Rent the Runway Review
I have learned so much about overconsumption, ethical clothing, and sustainability in fashion. I have read many Twitter threads and articles on how thrifting and renting clothes helps with overconsumption and sustainability. This past New Year’s Eve I hosted a small event for close friends and family and thought it would be the perfect event to try out Rent the Runway.
Rent the Runway offers promotions for first time renters, so that made the renting that much sweeter. How the process works is: You select a piece or pieces, select the date you want the pieces (either a 4-day rental or 8-day rental), and the piece(s) are sent to you with a prepaid return shipping label for you to return the piece(s) without incurring any additional costs. On the first item added to the order, Rent The Runway offers a second size of the item at no additional cost. This is great if you are in between sizes or are shopping a brand you are unfamiliar with.
It is recommended you select a date two days before you need the piece(s) to make sure you have the piece(s) for your event to ensure the garments are delivered in a timely manner.. This recommendation came in handy, for me, because I was not available for the first attempted delivery and the items were not left at my home/place of delivery.
Since the occasion I was dressing for was New Year’s Eve, I selected a Dress The Population sequined dress. I was expecting the garment to be more sturdy; however, it was pretty stretchy. Which also worked in. my favor because I spent the evening dancing and singing karaoke.
I was charged at the point I confirmed the rental. Per my experience, I was unable to change the shipping address after the rental was reserved. Luckily, I ended up not needing to change the shipping address, but I feel this is important to note if you are a person like me that plans months in advance.
I paired the dress with the Schutz Kelly Specchio Leather Sandal in silver, earrings from Fashion Nova, and a silver clutch I found at Burlington Coat Factory for $10.99. I really loved the look overall; however, the shoes were not made for dancing. My feet were very sore by the end of the night.
The end of my four day rental ended up being on a Sunday, which UPS stores are typically closed. I was given until the following Monday to drop the off the dress to be returned. After dropping the dress off, I received an email five days later confirming the dress was received.
The rental cost me $36.00 plus taxes and shipping and the dress originally retails at $216.00. Considering the uniqueness of the dress I know had I purchased the dress I would not have worn it on many occasions, so the cost of the rental versus the full retail was worth it. However, it is important to note that the dress can be purchased as a pre-loved item for $40,00. Now, that I am aware of how the process works and can confirm the condition of the clothes I would be willing to purchase or rent again. There are also subscriptions that allow you to pick 4 to 8 pieces to rent per month for a set price, as well.
Overall, I was very happy with the experience and really loved the look. I felt like I picked the perfect outfit for the occasion and found a new brand that I really enjoyed. If you have an important event coming up and don’t want to spend a lot of money I definitely think Rent the Runway is worth it to try.
If you’re interested in trying it out, this link offers $30.00 off your first rental: https://rtr.app.link/e/gT8u4xiKOwb
