LOVED reading this perspective! Although RtR wasn't the best fit for me, I know it's a great fit for many others and this piece is a great example of that. I appreciate the shoutout!
Same!!! I’ve been on the 5 items 2x month plan for about 3 years (flexing up or down depending). It’s especially fun when im going on work trips or vacations bc I can essentially get a whole new wardrobe for that climate and then if it doesn’t work at home no worries. I’ve bought a few things from them too and totally agree about the rent to buy pipeline…it leads to smarter purchases overall.
this is a great summary! you make it tempting (and i have always been firmly in the "no" camp with RTR). i still worry the app would consume me. i have finally gotten over (ish) my TRR tendencies and don't want to replace it with a new app that i scroll obsessively. but i appreciate this perspective, esp because i long for purchases that will end up being meaningful and lasting (even though let's face it, that doesn't happen very often) - this shows me it's still possible with RTR.
I think Rent the Runway has definitely replaced some of my TRR scrolling, so you’re right to have that thought! But I think the structure/setup being so fundamentally different has made me think more thoughtfully about what I’m actually ordering (so... addressing the problem but not the symptom? lol)
This thread makes me feel less alone. :) I quit RTR a few months ago because I would spend hours prior to an order trying to find pieces. It was frustrating that most of what I wanted was out of stock and I wasted way too much time on it. However, since canceling, I've had a few events where I just didn't have an appropriate outfit and wish I had a subscription. After reading your post, I'm going to try again. Graduation is coming up and I'd love to rent something special! I'll have to work on scrolling less this time around.
This is why I wish there was the option to see what your friends are renting--more ideas without scrolling! I’ve also found it helpful to just do one big scroll every few weeks or so and add everything I like (even the out of stock stuff) to my favorites, and then only search there when I’m actually placing an order.
I remember first hearing about RTR from my mom who had a friend whose daughter would rent her prom dresses from them, so I always assumed that it was just for fancy clothes (I was also probably in 3rd grade when I first learned about RTR). I was sort of under this assumption until this past year and every time I hear someone talk about RTR it makes me so curious to try it. That being said, I’m 17 and going into my freshman year of college, do you think it would make sense to try it now or wait until later based off of cost, how personal style changes, etc.?
I think it did start out with fancy dresses for events! I don’t know if I would have used RTR going into college - if it’s in your budget, great, but it might be a little expensive and “older”. I bet you could try out a month at a discounted price though!
What I loved about college was the implicit permission to look however you want. I had so much fun thrifting with my new friends and loved showing up to class and my babysitting and bookstore jobs in my new finds. I think in some ways you would miss out on that really special time (being in both a context and an age where it’s accepted and expected that you’ll be pushing boundaries and experimenting) by spending that money each month just to look really put together (if that makes sense!)
That is such a good explanation! I am an avid thrifter and I also assume (but haven’t actually checked) that RTR would be out of my budget. I may get a part time position at a museum in college and I am so excited about the outfit potential! I worked there during my highschool senior project and it was so fun to see each employee’s personal style bc it was all so different, and it was fun for myself to be mixing more professional pieces with fun pieces! I agree and feel like RTR or something like that could take the fun out of the thrifting and more experimental phase of fashion in college. Thank you sm for your reply!!
Ohhh I've been excited for this!! I appreciated how you measured the enviromental impacts based on what you were doing before/would be doing otherwise. To your last thought, if I could've just seen what you were renting/wearing/hearting I would've liked RTR more. Lol, but really.
I actually love this take! I haven't tried Rent the Runway (only Nuuly), but reading this piece made me want to try. Based on an outsider's POV, feel like Rent the Runway's value prop is a more attainable entry point for mid-tier/luxury brands (eg. Sandy Liang, Tibi), while I think Nuuly's relationship as a subsidiary of a fast fashion giant (URBN) is part of the problem.
I've been cautious about renting clothes because I am afraid my toddler will ruin something, but I have a wedding to attend this summer that I definitely want to rent for!
LOVED reading this perspective! Although RtR wasn't the best fit for me, I know it's a great fit for many others and this piece is a great example of that. I appreciate the shoutout!
