I Rented Clothes for a Month Instead of Buying Them—and Saved So Much Money

If there’s one party trick I excel in, it’s being able to
spot and detail practically every item of clothing someone is
wearing—from the brand down to the price (and I could probably
also tell you if it’s on sale). This skill tends to come with the
territory as a market editor at Who What Wear, where scouring every
cool product on the internet is part of the job. Last month I eyed
a gorgeous Self-Portrait
floral dress on a co-worker, and when I lavished her with
compliments, she whispered with excitement, “It’s
Rent the Runway!” I had never used the designer clothing
rental service before and only really associated it with renting
gorgeous gowns for fancy weddings, but when my colleague insisted I
try the unlimited
membership for a month (think unlimited designer items, free
shipping, and no dry-cleaning),I quickly took her advice and signed
up.

This
is from a gorgeous Israeli designer I discovered through Rent the
Runway. I wore it on vacation in Italy.

As someone who spends an average of $300 to $500 a month on new
clothing from mostly affordable fast-fashion stores, such as
Zara,
Mango,
and H&M,
and around $50 a month on dry cleaning bills, I thought it seemed
like a no-brainer to try Rent the Runway’s unlimited membership.
Not to mention it seemed especially helpful since I’m a full-time
fashion editor (and a time-deprived new mom) who is constantly
attending press events and meeting with PR and fashion
companies as well as wanting to keep up appearances while working
at a fashion-forward company… with very limited time to actually
shop.

I’ll also be the first to admit I’m guilty of buying a
trend-forward piece, taking one or two pics on Instagram, and then
casting it aside for another new piece in a vicious fast-fashion
cycle. In an effort to be more sustainable and add more variety and
quality items into my day-to-day wardrobe, the act of “borrowing”
clothes from the Rent the Runway seemed nothing short of sartorial
bliss. It would take my wardrobe to chic new heights, save me money
and time, and cause less harm to the environment in the
process.

I
got a crazy number of compliments when I wore this chic Rosetta
Getty asymmetric top to work. Super chic to pair with slim
jeans.

Here’s a quick rundown of how it works: For $159 a month, Rent
the Runway unlimited members can borrow up to four pieces of
clothing and accessories from a designer-laden library of thousands
of items (which includes designer bags, clothes, and jewelry).
Subscribers can keep the pieces for as long as they want, and if
they can’t bear to part with something, they can buy it,
generally for about half the retail price (which definitely proved
very tempting). Every single item goes through a cleaning and
sanitation process, so it arrives at your doorstep like new.

This
plaid Free People skirt fits so perfectly, is great for fall, and
was not too pricey, so I actually ended up buying it.

Dressing for work is work. I found the Rent the Runway service
not only incredibly handy (the perfect strategic solution for a
professional working woman wanting high-quality outfits) but also
wonderfully freeing. After choosing the items I was going to wear
that week, it freed up my mental space to focus on important
matters at work and at home. And while it still takes a little time
to pick and choose the pieces you want on the site, the great part
is it only takes a couple of days to arrive, and it’s easy to
return the items (with a free shipping label), which immediately
frees up spots to choose more chic pieces.

This
effortless jumpsuit was a weekend winner for a birthday brunch.

The selection of designers that Rent the Runway carries is vast,
and caters to every sartorial taste. I particularly loved the more
contemporary brands available—from Tibi to Nanushka, Rejina Pyo
to Reformation. I’m hoping the brand keeps adding more to the
list, especially emerging designers as well as heritage brands (it
would be rather nice to rent a Chanel It bag for a weekend!).

Nanushka’s
leather separates are trending hard, and this was perfect for
fashionable desk-to-drinks work events.

I saved an immense amount of time, money, and worry about what
to wear using the Unlimited service, which at this stage in my
career and life is an absolute godsend! I also got plenty of
Instagram action from my buys without the guilt of
buying-and-tossing in a fast-fashion cycle. It has made me feel
like a more conscious and sustainable shopper and moreover has
provided fresh inspiration for my day-to-day wardrobe. I’ve also
loved wearing great quality pieces by high-end designers such as
Victoria Beckham that I would never usually be able to
afford—how’s that for democratizing fashion?

Scroll below to see more great pieces I rented through Rent the
Runway’s unlimited service.

A
cool sweater cape by Draper James nails one of fall/winter’s
hottest trends. Perfect for the cozy season ahead.

I
love the fact you can rent an of-the-moment It bag for a fraction
of the price. This Rejina Pyo purse took my outfit to new heights
of chic.

This
houndstooth coat was the perfect option to get into the fall spirit
as the temps are starting to cool. We all know outerwear can get
pretty pricey, so renting is a great option to save money in this
area.

I
absolutely love Tibi and while I’ve never actually bought anything
from the brand yet, renting a piece was the perfect way to
experience one of its pieces. The number of compliments I got on
this chic scarf sweater was absurd. I paired it with an equally
cool A-line skirt from Tory Burch to finish the look.

While
I love renting statement pieces to add to my basics, I’m also a fan
of minimalist staples, such as this cozy cardigan from J.Crew, a
chic option on crisp weekends.