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Versace. Maison Margiela. Diane Von Furstenberg. These are the big names in fashion that I drool over but thought I would never wear. Luxury brands are often inaccessible to the average person on a budget like myself.
That is, until I discovered the Rent the Runway membership.
Rent the Runway offers a clothing subscription that allows you to rent clothing items (including jewelry and handbags) at a fixed monthly cost much less than any one single piece. If you fall in love with a garment, you can buy it at a reduced price only available to members.
I love clothing subscription programs in general because they allow you to experiment with your style without commitment. Renting clothing is the sustainable alternative to allowing statement pieces to sit neglected in your closet, or worse, end up in a landfill.
How it Works
Rent the Runway offers three tiers of memberships. The first tier is the cheapest, and allows you to rent four items per month. You get access to Rent the Runway’s ‘Basic Closet,’ which is more limited and includes more casual and workwear styles with a retail value up to $350.
The higher price membership tiers allow you to rent from Rent the Runway’s ‘Full Closet,’ which includes eventwear and premium styles with retail value up to $3500.
The second tier allows you to rent up to eight items monthly. You can only rent four items at a time, so that means your monthly rentals will be across two shipments.
The third, most expensive tier allows you to rent up to 16 items monthly. Still, you can only rent four items at a time so you need to return and order another shipment four times to add up to 16 items total.
How Much it Costs
Rent the Runway’s cheapest plan at four items per month costs $89 per month, with a $69 first month trial.
The second tier membership plan at eight items per month costs $135 per month, with a $99 two month trial.
The most expensive 16 item plan costs $199 per month, with a $149 two month trial.
My First Rent the Runway Order
To get the most a bang for my buck with clothing rental subscriptions, I always try to go for the boldest, most expensive pieces that would maybe not get much use in my day-to-day.
It is cold here in New England, so I thought it would be a good time to try some statement outerwear. I grabbed a few colorful coats and a tan faux shearling jacket that is outside my personal style.
I also jumped at the chance to rent some Maison Margiela wide-leg trousers because why not?
See how I styled my first Rent the Runway order below.
ESSENTIEL ANTWERP – WICE CHECK COAT
JOIE – HALONA COAT
JONATHAN SIMKHAI – ADELYNN FAUX SHERPA JACKET
MM6 MAISON MARGIELA – TAN WIDE LEG TROUSERS
TANYA TAYLOR – VIKKI FAUX FUR COLLAR COAT
Is Rent the Runway Worth the Money?
If you want to experiment with your style or try designer clothes at a lower price point without commitment then Rent the Runway’s membership is absolutely worth the money.
Still, Rent the Runway membership is not cheap.
I recommend the middle tier (eight items, $135 per month) for the most value. At this price you get access to Rent the Runway’s full closet and a decent number of pieces per month. Also, you can also rent more than your allotted number of items for an extra cost.
Another major downside is that you can only rent four items at a time no matter your membership level. It seems like a major hassle to manage four shipments per month at the highest membership level. That’s a lot of work to make your membership worth it.
How Does Rent the Runway Compare to Other Clothing Rental Subscriptions?
I have also tried the Nuuly clothing rental subscription. Nuuly allows you to rent six items for $88 per month, which give you more and is a little cheaper than even Rent the Runway’s cheapest plan.
However, Nuuly has a much smaller selection and is lacking the big name designer fashion houses.
Nuuly seems to be aiming for a younger customer, while Rent the Runway is more fit for the fashion connoisseur.
Try Rent the Runway Today
Interested in trying out Rent the Runway? If you use my link (right here) you’ll get $30 off your first month. (I’ll get $30 off too so it’s a win-win!)
