A few of you have asked me about my Rent the Runway experiences after I have shared a bit about it on Twitter, so I decided to dedicate an entire post to it!
RTR has a revolving roster of over 200 top designers of the season’s best dresses and accessories. Upon visiting their website, you can search for your perfect dress based on many criteria: designer, price, length, style, rental date, occasion, or just check out what’s new. There’s also a section called “Our Runway” which filters dress reviews based on women who are similar in age and size. You can save dresses you like by clicking the little heart icon. My favorite part of the website is the reviews. Reading others’ experiences along with their body type, size, size worn and photo really helps with deciding on what dress and size to book.
Once you have found a dress you want to rent, they recommend scheduling it for 1–2 days before your event. You can book it for a 4-day or 8-day rental period and you can even add on a backup size for free! That way if you normally wear one size but reviews suggest going up a size, you can do so at no extra cost. There are also stylists ready to chat with you for any size or style questions you may have. But if none of the dresses end up fitting, contact them immediately and you will be refunded. In reviews I sometimes read about people who run into this problem but RTR overnights them other options! Thankfully I have not run into this problem yet, but it’s great to know in case I do.
You can even add on accessories to complete your look or essential extras like Fashion Tape. Need multiple dresses for an event-packed weekend? You can add on another dress of equal or lesser value for only $25. Your order will arrive by 8pm on your delivery date via UPS (or by courier in NYC). I have always scheduled mine for the day before I need to wear it and it has always arrived on time.
The dress(es) arrive on hangers inside of a garment bag that you get to keep. Any accessories are packaged in their own boxes, usually inside at the bottom of the garment bag. Included with every order I have received was a little goodie bag. Sometimes it had travel sized Q-tips, Dove body wash and a Magnum ice cream coupon. Other times it has been a sample of Neutrogena’s shine control powder, make up remover and a coupon for a can of spray tan. Apparently it has been a feature for all summer rentals.
After you enjoy the night, just send everything back in the easy pre-paid envelope provided by noon on your return date – they take care of the dry cleaning. If your return date lands on a postal holiday or Sunday, be sure to get it in the mail the following day.
A few of the items I have rented were hard to return. Not because of physically difficulty, but I wanted to keep them! But every now and then their styles will go on sale for purchase. Right now they have a clearance event going on with up to 90% off the retail price. As a bonus, you get rental credit for the things you buy from the sale. Unfortunately nothing I really wanted is available for purchase, but I will be watching out for the next time a sale comes around.
So what have I rented so far? The first thing I rented was the Parisian Cabaret Dress by Sachin & Babi for my cousin’s bachelorette party. I booked my usual size 4 and also the size 6 because the stylist and reviews recommended going up a size for backup. I was even able to ship it to the beach house where we were going to be staying that weekend – one less thing to pack! Upon arrival on Friday, I tried both on and the 4 fit perfectly and I instantly fell in love with the dress (one which I will buy if given the chance). The lace at the bottom was my favorite detail. Saturday we danced the night away, and then I had until Monday at noon to drop it off at UPS using the prepaid padded envelope. Couldn’t have been easier.
