With everyone snapping selfies and tagging friends in pix just about every day, being fashionable is more important than ever. Whether it’s office outfits or casual clothes, you always want to look fresh and new. We all know that sustainable fashion is important for the planet and we don’t want to waste, but getting snapped in the same outfit or having to wear the same dress to multiple parties can be really embarrassing. Plus, who has all that closet space? The solution: stop buying. Read on to learn 10 reasons why renting clothes is the way to go.
- Save Time
Ever look into your wardrobe and the only thing you can decide on to wear is your favourite choker necklace? We’ve all had this experience or something very like it. Figuring out what to wear every day can be time-consuming, especially when you’re trying to figure out how to make the same old, same old look new. Many rental companies offer subscription services to further save you brain space and time. Renting clothes is kind of like borrowing from a trusted friend, and because the rental business wants you to be a return customer, quality is assured.
- Save Money
If you attend a lot of events and need new dresses and other fancy clothes that won’t get more than one or two wears, renting can be a very cost-effective way to go. Special occasions that you should definitely consider renting for include weddings, reunions, anniversaries, formal events, as well as one you may not have considered: pregnancy. Babies are expensive, starting long before they arrive. But because you still need something to wear, renting is a perfect solution to that exciting but brief period in your life. Renting pregnancy apparel is also smart because not only are those clothes pricey, but you won’t have much use for them afterward. As a future busy mum, you’ll be thrilled to not have to weed out your closet once your little bundle of joy arrives.
- Save the Planet
Fast fashion, aka clothes that are meant to be worn a couple of times and then tossed, is not sustainable. As inhabitants of a planet with limited resources, we cannot continue at our current rate. The fashion industry emits more pollution than all the airplanes in the world, and something like 70 million barrels of oil go into the production of synthetic fabrics each year. Fabric production is responsible for around 20% of industrial water pollution and the microplastics shed by synthetics are clogging up our oceans and waterways. One final, chilling statistic: a lorry-full of clothes are burned or thrown into landfill every single second.
- Save Wardrobe Space
Very few of us have the wardrobe of our dreams. And let’s be honest, for many of us, a lot of that precious real estate is taken up with clothes we don’t wear very often. You can probably even find a couple of items with the tags still on. Renting clothes allows you to declutter and free up space, and maybe even motivate you to organize your current collection.
- Never Wonder What to Wear
It happens to the best of us: we peer into the depths of our wardrobe with despair, wishing the clothes fairy will magically appear and point out a new and exciting outfit. When you rent, you get to change up your wardrobe on a regular basis, keeping things fresh for all the events, major and minor, in your life.
- Sport Designer Duds
For most of us, couture is out of reach. But when you rent, even the most exclusive designers become achievable. Perfect for important work-related events, travel, and other special occasions. While looking the part is important, buying for every individual event in your life just isn’t necessary. When you rent, you never have to think about your cost-per-wear. You just get to enjoy looking fabulous.
- No-Guilt Consumption
We all love something new, but we know that it’s wasteful to buy Just Because. Renting offers a practical solution to impulse buying. When you rent, you don’t have to calculate how many times you’ll wear an item to make it worthwhile or consult your crystal ball to try to figure out whether you’ll still want to wear this item next year — or even next month. No buyer’s remorse when you’re only renting clothes.
- Figure Out Your Style
Are you a faux-fur coat type of gal? Does neon green suit your complexion? Do ruffles flatter or make you look like an oversize tropical fish? Renting allows you to try out new trends without long-term commitment. When you rent, you can test-drive fashion without stressing — or blowing your budget.
- Build Confidence
Taking risks is, well, risky. But branching out is important too. Trying new things is essential in life, and one of the only ways to build confidence. By renting new styles of clothes and discovering what works, and what doesn’t, you increase trust in your judgement. Because the worst that happens is that when you exchange an item, you become more confident in your ability to make good choices.
- Sharing Is Caring
Renting can transform your view of ownership. When you share your clothes, you do a service to the wider community. By infusing a suit with your boss lady power, you pass along that positive energy to the next woman. Pay it forward by sharing. The planet and your fellow consumers will thank you.
