I’ve always been taught that when it comes to your home, it’s generally a more financially responsible decision to buy instead of rent (if you have the means, of course). But I’ve come to the realization that’s not necessarily always the case, depending on your situation (sorry, dad!). And, I think the same goes for clothes. Companies like Rent the Runway and FashionPass (just to name a couple) have really changed the mentality of shopping on a wider scale. The thought: Why buy when you can rent? After all, clothes don’t appreciate in value quite like a home.
There are definite pros and cons to both shopping methods, so I’ll lay out my thoughts and you guys can decide for yourselves which is more compatible for your lifestyle.
Renting Pros:
1. More eco-friendly
I’m all about helping the environment, and it seems the fashion industry has a shockingly difficult time keeping waste to a minimum. Thankfully many brands are turning to sustainable practices when creating their pieces these days (yay to making strides toward a healthier planet!). And, renting is another smart way to ensure that a garment isn’t worn once and subsequently thrown in the trash during spring cleaning.
2. More practical for social media purposes
Not sure about you guys, but I really don’t like showing up on social media in the same outfit multiple times (aside from when I’m doing a shoot and want you to see all of the details, of course). There’s something about outfit repeating that makes me cringe a little bit, so really what’s the point of buying that cute top that you’re going to wear once, get photographed in and then ditch like that old flame you ghosted? Renting allows you to easily swap out one fresh style for another without having to make new purchases.
3. (Possibly) less expensive
Now this one can get a little tricky. It’s completely dependent on how much you budget for shopping per month, which type of renting plan you choose (more expensive plans equate to more flexibility with how many pieces you can receive) and how much you would otherwise spend buying clothes. If you’re still going to buy pieces on the side that you can’t rent (like shoes for example), you may want to choose a cheaper tier plan. But, renting can for the most part hold you to a steady monthly clothes budget, considering you know in advance the fixed rate you’ll spend and what you’ll get for your money.
4. Easy returns
Aside from the super easy prepaid labels provided to return the stuff you’ve already worn, there’s so much less stress on figuring out whether you like something you’ve rented. If it’s not working into your wardrobe the way you thought it would, you can pack it up and ship it back without having to wait weeks for your refund. Just rent something else!
5. The flexibility
Let’s say you’re not a huge fan of something you’ve rented – at least you got the chance to try it out without the commitment. And if you do end up loving it? You can purchase the item at a discount, so you don’t necessarily always have to give it back.
6. Constantly refreshed style
If you’re like me and constantly are looking for style updates and to try out new brands even after a recent shopping spree, renting really can be more practical. It also comes in handy when you have a bunch of events in a short amount of time, like during the holidays or an upcoming vacation. You can rent a bunch of stuff at once at a fixed price and never have to be seen in the same thing twice or charge crazy amounts to your credit card.
Buying Pros:
1. No timeline
When you decide to purchase your clothes, however, there’s zero timeframe for when they have to get shipped back – you can essentially wear and re-wear them until they’re completely worn out. This especially comes in handy for pieces like basics (you know the ones we often overlook but always get the most use out of). And, this way, even if you have a special event coming up in a few months and found the perfect dress already, you can purchase it now and wear it later, whereas it might not be available for rent later on. There’s definitely a certain freedom that comes with buying.
2. (A different kind of) no commitment
Though you’re committing your money to certain pieces, you’re not limited to choosing from a select range of brands, pieces or sizes. The companies that you rent from have contracts with specific labels, and while they could get the pieces you want down the road, if you’re as impatient to jump on trends as I am, you want what you want when you want it. Also, if on a rare occasion you’re not looking to try out/ purchase any new clothes for a month, you won’t feel like you’ve wasted any money just because you thought you were going to want to shop. Unfortunately, the monthly fees that go along with renting mean that even if you didn’t like anything you received, you still had to pay.
3. Satisfaction of a stacked closet
Ok, admittedly not all of us have this fictitious psychological disorder in which we constantly feel like we have nothing to wear. But, if all I did was rent, I don’t know that I’d ever feel like my wardrobe needs were ever remotely fulfilled. Maybe this point is more aimed towards the hoarders, but there is quite a satisfying feeling I get when looking inside my closet at all the amazing things I own and know that I worked hard to be able to purchase everything that I wanted. Maybe it’s just me?
4. Everything is brand new
If you like everything you wear to be brand new, buying is 100% the way to go. It eliminates the risk of you receiving something potentially damaged or flawed and even though rented pieces are thoroughly cleaned before redistribution, I know there are those of you out there who would prefer other people never having worn your garments before you’ve gotten a chance to. To each her own!
Though there are compelling arguments for both cases, I personally am a fan of buying mostly because I crave endless and unlimited options, still feel the need to buy things even when I’m renting and am a bit of a commit-aphobe when it comes to monthly payment plans. One thing that I believe makes the most sense for me is to buy the essentials and rent the trends – after all, they’re usually pretty fleeting.
Regarding the outfit featured in this post, I own everything except that amazing beaded clutch – that I rented from FashionPass!
Now it’s your turn to tell me. Do you prefer renting or buying and why?
