Rent the Runway is a designer clothing and accessories rental service. Think something like Le Tote, but with higher-end brands like Diane Von Furstenberg, Missoni, Tory Burch, Hervé Léger, and more. Once you're done with your pieces, you simply return them in good condition using the clever garment-bag-slash-mailing-envelope in which they arrived.
There are two ways to enjoy Rent the Runway. The first way is to do a one-off rental of up to three items for either 4 or 8 days. The other way is to sign up for their the Unlimited subscription—pay a monthly fee, and choose up to 3 items that you can either hold on to or swap out with something new whenever you'd like.
This is a review of the Unlimited subscription ($139 per month).
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: Rent the Runway Unlimited
The Cost: The Unlimited subscription is $139 a month. If choose to do a one-off rental, wherein you rent items for a specified number of days, you pay the cost of the items. Returns are free for both options.
LIMITED TIME DEAL: Use code FIRST to save 20% off your first order or first month of Unlimited!
The Products: Up to 3 items of high-end designer clothing and accessories
Ships to: U.S.
Good to know: Returns are free and can be dropped off or scheduled through UPS
Check out all our Rent The Runway Unlimited reviews and more clothing & accessory boxes in the Women's Subscription Box Directory!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
After you sign up for the Unlimited subscription, you'll be able to add up to three items into your bag and have them shipped to you. When browsing items, make sure the "Unlimited" option under the "Rental Type" section of the left sidebar. Most items on Rent the Runway work with Unlimited subscriptions, but there are some items (super-expensive dresses, bridal pieces, etc.) that don't.
The good news? There are SO MANY Unlimited subscription options! When I went to place this particular order, a new shipment of seasonal finds had just arrived, too. You'll never be bored with this service, that's for sure. That said, all of these options can get overwhelming. Also important—Rent the Runway lets you keep an item in your cart for just 20 minutes without placing an order, so you're on a bit of a time crunch while you shop. And if you're like me, you can totally spend more than 20 minutes browsing around oodles of fun fashions, gauging sizes, and styling the perfect outfit. So, to help ease the process, remember these tips:
- Use the filters on the side of the page! It'll help you from getting overwhelmed.
- In particular, use those size filters, because not everything will be available in every size (either because they don't offer that size, or because that size is already being rented out).
- Read the customer reviews! I loved seeing photos of the clothing in real life and hearing customer testimonies. It's an easy way to see whether a look is going to work on your body type (and get styling ideas, too)!
- Use the heart icon next to each product to mark the items you love. Then, you can go back and see all of those pieces in one place by clicking the heart at the very top right of the page.
- When in doubt, contact the Rent the Runway stylists for advice!
After you've picked your pieces and placed your order, you'll get some emails from Rent the Runway letting you know your order has been confirmed and when it's shipped out. Shortly thereafter, you'll get a garment bag filled with awesome clothes and accessories to try!
So far, I've focused my Rent the Runway orders on dresses for formal events. RTR has proven itself to be an amazing source for unique, stand-out-from-the-crowd formalwear (homecoming dress shoppers, I strongly suggest checking out their selection!), but this month, I wanted to try something new. Fall is around the corner (despite the unseasonably warm weather we've been having here in Pennsylvania... grr...), and there's nothing I love more than fall fashion. The layers, the snuggly accessories, the richer colors and fabrics—it's so much fun to get dressed for a fall day.
What better way to test out some of the coolest fall trends than with Rent the Runway? I did end up nabbing a pair of more formal pants, but my main focus this month was trying out trendy fall coats. I picked some daring pieces—coats that instantly caught my eye but that may or may not work for me in real life. Will they fly or crash and burn? Let's find out!
If you're interested, I'm 5' 3", I usually wear a medium (a 6 or an 8) in tops, despite my broader shoulders, and a size large (a size 10) in pants and bottoms. Hopefully, that'll help you understand how these things fit me (and maybe how they'd fit you)!
Osman Black Felix Ruffle Trousers, Size UK 14/US 10 - Retail Value $842.00
I'm in love. I'm in love. I'm in love. I'm in love. I'm in love. I'm in loooooove!
These. Pants. Are. Awesome! They're flattering, incredibly comfortable, and (my favorite part) a little kooky. They're made from a crepe fabric with a silky lining (77% Triacetate, 23% Polyester, to be precise), so the ruffles dance the same way a twirly dress might.
They zip right on (there is a hook-and-eye closure, too, I just forgot to fasten it in the photo above...) and feel as carefree as any fancy frock I've worn to a party (or even more comfortable). I love how romantic they feel, despite being a bit avant-garde. And there are pockets, people! What more could I ask for?!
