Beauty and Fashion

Once a decade, a concept so revolutionary comes along that it enhances the way you live while saving you time and money. Shopping used to be my therapy, my cardio, my everything. But once I became a mom, I lost all desire to shop.

When I refused to sit on the sidelines of shopping excursion one Las Vegas girls trip, my best friend looked me dead in the eye and asked if I was depressed. I wasn’t. But I was tired. Really tired. Being a mom was sucking the life out of me, and despite my former appetite for shopping, the last thing on the planet I wanted to do was rummage through racks of clothing. All I wanted to do was find a quiet closet to lie down in. Shopping online was easier but even that was exhausting. The very  notion of purchasing something meant I’d end up scouring the web for the best deals. The trouble, however, was that I still cared about what I wore, at least from time to time.

Enter Rent the Runway, a rental clothing company that first started renting designer gowns. This was exciting enough with the many work events Hubby had. I was able to rent opulent gowns at a tenth of the price. And since I seldom wore these gowns more than once, it was the most optimal solution for me.

But they soon began renting everyday clothes as well, and offered a monthly subscription service. I signed up and after 6 months of being wait-listed, I was allowed to rent everything from Oscar de la Rental gowns to sunglasses to clutches to jumpsuits. I was in heaven. Many more clothing rental services have popped up since then. And while renting is not for everyone, here are some reasons why you might be a good candidate for it and how it could leave you with more time, money and closet space.

• You want to save money.  The best part about a rental service that delivers clothes routinely is that it can curb your spending. I currently pay roughly $150 a month after shipping for my monthly service. Not exactly cheap, but many of us spend much more than that on our monthly shopping bill. Because I always receive new shipments, usually in time for the weekend, I stopped making impulse purchases. Not to mention that I no longer buy a dress every time I need to go to a wedding. When I do shop, it’s only to buy staples –  jeans, leggings, T-shirts – and shoes. You can’t rent those for good reason. The predictable monthly fee also makes it easier to budget and plan ahead.
• You don’t have time to shop. I think moms overall are a great candidate for rental services simply because we are strapped for time and energy. I even found online shopping to be exhausting because I was always try to find the best deals. If you are a fashion fiend but hate shopping both online and at the mall, renting is a no commitment, hassle-free experience. You don’t even have to wash or dry clean. Simply throw in your items in a bag and return.
• You like variety and statement pieces. If you are investing in a black blazer you would wear over and over, then purchasing might make more sense than renting. That was never the case for me. I am not drawn to practical pieces. Between the classic black blazer and a blue velvet one, my preference would be for the blue velvet blazer nine times out of ten. But I would end up buying the classic black for practical reasons. The great thing about renting is that you can wear something once and never wear it again.
• You’re not a hoarder. Many people don’t like renting because they say they have nothing to show for it. The pictures and experience is enough for me. I have personally grown to love the idea that I don’t have to keep what I just wore, although some services give you the option to purchase after you’ve rented. Not owning also means you don’t have to figure out how to get rid of clothes once they’ve gone out of style. You have more closet space this way.