Just like any other fashionista, I want clothes that are right off the runway and want to look great. This kind of lifestyle comes with a cost for those of us who don’t have the income to drop hundreds or thousands of dollars on haute couture clothes.
Now there’s an answer that will make every woman jump for joy: Rent the Runway.
This new site’s idea is simple: “Love. Wear. Return.”
Rent the Runway is an online website that makes high-end fashion affordable. Their concept is very simple.
1. Apply for a membership.
2. Once approved, browse the pages for a dress you lust over.
3. Give your dress size and dates when you want it (The dress can be rented for 4 or 8 days).
4. Pay 10 percent of the retail price.
5. Have it delivered to your address (It will arrive in 2-3 days).
6. Return it when finished.
It’s really that simple, according to the site. I just applied for membership a few days ago, so I haven’t experienced this first hand. But the concept seems really amazing.
RTR buys clothes at retail prices and offers it much less to the customer. For example, this Helmut Lang dress retails for $415, but you can rent it for $50.
Each dress comes another size of the same dress just in case it doesn’t fit properly. There is also a Fit Kit included containing double-sided tape, deodorant wipe outs and a Magic Clip bra converter. What’s not to love about this already?
Some of the designers RTR features are Diane Von Furstenberg, Herve Leger, Proenza Schouler, Christian Siriano and Christina Colta.
Taylor Swift wearing a Tracy Reese dress that is now available at RTR.
Rent the Runway began with Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Carter Fleiss coming up with the idea after a friend was having a wardrobe crisis. The two had a meeting with Diane Von Furstenberg and the site was started. The site is always updating their clothes and wardrobes.
The Jennifers. Photo taken from the NYTimes feature.
When I become a member, I’ll post an update with what I thought of the experience. Would any of you use this? What would be your dream dress to wear for an evening?
2 Comments
November 16, 2009 at 11:01 pm
I was ready to rent a dress just the other day, only to find that all of my choices were booked solid for weeks to come!
RTR is a great idea, but I look forward to the site increasing its inventory of dresses.
November 17, 2009 at 12:59 am
Oh no! That really stinks you weren’t able to get the dresses you wanted. Which ones are you eyeing?
RTR always expands it’s inventory. I can’t wait to see what other designers they include.