Nuuly Clothing Rental Review
TL;DR? You can watch my Nuuly review here to learn more about the cost & features, and then you can revisit this article for individual box reviews and a little recap.
The Why
After decluttering my closet year after year, I’d had enough. For a while it didn’t bother me — I just thought it was something everyone did. There was a whole book written about it, and the number of similar videos on YouTube told me I was in good company. I’d donate or sell the decluttered portion of my closet and set straight away to filling in the gaps. So. Counterproductive.
I completed a course called 30 Days to Minimalism at the beginning of 2021, and it was a true turning point for me. The author of the exercise encourages you to take the ‘30 Days’ part of the name with a grain of salt and declutter at your own pace. Not rushing through it ensures that you’re making thoughtful decisions about which items earn a lasting place in your home.
Once I completed the exercise and created breathing room for our essential and favorite items, I knew I didn’t want my overly consumptive habits to return; however, I like to keeping up with the latest trends (sue me!) There had to be a way to have your cake and eat it too. That proverbial cake? Clothing rental services.
The Solution
<Nuuly enters the chat.> I have always admired the racks at Anthropologie, but I never wanted to pay $280 for a super unique dress that I would wear confidently a few times before the fashion police had me in cuffs. With Nuuly, you get to wear the expensive clothes for a fraction of the price and get to avoid being an outfit repeater (which, TBH is a stupid reason, because I love being an outfit repeater. When it’s good, it’s good. Okay?)
Nuuly Features & Cost
$88 + tax per month for 6 items
Easily filter the site for items available in your sizes
Community reviews for a better understanding of fit & quality
Add items to your “closet” for all seasons for easy renting later
Buy rented items for a discounted price if you fall in love
No laundering necessary
Add multiple sizes to your box to ensure a great fit if you’re in between sizes
Note: If you do this, the two items in different sizes count as two different pieces of your allotted six, just FYI.
No hidden fees for late returns or damaged garments.*
*If you keep your items longer than 1 month, they just charge you the monthly subscription price on your next billing date.
All items ship in reusable, no waste packaging
You can pause (and unpause) your subscription at any time for however long you’d like
New! Nuuly thrift is available for you to sell your own items and earn $$$ or Nuuly cash to be used toward your next clothing rental.
My Experience
I LOVE this service and recommended it to every friend I know. I appreciate that you can rent everyday, casual clothes in addition to beautiful occasion dresses. This is also a much more economical and environmentally friendly way to keep up with the latest styles - a major reason why I keep the subscription!
One thing to note: Nuuly stocks both current and sold out pieces from the retailers they feature on site, which I think is fantastic. If you loved a top Anthro carried two seasons ago and can’t find it anywhere, odds are you can rent it. For that same reason, I can’t link directly a lot of what I rented - just wanted to give you a warning up front.
My 3 box reviews are below - The Hits, The Meh, and The Misses.
Box #1 - Honeymoon in Hawaii
The Hits
Kat Buttondown Blouse - Great for work and play!
Josie Dolman-Sleeved Top (wish I would have purchased!)
Cedar Eyelet Blouse - Had a great elastic hem line that made it easy to wear untucked and keep its cropped length without the bulk of tucking in your shirt!
End of the Island Godet Skirt - I wore this to an outdoor more casual dining experience with a white tank tucked in, just like the model. It had kind of a cotton-y material that was really breathable, and the seeming made it super flattering!
The Meh
Romilly Short Duster - got this specifically to be a bathing suit coverup, and I wore it a few times! Probably wouldn’t rent again for the same purpose, because the material wasn’t my favorite after it was wet.
The Misses
Violet Mini Dress - major puff sleeves that looked a bit silly on me, and I couldn’t find a bra that worked well with this. It stayed behind!
Box #2 - Beach Trip with Friends
The Hits
Perry Embroidered Button down - This top was so fun! Even though it had long sleeves, it was thin enough to be summer appropriate while also not being totally see through. I paired this with denim shorts.
