About this user
One Night Affair opened it's doors in 1986 by Sharon Gilchrist, a former model who made trades for fancy designer gowns that she realized she would only wear once and leave hanging in her closet. Gilchrist realized what a fabulous idea it would be to rent out top designer gowns to Ladies attending all of the award ceremonies and charity events around L.A., these Ladies could rent a gown for a fraction of the retail price, wear it once and return the gown.
Why not !!! Men have been doing this for years:: renting tuxedo's !!! The whole industry is reversed, a man can wear the same tuxedo 10 - 20 times and no one will say a thing. Once a woman is seen and photographed in a gown, she doesn't want to wear it again and it will end up hanging in her closet.
By 1989 One Night Affair was written up in "Los Angeles Magazine's" BEST OF LA, which turned LA's hottest secret into LA's hottest shop to make yourself look like a million dollars without spending it. Two months later, One Night Affair purchased it's competition "Dressed to Kill" Couture for Hire in West Hollywood.
Combining these two stores One Night Affair became the largest and most successful Gown Rental store in the country. Housing over 1500 wedding gowns, 1200 evening gowns, hundreds of different bridesmaid styles, mother of the bride and flowergirl dresses, complimented by a full line of accessories.
After all of this, all of the top news channels and magazine publications jumped on the Gown Rental band wagon, realizing what a fabulous idea renting a gown is and how much sense it makes:
Click title to view article:
Los Angeles Magazine: The Best of L.A.
Los Angeles Times: Brides can go high fashion by Renting gowns
Los Angeles Times: No deposit, no return
Cosmopolitan Magazine: Rent a Dress Already!
Los Angeles Times: Oscar Comes Home
Los Angeles Times: Why own when you can RENT
LA Parent Magazine: All Dressed Up
Glamour Magazine: Rent a Wedding Dress
Los Angeles Times: To RENT is Devine
Dailey News: Gowns for Hire
LA LIFE: How to look like a million bucks for a whole lot less
Los Angeles Times: Shop's gowns designed for brides on a BUDGET
Glamour Magazine: RENT and Rave, look like a million on Borrowed time
Los Angeles Times: Here Comes the Brides: How to have a Beautiful wedding without spending a lot of money
Cosmopolitan Magazine: RENTING a high ticket party dress
Los Angeles Times: Price out of reach - RENT IT Los Angeles Times: Keeping down the expense of dressing up
BBW Magazine: Big Beautiful Woman-RENT IT
Working Woman Magazine: Glamour for RENT
Valley News Life: PROM
Travel and Leisure: Looking good and RENTING it
Westwood News: Queen for a day - Brides and Party-Goers save Money by RENTING formal gowns
Santa Monica Press: Cinderella at Sea
Los Angeles WHERE Magazine: Fashions-One Night
Bridal Show Magazine: Your Wedding can be a One Night Affair
Dailey Pilot: Designer Wedding Gowns at a fraction of the cost at One Night Affair
One Night Affair had also turned into the premiere source in LA for the Entertainment Industries Wardrobe Departments. Hundreds of gowns are fitted on stars for Movies, Television Shows, Commercials and print ads every week. In 2002, One Night Affair dressed over 600 ladies for the academy awards, why not wear the Gown of your dream without spending thousands of dollars. Why spend a small fortune on a Wedding Gown only to box it up and store it in the garage! How many woman have bridesmaid dresses hanging in their closet that will never be worn again? Let's not forget those expensive Prom Gowns that your daughter will never look at again once she graduates from high school !!! Renting a Gown just makes sense!!!
In January 2000, Gilchrist started another business called "One Night Affair II", Exquisite Linens and Chair Covers for Rent. Exploding into this new market with a magnificent commencement, offering better quality fabrics and unique styles and designs. Wholesaling to hundreds of hotels and country clubs as well as offering the lowest prices in town to their clientele.
Adding exquisite chair covers and linens changes the look of any celebration and turns it into a regal event!!!
