Historically, the “should I rent, or should I buy” decision has been predominantly associated with real estate and vehicles. Could clothing be the next industry to be “disrupted” with this consideration?
Back in July, the “Ask Teri” column in the “Style & Fashion” section of the Wall Street Journal discussed the idea of dress rentals. The contributor wanted to know Teri’s take on whether or not these types of rentals were a good idea. Her answer? “It’s risky.” We found the topic interesting and thought we’d share the piece here on the TWC Blog.
Teri points out that if the service is not local, you can’t try the dress on, and you can’t alter it. That being said, many rental services have a stylist who can serve as a personal shopper. You simply provide all of your measurements, along with full-length photos (preferably in your favorite outfits), so that he or she can get a sense of your personal style. It costs a bit more, but may be worth considering if you want to make an impression at an important event and enjoy the savings of an outfit rental.
For her response, Teri researched Rent the Runway, a website that has some stunning gowns that rent for a fraction of their retail value. For example, a dress that retails for $6,500 might rent for just $800. There are many options available, from the $800 range all the way down to very inexpensive $30 rentals. They offer a free backup size with your rental, and for an additional $32.50, you can add a second style just in case. Rent The Runway takes care of the return shipping and dry cleaning, too, and they claim a “fit guarantee.” If you live in a city where they have a store (New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C., or Las Vegas), you can go in and work directly with their stylists. They even have Unlimited and Pro accounts for shoppers who utilize their service regularly. Pro users pay $29.95 and receive free shipping for all rentals for a year. The Unlimited option is a monthly fee of $99 that gets you 3 pieces you can keep for as long as you want, and you can exchange them at anytime. Along with gowns and formal wear, they offer accessories and daytime styles as well.
Still not convinced that renting is the approach for you? Rent The Runway does offer some limited normal clothing sales, but only through their warehouse store in Secaucus, New Jersey. If you happen to be in the area, you may be able to purchase one of their fabulous outfits for your exclusive use.
Visit www.RentTheRunway.com for more details.