Behind Belinda's Desk

Your guide to designer dress hire, styling and occasion dressing. Discover the latest fashion advice, styling tips, new arrivals and behind-the-scenes stories from Your Secret Closet.

Behind Belinda’s Desk: The Lies Customers Tell a Dress Rental Business

Behind Belinda’s Desk: The Lies Customers Tell a Dress Rental Business

“I posted it yesterday.” Except the tracking says otherwise. After almost 10 years in dress rental, Belinda has heard just about every excuse in the book, from dresses being held...

Behind Belinda’s Desk: The Worst Things We’ve Ever Found in a Dress Rental Return

After almost 10 years in dress hire, we thought we'd seen it all. Fake tan, makeup and wine? Easy. But human faeces, used G-strings and unexpected bodily fluids? Welcome to...
Behind Belinda’s Desk: The Worst Things We’ve Ever Found in a Dress Rental Return
Behind Belinda’s Desk: The Customer Isn’t Always Right. There, I Said It.

Behind Belinda’s Desk: The Customer Isn’t Always Right. There, I Said It.

“The customer is always right.” We’ve all heard it — but after almost 10 years running a dress rental business, I’m not sure I agree. From delayed parcels and double...

Behind Belinda’s Desk: The Instagram Dress vs The Real-Life Dress - Why Doesn’t It Look Like That on Me?

You see the dress on Instagram. The waist is perfect, the fabric falls beautifully and there isn’t a crease in sight. Then you put it on yourself and wonder, “Why...
Behind Belinda’s Desk: The Instagram Dress vs The Real-Life Dress -  Why Doesn’t It Look Like That on Me?
Behind Belinda’s Desk: How Old Is Too Old for a Rental Dress?

Behind Belinda’s Desk: How Old Is Too Old for a Rental Dress?

How long is too long to keep a dress in a rental wardrobe? Some designer dresses remain in circulation for years, but at Your Secret Closet, we take a different...

Behind Belinda's Desk: You Don't Have to Quit Your Job to Build Your Dream

Most founder stories begin with someone quitting their job. Mine didn't. Here's why keeping my career became one of the best business decisions I ever made, and how it helped...
Behind Belinda's Desk: You Don't Have to Quit Your Job to Build Your Dream
Behind Belinda’s Desk: “But I Only Wore It for Two Hours…” The Reality of Dress Rental

Behind Belinda’s Desk: “But I Only Wore It for Two Hours…” The Reality of Dress Rental

“But I only wore it for two hours…” It’s a phrase we hear more often than you might think. But dress rental isn’t charged by the hour. From stubborn fake...

Behind Belinda's Desk: How I Choose Every Dress We Stock (And Why Hundreds Never Make the Cut)

Ever wondered how we choose the dresses at Your Secret Closet? In this edition of Behind Belinda's Desk, Belinda Birt shares the styling expertise, customer insights and careful buying decisions...
Behind Belinda's Desk: How I Choose Every Dress We Stock (And Why Hundreds Never Make the Cut)
Behind Belinda’s Desk The Dresses I Got Completely Wrong (And the Very Expensive Lessons They Taught Me)

Behind Belinda’s Desk The Dresses I Got Completely Wrong (And the Very Expensive Lessons They Taught Me)

Not every beautiful dress turns out to be a great rental. From sequins that left a lasting impression (literally) to black-and-white dresses that became a laundry nightmare and designer styles...