Meet the self-proclaimed 'Dress Dealer', Sandra, with a head-turning wardrobe full of the most unique rentals she is, of course, one of our Top Lenders on the app.
Sandra's relationship with fashion is anything but casual. She has spent over a decade immersed in the industry, evolving from stylist to seasoned collector of designer pieces. Including the infamous Tory Burch dress that is exclusively available to rent on By Rotation.
In this interview, she takes us inside her wardrobe philosophy, her journey into rental, and the pieces that continue to define her ever-evolving style.
Tell us a about yourself...
I’m Sandra, and I’m originally from Lithuania, but London has been home for the last 13 years. I inherited a shopping problem from my grandma, and I have been working in the fashion industry all my adult life to not only support it but also get deeper in it. I fell out of love with being a stylist, and so my main activity right now is selling and renting designer fashion pieces. I love the thrill I get from hunting down something fabulous and well-priced.
What’s the story behind you finding the Tory Burch mirror dress, and did you buy it with the intention of sharing it on By Rotation
Unfortunately, I don’t have a romantic story to share about buying this particular dress. I was at a sample sale, and my sample sale ‘technique’ is to browse and grab all the things I like, edit it down, repeat the same sequence one more time and check out. I believe I’m not the only shopper doing this, so I found the dress on my second round, literally dumped on one of the rails. I checked with the lady trying on some clothes whether the dress was hers, and it wasn’t, so I took it with me.
I never knew Tory Burch designed the dress, and I wasn’t looking for it specifically. Once I saw the dress, I remembered that Eshita, By Rotation's Founder & CEO, rented a version in pink from the USA app last year, and I was pleasantly surprised that I found it in a different colour. I tried the dress, and since I need help to zip it up and breathe, I decided this will be a purchase to be enjoyed by other women, as I couldn’t possibly leave it behind.
Beyond the mirror dress, which piece in your wardrobe is on a constant rotation?
The Taller Marmo Diva gown was very popular for a few years; many happy memories were witnessed by that dress. I recently sold it, and it was quite a sentimental moment. Currently, my Solace London Talia gowns are the most popular - I wore the open shoulder black one for the opera at the Lincoln Centre in New York on New Year's Eve and from that point I started acquiring them in different colours and sizes.
5. When you’re shopping for new designer pieces, are you looking for personal style, rentability or a perfect 50/50 split?
It is quite rare that I look for rentability only. It is important for me to first and foremost like the item. I’ve been working in fashion and shopping professionally (and addictively) for more than 10 years, so I know when I see something good. I think it’s in my blood, so it comes naturally to me.
I often shop for the occasions I don’t necessarily have in my agenda, which means I have items that were never worn by me, but they live a fabulous life regardless. Having said that, if I find something I love and it’s not my size, chances are I’ll still buy it, because I love good clothes too much – this is exactly what happened with the Tory Burch mirror dress.
We’re obsessed with your interiors. What are your top homeware picks for adding personality and pops of colour to a space?
6. When did you decide to transition from a collector to a rotator?
I was ‘renting out’ my wardrobe for photoshoots long before rental was a thing. The first time I rented something out to a stranger via the app was August, 2022. It was far from a perfect experience for me, but I decided to give it a shot regardless.
Frankly, I saw it as a great opportunity to earn extra cash. The thinking that I have access to all these fabulous things and could share them with other women for a fraction of the cost to them came around the time when I realised I have a serious shopping problem. Now I often buy by using the excuse of renting it and making some of the money back. I’m very naughty. Having said that, I only have a limited wardrobe available to rent, and I wouldn’t rent items that would make me upset if damaged beyond repair. To sum up, I have part of my wardrobe living in my house rent-free, and part of it actually working on By Rotation.
7. For someone looking to start their own rental side-hustle, what is the one piece of advice you’d share?
Don’t follow the trends blindly. If you see a dress all over your social media and there are already 10 dresses available on the app, chances are yours will not necessarily be the first choice. Stick to your personal style, and your tribe will find you. Make sure your items are well kept, dry cleaned and fixed, if and when needed. Be fast and open with your communication, and make sure renters receive their items in time, and you ensure your parcels. Always underpromise and overdeliver, and never the other way around.
8. What is one designer piece you’re currently hunting to add to your rental listings?
I’m not hunting for any designer pieces; they’re always hunting for me! I got my Chanel fix, so I’m happy and also over the madness we saw in March. I’m loving Chloe has a lot this season, but I’m not sure I can justify the price of some items that I would like to have. Other than that, I have a lot of Dries van Noten and Alaia pieces on my wishlist – these houses are very different, but the clothes make me happy the same way. Oh, and if I could hunt down Nour Hammour's leopard coat that I slept on for too long last season, I’d be thrilled.
Head to the app now to rent unique, sold-out designer items for a fraction of the retail price.
