Rent the Runway: Tips for Dress Rental

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I fell in love with Rent the Runway two years ago. The first time I tried the service, it was for a wedding. I was super busy, forgot to shop, and, of course, had nothing in my closet to wear! Ever had that problem?

I had surfed the Rent the Runway website before, but never actually pulled the trigger and placed an order.

Here are a few of the reasons I LOVE Rent the Runway! And no, this is not a sponsored post.

Ease

The website is super easy to navigate. You can filter by date of event, size, color, formality, etc. Only the rentals that are available during your event time will come up in the search. All of the dresses have real life reviews with photos, so you can be sure to order the right size and style for your body type. As a courtesy, they also send an additional backup size at no extra charge.

As a military spouse, I have many special occasions to attend throughout the year. Whether it be a holiday party, dining out, homecoming, formal or even a promotion or re-enlistment ceremony, with a dress from Rent the Runway, I can make it extra special (and easy, too).

Price and Variety

Four day rentals start at just $30, plus shipping. Designers include Badgley Mishka, Kate Spade, BCBGMAXAZRIA and some I haven’t even heard of, but I love their designs! Rent the Runway has  over 3,000 dresses in its inventory, so you won’t have a problem finding the perfect dress or outfit for your next military formal or ball!

Pro Membership 

For $29.95 per year, you can become a Pro Member. This extra benefit is a huge savings because it includes free standard shipping and insurance on all of your orders. If you place an order twice in one year, this will pay for itself. You also will receive a $30 credit the month of your birthday. In addition to these great benefits, you will receive coupon codes and special emails. For example, all summer, Pro Members received an additional 15% off each order! 

Your dresses will arrive on your doorstop in this cute black bag! It’s very exciting to come home to this.

Customer Service 

When I rave to my friends about Rent the Runway, many are skeptical. “What if my dress doesn’t fit?” they ask, or “What if it is nothing like the picture?” Rent the Runway’s customer service is phenomenal!  For each delivery, I would get a notification from UPS that my dress had been delivered. You definitely want to try on your dresses ASAP, so you can make arrangements if your dresses don’t fit or if they are damaged. One time, I ordered a dress and the belt was broken and missing a clasp. Rent the Runway over-nighted me a new dress in the same style and credited my account for the FULL value of the dress. The company wants its customers to be happy. On another occasion, I ordered a dress for a wedding I was attending that weekend. But then mid-week, a family member passed away and Rent the Runway was kind enough to change my order to a more appropriate dress for the memorial service and have it sent to a different address. The company will do everything possible to accommodate you and make you happy!

Simple 

More than anything, it is just so simple! Your dress arrives in a little black bag with a garment bag inside. Hang up and try on your dress. Wear your dress to your event. Get tons of compliments. Then, place your dress back in the bag, ship off by Monday at noon (for Thursday rentals) with the prepaid label provided in your bag. No dry-cleaning or worrying if you spill on your expensive dress!

The Drawbacks

With any good thing, there are always some drawbacks. First, for the overseas spouses, Rent the Runway does not ship to FPO addresses or APO boxes. This is probably because of the precise timing that comes with the shipping and return of the dresses. Another feature that is lacking is a dress registry, especially for larger events that we attend as military spouses. Right now, there is no guarantee that you may show up wearing the same dress as another spouse. Rent the Runway is working on this feature and hopes to implement it soon! 

Want to get $30 off your first Rent the Runway order? Click here for your coupon code. Have you tried Rent the Runway? If so, what are your thoughts on the service? 

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Allison Chance
Allison is a Navy spouse currently stationed in Monterey, California. Allison is a licensed REALTOR® in Florida and California. She currently works for Over the Moon Realty, Inc. and offers the Homes for Heroes Program, where she gives back a portion of her commission to heroes! Her family consists of her husband, Kyle, their daughter, Charlotte, and their miniature dachshund Macey Jane. Photography, Lilly Pulitzer, working out and organizing are just a few of Allison’s favorite things. Allison was a contributor with Jacksonville Moms Blog at her last duty station and loves blogging and interacting with other moms! You can follow along with "The Chance Clan" at thechanceclan.blogspot.com !