HOW RENTING WORKS
We have everything you need for your party, performance, or a day of whimsy.
Here is everything you need to know.
PICK YOUR COSTUME(S)
Choose the costume or costumes you want to rent from our Catalog page . You can also view all of the costumes we have associated with a particular show from the Shows page .
Don’t see the costume you’re looking for?
Contact us
to see if we can source it or create it for you. Please note that many costumes of our comprehensive collection have not yet been listed on our website so we may already have the costume you are
looking for! We are continually adding to our collection.
Contact us to book a consultation or send us details on the theater costume rentals you are seeking!
GET THE CORRECT SIZE
Some of our costumes come in more than one size. Each costume can have a range of sizes with some alterations. Costumes can be taken in, and in some cases can be taken out, so choose a costume where the range includes the size you need.
We will do general alterations on costumes to get the best fit for you or your actors.
See our FAQ about alterations to learn what you can and cannot alter in a costume you rent.
CHOOSE YOUR DATES
You can select your rental dates online. All costumes are rented on a weekly basis. You may select to start your rental on any day of the week. We can also reserve the costumes for you if you would rather we create the order.
PAY FOR YOUR COSTUMES
Complete the checkout process by paying online. We accept all major credit cards. If you need to pay another way (e.g., an e-check or purchase order), please select “send me an invoice” as part of the checkout process and confirm your order. We will contact you after you have submitted your order to arrange payment. We will hold your costumes for up to 48 hours to receive payment, after which they will be released with no guarantee that your costumes will be available for your desired dates.
RECEIVE YOUR COSTUMES
Your costumes will be shipped to arrive on the date you request. We recommend that you request your costumes to arrive NO LATER than two days prior to your first dress rehearsal. We offer expedited
shipping as an option during checkout.
When the costumes arrive, it is critical that you open the boxes immediately and check the inventory list to make sure that every item that you requested is in the boxes. While we strive to be
perfect, we know that sometimes issues may arise. If anything is missing or different from what you ordered, we need you to let us know as soon as possible so we can send you the missing item or a
different item via overnight shipping.
Contact us
if you have an issue with an order.
CARE FOR YOUR COSTUMES
All rented items should be treated with respect. Reasonable wear and tear to costumes is expected – damage is not. Read our FAQs about reasonable wear and tear to learn more about what is acceptable and what is not.
RETURN YOUR COSTUMES
Fold and place your costumes (dirty) back in the box they came in. Use the pre-paid shipping label to return the items on your scheduled return date. WE DO THE CLEANING! Please note that you
must drop off your package for return shipping on the scheduled return date, or you will be charged a late fee for each day the item is late.
Please also:
Pack the costumes in the original plastic bagging to protect against moisture and rain during the shipping process.
Remove any alterations.
Inventory every piece against the original packing list to avoid additional fees.
FAQs
I don’t see the costume I am looking for. Do I have any options?
Yes! Not all of our collection is currently listed on our site - we are working on getting more of our costumes up there every day, so we may have what you are looking for. If we don’t have it, we also may be able to source or create your costume as well. Contact us to find out.
I am a tax-exempt organization. Do you charge sales tax for tax-exempt organizations?
No. In addition to the tax savings, we are pleased to offer a 10% discount to tax-exempt organizations. You will need to supply your tax-exempt certificate and information to receive these discounts. Please email us a current W9 form to info@exquisitecostumes.com .
How does your pricing work?
We rent by the week. You cannot rent for a shorter period than a week. The first week is full price, and subsequent weeks are discounted 50%.
What is reasonable wear and tear?
As costume designers, we know that plays and musicals put stress on costumes, and we are also likely to be very understanding of a genuine accident, especially if you let us know ahead of time. However, there are certain activities that may damage a costume to the point it cannot be repaired or re-rented to another customer.
Please do not:
Perform knee slides in any costume.
Eat or drink (other than water) while wearing a costume.
Use an iron to remove wrinkles; you may only use a steamer.
Other unacceptable and chargeable damage includes: tearing, burning, cutting, staining (including excessive makeup that requires specialized cleaning), machine stitching, mending tape, glue,
stitchwitchery, dyeing, and spray painting. Please do not add ornamentation, medallions, badges, or other trim that leave a mark or that are not removed prior to returning the costume.
.
What kinds of alterations ARE allowed?
In general, hand stitching is preferred. On the bottom hem of a cotton garment, a machine basting stitch would be acceptable. You may use safety pins to mark any alterations, but do not have the actor perform in the costume with safety pins. Some costumes are more easily altered than others, and some may not have any alterations. Please use common sense or call us with any questions!
What happens if a costume is damaged or altered in a way that is not allowed?
Any costume determined by Exquisite Costumes to be damaged beyond normal wear and tear will incur a damage charge. You will incur a full replacement cost for articles that are lost or irreversibly damaged while in your possession or by improper return packaging.
The determination of the damage fee or replacement cost shall be determined at the sole discretion of Exquisite Costumes.
Are costumes cleaned before they are rented?
Yes. All costumes will arrive to you clean and pressed with all of their accessories included.
What should I do if the costume is wrinkled when it arrives?
For any wrinkling that may have occurred from being in a box, we recommend hanging the costumes as soon as you receive them. You may use a steamer, but DO NOT use an iron.
What should I do if I believe a costume needs to be cleaned again or repaired during the run of the show?
Please contact us for explicit instructions. We will instruct you on how to handle that costume and the appropriate way to repair and/or clean it while your show is in progress.
What are some instructions I can give to my cast to make sure that all costumes are returned in the best condition possible and on time?
Here are a few tips we have used when managing the costumes for a show:
Immediately after your last performance, have every actor return all pieces of their rental costumes to the wardrobe supervisor.
Make sure that the cast knows what kind of behavior is acceptable while wearing their costumes (e.g., no knee slides).
Make sure that the cast knows not to eat or drink (other than water) while wearing their costumes.
Organize a rack to hang costumes up after each performance so that they stay in the best condition possible and with the fewest wrinkles.
Make sure you fold and pack away the plastic wrapping for each costume so that you can repack them when it’s time to ship them back to us.
What happens if I return a costume late?
You rely on us to send you your costumes on time for your performance or event – we rely on you returning your costumes on time too. The next renters also rely on this. Our late return fees reflect the financial and business reputational harm caused by late returns.
Any items (s) kept past their agreed upon contract date will be subjected to an automatic late fee as follows:
10% of each late item’s first week rental rate will be charged per day that the item is late being returned or shipped.
Any items that are past due by 14 days of their return date will be considered lost and will be charged full replacement value.
Any item that is not returned at all will be charged (2x) the full replacement value. We will issue a 50% credit for any item written off as lost if it ultimately does turn up and is returned to us within one year.
After one year, late fees or replacement value fees are non-refundable.
Can I credit Exquisite Costumes on social media for costumes we use in a show?
Yes! We’d love it if you did that. You can find us on the following platforms:
Facebook: exquisitecostumes
Instagram: exquisitecostumes
LinkedIn: Exquisite Costumes (company)