Fashion Rentals Types: A Comparative Guide
When it comes to renting clothes you can go two ways with it: subscription fashion rentals or peer-to-peer fashion rentals... both are great, but there's always some cons that come with the pros.
If you've ever dreamed of having an endless closet without the clutter, fashion rentals might just be your dream come true. Borrowing clothes has been around since clothes wear invented — just think, how often did you steal your sister’s clothes to wear to school, or your friend’s going out top that she suggested you wear to a college house party or that XXL sweatshirt that once was your boyfriends… Fashion rentals & borrowing clothes are one in the same, but Rental As A Service is changing the game, giving us access to designer looks without the hefty price tags or long-term guilt. But not all rental services are created equal. Let’s break down the differences between subscription fashion rentals and peer-to-peer fashion rentals!
1. Subscription Fashion Rentals
Think of subscription fashion rentals as your fashion-forward CLUELESS closet. For a monthly fee, platforms like Rent the Runway, Nuuly, and newcomer to the market BNTO give you access to a closet full of designer pieces. You pay, you pick, you wear, and when you're done, you send them back, ready for your next adventure.
Why You’ll Love It:
Super Easy, Breezy: No need to search or negotiate—just pick out what you like, and it’s sent straight to your door. Most parcels arrive within 4-6 days— damn near instant style upgrade!
Designer Duds, No Strings Attached: You get access to some top tier labels ands the hottest trends without the commitment or the credit card pain of owning them… and when the ultra trendy piece inevitably go out of style your hands are free.
Always on Trend: The inventory updates regularly, meaning you’ll never feel stuck in last season’s looks. Rental services have Buyers just like retailers do (one of my besties used to be a buyer at FashionPass so I feel as tho I have the inside scoop). These buyers attend New York market, analyze trends & prep for upcoming seasons, same as the buyers at FRWD or Bloomingdales do… this means you’re rental pieces will be as current as if you were to purchase them new.
But Here’s the Catch:
Limited to Their Closet, Not Yours: Sure, the selection is curated, but you might feel like you’re dressing in someone else’s style bubble. Not always a perfect match. I’ve tried a LOT of fashion rental services and they all have their own vibe to their curation: FashionPass feel very girly & tailored to new brides, bachelorettes and maturnity, where Rent the Runway leans towards the everyday corporate ladies with more designer labels & lots of formal dresses. Recently I’ve been trying out Nuuly and BNTO. I love that Nuuly is owned by URBN so you have immediate access to Urban Outfitters, Anthropology, Free People & more. BNTO on the other hand is going to change up the space, in my opinion. Their selection of pieces feel fresh, avant-garde and like what cool girls wear. They launched only a few weeks ago, so I’m sure they’ll go through some growing pains, but my first order from them was top tier. A very happy customer over here.
Pay Even When You Don’t Play: If you’re not wearing items every month, that subscription fee starts to feel a little less worth it. A fashion break? You’re still paying. In this economy, paying $100 every month for pieces that you may or may not wear hurts. It’s a choice, but I advise to rent brands that you already know & love, that way you know which size is sure to fit & the material is what you’re expecting.
Sustainability-ish: Yes, you’re reducing clothing waste, but all that shipping and dry cleaning isn’t exactly eco-neutral. Rental is definitely a step in the right direction, but in all transparency, it still has major flaws.
The Top Subscription Rental Services according to Vogue August 2024
Nuuly: starting at $98 per month
Armoire: starting at $89 per month
Rent the Runway: starting at $94 per month
Vivrelle: starting at $45 per month
Vince Unfold: starting at $175 per month
Tulerie: free to join
Nova Octo: one-time rental fee per item
Switch: starting at $55 per month
Elysewalker Borrow: one-time rental fee per item
2. Peer-to-Peer Fashion Rentals
Imagine borrowing something fabulous from your coolest friend—but instead of one friend, you’ve got a whole network! Peer-to-peer (p2p) fashion rentals, like Pickle, By Rotation and HURR let you rent directly from other fashion lovers, giving you access to their personal, often unique collections.
