Rent, Wear, Return: Exploring 4 Different Clothing Rental Services
By Libby Austin
In the past two years sustainably and minimalism have been ideas I have really taken to and have implemented into my life. Owning four shirts and two pairs of jeans may sound boring, but with clothing rental services available, it doesn’t have to be!
Whether it be for a special occasion, or just wanting to mix up my daily basics, I have fallen back on renting! So with my two years of experience, I think I am more than qualified to share my thoughts and opinions.
I have tried out four different clothing rental services, and here’s what you need to know.
And here’s why you should rent, too.
Ole Reliable, RTR, is arguably the first website that comes to mind when you are needing that something special, that you probably won’t ever wear again. Rent the Runway offers a large variety of designer pieces, ranging from dresses, tops and pants, to sunglasses, jewelry and bags!
Rent The Runway operates on a month-to-month plan.
-Keep items as long as you would like
-Ability to swap items throughout the monthly plan
-Plans start at $89/mo for 5 items, $99/mo for 10 items, and $169/mo for 20 items.
Rating: 8/10
Highlights:
Tons of designer items
Handbags, jewelry and other accessories
Ability to swap items during the month
Lowlights:
Priced slightly high
Not as many casual items
Sizing and availability is not always great
RTR is my typical go-to when needing a dress for a wedding, or other special occasion where I am also likely going to need a bag or jewelry. However, I would skip otherwise. The selection can sometimes be limited based on sizing. Before I rented, I hearted many styles that were actually not available in my size when I decided to rent.
Owned by URBN (the parent company of Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People) Nuuly stands out for eclectic mix of contemporary and unique pieces. Nuuly has placed an emphasis on sustainability by offering both new and pre-loved items available for rent and for sale!
Nuuly operates on a month to month plan.
-$98/mo for 6 pieces
-Option to add extra piece for $20
-Discounts on rented items if purchased
Rating: 9.5/10
Highlights:
Unique pieces
Many items come new with tags
Very large inventory
Larger range from very casual to very dressy
Lowlights:
No accessories
No designer
Limited plan options
Nuuly is my top choice, and therefore highest rated clothing rental service! The topnotch clothing choices, ranging from casual to dressy is really convenient when I am not needing something specially designer. There are so many items to choose from, and the customer service is fantastic. The clothing also comes in super cute reusable bags, which makes a difference to me.
Obviously owned by clothing company, Express. They rent mostly their own brand, but you will find other brands such as ASTR and Cresent, as well. They boast a large selection of clothing that is a bit more plain.
Express Style Trial operates on a month to month plan.
-First 30 days free trial
-$59.95/mo for 3 items at a time
-Ability to swap items
Rating: 7.5/10
Highlights:
First month free
Great basic options
Lower monthly fee
Lowlights:
Clothing options aren’t super unique
No designer
No accessories
Lots of styles on their website are the same
Express Style Trial is a great option when you are not looking for designer, or extremely unique items. Most of the clothing pieces are solid colors, sometimes with a minimal pattern, and are often time perfect options when renting your work wardrobe. I love to use Express Style Trial when I am looking for something a little more modest.
Offers many of the same styles available on Express Style Trial. However, there are additional styles and brands, including Rhode and Farm Rio. This makes the selection much more broad.
ModLux.Rent operates on a month to month plan.
-First month for $25
-Plans start at $70/mo for 2 items out at a time
-Plans go up to $145/mo for 6 items out at a time.
-Option to return items before month is up in exchange for other pieces
Rating: 8/10
Highlights:
First month for major discount
Offers higher end brands, such as: Farm Rio, Rhode and Vince
Many styles to choose from
Many monthly plan options
Lowlights:
Slightly overpriced
Customer service is slow
Although I would not start on ModLux.Rent when looking for something to rent, my favorite dress I have ever rented came from here. I also rented a bridesmaid dress from them! They do have a large selection, so for $25 for the first month it is a great option to try out!
We have a winner! (Or a couple...)
Best Overall: Nuuly
Best Designer: Rent the Runway
How to choose which service is best for you?
When choosing which rental service to try out first, a great option is to start with the services that offer a free 30 day trial, or the first month at a lower cost.
If the price is not a factor to you, you should then think about what is most important to you. If it is designer and accessories, RTR is a great first option. However, if you could care less about those two things, but are really into trying out new unique styles, Nuuly might be the best place for you to start.
Why you should start renting!
No matter what the reason is for you to be interesting in renting, you should just start. It is a great way to help the world cut down on fashion waste. Most of us only wear an “event” piece once or twice, so what’s stopping you from renting, anyway? There are many great options for rental services, so many, that you are bound to find one that caters to your needs!
Tips for making the most out of your rental!
- Start by creating lists! When I am scrolling through all of the amazing pieces, it can sometimes feel overwhelming. If you create and label lists, you can easily head back to the list when deciding what options you want sent to you for the month.
2. Mix and max different clothing rental services. They are not one size fit all. You may have a wedding this month and a vacation next. That’s a great reason to try out different services!
3. Use the clothing rental service as a way to experiment with your style! If you are receiving multiple pieces, you can rent something safe, but then you should also try to rent something totally out of your comfort zone! Who knows, you may end up loving it.
Thanks for reading! I would love to know if you give any of these services a try!