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Lately, getting dressed for work has begun to feel like a full time job. I’m not quite sure how I used to style office looks for every day of the work week, but it’s safe to say that skill has fallen by the wayside – even with a flexible in-office schedule! When a friend recently raved about the clothing rental service that she called a “lifesaver,” my ears perked up. I checked out two of the most popular options – Armoire and Rent The Runway – before ultimately deciding which service was right for me. Discover their key differences (and which brand I went with!) in this edition of throwdown…
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The Players:
First up, we have Armoire, a company built by women (and a few kick-a** men) who “understand what it means to be busy, social and simultaneously stylish.” I’m putting them up against Rent The Runway, one of the first and most established clothing rental services that was founded in 2009 as a convenient and affordable way for women to access high-end designer clothing and accessories.
Variety Of Clothes Offered
Armoire: Armoire boasts an impressive selection of clothing options, as it features a mix of premium brands and designer pieces. Their collection covers a broad range of styles, from casual everyday wear to athleisure and formal attire for special occasions. I was amazed by the selection of work clothes that felt both office appropriate and also cute (a concept!). I grabbed several pieces from brands like Rag & Bone, Equipment, White + Warren and Joie that ended up being far more versatile than I had imagined – several of my coworkers have made comments about my new wardrobe, as have a couple of friends when I’ve worn my ‘work’ clothes to weekend social events.
Rent The Runway: Rent the Runway is primarily known for its high-end designer garments that users rent for special, more formal events. While the site boasts gorgeous evening gowns, trendy statement pieces, and accessories, I didn’t find its selection of everyday wear to be as practical for work and my day-to-day. While I’d recommend it for special events (especially if you’re into stylish necklines and cutouts), I preferred Armoire’s selection for the office.
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User Experience & Customization
Armoire: Armoire offers a quick style quiz that helps understand your preferences and style goals before its algorithm and personal stylist expertise curate picks to your taste. Their website is both intuitive and easy to navigate, and I appreciate that you can customize your recommendations by category, occasion and season. On top of that, Armoire's community feature lets you connect with other members for inspiration and styling ideas. While I didn’t think I’d utilize this tool all that much, I’ve actually found it to be a really fun part of the Armoire experience.
Rent the Runway: Rent the Runway has a very extensive collection, which is of course a good thing for shoppers, but a bit overwhelming to browse. The site doesn’t provide as much customization based on personal preferences as Armoire’s does, but you can still refine your search by occasion, size, color, and style. Rent The Runway also includes customer reviews and ratings, which I always enjoy perusing before making a decision online.
Value
Armoire: Armoire offers different subscription plans to cater to various needs and budgets. Their pricing structure includes options for unlimited items per month, as well as plans with a set number of items. The lowest plan begins at $89 for your first month (you’ll get 4 items each month on this plan) and the unlimited plan is $139 for your first month. With Armoire's unlimited plan, you have the freedom to swap out items as often as you like, giving you access to a wide variety of clothes over the course of the month.
Rent the Runway: Rent the Runway currently offers three plans: 5 items ($94/month), 10 items ($104/month for 2 months), and 15 items ($149/month for 2 months). While I believe RTR used to offer an unlimited plan, it no longer seems to exist. I found this to be a pretty big bummer – because I was mostly shopping for work clothes, I need a lot of pieces over the course of the month!
Overall, I’ve found Armoire to be the most convenient option I’ve explored for work clothes and everyday life. While Rent The Runway can certainly save you money when it comes to shopping for a special event, I didn’t find it as practical for everyday clothes. I’ve upgraded to Armoire’s unlimited plan and have loved everything about the experience – finding chic pieces is simple, ordering them is a breeze, and the returns are super easy, too. If you’re booked and busy but still care about looking effortlessly stylish, I can’t recommend it enough.
Use code 1TQEUNLIMITED for 44% off your first month of the unlimited plan or 1TQE7 for 25% off your first month of the 7 item plan.
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