Why You’ll Love It:
Totally Unique Pieces: Ever wanted to wear that hard-to-find vintage dress or that statement piece you just can’t buy in stores? This is where you find them. When I’m looking for the hottest fashion in occasion wear, I’m looking to p2p sites like Pickle, By Rotation & Hauteline to inspire me. When I look through Revolve or Farfetch, I feel overwhelmed with options… I view p2p rental sites as a curated, narrowed down selection of all the best occasion wear in one place, plus I don’t have to pay > $500 to wear the piece I love!
Set Your Own Budget: Renting from real people means more pricing flexibility. You might score some serious deals! Like one time I rented a brand new, new with tags, Alexander Wang sequin cardigan to NYFW. It retails for $1500… I paid $15 +$15 for cleaning & shipping, $30 in total. How insane is that?
Community Vibes: Renting directly from someone else gives you that “borrowed from a friend” feeling. Plus, you might discover a whole new circle of fashionistas. I have made new social friends and have discovered lesser known, style icons. Theres a few lenders that I’ve found that I think have the same personal style as myself, so they’re my go-to people if I’m looking to rent! That being said, I encourage everyone to treat p2p rented pieces better than they’d treat their own clothes. Yes, lenders that rent out their clothes make money from it, but they also bought the $$$ piece in the first place & are graciously sharing it with others.
Pros (from a Lender’s POV): Moolah!!💰 Renting can provide an additional stream of income to your household. If high value pieces are just sitting in your closet racking up dust, why not list them for rent and make a few bucks from them here and there. I’ve learn which pieces rent the best & which pieces I get the most bang for my buck. Here are 5 tips to renting your closet. I consistently pull in anywhere from $1500 to $4000 a year just from having a cool clothes… you can too!
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But Keep in Mind:
Quality Roulette: Without the corporate cleaning standards, item condition might be hit or miss. That “gently worn” jacket? It might be a little more gently loved than you expected. Or… you know how everyone has their own scent, that can’t really be smelt by them themselves? Sometime you’ll get a pieces that is a tad bit more potent that what you’re used to… not a problem, but hang it outside for a few hours to remove the smell.
More Legwork: You’re coordinating directly with the lender, which can mean juggling shipping, meet-ups, and making sure you return things in one piece & on time. Luckly, fashion rental platforms are actively solving for these pain points, like Pickle who is partnered with couriers to pick-up and drop-off rentals same-day. You can think of this like the Uber Eats of clothing.
Less Inventory: Unlike a subscription service, you’re dependent on what other users have on hand. That perfect outfit may not always be available when you need it & the size you need may not always be available. One of the biggest thing that p2p fashion rentals struggle with is size inclusivity. Its a chicken & egg situation. Sites will only carry pieces & sizes that have been listed by their community. I urge p2p fashion rentals to do more outreach to mid-size & plus-size influencer who have a plethora of clothes to share, actively making an effort to include all fashionistas into the rental club.
Cons (from a Lender’s POV): The occasional bad egg will come… unfortunatly, its inevitable. I’ve being renting out my closet since 2020 (wild), back when I was building a p2p fashion rental platform (that’s a story for a different day), but it wasn’t until the last year or so that I became a victim to inconsiderate borrowers. It’s pretty common to get pieces back with drink spills or steams starting to snag, those are no big deal if you have a great dry cleaner & tailor—they’ll get your pieces back looking good as new. Rarely are pieces stolen or lost, but it has happened. Most of the time the rental company will properly compensate you for your pieces. Back in June, I had a nearly $800 Christopher Esber stolen via Bipty. Two things I learned here: rent through a service you trust & who vets their borrowers & 2. only list items that you don’t have deep personal ties to.
Peer-to-peer Fashion Rental Companies I’m loving
By Rotation: all encompassing
Pickle: think the hot IT girls of NYC’s closet
BARO: tailored towards wedding dress attire
Hauteline: very curated with pieces found on previous runways
Tulerie: think The Real Real, but rental
HURR: UK-based
The Verdict?
If you’re someone who loves the idea of an effortlessly refreshed wardrobe without the hassle, subscription fashion rentals are like having a designer stylist on speed dial. But if you’re a treasure hunter who thrives on finding those one-of-a-kind pieces and enjoys a more personal touch, peer-to-peer fashion rentals will feel like home.
Ultimately, it’s about how you want to experience fashion. Whether you’re after convenience or individuality, there’s a rental service out there ready to dress you up. Happy renting!
Great read! Loved all the info