Feel like you’re stuck in a style rut? We’ve all been there – a closet full of clothes, yet nothing to wear. That familiar sentiment, coupled with limited inventory in stores, long lines, and lack of time in our schedules to shop, has shaped a new way to curate wardrobes – without even going outside.
We’re talking about subscription clothing services that allow you to rent or buy clothes, shoes, and accessories on a monthly basis. The convenience is totally transforming the shopping experience for many, while the affordability is allowing more people to dress in the designer clothes the covet. So, to make the experience that much easier, we’ve highlighted the best clothing subscription options and what they have to offer. You’re welcome.
While you may be familiar with Rent the Runway, relying on the service for wedding season and birthday parties, you may not be aware of their unlimited clothing subscription service, which allows you to rent four items at a time with the ability to continuously swap them out for a month. It’s not just dresses they’re offering either: RTR’s contemporary clothing collection is seriously impressive, as is their extended sizing options.
From a $3,000 Derek Lam coat to a $1,500 Prabal Gurung blouse, you can easily build an entire wardrobe around the items, whether you’re looking for a casual outfit for weekend brunch, a sleek ensemble for the office, or a sexy dress for date night.
Once you’re done with the items, swap them one-by-one or all at once for new pieces. Shipping is free both ways, and you’re billed on a monthly basis. Also nice? You’re not locked into the service if you decide it isn’t for you – but with chic new items constantly added, always on-trend accessories, and even maternity clothes, trust us, it’s hard to part with the service once you’ve started using it.
The subscription will cost you $159 a month, but if this seems steep, you can try the RTR Update program. At $89 a month, you get four pieces per month – the only difference is you’re unable to swap out the items for news ones. This is a great option for someone looking for seasonal staples, like a new bag, coat, or go-to pair of jeans. The best part: With both plans you’re given the option of purchasing pieces you love at discounted prices.
While many programs promise access to a “stylist,” this Nordstrom-owned service actually connects you with a real-life professional who’s responsible for pulling clothing selections for you. Available for both women and men and in sizes ranging from XS-3X, it’s super inclusive, too. After receiving a series of questions via email, you and your stylist establish your style, sizes, and budget, along with what exactly you are looking for. He or she then pulls together your personal trunk of clothes and sends you an itemized list before it’s shipped, so you can offer up feedback if there’s an item you don’t like.
Once the items arrive, you’re able to try them on and style them with pieces you already have in your closet. Whatever you don’t like, you send back (shipping is free), and you only pay for the clothes you keep. The start-up fee for the advanced subscription box is $25, which goes toward any items you choose to keep. From there, you’re only billed for what you buy – no recurring fees or surprise monthly charges to worry about.
Le Tote
Subscribers to this monthly rental service receive a box filled with eight to 15 items based on personal preferences and what’s trending, according to stylists. Before the box ships, items can be swapped out for others on the site, ensuring you’ll want to wear everything that’s delivered. There are variety of brands to choose from, including French Connection, Kate Spade, Vince Camuto, Nike, Free People Movement, and Kenneth Cole, among many others.
Subscribers are charged a flat fee, which varies from $69-$119 a month, depending on how many items are selected. Return the rented items in your pre-paid bag at the end of the month, or keep what you love and you’ll be charged for the items at a discounted price up to 50 percent off. With plenty of business casual and professional looks, it’s an especially great option for building a rotating work wardrobe. The service also offers a maternity option, making it convenient for expecting women who don’t want to deal with the stress of shopping for a whole new pregnancy wardrobe.
For high-end dresses right off the runways of esteemed fashion houses like Oscar de la Renta, Gucci, Elie Saab, and Giambattista Valli, among many others, look no further than Novaocto. This service offers four-day luxury rentals that come in a full-size range. They even allow temporary alterations to ensure your fancy new frock will fit perfectly. NYC locals are in luck, as same-day delivery is available and the TriBeCa storefront allows you to go in and try on your items. Overnight shipping is available anywhere in the US and global shipping is also an option. What makes the deal even sweeter is the brand’s commitment to charity: 15 percent of the rental fee is donated to a chosen charity. At checkout, clients are prompted to select their charity of choice from a list of options.
