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New Year dress hack: How to get a $3,000 designer outfit for less than $500

If you're looking to save some money but still want to dress up for New Years eve, perhaps consider renting an outfit instead.

A composite image of Alicia Skinner who rents out her dresses on the volte and Sydney harbour bridge lit up with fireworks for new years.
New Years is a busy time for Mum-of-two Alicia Skinner who makes thousands of dollars renting out her wardrobe. (Source: Provided/Getty)

The cost of living is rising but that doesn’t mean you have to give up everything that makes you happy, and if designer items are your go-to, you can save serious money on those too.

Bernadette Olivier, co-founder of luxury dress-sharing platform The Volte, said bookings “have gone bananas” this month with summer parties, Christmas events and New Year’s Eve, reporting their biggest number of hires ever.

“New dress listings have risen by 600 per cent. There’s been a real shift in consumer behaviour in the last year,” Olivier said.

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Facebook Marketplace has also seen a 72 per cent spike in second-hand listings as Aussies look to get savvy with saving money.

How to hack a $3,000 designer outfit, for just $500:

  • Dress: The most popular dress of the season, the Alemais Marlow Bodice Dress retails for $645 but can be rented for four days through The Volte for $165. Savings $480.

  • Shoes: New Valentino RockStud leather pumps retail for $1,490, but they can be hired for just $190 from The Designer Club. Savings $1,300.

  • Earrings: Chanel CC Crystal Pearl earrings cost $615 new, but can be rented from All The Dresses for just $125. Savings $490.

Make money from your wardrobe

Perth mum-of-two Allysha Bower makes around $1,000 a month renting out her designer clothes.

The former FIFO worker even converted her workshop into a shop space with a fitting area, where local residents can try on the dresses before hiring.

Melbourne’s Emma Reeder makes more than $2,000 a month renting out her designer dresses.

The 28–year-old has made $3,000 on a single dress alone. She bought it for $795 and rents it out for $160.

Mum-of-two Alicia Skinner makes thousands of dollars renting out 70 dresses on The Volte. Skinner said the most popular is her Alemais Phyliss Twist Front Pleat Dress Green.

Other savvy side hustles

If you don't have a designer wardrobe to rent, never fear - Airtasker revealed some of Australia’s top-paying side hustles.

Here are some of the best ‘going rates’ for side hustles in Australia:

  • Painting services - $200 to $600

  • Landscape gardeners - $150 to $500

  • Skylight installation - $122 to $350

  • Domestic window cleaning - $130 to $300

  • Transport/taxi services - $110 to $335

  • Gutter cleaning - $150 to $275

  • Cleaning - $100 to $250

  • Translation services - $25 to $90

  • Graphic designer - $30 to $110

  • General business admin - $33 to $150

  • Website/App development - $40 to $200

  • Security patrols - $40 to $167.50

  • Christmas tree delivery, decorating, disposing - $50 to $156

  • Event planners - $50 to $262.5

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