Our Complete Guide to Clothing Rental Subscriptions—How Do They Work & Are They Worth It?

The newest trend in fashion? Renting your clothes! New clothing rental companies are popping up every day in our Instagram feeds, while existing brands like Urban Outfitters and Ann Taylor are starting to offer rental programs in addition to their on- and off-line stores.

But are these rental programs really worth it? What makes renting better than buying?

What is a clothing rental subscription?

Fashion rental services let you rent one or more pieces of clothing and/or accessory items for either a set or an unlimited amount of time, depending on the rules of the program. It's kind of like having a big virtual closet that you can draw from on a regular basis.

There are clothing rental programs for women (including maternity, petite, and plus options), men, and kids, covering everything from casual clothes like jeans and tees to special occasion styles like ballgowns and tuxedos.

So, other people wore these clothes before me? Are they clean?

Oh yes. Most programs have extremely thorough (if not downright high-tech) cleaning processes in place to ensure no piece gets rented back out without looking and feeling like new. That means you can expect clothes that, apart from a quick steam, should be just as fresh and tidy as something you'd see at the store.

It also means that you don't have to worry about laundering your rentals. Obviously, you'll want to keep your pieces in relatively good condition while they're in your care. (If you spill a glass worth of red wine on your rented cocktail dress, you'll likely be stuck paying for the damaged item.) But you can return your items worn and unwashed without consequence.

Why is renting better than just buying new clothes?

First, renting isn't definitively better than buying. For example, most programs only let you rent around 3-4 pieces at any given time, so they're not great for overhauling your entire wardrobe. You also tend to have less choice and control when you rent from a brand rather than when you buy. Not all clothing brands with rental programs put their entire catalog up for rental, and even if they do, they may not let you pick exactly what goes into each order. (Most programs have you add your favorite items to a wishlist, and then the system picks which pieces from that wishlist are actually sent to you. More on this later on...) And of course, if you're looking to stock up on essentials—simple tees and tanks, jeans you'll wear 'til they wear out, a jacket you'll want all winter—buying is probably the better option.

But clothing rental services are an awesome solution for supplementing your wardrobe. We recommend renting if:

• You love trying new trends, even if they're fleeting. When you rent, you can wear something once and return it. That means no regrettable purchases hanging around your closet.
• You're a habitual shopper. Many rental subscriptions let you pick new pieces as often as you'd like for one monthly fee.
• You're shopping for a special occasion. Some rental companies do one-off rentals that are perfect for weddings, important meetings, you name it.
• You're on a budget. It's often a little less expensive to rent a piece than to buy something at retail. (More on this next.)
• You like to try before you buy. Sure you can try clothes on for a few minutes in a fitting room or in front of your bedroom mirror. But with renting, you actually get to try that new style, silhouette, or color in real life. Wear it to work or out on a date. Wear it as often or as little as you'd like. And if you really like the specific piece you've rented, most programs will give you the option to buy it (often at a discount).

Top: Anna in Rent the Runway. Bottom: Marne in Vince. Unfold. Right: Taryn in Infinite Style by Ann Taylor.

Is renting clothing cheaper than buying new clothes?

For the most part, yes. If you're just doing a one-time rental, you'll undoubtedly be paying less than the retail cost of that item. There are also "unlimited" rental services that charge a monthly membership fee for access to their inventory on a continual basis (sort of like a library of clothes that you can pull from as needed), but that fee is typically a fraction of the retail price you'd pay for the items you can rent.

Honestly, though, it comes down to how much you personally spend on clothes. If you're someone with an active shopping habit, spending, say, $50 per month to try three or more pieces might seem like a steal. On the other hand, if you're someone who's happy rotating through the essential items they already have, you might be better off spending that $50 on some for-keeps pieces and calling it a day.

What kinds of clothes can I rent?

Everything from jeans and tees to bridesmaids dresses and polished office attire. There are even programs that let you rent accessories, like jewelry or handbags. The options are vast (there are programs that offer plus sizing, petites, and even maternity options) as are the price points—we've seen clothing and accessory programs that range from $21 per month all the way up to $160 per month.

