My last Rent the Runway review was focused on my experience using Rent the Runway for pregnancy. Now I’m almost two years postpartum (crazy, how fast time flies!) and I’m still using Rent the Runway! Since I’m often asked “Is Rent the Runway worth it,” I figured I’d write an updated Rent the Runway review based on my recent experience.
Use code RTRMARISSA to get 40% off your first two months of a 8, 12 0r 16 item plan. Click here!
When I first learned about Rent the Runway many years ago, I couldn’t wrap my head around it. Why would I want to rent clothes, get attached to them and send them back? At the time, I shopped a ton and the concept was foreign to me. But now, I totally get it and can’t imagine how I ever got dressed without Rent the Runway!
How Rent the Runway Works
Here are a few more …
- When you sign up for a subscription, you choose an 8, 12 or 16 item plan. My Rent the Runway promo code, RTRMARISSA, gets you 40% off one of these plans for two months. You can rent 4 items at a time and get 2, 3 or 4 shipments a month depending on your plan.
- When you want to get a new shipment, go into the app to select the items you’d like to rent and add them to your bag.
- Checkout and wait for your items to arrive – delivery is always fast.
- When you get your items, try them on and wear them as much as you’d like!
- When you’re ready to send your items back, select the items you’d like to send back, choose new items and start the process all over again.
How to Use the RTR App
I’ve learned that the more you work the app, the more it works for you. When I have some downtime, I scroll the catalog of clothes to discover new items I’d like to rent. Then, I “heart,” or like those items. You can organize your closet based on event, season or clothing type to keep things organized. The more items you heart, the more items the algorithm will shoe you based on what it think you’ll like. This is one of the many things I like about using Rent the Runway.
What I Like About Rent the Runway
One // It’s sustainable. In my 20s, I bought a lot of fast fashion. While fast is affordable and provided many wardrobe options, its impact on the environment is less desirable. Fast fashion is responsible for 10 percent of the world’s carbon emissions. Moreover, it’s one of the biggest consumers of the world’s water supply. Finally, it pollutes the ocean with micro plastics. These days, I prefer a simpler closet with a few key investment pieces that allows me to fill the gaps with rental items — all of this has a more positive environmental impact.
Two // It’s maternity-friendly. Read my Rent the Runway for pregnancy review. In short, it offers both maternity options and non-maternity options that can work for pregnancy.
Three // I can try new styles and designers. For me, this is so much fun because I don’t have to commit to any trend or designer long-term. After I’ve worn something a few times, I can try something else. There’s always an option to buy anything I love. By the way, I’ve totally done this a few times. I’ve discovered many designers that I love through Rent the Runway like Ulla Johnson and Farm Rio.
Four // I have a rotating closet of designer clothes. I once thought I would get too attached to my rentals but that hasn’t been the case at all. Most often, I’m ready (and excited) to send my current items back and find new items to try – because there are literally SO MANY! Getting my shipment in the mail is like Christmas morning every two weeks!
Five // I ALWAYS have something to wear. I used to stare into a closet full of clothes that fell like an abyss. I had trouble choosing an everyday outfit. At one point, I desperately hired a stylist to create a “lookbook” to make getting dressed easier. But, lookbooks can’t last forever and eventually the cycle repeated itself. Now,I love wearing my rentals and often wear them multiple times because I can style them different ways. I have fun and experiment with every piece.
Six // I save money. I buy so much less now it’s crazy! In fact, I have no desire to shop like I used to. Instead, I can invest in a few key, timeless pieces. Since dry cleaning is included in every Rent the Runway subscription, my dry cleaning bill is almost non-existent.
8 Item vs. 16 Item Plan
The next question I get after “Is Rent the Runway worth it?” is “What Rent the Runway plan should I get?” For the life of my membership, I’ve been on an 8-item plan, the most popular. This is great if you’re just trying it out or already have a closet full of clothes you love and wear. It worked for me for a long time while we were mostly at home and traveling less. Typically, I got a new shipment every two weeks and had plenty of time to enjoy my rentals.
However, I recently switched to a 16 item plan and LOVE it! I rent items weekly. That means anything I don’t love goes back sooner and I don’t have to hang onto it for so long. It’s a lot of fun to feel like you’re shopping in someone’s closet every week and I get to try many more items than I did on the 8-item plan. That said, I feel a lot of pressure to wear everything in one week. So, if you don’t go out a lot, work from home or are on a budget, the 8-item plan may be better for you. If you’re somewhere in between, go for the 12-item plan.
The beauty is that you can always switch between plans or pay a la carte for add-on items regardless of the plan you have.
Here’s how the pricing breaks down:
8-item Plan: $135/month
16-item Plan: $199/month
Of course, you get $40 off your first two months of either subscription with my Rent the Runway promo code, RTRMarissa
Rent the Runway Promo Code
Now that I’ve been using Rent the Runway for three years, I’m hooked! So, my answer to “is Rent the Runway worth it” is a resounding Yes! If you’d like to try it, use my Rent the Runway promo code, RTRMARISSA, for 40 percent off your first two months of an 8, 12 or 16-item plan. You can thank me later!
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