Stephanie Spear 
A special invitation arrives, and as you RSVP ‘yes’, the next thought is usually, ‘I have nothing to wear!’ Oakton resident Mandira Curtis has created a sustainable solution to this oft-recurring scene with her business, Lease the Dress. Lease the Dress is a rental boutique with locations in McLean and Fairfax, with everything from formal dresses to vacation wear. It’s stocked with one-of-a-kind pieces in sizes 0-22, including designer items and custom-designed looks. An appointment feels more like shopping in your most stylish bestie’s closet – fun and low-pressure. Read on for more about Mandira Curtis and Lease the Dress.
About the Founder
Fashion has always been part of Mandira’s life. She grew up in New Delhi, where her mother’s work in the garment industry gave Mandira a close-up look at the design and manufacturing process. She came to the US and worked in human resources for companies including SAIC and Verizon Business.
When she reached her 50s, she decided it was time for a career change. At the same time, she and her husband began the process of downsizing their home. Mandira had a lifetime’s worth of dresses and other special occasion wear that had been worn only once or twice. “That was my aha moment,” she said. Mandira saw the potential for a business that could make statement fashion more accessible while giving each piece a longer life.
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“I just wanted to do something that I’d always been dreaming [about], and I just took the plunge,” Mandira said. LeaseTheDress opened its McLean location in December 2024. Rather than stocking large quantities of the same styles, Mandira built the business around pieces that feel distinctive. “[My client] is shopping for people that really want something distinct,” Mandira said. “That’s my business model. It’s very unique, one-of-a-kind pieces.”
About Lease the Dress
The inventory now includes gala and cocktail dresses, daywear, resort wear, wedding looks, and Indian formalwear, including saris and lenghas. Most rentals fall between $95 and $295, with approximately $200 serving as a typical price point. Sizes range from 0-22, and Mandira and her team are constantly on the hunt for new items to add to the collection.
Mandira says renting this type of clothing makes sense on many levels. “Even though we focus on unique pieces, this is really all about sustainability,” she said. “Renting means you can enjoy the piece without having to store it or take care of it.”
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The selection has grown dramatically since Mandira started with pieces from her own closet. Clients can also find pieces Mandira designs herself and has produced through a manufacturing operation in India. LeaseTheDress can even create certain custom pieces for clients, with measurements taken during an appointment and some designs produced in approximately four weeks.
Indian wedding attire has become another growing part of the business. Mandira said she began seeing clients who needed traditional clothing for Indian and multicultural weddings but did not necessarily want to spend thousands of dollars purchasing something they might only wear once.
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“We can dress a client for anything,” Mandira said. “A day at the vineyards, a gala, a celebration, even a vacation. We can put together a whole wardrobe for your trip.”
The Experience
LeaseTheDress isn’t designed to feel like a traditional retail store. Appointments are one-on-one, and complimentary styling is a major part of the experience. The team helps clients try different looks and can make suggestions for everything from accessories to hair. “All eyes [are] on the client,” Mandira said. “It’s hand-holding all the way.”
The atmosphere is intentional, too. Clients can sip wine or Champagne while they shop, and Mandira describes appointments as feeling more like a party than a shopping trip.
For Mandira, that personal attention is particularly important because finding an outfit for a major life event can be a vulnerable moment for many. “It can be your age. It can be your weight. It can be so many things,” she said. Some of the feedback that has meant the most to her has come from women who simply tell her they felt seen and comfortable. “Everybody gets the same attention,” Mandira said.
The service can extend well beyond finding one event dress. LeaseTheDress can build an entire vacation wardrobe, including everything from casual resort wear to outfits for formal dinners. Mandira recalled styling one client for six days of a particularly important trip, handling the wardrobe from start to finish.
The company has continued adding services based on what clients request, including bags and accessories. Dry cleaning is also handled as part of the rental process.
What’s Next
After seeing the response to the McLean showroom, Mandira expanded into a second location in Fairfax in 2026, initially focusing the new space on gala wear. The expansion comes less than two years after LeaseTheDress first opened.
Much of that growth has happened through word of mouth rather than traditional advertising. Mandira credits the personalized experience and client recommendations with bringing new people through the doors.
LeaseTheDress has also styled clients for major events, and the company’s collection includes looks intended for occasions ranging from weddings and prom to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and Capital Emmys.
Mandira is already thinking beyond Northern Virginia. She eventually hopes the LeaseTheDress concept can expand through partnerships or franchises, potentially starting in nearby Maryland so clients there won’t have to travel as far for appointments. “I would want this model to be everywhere,” she said.
Lease the Dress is open by appointment only at 4023 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 8,+ 1320 Vincent Place, McLean.
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