Here are just a few examples of clothing and accessory programs for different occasions and aesthetics:

High-End:

• Rent the Runway (Starts at $30 per rental)
• Vince. Unfold ($160 per month)
• Rebecca Taylor RNTD ($159 per month)
• Switch Jewelry (Starts at $29 per month)

Work-Ready:

• Infinite Style by Ann Taylor ($95 per month)
• Infinitely LOFT ($64.95 per month)
• Express Style Trial ($69.95 per month)

Trend-Savvy:

• Le Tote (Starts at $69 per month)
• The Ms. Collection (Starting at $59 per month)
• Gwynnie Bee (Starts at $49 per month)
• Haverdash ($59 per month)
• NY&C Closet ($49.95 per month)
• Rocksbox Jewelry ($21 per month)
• Armoire ($149 per month)
• nuuly by Urban Outfitters ($88 per month)

Mens:

• The Mr. Collection (Starting at $59 per month)
• The Black Tux (Suit rentals start at $95)

Left: Marne in Le Tote. Right: Taryn in Infinite Style by Ann Taylor.

How many pieces can I rent at a time?

"Unlimited" clothing rental subscriptions, which let you borrow from their inventory for a monthly fee, typically let members rent about 3-5 items at a time. Remember, though, that many programs let you swap those pieces out for different items as often as you'd like. (In other words, you won't have to wait 'til next month for something new.) And most clothing rental subscriptions offer free return shipping to make that process as painless as possible.

So I just pick what I want to rent & they send it to me, right?

Well, not necessarily. While some programs give you complete control over what you get and when, we've seen a few services that use a "wishlist" system—essentially, you'll browse available items, note the pieces that interest you, and the rental service will send you a random assortment of those items. In some cases, you'll be able to tell your service which items to prioritize if possible, but it's often the luck of the draw.

Do I have to subscribe to something long-term?

Some clothing rental subscriptions offer one-off rentals, though most follow unlimited programs, which require a subscription. That said, most unlimited clothing rental subscriptions are easy to cancel. We recommend noting the date of your next charge in your calendar when you sign up—that way, if you're not happy with the service, you can cancel before your account is charged for the next month.

Here are some examples of one-off and unlimited clothing rental programs:

One-Off Rentals:

• Rent the Runway (Starting at $30 per rental)
• The Black Tux (Suit rentals start at $95)

Unlimited (Subscription) Rentals:

• Rent the Runway Monthly ($89 per month) or Unlimited ($159 per month)
• Vince. Unfold ($160 per month)
• Rebecca Taylor RNTD ($159 per month)
• Switch Jewelry (Starting at $29 per month)
• Infinite Style by Ann Taylor ($95 per month)
• Infinitely LOFT ($64.95 per month)
• Express Style Trial ($69.95 per month)
• Le Tote (Starting at $69 per month)
• The Ms. Collection (Starting at $59 per month)
• Gwynnie Bee ($69 per month)
• Haverdash ($59 per month)
• NY&C Closet ($49.95 per month)
• Rocksbox Jewelry ($21 per month)
• The Mr. Collection (Starting at $59 per month)
• Armoire ($149 per month)
• nuuly by Urban Outfitters ($88 per month)

Left: Anna in Rent the Runway. Right: Liz in Gwynnie Bee.

What happens if I totally ruin something I rented?

First, know that most clothing rental programs expect some light wear and tear. Some of them even have "insurance" built into the cost of their membership to cover the cost of small imperfections.

But if you really do ruin an item (or lose an item), you may be responsible for the cost of that piece. We've found that most clothing rental subscriptions are a little dodgy about what the consequences are for returning an item in bad condition (as well as what the line is between "normal" wear and tear and "damage"). The good news is, your penalty will likely just be the cost of the item (which should be less than retail). But if you're renting a $500 dress, that could be a heavy penalty.

Long story short, we recommend being careful with the pricier pieces you rent (maybe swap the red wine for white while you're wearing these looks), and if you're nervous, double check with customer care on all the details before you sign up.

I heard it's more sustainable to rent clothes. Is that true?

In some ways, yes, but it's hard to give a definitive answer on this one. The fast fashion industry is a huge weight on the environment, between the manufacturing process, distribution, and ultimately, the speed at which fast fashion gets tossed in favor of new items. Renting clothing means individual pieces can have many lives—once you're tired of a piece, it's passed to someone else to enjoy, and so on—rather than each person buying their own item only to wear it once or twice.

But clothing rental subscriptions still have their own carbon footprint to consider, thanks to culprits like shipping and large-scale dry cleaning. And fast fashion brands are still continually manufacturing new trend-conscious pieces to offer their rental program clientele.

In other words, it's not a perfect system, but it could help you personally curb your consumption in a way that supports both the environment and your budget.

Left: Taryn in Gwynnie Bee. Right: Marne in Vince. Unfold.

Ready to try a clothing rental service for yourself?

Tell us why or why not in the comments!