When it comes to special occasion events like weddings, holiday galas, school dances, or maternity shoots, renting a dress or gown beats buying pieces that only get worn once. Clothes that sit in the back of our closets do not add value to our lives, and neither do cheap fast fashion pieces that quickly go out of style and pollute the planet. Renting is an affordable way to wear designer dresses and it’s a more sustainable option. A win-win.
Why consider a clothing rental service?
Clothing rental services are an easy way to access high-end designer clothing — like dresses and gowns — at an affordable price. You’ll be able to experience high quality luxurious items you may not typically wear, without the hefty price tag. You can also experiment with new styles and trends without committing to a long-term purchase and without any added stress to your wallet or the environment.
The environmental impact caused by fast fashion is huge. Thankfully, renting dresses is a more sustainable option as it extends the lifespan of clothing items, promotes a circular fashion economy, and reduces fashion waste through the reuse of garments. Trying to reduce wardrobe clutter or simply don’t have enough space in your closet (or in your luggage when you travel)? Dress rental services help provide a temporary wardrobe without having to worry about storage or traveling with lots of clothes. Oftentimes for special occasions, you’ll find yourself wearing an outfit once and never again, but dress rental services make high-end special occasion wear more practical.
Our criteria:
Our editors are big fans of dress rentals. Not only do the brands on this list help to offset the cost of dressing for events (hello wedding season!), they are sustainable and offer a wide range of styles that we love wearing. We continually add new services to this list that meet the following criteria.
- SUSTAINABLE | These dress rental services are not only sustainable through promoting circular fashion, many of the listed brands also offset their shipping to stay carbon neutral.
- VARIETY | Whether you’re looking for a designer gown, a flowy summer dress, or a work-friendly jumpsuit, these clothing rental services offer a wide variety of options so you can find exactly what you need. (P.S. if you’re petite or plus-size we’ve got you covered with clothing rental services that are size inclusive on this list!)
- AFFORDABLE | Rather than shelling out the big bucks to purchase the swoon worthy dress of your dreams, these clothing rental services will have you saving big — and perhaps even leaving you with more room in your wallet to try out multiple outfits!
Prefer to buy? Here are our guides on sustainable jewelry and handbags for ethically-made and fair trade accessories, or secondhand shops if you prefer thrifting. And for designer options, check out these sustainable luxury designers for pieces you’ll love for years to come.
Most Size Inclusive | Best For Formal Gowns | Best Monthly Subscription Box
1. Rent the Runway
Product Range | Designer dresses, gowns, outerwear, blazers, jeans, jewelry, handbags, sunglasses
Price Range | One-time rentals starting at $30/piece
Rent the Runway is our editor’s favorite go-to for occasion-specific renting, and also for monthly membership models. The site includes a wide selection of designer clothing and black tie dresses from hundreds of brands, starting as low as $30 per garment for a four-day rental. We love that you can browse the uploaded photos from previous renters to see how the dress fits other people within a specific size/height/body type range — soooo helpful! Rent the Runway will also send you a backup size (just in case) and the chance to purchase the piece if you fall in love. Their sustainability efforts are also impressive, with the brand offsetting 100% of their carbon emissions to and from shipments, and diverting over 90% of waste from their warehouse operations from landfills. Choose from RTR’s three standard plans or rent à la carte for your next big event.
Customer Review | “Renting aligned my shopping habits with my sustainability values. It helps fulfill the need for a fun new piece for a weekend trip without buying into fast fashion trends.” – @allekjackson (Read all reviews.)
2. Armoire
Best For | Maternity clothing rentals
Product Range | Curated tops, skirts, shorts, pants, dresses, hair accessories, jewelry, upcycled clothing
Price Range | Memberships starting at $79/month
Armoire is a one-stop shop for curated, stylish clothing. Each month, you’ll receive items that are personalized to your taste—feel free to purchase, rent and return, exchange for a different size, or send for a complimentary cleaning for as long as you’re a member. Using the results from your personal style quiz, as well as input from customers and current fashion trends from Boden, French Connection, and more, Armoire curates each box specific to you—valued at over $300. What we love most is the collection of workwear and maternity wear that includes fashion-forward blazers, skirts, trousers, and dresses.
Customer Review | “Armoire was a part of my weight loss journey. Be it when I was a size 8 or fluctuating between a size 4 or 2, I can freely choose my clothing be it for the summer or winter wear.” – Cheryl (Read all reviews.)
3. Nuuly
Product Range | Dresses, tops, pants, athleisure, rompers, vintage & upcycled clothing
Price Range | Subscriptions starting at $98/month
Nuuly is all about hosting a platform where buying, selling, and renting work together in helping us save a little cash, while being gentler on the planet. With Nuuly Rent, you can rent any six items from their extensive collections each month with fast and free shipping, repairs, and laundry included. You can also purchase any items you fall in love with. And if thrifting is more your jam, Nuuly Thrift lets you buy and resell anything from vintage items and baby clothes, to reclaimed dresses and more. Nuuly is owned by URBN (the makers behind Anthropologie and Free People) so you’ll find plenty of their brands and styles, however you choose to shop!
Editor’s Review | “Nuuly is a great option for people with both sustainability and style in mind. Their clothing rental service is affordable and offers an impressive selection of size-inclusive clothing ranging from classic to trendy — and everything in between.” (Read our full review here.)
