I tried Nuuly and got $938 worth of clothes from Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People for just $88 a month - here's why I'll be doing it again

Erin McDowell,Erin McDowell

Oct 4, 2019, 23:10 IST

I tried Nuuly and got $938 worth of clothes from Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People for just $88 a month - here's why I'll be doing it again

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I rented $938 worth of clothes from Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People for just $88 - here's what I thought of the whole experience.

As an avid shopper of URBN brands including Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People, I was excited to try the company's new clothing rental service.
For just $88 per month, shoppers can rent like-new and vintage clothes hand-selected by the style masterminds at URBN.
Nuuly members can choose up to six items per month from a large selection of apparel, from vintage leather jackets and glamorous evening wear to your new favorite pair of jeans.
Here's what I got in my first Nuuly rental and my thoughts on whether the service is really worth it.
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As an avid shopper of the URBN family of brands - Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People - I was anxious to try out the company's new clothing rental service, Nuuly.

Nuuly is a monthly rental subscription service for women's apparel. Customers of Nuuly can choose any six items for just $88 per month. Once the month ends, the next billing cycle will occur and customers can send the items back or choose to buy them, often at a discounted price point. Once Nuuly has received all the items you no longer want, you can order your next Nuuly.

"We have an assortment that's tailored to be really fun and versatile so that the customer can wear the items she chooses in different ways over the course of her month," Kim Gallagher, Nuuly's director of marketing and customer success, told Business Insider.

The clothing offered on Nuuly is not limited to just Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People. The site also carries a wide selection of items from over 100 third-party brands. Not only does Nuuly offer basics like jeans and simple blouses, but they also have stylish evening wear, fur coats, vintage T-shirts, leather jackets, and more. Browsing the website, I was excited to try something new or high-end, without the commitment of actually purchasing it.

Gallagher said that's one of Nuuly's goals: giving shoppers the opportunity to test out different styles.

"The great thing about renting is that it's about discovery. You're only paying a low price per item each month so it gives you the opportunity to take some risks. You could wear a bold print or a trendy silhouette you aren't quite sure about buying," Gallagher explained. "Another great part of renting is that you have access to things you might not be able to afford at full price."

That was definitely true in my experience - once I added all the items I wanted to my cart, I was taken aback to see they would have cost me $938 to buy. Instead, I was paying $88 to try them out for the month. That seemed like an amazing deal to me, especially as someone who loves to wear different things every day and try out new looks.

Perhaps aimed at a Gen Z or Millennial consumer familiar with the URBN family of brands, many of the clothes on Nuuly are fun, out-of-the-box pieces that are completely on-trend. However, Gallagher said there's something for everyone.

"Nuuly is perfect for women who want newness in their wardrobes, but don't want to be wasteful," she said. "She may be someone who has an active social calendar or needs new looks for work each day, but regardless of whichever life stage she's in, she is a creative-minded customer."

Here's what I thought of the whole experience, from signing up to trying on the clothes and sending the items back at the end of the month.

Before I ordered my first box, I wanted to get better insight into how Nuuly works and what to expect from the renting experience.

First, I had to sign up. The process only took a few minutes. I filled out my profile and was quickly able to start shopping on Nuuly.

Right away, everything seemed super simple, even for someone who had never used a clothing rental or clothing subscription service before. Nuuly's website is aesthetically pleasing, and the company's branding is clear from the get-go.

Then, I started browsing and, right away, I was amazed at the selection. Customers can shop by category, occasion, or from Nuuly's list of curated "looks."

In the end, these were the items I went with.

I followed the reviews and my typical sizes in URBN's brands to choose the right fit for me.

I signed up on a Tuesday. The next evening, my Nuuly had arrived. I was shocked by how quickly my items had shipped. It felt a little bit like Christmas morning — except at night.

Right away, I was impressed with the sustainable, waterproof, and durable packaging it came in.

Inside, the clothes were beautifully folded and appeared brand new.

That was one concern I had about renting clothes instead of purchasing them new — I was worried they would look used. Luckily, that couldn't have been farther from the case.

Nuuly does offer discounts on many of the items customers order through the rental service. Gallagher explained that although not every piece may be discounted and discount amounts can vary, many items are available for a lower-than-retail price.

"If a subscriber falls in love with an item she rents, she can absolutely choose to purchase that piece from Nuuly, often at a discount from the retail price," she said. "The level of discount will be determined by a number of factors, including overall demand for that item and how many times the garment has been rented previously. Shoppers will be able to login to their account and very easily see the purchase price for any of their rented items."

My clothes also came with a handy on-the-go stain treatment kit.

The Pinch Provisions for Nuuly kit includes 5 "essentials" — a lint brush, double-sided tape, a wrinkle-removing spray, a deodorant-removing sponge, and static remover.

The first item I tried on was the Vivaldi Textured Tie-Neck Tunic from Maeve by Anthropologie.

My only note was that it was too big — although I knew the fit was intended to be oversized.

Up next was the Set To Stun Top from Free People.

The top fit more like a tunic and could even be worn as a dress if I was feeling brave.

Next: the Alexandria Mini Dress from Steele.

I loved this dress! I sized up since I wanted it to fit loosely so I could cinch it in with the attached tie.

Next up, I knew I had to order a pair of jeans from Nuuly.

If I could afford them, I'd order these jeans in a heartbeat — they're probably the best jeans I've ever worn.

The Peasant Mini Dress by Current Air proved to be the perfect summer-to-fall dress.

This dress quickly became my favorite item from my Nuuly order — and my favorite thing in my closet.

Finally, I tried on the Wide-Leg Utility Pants from [BLANKNYC].

These pants were perfect for work, brunch, and everything in between.

After wearing the pieces for a month, it was time to send them back. Parting with them wasn't easy, but I knew my next Nuuly was right around the corner.

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