Welcome back to last month’s Nuuly review! If you are new around here, I’ve reviewed my Nuuly rentals each month since January of this year. I wanted to give they service a 6-month trial and I’m just realizing I’ll be one month short because…
I ended up taking a pause for June (you can pause your account without a fee at any time). I paused for a few reasons: 1) we aren’t going anywhere I needed anything for 2) I returned last month’s late and 3) I have plenty of things to wear this month! I had a realization about Nuuly and what I’ve used it for the most: occasions, vacations, events or just to have something new without buying it. It makes the most sense in the drab months for me (January, February) when I don’t want to commit but I’m kind of tired of my things. And then again for travel seasons, March for spring break, May for a MDW trip, etc. I like the service but I don’t know if it’s a year round service for me, I’ve found that it’s definitely best used seasonally for my preferences.
So… who is this service for?
I think I would break this service down into three categories: seasonal, occasional and style curious. If you don’t want to commit to seasonal items and you just want to rent them (think coats, cover ups, sweaters, etc.) then this is a great service for you. Or perhaps you like having something new without commitment, especially things from Anthro / Free People then renting these often times brand new pieces would be a great thing. If you want to try a new style or switch things up seasonally or if you like to swap out denim a lot or even monthly, there is a ton of designer denim available. And of course if you like to travel but you always want new things to take, this is perfect for that as well. This is probably my number one reason for the service — I have found that I like packing new-to-me items with me on trips! I can also make a case for renting certain styles that are location specific but maybe not a forever need in my closet (think the beach, for instance).
After renting for 5 months consecutively, I’ve realized it’s not a sustainable service for me to have every month. Six new pieces is actually a lot of clothing to have to wear in a short amount of time. It doesn’t seem like this at first — you think “just 6?” when looking through the selection, or at least I did. But wearing each piece enough to get your money’s worth can be a challenge. I like having to send things back even if I do want to keep some items, and at times I have, but all in all it is nice that I can just send everything back when the time is up. (I’m maybe possibly kicking myself for not keeping the striped pants down below but I can always pick them up again from Anthro.) I don’t know if I’ll unpause in July or later this fall to see if a fall season is worth it as well. But for summer, I’m taking a break — I’ve got all the coverups, dresses, etc. that I need for now.
Let’s get to the pieces!
If you are new here, I wanted to try out a clothing rental service and I chose Nuuly. Nuuly charges $98 once a month and you get to choose 6 items to wear all month long then you send the pieces back. You can check out the Nuuly website here.
Each month I calculate the cost per wear for each pieces in my nuuly box. Here are the numbers: each box is $98 for 6 pieces. (For consistency, I’m leaving out taxes here since it will differ for each state.) So if you take the $98 divided by the 6 items, it’s about $16.33 per item, if you wear each item one time. Every item’s cost of $16.33 will be divided by the frequency of wear. (i.e. Cost of item rental ÷ times piece was worn = rental price per wear). Just to go a step too far, I’ve also broken down each piece with a rating system and a review for each item below.
MY RATING SYSTEM:
⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ = would consider buying full price / will miss it when it’s gone!
⭑⭑⭑⭑ = really liked it, would prefer to buy on sale
⭑⭑⭑ = on the fence, liked it but can’t see myself wearing that often / buy on sale only
⭑⭑ = liked but didn’t wear it at all or found it hard to style
⭑ = didn’t like it / didn’t fit
Maeve Striped Collette Jeans | ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
TIMES WORN OVER THE MONTH: 3
CONDITION: NEW WITH TAGS
Cost Per Wear: $5.44
LOVED these pants and was also sad to see them go. I was in a rush to leave town and tossed everything back in the nuuly return tote so I didn’t really have time to consider if these were a keep or not. But I REALLY liked them and would consider buying them. I would say as far as fit they’re slightly more snug at the waist for me, but overall a TTS fit with stretch. Just size up if the waist is an area you tend to need extra room in.
Madewell Tee | Anthro Pants | Zara Sandals
ALEX MILL CAMISOLE | ⭑⭑⭑
TIMES WORN OVER THE MONTH: 2
CONDITION: NEW WITH TAGS
Cost Per Wear: $8.16
I love Alex Mill – if you ever want to get your hands on quality pieces, it’s AM. But I don’t always want to *buy* Alex Mill so when I saw it on Nuuly I jumped to rent it. This top is cotton and it came with the straps crossed in the back but it did NOT fit me that way. So I uncrossed them (it’s all buttons so you can adjust) and wore it like a normal camisole and it fit perfectly. Alex Mill runs small in my opinion, so a large in a top like this is best for me with boobs. Loved it but was fine to send it back!
Alex Mill Top | J.Crew Barrel Chinos | Zara Sandals | J.Crew Tote
Vitamin A Linen Set | ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
TIMES WORN OVER THE MONTH: 2
CONDITION: NEW WITH TAGS
Cost Per Wear: $8.16
Loved this set! This was another one that if I were going to the beach this summer, this set would have been a keep. I love Vitamin A pieces — I have this same tunic in black and wear it all summer long to the pool. The linen is a sturdier linen than like a J.Crew linen, it’s a bit more ‘rough’ but not itchy and it holds up through summer / water / multiple washings. I wore it to the beach last year and it was perfect. It does shrink up a bit due to the linen nature but overall it’s a 10.
Back to this set — I loved the matching shorts and they also fit like a dream! I am in the medium of both pieces, perfectly relaxed fit. I don’t know if I can justify this set just for the pool but if I can, I’ll let you know 😉
Vitamin A Tunic | Vitamin A Shorts | Reformation Sandals
The Reese Barrel Pants | ⭑⭑
TIMES WORN OVER THE MONTH: 6
CONDITION: EXCELLENT
Cost Per Wear: $2.72
Okay so this one has a lower rating but the MOST wear!?! What is going on?? So these pants are SO comfortable — it’s a wide elastic waist and a nice soft, lived in linen. So you better believe I wore them all the time. However, every single time I wore them I felt like I was in pajama pants and like… not in a cool way. In a pajama day at school kind of way. I wanted them so badly to read as effortless chic but I think it read as careless slop. And I think honestly it was the stripes. They’re no longer available in the print, all solids now and I think that’s a good choice for this style. So while I wore them a bunch, I wouldn’t recommend the striped version because pajamas. But a solid or a linen or even the black? Now that I can get behind.
vintage tee | Similar color tee or Similar Graphic Tee | Same Pants in solid | Zara sandals | J.Crew tote
Celandine Cover Up Dress | ⭑
TIMES WORN OVER THE MONTH: 0
CONDITION: NEW WITH TAGS
Cost Per Wear: $16.32
There’s always one no wear in the bunch and this month’s was this cover up dress. I got this to wear to our little mini vacation we take at the end of school to a water park but honestly the fit was NOT it. The top was way big and then for me at least it was more narrow at the hips. The proportions were way off for me and overall I just felt sloppy, even for a swimsuit cover up. It was sheer / lightweight but still a bit heavy feeling overall, lots of fabric for summer. So for me it’s a no-go, one star, send it back, girl bye.
Celandine Cover Up
______________________
You can find my other Nuuly reviews here:
April
March
February
January