4. OpenClosit
Product Range | Dresses, matching sets, handbags & accessories
Price Range | Varies based on rental fee
OpenClosit’s mission is to help you look good while protecting the planet. By renting designer dresses through their online platform, you’ll not only look fabulous but will also contribute to protecting the planet by extending the life cycle of already-existing clothing! Renting from others is easy, and returning items is hassle-free. OpenClosit even has a Vacation Package feature which allows you to curate your custom vacation closet for $375! And if you’re interested in becoming a lender, you can support the sustainable fashion revolution by listing your designer items for rent, earning 30% of the rental price each time they’re rented. (Pro tip: if you’re in the Santa Monica area, OpenClosit offers fitting appointments in their brick and mortar location). A win for all!
5. Dia & Co.
Product Range | Tops, sweaters, bottoms, jeans, jackets, activewear, intimates, accessories, every day & occasion dresses
Price Range | Memberships starting at $6/month
Dia & Co.’s online clothing subscription service gets members looking stylish and savvy every day! Start with a quiz where you’ll get valuable info on your body type, budget, and how your day to day runs in order for Dia & Co. to curate a clothing box that works specifically for your lifestyle. Then choose between three plans ranging from $6–$10 a month, where you’ll receive up to 7 items to try on and wear at home. The best part is that if you purchase at least one item, your membership fee is credited back to you! If monthly subscriptions aren’t your style, Dia & Co. also offers themed styling boxes available for purchase. Sizes run up to 5x for tops and dresses, and US 32 for bottoms.
Customer Review | “This is a style I never would have considered on my own, but a genius stylist sent them to me and I love them. They’re so comfortable and fun. I feel cute wearing them. Thanks, Dia.” – Shannon (Read all reviews.)
6. LE ORA
Best For | Prom & special occasion renting & lending
Product Range | Dresses, jumpsuits, matching sets, outerwear, pants, skirts, accessories, tops & vintage styles
Price Range | Varies based on member-set rental fee
LE ORA lets you monetize your closet and stay looking chic, through their lender and borrower community. Access hundreds of dresses, clothes, and accessories from luxury designers and independent brands through community listings. Simply browse the site to find the pieces you’re looking for (the filters are super helpful if you’re looking to find clothes that fall under a specific aesthetic like ‘Cool Girl’ and ‘Quiet Luxury’) and send over a request to the lender when you’re ready to rent. You’ll receive your item on the requested day, ready to wear and style how you please! Some lenders even sell on the site, so if you fall in love with your piece you can purchase it for your closet for good.
7. ModLux.Rent
Product Range | Dresses, tops, bottoms & outerwear
Price Range | Memberships starting at $125/month
ModLux.Rent‘s rental subscription service lets you curate your virtual closet with your favorite styles, receiving 5 items at a time to wear as much as you desire. When you’re ready for a new selection, simply return the items or take advantage of exclusive discounts to buy them. With unlimited rotations of styles delivered to your door, you can enjoy new looks throughout the month hassle-free. Member benefits include free exchanges, shipping, and dry cleaning, with no commitments and the flexibility to cancel anytime. Stay stylish with ease and on a budget!
8. Haverdash
Product Range | Dresses, jumpsuits, maternity, sweaters, bottoms
Price Range | Memberships starting at $59/month
With zero commitments and unlimited rotations, Haverdash is the future of fashion. This online style subscription service offers its members access to fashion rentals for a flat monthly fee. Choose up to three styles per shipment, and keep them for as long as you’d like. If you want to add the style permanently to your closet, you can purchase pieces at discounted prices. Or alternatively, feel free to send them back and get another box (wash, rinse, repeat)! Shipping (and returns) are always free, as is dry cleaning.
9. FashionPassBest For | Unlimited clothing & accessories rentals
Product Rang | Activewear, loungewear, bodysuits, dresses, jackets, denim, jumpsuits, accessories
Price Range | Memberships starting at $49 for the first month
FashionPass’s large collection of clothing rental options will have your wardrobe looking on trend without any commitments! With three rental options to choose from, you’ll receive a variety of clothing items and accessories of your choice each month. If you fall in love with a piece, you can keep it a bit longer for an additional fee or even purchase the item outright for a 30-60% discount. Brands such as Steve Madden, For Love and Lemons, and Good American are just some of the popular brands that are available to pick from. And when you’re ready to ship your items back, FashionPass offers prepaid shipping labels, free dry cleaning, and member concierge services if you need support. Sign us up!
Customer Review | “Returning is so simple, I get a new order every week! ” – Corrine R. (Read all reviews.)
10. Tulerie
Product Range | Coats, dresses, jumpsuits, pants, skirts, shoes, bags
Price Range | Varies based on member-set rental fee
Tulerie stands out from other clothing rental services through its community closet approach. You can join the platform as a lender or borrower (or both!) to share or rent high-end items in your own closet. The brand is proud to provide a space where ‘sustainability, luxury, and community can coexist’ through peer-to-peer closet sharing. To ensure trust and respect throughout the clothing exchange process, interviews are held with every single lender and borrower before they can use the platform. You can even donate any unwanted clothing through their partner Rewearable (free shipping included!). We love the creative approach Tulerie takes in supporting circular fashion initiatives.
Customer Review | “This app has expanded my closet so much! Not only am I extending the life cycle of my own garments, but I get to borrow so many beautiful pieces too”. – Anonymous (Read all reviews.)
porn