Lincoln entrepreneur opens up formal dress rental shop in home - Lincoln Journal Star

NailTamie Nisan 07, 2021

Lincoln entrepreneur opens up formal dress rental shop in home - Lincoln Journal Star

Posted: 03 Sep 2019 06:00 PM PDT

When one door closes, another one opens.

That seems to be Lincoln resident Lori Black's thinking when she found out her friend was moving and closing down a formal dress rental shop in tiny Palmyra.

Weeks later, Black decided to pull the trigger on a similar business in Lincoln, but not before first consulting with the Palmyra shop owner.

She recently opened up Lincoln Formal Rental by Lori in the basement of her home in southeast Lincoln.

"It just kind of hit me, like an epiphany," Black said. "Maybe I should do this because no one else in Lincoln is doing anything like this. There are not even any retail places you can go to rent a dress."

She turned her basement into a boutique-style closet where more than 400 formal dresses and gowns — collected from local boutiques and online retailers — are available to rent for four to five days. Customers can view the dresses by appointment.

She also rents handbags and sells jewelry, both for $5.

The short and long dresses vary in sizes from 0 to 24, with a rental price ranging from $10 to $110, with an additional $20 damage deposit.

Black said she determines the price based on whether the dress is used or new and the quality and the dress designer.

Many parents spend hundreds of dollars for homecoming or prom dresses that are often worn only once, Black said. After listening to many parents' complaints, Black learned many dresses are forever tucked away in a closet.

So she felt the need to help out the Lincoln community by helping parents save money.

"My goal is for people to see this as an alternative way for them to do that and not have to worry about, 'Now what am I going to do with this dress in my closet forever that I don't need anymore?'" Black said.

To grow her business, Black said she's been learning about fashion, dress hemming and business inventory, which were unfamiliar for her before she opened her doors.

She's also promoted her business through social media and word of mouth, while managing her photography and real estate business.

Despite the learning curve, the Lincoln native is no stranger to starting a business from scratch.

After working as a journalist, freelance writer, speed-dating consultant, professional photographer and real estate agent, Black is used to long work weeks and being adaptable to different needs of her customers.

"My philosophy is just don't give up when there are times you think, 'This isn't working,'" Black said. "You have your good days and your bad days."

One of those good days was when Black's first customer, Shannon Reeder, rented a dress for her daughter's homecoming.

The day could have been stressful for Reeder. But after two hours of browsing through the collection of gowns, Reeder and her daughter found the perfect dress.

"There was no pressure," Reeder said. "It was just more of a daughter-and-mom moment. It was kind of nice to have someone not pressuring you."

Reeder said she would not hesitate to come back for another visit.

"They say when you have a good experience, you tell people," Reeder said.

Ellie Goulding in SECOND wedding dress to Caspar Jopling - Daily Mail

Posted: 03 Sep 2019 04:07 AM PDT

Ellie Goulding has unveiled FOUR wedding dresses from her nuptials to Caspar Jopling on Saturday, including one designed by Stella McCartney, the same designer that Meghan Markle chose for her second wedding dress.

The singer, 32, started off the day wearing a high-necked Victorian style wedding dress by Chloe as she said her vows to Caspar, 27, before changing into the off-shoulder McCartney number for the speeches.

Ellie shared a snap of herself wearing the second dress on Instagram on Tuesday, as she posed with Caspar outside, while holding a silver champagne flute, writing: 'Me and my man.'

Wow! Ellie Goulding unveiled her four wedding dresses from her nuptials to Caspar Jopling on (and just like Meghan Markle, she turned to Stella McCartney to design one of them - pictured) - this was her second dress of the day

The first dress of the day: The Chloe dress she wore to say her vows had a Victorian style collar and a long train

And for the first dance: The singer was waltzed around the dancefloor by her love wearing a beaded number with a sexy leg split (left) before changing into something shorter (right)

It's no surprise that Ellie and Meghan have the same taste in designers - Ellie also dated Prince Harry a few years back and they have remained close friends.

The third dress of the day had a beaded detail on the top second and the sexy thigh-high split made for the perfect dress for the couple's first dance as man and wife as Caspar spun her around on the dancefloor.

This was also the dress that Ellie chose to wear for the cutting of the very elaborate cake which had many tiers and was adorned with flowers.

