Clothing Rental: Give your bank account a break
You’ve heard by now the dangers of fast fashion — the overproduction of clothing ruins the environment and often encourages unsafe or unfair working practices. Whether shopping secondhand isn’t your thing or you’re always trying something new, clothing rental services allow you to switch up your style with less of an impact on your bank account. Renting also reduces clutter in your closet, allowing you to focus your energy on collecting timeless staple pieces while rotating through trends. Organized closet = organized mind = organized life. Even some parents have started renting for their kids — why purchase clothes to keep if you’ll just grow out of them in six months? Here are a few of the key players in the clothing rental industry:
Rent The Runway
RTR seems to be the classic rental service, promising to “change the way you get dressed.” With 700+ designers, sizes ranging 00–22, and new arrivals weekly, you’ll never run out of options. According to the RTR website, the average member rents $34,000 worth of clothing per year! Even if you’re on the most expensive plan, you’re still saving upwards of $30k. Their plans range from $69-$199/month and 4–16 items/month.
FashionPass
FashionPass is supposed to be all the rage with Insta influencers nowadays. Their focus seems to be trendy clothing from popular brands like Splendid, Cotton Candy LA, Finders Keepers, Minkpink, and Quay Australia. Plans range from $49-$139/month and allow unlimited rentals. FashionPass also offers chats with a stylist if you need help choosing between the multitude of options.
Nuuly
Nuuly does things a bit differently: you get 6 items per month for $88. It’s simple, and allows you to choose either six different pieces or try on different sizes. Nuuly’s available brands lean towards a more boho vibe, headlining designers like Urban Outfitters, Free People, and Anthropologie. Nuuly ships in a recycled, reusable bag. You can hang on to items longer than just one month if you’d like, but you need to return them in order to get new ones.
What They All Offer
All items arrive ready-to-wear
Keep items for an unlimited amount of time as long as you’re a member
Swap items for new ones whenever you’re ready
Pause or cancel anytime
Free shipping and dry cleaning
Discount on purchasing items you decide to keep
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking to keep costs low but trendiness at an all time high, one of these three services is probably your best bet. I know I’ll be choosing RTR for the summer, since they’re offering a discount on your first two months. Check back in with me mid-July, though, and I might have a different opinion!