Same!!! I’ve been on the 5 items 2x month plan for about 3 years (flexing up or down depending). It’s especially fun when im going on work trips or vacations bc I can essentially get a whole new wardrobe for that climate and then if it doesn’t work at home no worries. I’ve bought a few things from them too and totally agree about the rent to buy pipeline…it leads to smarter purchases overall.
this is a great summary! you make it tempting (and i have always been firmly in the "no" camp with RTR). i still worry the app would consume me. i have finally gotten over (ish) my TRR tendencies and don't want to replace it with a new app that i scroll obsessively. but i appreciate this perspective, esp because i long for purchases that will end up being meaningful and lasting (even though let's face it, that doesn't happen very often) - this shows me it's still possible with RTR.
I think Rent the Runway has definitely replaced some of my TRR scrolling, so you’re right to have that thought! But I think the structure/setup being so fundamentally different has made me think more thoughtfully about what I’m actually ordering (so... addressing the problem but not the symptom? lol)
This thread makes me feel less alone. :) I quit RTR a few months ago because I would spend hours prior to an order trying to find pieces. It was frustrating that most of what I wanted was out of stock and I wasted way too much time on it. However, since canceling, I've had a few events where I just didn't have an appropriate outfit and wish I had a subscription. After reading your post, I'm going to try again. Graduation is coming up and I'd love to rent something special! I'll have to work on scrolling less this time around.
This is why I wish there was the option to see what your friends are renting--more ideas without scrolling! I’ve also found it helpful to just do one big scroll every few weeks or so and add everything I like (even the out of stock stuff) to my favorites, and then only search there when I’m actually placing an order.
I remember first hearing about RTR from my mom who had a friend whose daughter would rent her prom dresses from them, so I always assumed that it was just for fancy clothes (I was also probably in 3rd grade when I first learned about RTR). I was sort of under this assumption until this past year and every time I hear someone talk about RTR it makes me so curious to try it. That being said, I’m 17 and going into my freshman year of college, do you think it would make sense to try it now or wait until later based off of cost, how personal style changes, etc.?
I think it did start out with fancy dresses for events! I don’t know if I would have used RTR going into college - if it’s in your budget, great, but it might be a little expensive and “older”. I bet you could try out a month at a discounted price though!
What I loved about college was the implicit permission to look however you want. I had so much fun thrifting with my new friends and loved showing up to class and my babysitting and bookstore jobs in my new finds. I think in some ways you would miss out on that really special time (being in both a context and an age where it’s accepted and expected that you’ll be pushing boundaries and experimenting) by spending that money each month just to look really put together (if that makes sense!)
That is such a good explanation! I am an avid thrifter and I also assume (but haven’t actually checked) that RTR would be out of my budget. I may get a part time position at a museum in college and I am so excited about the outfit potential! I worked there during my highschool senior project and it was so fun to see each employee’s personal style bc it was all so different, and it was fun for myself to be mixing more professional pieces with fun pieces! I agree and feel like RTR or something like that could take the fun out of the thrifting and more experimental phase of fashion in college. Thank you sm for your reply!!
😊you’re welcome! So excited for you
Okay, you're convincing me to give it a try!
Loved this piece! And I am def jumping back on RTR after years away to see what they’ve got
Ohhh I've been excited for this!! I appreciated how you measured the enviromental impacts based on what you were doing before/would be doing otherwise. To your last thought, if I could've just seen what you were renting/wearing/hearting I would've liked RTR more. Lol, but really.
I actually love this take! I haven't tried Rent the Runway (only Nuuly), but reading this piece made me want to try. Based on an outsider's POV, feel like Rent the Runway's value prop is a more attainable entry point for mid-tier/luxury brands (eg. Sandy Liang, Tibi), while I think Nuuly's relationship as a subsidiary of a fast fashion giant (URBN) is part of the problem.
I would love to hear from someone who has tried both, because that’s my impression as well (and why I wasn’t interested in Nuuly)!
Definitely!!
I've been cautious about renting clothes because I am afraid my toddler will ruin something, but I have a wedding to attend this summer that I definitely want to rent for!