5 Reasons to Rent the Runway - the primpy sheep

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If you’ve been following my blog since the beginning, you know what a huge advocate I am for Rent the Runway. It’s a way to try new styles and be adventurous without committing to a look that might hang in your closet for years afterwards.

Rent the Runway (RTR) gives you access to designer clothing, jewelry, and accessories for a fraction of the retail cost – like this Elliatt Mercure dress that retails for $170 but rents for $30. RTR has gained widespread popularity in the past few years, especially for dress rentals – because how often have we all purchased an amazing, pricey dress, only to wear it once or twice?

Whether you choose a subscription or to rent à la carte, here are five reasons you should consider renting the runway:

It’s flexible

RTR has done an excellent job over the past few years tailoring their packages to customers’ needs. Here are their current levels:

RTR Reserve

Priced per item, this is what they call renting piece by piece on an as-needed basis. Jewelry starts as low as $5 (these earrings were $10) and dresses start at $30 for a four-day rental.

RTR Update

For $89 per month, you can rent four items at once and keep them for the duration of the month, returning everything at the same time – plus you have the option of purchasing your items at a discount at the end of the month. Your first month is only $69 – this is the best value if you have about one event per week throughout the year.

RTR Unlimited

For $159 per month, you can rent a constant cycle of four pieces at a time, which you can keep as long as you like or return piecemeal at any point in time. You can get your first month for $99, though that’s still pretty pricey – but if it fits your budget, go for it, because it’s a lot of fun! The only downside is that you are limited to what’s in stock at any time.

The selection is amazing

Whether your style is classic, bohemian, romantic, or architectural, you won’t have a problem finding something of interest. I love that I can find a pair of quirky ruffled pants and this sleek black dress in the same place.

It’s fast

RTR can deliver as quickly as the next day if you order on a weekday, or you can rent instantly in one of their brick-and-mortar boutiques. I stopped by their Georgetown store in D.C. to snap up this last-minute outfit for our photoshoot at The Capitol, when the look I planned on fell through.

It’s environmentally conscious

Clothing rental sites takes the sharing economy to the next level, and RTR in particular does a great job with their reusable cloth shipping bags and commitment to being environmentally friendly. While it’s not a perfect model – RTR still stocks its warehouses with new styles every season – it does feel like it’s cutting down a little on consumption.

It lets you take fashion risks

I don’t usually wear marigold or ruffled sleeves – but why not try it? A faux fur jacket – sure. Why not try something outside your comfort zone, just for a night?

Why not rent this this Elliatt Mercure dress for NYE? I'm a big advocate of Rent the Runway: here are 5 reasons why, and the lowdown on how to rent.

At first glance, I thought this little black Elliatt Mercure dress would be too understated – but the architectural cut of the top and asymmetric skirt make it unique. I had been avoiding the rack of black dresses at the RTR Georgetown store, but Anna and our photographer friend Jade (who shot this beautiful set) spotted it and made me try it on. It’s great to have friends who really know your style! The look came together beautifully and was perfect for our NYE-themed shoot.