Is Rent The Runway Worth It?

If you browse social media, Pinterest, blogs, or anything fashion related then you've probably seen Rent The Runway's Unlimited monthly subscription. Where for $139 a month you can get unlimited clothing/accessories of your choice (3 at a time/worth up to $3,500) delivered to your doorstep. It's a super great concept for anyone who likes to update their wardrobe on the reg or anybody who is into designer fashions. However, like all things you have to ask yourself- is it worth it?

I've used RTR unlimited before for about 5 months so I can give you my unbiased opinion on the service. I wish I could give a definitive "Yes Do It!" or "No, Save Your Cash!" but I can't. In some instances it's an amazing concept and comes at a great value, however in other areas not so much.

Some things to consider before signing up for RTR Unlimited.....

1. Some items you can find for resale at a cheaper price....

If there's certain clothing articles that you LOVE on RTR then make sure to check eBay or other resellers. I've found many of the same items on RTR that you can purchase (& wear over and over again!) on eBay or similar sites. I've also found similar designs by the same artist. In some cases these items are 1/3 of the price from what you're paying monthly for RTR. Depending on how often you're wearing your RTR clothes, it may be a lot cheaper to just find and buy your favorite item.

​2. It's great for weddings

If you have a lot of weddings to attend (or maybe you're planning your own!) then RTR Unlimited is amazing! You can always have a gorgeous dress + jewelry + accessories to wear to all the wedding festivities you are attending or hosting. It's also a great option to find bridesmaid dresses for your maids- especially if you want high end designer gowns on your ladies! For $46 bucks each your bridesmaids can have their pick of some fabulous dresses.

3. Be realistic on how many items you'll be ordering

Depending on your social life schedule- make sure to be realistic with the amount of outfits you're going to wear each month. If you're someone with a busy social life or maybe a lot of work/networking functions then you will probably get your moneys worth each month. However, if you only plan to place an unlimited order once or twice a month then you're probably overpaying and not getting as much wear out of each item. If you have 5+ events/reasons to wear your order each month then you're looking at about $27 per item- which is pretty reasonable for the average woman... & let's be real many of us buy something fancy and wear it one or two times. At $27 an item that's pretty good. 

4. Don't sign up just because you travel often

At first glance RTR Unlimited seems like the perfect option for someone who travels often. You can switch out items and wear some pretty amazing, expensive clothes on your vacation. Don't forget about the time it takes to ship your items out, send your items back, and wait to reorder more items. If you're traveling then getting clothing delivered to you isn't an option.

​5. Always shop high to low

This is the one time when many of us can shop like we're in the 1%! ALWAYS shop high to low! If you're going to be renting items then you might as well get your moneys worth and get the clothes that are worth hundreds (or over a thousand!) dollars.