Ravenna Bias Midi Skirt - I LOVED this skirt and paired it with a cropped white tank. I probably would have bought it, but it ran a little small. I’m a true XS and wish I would have rented a S in this skirt. The length was perfect, but the elastic was pretty tight around the waist.
Flora Puff Sleeve V-neck Blouse - Purchased! This top originally retailed for $54 at Urban Outfitters, and I got it for $35, just to give you an idea of the types of discounts you can expect by being a member.
In the Grove Crop Top - This little lemon top was both adorable and prime example of why I love this service. This is a statement top that I would have probably walked away from in the store because it wasn’t “classic enough” to have in my closet long term. This service adds some spunk to my closet without the hefty price tags.
The Meh
Show Some Shoulder Tie-Dye Crop Top - I felt like I was back in college trying to hit the town. It was a lil much, and I could just see the sleeves dipping straight into the salsa as I reached across the table to the guacamole.
The Misses
Lovelle Striped Midi Dress - This maxi was very unflattering on me. The reviews complain about some of the metallic striping, but that didn’t bother me as much as the overall fit.
Box #3 - Weddings & Winter Wear
The Hits
Velvet Occasion Maxi Dress - Retails for $595, so I obviously never would have purchased this. I got stopped several times at the wedding with questions about where I got my dress - to which I proudly replied, “Nuuly!” Loved that the regular 0 was the perfect length for my 5’2” frame, too!
Stephanie Coast Floral Blouse - I was wearing this in my Travel Gift Guide video and got a ton of questions! It had a cropped fit with a high neckline, and I loved how unique it was. I recommend sizing up one size!
Grace Puffer Jacket - Wore this almost daily to walk the dog! I loved that the neutral color went with everything.
The Meh
Marvin Pleated Top - I felt a bit colonial in this, but it was a nice top. I sized up one size, but I think it may have fit better in my normal XS. This was the one time the reviews were a little off for me!
The Misses
Lindsey Cap-Sleeve Midi Dress - Way too large in the bust, a bit snug around the middle, but the length was great.
The Nomad Joggers - Definitely needed a petite in these. They were super oversized and came up to my rib cage.
Box #4 - Black Tie Wedding & Sweater Weather
The Hits
Flower Pullover - This is another statement sweater that I was excited to wear for a month! If they offered this one in an XXS I probably would have preferred it, because it was a touch big on me. The sleeves are straight with no cuffing, and that was a little annoying but I still loved wearing this! It was exceptionally warm and well made. Wearing this in my February Favorites video.
Hannah Sweater - I had 3 different people comment on how pretty this blue color was, and I totally agree! This was a mock neck sweater with a very flattering cut and side slits. Wearing this in my Best Purchases of my 20s video.
On Mute Sweater - I LOVED the feel, color, and cut of this cropped chenille sweater. It had a little ruffle detail on the sleeve that made it a little unique, and I came VERY close to keeping it, until I reminded myself that we’re here to rent, not to buy everything we like. Wearing this in my Lessons I Learned in My 20s video.
Floral Embroidered Gown - This stunner retails for $695 dollars and made its debut at a black tie wedding we went to in February. All reviews said go up one size, and I totally agree! However, even though I rented a petite, this was still about an inch long on me and was a little annoying to walk in. It was worth it for how much I loved the dress, though!
The Meh
None!
The Misses
Puff Sleeved Burnout Velvet Maxi - This dress actually fit me, but I rented primarily as a backup if the embroidered gown was way too big. I’m thankful that gown fit, because this wasn’t super flattering on me, and the color was a bit more green in person. Not my favorite.
V Neck Wrap Top - This sweater had absolutely no stretch, and while it was so soft on the outside, it was really uncomfortable to wear because of that lack of stretch. Bryan also said I looked like a Jedi wearing this (LOL), so I didn’t ever wear this out of the house.
Bottom line: Would I recommend? Absolutely!
Interested in trying Nuuly? Use this link for $10 off your first box! I also get $10 off my next box, so it’s a win win!