Wardrobe mal-function (hit panic button)

I’m having a moment!  A wardrobe crisis moment and I really need help.. FAST!

Okay, so we’re going to be heading to Venice mid February to witness one of Venice’s largest festival – Carnevale di Venezia.  How did this come about?  The Carnival originally started as a time for celebration and expression between the classes where wearing of masks are used to hide any form of identity between social classes.  Today, the carnival is used to bring back the history and culture of Venice and approximately 30,000 visitors come to Venice each day for the activities centered around the Carnival.

So, the invite for the dinner that we’re attending in Venice states : Costume.  It means this:

Photo Credit: CFSVenise

I was pretty cool about this initially thinking that what better way to soak in the festivities than to don the traditional costume.  But as the email thread flowed and we realised that it would cost us about 400 EUR and above to rent a pretty decent costume, that’s when I started to panic.  I thought that’s kinda hefty for an evening affair.  Some of the group checked and if we were to purchase the costume, it can cost anywhere between 200 EUR and above.

So, I’m in a wardrobe dilemma stuck in between wondering whether I should purchase a rather affordable traditional Venetian costume (then worry about storing it back in SG) OR buying a formal evening gown that I can wear over and over again.  Oh and the rental or purchase of the traditional costume doesn’t include the mask so we’ll need to buy those as well.  What do you think?

1. Rent? OR
2. Buy a formal gown / evening dress (taking advantage of the online sales) and splurge on a nice mask?

I had grand plans of trying to get away with the dress-code by wearing one for the four cocktail dresses that I brought from Singapore to Geneva.  But I’m starting to think that I will look severely under-dressed for the occasion.

Watch this space as I frantically go in search for the costume or the dress. And if you are reading this and by any chance will be attending the Carnival of Venice, I would be ever-so-grateful if you knew of any places/sites to recommend the rental of the costumes.  Many thanks in advance!

So now the question, to RENT or BUY?