Her fourth dress was a short mini which clung to Ellie's curves as she stood outside her wedding reception venue. It had sheer billowing sleeves and she teamed it with white court shoes.

Sharing further details of her special day with her fans, eco-conscious Ellie also posted a picture of the blue electric VW van which she used as her wedding car.

'Me and my man': Ellie shared this picture of dress number two to Instagram on Tuesday designed by McCartney (left) and Meghan Markle in another of the designer's creations (right)

Resplendent: Ellie looked incredible in her off-shoulder number which she wore for the speeches

Time for a kiss: The couple paused for a kiss together outside the church after saying 'I do' as Ellie wore dress number one

The look of love: Ellie experimented with a range of different styles throughout the day

A real show-stopper: Ellie had a big smile on her face as her man twirled her around the dancefloor in dress number three

Cutting the cake: Ellie and Caspar's friends looked delighted as she dazzled in dress number three and wore her hair down at a later point in the evening

The new pictures come a day after Ellie brokeher social media silence after her lavish wedding to Caspar.

The couple tied the knot at York Minster Cathedral at 3pm on Saturday in front of a star-studded congregation, including Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, James Blunt and Sarah Ferguson.

Taking to Instagram on Monday night, Ellie shared a photo of herself and Caspar kissing at the altar, alongside a gushing tribute to the 'love of her life'.

Doing her bit for the environment: Ellie also shared this picture of her electric VW which was used as her wedding car on the day

Ellie wrote: 'This weekend I married the love of my life, in God's own country, surrounded by the people I cherish. Overwhelmed with gratitude.

'Thank you eternally to everyone involved in such a special time, including every single person that traveled from far and wide to come and celebrate with us at York Minster- a place that my husband and his family hold close to their hearts.

'I will never forget your support and generosity. We both send you all so much love and a massive hug xx.'

Newlyweds: Taking to Instagram on Monday night, Ellie shared a photo of herself and Caspar kissing at the altar, alongside a gushing tribute to the 'love of her life'

Wedding bells! The singer, 32, and Caspar, 27, tied the knot at York Minster Cathedral at 3pm on Saturday in front of a star-studded congregation

Overjoyed: Ellie wrote: 'This weekend I married the love of my life, in God's own country, surrounded by the people I cherish. Overwhelmed with gratitude'

Caspar also shared the sweet photo on his Instagram and wrote a somewhat shorter message: 'Thankful for everyone and everything, especially you'.

For the extravagant ceremony, Ellie looked absolutely exquisite in her traditional white Chloé bespoke gown designed by Natacha Ramsay-Lévi, while Caspar wore a suit tailored by Savile Row's Huntsman & Sons.

The songstress' wedding dress is said to have taken over 640 hours to make and featured the couple's initials embroidered on the veil and collar.

Mr and Mrs: They shared a sweet smooch as they exited the church following the ceremony, after exchanging views in front of a slew of stars in attendance

True love: Caspar also shared the sweet photo on his Instagram and wrote a somewhat shorter message: 'Thankful for everyone and everything, especially you'

The congregation were also treated to an eccentric sermon by John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, which finished with him uncorking a bottle of prosecco as a symbol of the newlyweds' 'exhilarating love'.

Dr Sentamu then handed them gifts, including a Ugandan wicker basket filled with treats and a bonsai tree to symbolise that marriages can last for years.

Ellie also invited her favourite composer, Norway's Ola Gjeilo, to perform at the service, alongside the choir of London's Royal Holloway University.

Farewell: The couple left the ceremony to cheers in a blue mini-van with white ribbons and a floral display across the front

Ellie announced her engagement to the British art dealer Caspar, who was educated at Eton and studied history of art and architecture at Harvard University in the U.S., via a formal announcement in The Times last August.

It read: 'Mr C.W.F. Jopling and Miss E.J. Goulding. The engagement is announced between Caspar, son of The Hon Nicholas Jopling of Yorkshire and Mrs Jayne Warde-Aldam of Yorkshire, and Elena, daughter of Mr Arthur Goulding of Hertfordshire and Mrs Tracey Sumner of West Midlands.'

The couple has been dating since March 2017, after reportedly being introduced through mutual friends, which is rumoured to have been Princess Eugenie.

He was said to be working as an art dealer at Sotheby's New York when he met Ellie, but the couple moved back to the UK in preparation for married life.