Nuuly Clothing Rental Review

Nuuly dress (similar) // Quay sunglasses // Isabel Marant sandals // Levi’s

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I posted a mini review of Nuuly to IGTV.

If you’re not familiar with the company, they are a clothing rental subscription service a la Rent the Runway.  What I like about them is their pricepoint and how they structure their rentals.  See below for a comparison breakdown to other clothing rental services.

Nuuly

• $88 per month
• 6 items

Bloomingdale’s

• $149 per month
• 4 items (unlimited swap-outs)

Rent the Runway

• $159 per month
• 4 items (unlimited swap-outs)

As you can see, Nuuly offers the best price point by a long shot.  The key difference is the ability to swap out items.  With Nuuly you get 6 items per month, but once you’ve made your selections, that’s it.  If something arrives and doesn’t fit or you just aren’t as into it in person, you’re stuck with it for the month.  There’s no going back.

On the flipside, with Rent the Runway and Bloomingdale’s, you only get 4 items but can swap them out as much as you want.

Shipping and dry cleaning are included.  They send you a mini emergency cleaning kit in case you need to remove deodorant stains, etc. and your clothes are shipped in eco-friendly packaging.  A major plus!

For my first month with Nuuly, I chose the following items.

1. Levi’s Ombre Fringe Trucker Jacket
2. Citizens of Humanity High Rise Flares
3. Vintage Levi’s
4. Plaid Dress
5. Sheer Blossom Dress
6. White Eyelet Dress

The Winner

This dress was the clear winner for me.  I wore it a TON.  It’s super comfortable and flattering.  The fabric easily transitions from day to night.

With Nuuly, you have the option to purchase your items.  While I didn’t buy this dress, I seriously think I need to – the cost-per-wear was fabulous.

The Loser

This dress was remarkably uncomfortable.  The fabric was super itchy.  Because it’s such a statement, it only got worn once.  While I was expecting that, I made a point to change up my strategy for my second month with the service.

And that brings me to my tips for how to best use the service…

How to Get the Best Bang for Your Buck

1) Remember the weather

• I almost purchased this jacket before being signed up with Nuuly, so when I saw it as an option I snagged it.  Unfortunately wearing heavy denim during a broiling hot September was out of the question.  I wish I would have remembered what season it was before I made this selection.

2) Search from highest price to lowest

• For me, it doesn’t make sense to select a $60 sweater as one of my monthly choices when I could select a $300 cashmere sweater instead.  Remember that you’re paying $88 regardless.  Stick to higher priced items that you love and save the affordable stuff for permanent closet real estate.

3) Choose denim

• There is nothing worse than breaking in a new pair of jeans.  With Nuuly, that awkward breaking in phase is done for you.  I also find denim to be very cyclical.  One minute flare legs are in, the next, cropped jeans are all the rage. Good denim is around $200 a pop, so this is an excellent choice for one or two of your 6 items.

4) Pick a wildcard

• Step out of your comfort zone and select something you normally wouldn’t spend your money on.  That’s the fun of a rental service – no commitment!  This challenges you to rock something different and hey, you may find a trend or silhouette that you never knew worked for you.

For my first month, the retail price of my choices totaled $1,678.  All of those clothes for only $88!

Selecting 6 items per month with Nuuly gave me the idea to do the same with my own closet.  Each month I’m picking 6 hero pieces that I will reach for.  Think of it as a mini-capsule wardrobe.  This allows me to pull out items I haven’t worn in a while and get them back into rotation.  I’m keeping my look fresh by shopping my own closet and getting to re-evaluate whether something should stay or go.  A win-win!