While Gwynnie Bee first started out as an exclusive service for women sized 10-32, it now outfits everyone from size 0-32 and offers more than 190 brands, adding new items almost every day. Think brands like Nanette Lepore, Nicole Miller, Ralph Lauren, and Draper James. Another cool feature: The service’s Shape Report helps you identify your “shape category” so you can find the most flattering cuts and styles without trying them on. Each category comes with a curated collection of looks.
Subscribers choose how many pieces will be delivered monthly, which are randomly selected from the items curated in your digital closet, and they can be worn as many times as you like. Pricing ranges from $49-$199 a month, depending on how many items you get sent per month (from one to 10 pieces), and shipping is free both ways.
MM. Lafleur
The company doesn’t call itself a clothing subscription service, but it’s a great go-to for women seeking office-appropriate attire – especially if you need to adhere to a corporate dress code. The service will prompt you to fill out a survey, which includes questions about your office dress code, before matching you with a personal stylist and sending out your very own “Bento Box” – a curated selection of clothing from their inventory, with business attire and accessories. Sizes range from size 0-22.
Customers receive four to six pieces to try on with no pressure to actually purchase anything. You are only charged for the pieces you keep, with four days to decide, and you’re provided with a pre-paid envelope to return any items you don’t want. Clothing ranges in price from approximately $100-$600. Your first box is free. After that, you’re charged a $25 fee that will be credited toward a purchase. There’s also no commitment involved in the service, so you’re only sent a box when you request one.
Stitch Fix has been around longer than a lot of the options on our list and has developed a dedicated following. It’s best for someone who has no interest in the whole shopping process, as it entails placing a lot of power in the hands of the stylist – especially since you won’t see your items until they arrive at your door. Participants begin by filling out a style quiz before being matched with a personal shopper. You can send them a ton of information regarding your fashion preferences (think links to your personal Pinterest boards) and can continuously update the information as your style or schedule changes. Say, you have a wedding come up, they’ll be sure to include formal options. Or, if you’re currently expecting, you can switch to maternity offerings. Each box includes five item and costs only $20, which will be deducted from your final purchase. You’re given three days to decide what to send back and you’re only billed for what you keep.
The Canadian company offers a monthly subscription service; however, you can also opt to purchase items individually, like you would a traditional e-commerce site. To enroll in the subscription service, you’re prompted to fill out a survey about your personal style, budget, and favorite brands. Once your box is curated, you have 48 hours to preview and customize the three-item order. If you ‘de-select’ an item, a new one will be suggested for you. You can also choose to skip the month entirely.
There’s a $25 fee to enroll in the program, which is deducted from the items you decide to keep. Simply pay for the items you decide to keep and ship back whatever you don’t want. You have seven days to decide. The site also offers jewelry, lingerie, and shoes, that can be purchased separately to complete an outfit.
Armarium
The high-end rental service features designer dresses, jumpsuits, jewelry, and handbags from the likes of Missoni, Judith Leiber, Johanna Ortiz, and more. Armibot, a digital online stylist, will create a personalized lookbook for your next event, based on your preferences, which is stored with your online profile. You can browse the selection online or visit the NYC showroom to select your rental and ensure a perfect fit; temporary alterations are available. The rental price is 10 to 20 percent off the retail prices, and items can be rented for up to four days, making this an ideal option for black tie weddings, charity galas, or super special occasions.
The monthly intimates subscription service allows you to try a variety of lingerie, sleepwear, athletic sets, and swimwear brands. After completing a style profile, you be shown items that are specifically tailored to your preferences. (You can browse other looks, too. ) For a $20 styling fee per box, your stylist will hand-pick three sets for you to try on at home. All items in the box range from $39. 95 to $59. 95 and the styling fee is applied as credit toward anything you choose to keep. Shipping is free. If you don’t purchase anything from the box or choose to skip a month, you’ll receive $39. 95 store credit.
