing that I can’t wear, so I thought I would rent a dress.”
The dresses are neither knockoffs nor used. The store’s owners say that because they purchase new dresses in bulk from New York, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles stores, they are able to pass savings along to customers.
Rental costs vary from $100 to $500, depending on the dress. The maximum charge for alterations is $15 for both cocktail and evening dresses, and $55 for a bridal gown.
“I think what makes us unique is the fact that you can wear your dream gown for a fraction of the price,” said Jeff Gates.
“Whether it’s a prom or a high school reunion, you want to feel great but not spend a lot of money.”
One Night Affair, 2370 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Appointment required. Rental costs vary. Information: (310) 474-7808.
