Is Rent the Runway Unlimited Worth it?

Hello, sweet friends! Happy Thursday Friday to you! Over the past two months, I have been trying out Rent the Runway on a discount code and sharing a few looks with you. For the first two months, I was able to only spend $130 for the unlimited subscription compared to the full price for two months at $340. The main question you guys have been asking is: Is Rent the Runway Unlimited worth it? At $160/month, I would say yes and no. Here’s why:

Pro: As someone who loves trying new brands, I was excited to get my hands on designer items at a discount. For one, this rental service allows you to try brands and styles that you may not have access to in your normal life. For the December wedding I attended, I was able to rent this Tory Burch dress which would have cost me almost $300 to purchase and wear one time. Total win! Trying new designers also helps me shape my shopping list for the future as far as designer pieces I want to invest in.

Con: On the flip side, along with a big con of shopping department stores, you don’t know your size which results in a lot of trial and error. You submit your size when creating your RTR profile and suggestions are given based on the piece. During my time using the service, half of the items didn’t fit. Either too big, too tight, too long and just down right not flattering. Altogether, I was disappointed in sizing not always being correct and having to send back packages every week.

Pro: Following suit of shipping, the shipping is AMAZING! If you order your shipment by 3pm, you’ll get your package in 2 business days. So when you are in a bind or decide to go to an event on short notice, you only need about 3 days to pick a few options and have them delivered in time. And even though this is a rental service and not a styling service (StichFix, Trunk Club, etc.), you do have the option of purchasing whatever you’re currently renting. All of my items were on sale varying from 10% off to 70% off. I only purchased one item, the above Houndstooth jacket, but at 30% of the price at $45. Total win!

Con: Because I am looking to rebuild my wardrobe after moving and changing my personal style, the downside for me was that so many of the items I loved were over $150 each and totally out of my wardrobe purchase budget. I usually budget about $150-$200/month for shopping so if I really loved the blazer below, at $175, it would be my entire shopping budget for the month.

Overall, would I recommend Rent the Runway Unlimited: yes and no. If you love designer items and keeping your closet to a minimum, then yes. This would be a great fit for you and cheaper than buying each designer item individually. Additionally, during wedding and fundraising season, RTR unlimited would be perfect to get new styles for every event. I mean, we all know that you can’t be seen at a gala two weeks in a row wearing the same dress! 😉

However, if you are looking to build your personal wardrobe and shop mostly at stores like LOFT, J. Crew, Belk and Old Navy, no. Stick to those stores during sale times and invest in pieces that you can wear for the next few years to come.

Somewhere in the middle? You can try the update membership which is 4 items a month for $89. With this service, you can only swap out once a month, so you’ll potentially get more use out of them. Additionally, at the end of the month, you may want to buy one item after you’ve had time to style it a few times.

Have you tried a clothing rental service? This was my first time but I’m interested in exploring more! If there are any you want me to try and review, simply leave a comment below or email me at: azanique@lotsofsass.com. Thanks so much for reading! -xo, Azanique <3