I will say that, if I owned this pair of pants, I'd probably tailor the waist a bit more—10 is definitely the right size for my wide hips, but it felt like the waistband was just an inch or so too wide. It was gapping a bit rather than sitting (comfortably, of course) flush against my waist. Since I'm renting, I might just deal and wear 'em with a top that covers the waistband. Or I could pin them in the back and wear a fun jacket that drapes over the pin.
Free People Mixed Faux Fur Bomber, Size Medium - Retail Value $148.00
Fancy pants off, jeans back on. Let's talk coats! (Okay, so technically this is a jacket, but you get the idea...)
I feel like I've been watching the whole bomber jacket trend from afar, wondering whether it'd flatter my body type. I love the sporty vibe of these jackets, but from what I could tell from magazines and endless Pinterest pins, they have a habit of creating more volume on the top half of the body. I've already got broad shoulders, plus, I have bigger hips, so I didn't know if that silhouette would exaggerate things in a cool way or end up looking unbalanced. Of course, I wear plenty of clothes that aren't traditionally "flattering", and I 100% believe that women (and everybody, really) should wear whatever makes them feel comfortable and confident, regardless of fashion "rules". But on that same note, I know what I feel best in. So was this jacket it?
The answer is... sort of. Here's what I liked. The different types of faux fur were so soft and snuggly! The top half feels like a well-loved teddy bear, and the bottom half feels like petting a bunny—but no, it is not made from a bunny (PHEW!). It's 100% Polyester, FYI. It was surprisingly warm for a faux-everything jacket, meaning it'd keep me looking cool but feeling warm on a chilly night out on the town. Also, the style is so me it's ridiculous. Sporty stripes? Unique textures? Androgynous cut? Contrasting, neutral, wear-it-with-anything hues? It's like Free People looked at my Pinterest boards and designed a jacket just for me.
But it just feels bulky on me. I think that's partially because the jacket is just a bit big. It's a size medium, but it wears like a large. The sleeves are super long, and it seems a little shapeless against the most shapely parts of my bod. That's not to say I won't wear it around before returning it (can you imagine how cute it'd look with a collection of pins near the collar?), but it's not the home run I hoped it'd be. What do you think?
Opening Ceremony Blue Culver Coat, Size 8 - Retail Value $695.00
If you couldn't tell by the first jacket I picked, I've been really eager to try this whole fuzzy trend that's been happening. Fuzzy coats, fuzzy sweaters, fuzzy slippers... the sky's the limit. When I saw this coat online, I just had to try it. The sapphire color looked so classy in the photos, and I loved the rose gold lining. Oh wait... it's reversible? Ohhhh ho ho ho, just you wait.
This lightweight coat is 100% Acrylic, so again, no animals were harmed in the making of this masterpiece. I'm learning that I like a coat with a bit more structure to it. This coat seems like it's meant to hang effortlessly off of a narrower fashionista's frame, but on my shorter, broader silhouette, it seems kind of boxy. If the shoulder zone was a bit more tailored, I feel like the rest of it might hang in a slightly more flattering way. But just like the last look, this piece is really cozy and exceptionally comfortable. It was way lighter weight than I expected, too—it's flopsy like a heavy blanket rather than a stiff leather or faux-leather coat.
The sleeves are also on the long side. (I guess I should just look for petite sizes!) Rolling them up looks really cute, though, so no worries there. Also, the pockets on this coat, while open, are so big and convenient! My giant phone slides right in without a hitch.
I did notice that the very bottom snap of the coat is a little goofed up. It looks like one side of the snap has been pulled out of its socket, leaving a hole. It's a minimal issue, since I rarely button my coats down to the bottom anyway, but kind of a bummer from a quality standpoint.
But let's focus on the positives, like the fact that this coat is reversible and rose gold on the inside!
I had high hopes of looking like some kind of curvy midwestern David Bowie in this gold stunner. Eh. Not quite. I think the stiffer faux-leather fabric makes the fact that it's oversized and less structured feel more apparent. If this coat had more of a trapeze shape to it, I think it could look awesome on me. Or, alternately, if someone with a narrower frame wanted to give it a go, I bet it'd hang beautifully. (A coat with a straight silhouette best flatters a person with a straight silhouette, I guess.) Nevertheless, I had way too much fun trying this on, so the experience wasn't a waste!
Verdict: What a fun Rent the Runway Unlimited order! $139 is way cheaper than the $1,685 I would've paid to buy all of these items, but it's still a lot of money month after month. If you're someone who regularly spends that much on clothes each month, though, it's totally justifiable. I was a little bummed by the quality of the jacket, with its broken snap, but I can easily exchange it for a different piece. (Luckily, I wasn't 100% smitten with it anyway.) Most importantly, those pants. I am so glad to have met those pants! I would definitely hang on to those/order them again for holiday party season!
What do you think about Rent the Runway?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.