Everything I Rented from Nuuly This November
Sundresses and "date night" tops—plus some tried-and-tested reasons to rent versus buy.
Published November 14, 2024
I've been a huge fan of Nuuly since the rental service's advent in 2019. At the time, I was entering my senior year of college. We had a ton of events and an encroaching winter, and I was sick of the cocktail dresses and sweaters I'd already worn extensively over the last four years. Many of my friends used Rent the Runway, but it always felt stuffy to me. So this rental service spearheaded by the parent company behind Free People, Anthropologie, and Urban Outfitters felt much more up my alley.
I do occasionally skip months to pinch pennies or because I'm in no real need of a specific outfit, but Nuuly is nearly always something I build into my budget. In general, I don't shop for nor need "new" clothes (as I like my wardrobe a lot already) but I do like feeling fresh.
Renting is sustainable, very manageable for my budget, and also forces me to really consider what I actually wear and use most frequently. Although I receive a lot to test for work, I don't actually shop much at all; I appreciate aesthetics, but would rather spend my money on travel and investments (like the blog), every time.
I've bought maybe 80 percent of my clothing over the past four years through Nuuly because I've realized I'll rent the same item three months in a row—plus, it's discounted. It's also made my style way more adventurous and fully gave me the confidence to become (and actually call myself) a fashion and style writer. I stand by the love letter I wrote to Nuuly in The Quality Edit.
“Nuuly allows you to rent six items at a time from 400+ brands for $98/month, offering significant discounts to buy any of the items you love.”
The Rough Formula of a Nuuly
Although it varies depending on the month, I have had a rough formula for picking out clothes. When I am invited to an event (like a swanky hotel dinner or a last-minute press trip), I often wouldn't have enough time to pick out, rent, and ship a chosen dress, so I like to have an elevated option on hand. I also like at least one lounge-y item for comfort, one going out or date night top (RIP), and then a staple or two. In warm weather, that looks like sundresses. If headed to the cold, that might be a funky jacket or jeans I expect to reach for daily.
- fancier dress
- sundress
- comfort item
- going out top
- jeans or pants (if cold)
This is a good example of what a given month might look like for me—with a lot of purchases! One was a pair of jeans I'd rented two years prior and always regretted not buying (and they're never in stock, so I had to snag the ASKK Lexi Wide Leg Jeans while I saw.) Another was a denim top I just know I'll wear all the time (and had a distinctive vision of line-dancing in at Whiskey Dix Saloon.) I love the Free People Miray Denim Tube Top and have truly gotten so much use out of it already.
During this specific month, I ended up also loving the Brenna Mini Dress, which was so, so flattering. The Poplin Tube Top was lovely but I didn't really have anywhere to wear it. The Cameron One Shoulder Cape Mini Dress wasn't the most forgiving, but felt really right watching the most spectacular fireworks on a balcony in Waikiki after a fancy dinner. I love a bright, especially in this color. And I have rented and loved the Brasil Red Mini T-Shirt Dress for errands and the beach and casual wear, but it's slightly too pricey overall to consider buying when I can just live in any of my other t-shirts too.
The November Nuuly
This month, I knew I'd be in Hawai'i the entire time, minus Thanksgiving, and that my rental return date would be before I went home for the holiday. I picked out mostly sundresses and pretty tops, thinking about dinners or going out. Here was the breakdown.
1. Verona Dress: a frothy, honeydew-colored sundress I originally felt really good in. Would have become a staple.
2. Night Owl Bodysuit: a romantic, drapey purple bodysuit with a tricky fit but elegant aesthetic.
3. Cocktail Hour Bodysuit: a silky, form-fitting strapless tube bodysuit I would have worn for a date night.
4. Compression Shine Tube Dress: a body-ody-ody (short) bright tube dress. I envision a dance floor.
5. Isley Strapless Smocked Midi Dress: a vivid orange can be surprisingly versatile, so I would beach/errands/happy hour in this to my heart's content.
6. Strapless Floral Mini Dress: I rented this in the hopes it would arrive in time for a fancy wine-pairings dinner in Waikiki, but alas. It didn't fit like I'd hoped.
My Fit Notes
Height: 5'10
Weight: 130, at the moment
Body Type: Hourglass
Chest: 32C
Olive skin, currently honey blonde-ish although normally brunette, hazel-ish eyes.
My Verdict
Free People The Verona Dress
Originally $128, now $69.12 (46% off)
I'm glad I rented this one. Loved the color, although it would have looked better with a tan. It was great for a hot day in that it was breezy and light and definitely kept me cool. I was so grateful that it didn't bunch up or show sweat or anything after driving for a while in my car (which doesn't have A.C. because it did look wrecked by the end.) At the time, I felt good in it.
That being said, it may be a cursed dress, so tread carefully! (I had a very bad day in it, but would like to think I at least looked like myself.) I drove two hours roundtrip in this dress, cried (a lot), fell asleep on a friend's couch in it, and did my makeup in the Bishop Museum bathroom in it because I wanted to look pretty for a date. Almost rolled to brunch the next day in it because it was still wrinkle-free and ya girl was not about to go home yet to change. It's not the dress's fault, of course, but that is the perk of a rental: never having to wear something again.
A friend complimented my dress and this is how the exchange went.
M: I love that dress.
G (me): I can never wear it again.
M: We should burn it.
First, I appreciate the complete lack of hesitation in her response. Secondly, my older sister said that Nuuly's customer service is so great (I can attest) that you could totally tell them you had to burn it after a vulnerable romantic experience and they'd probably be cool with it. Maybe I could rent it in another color? I loved the frothy length and the lace details and the square neckline. I would have bought it if not for the memory, and naively would like to think it at least caused a moment's hesitation. Would recommend for a first date—just not a last one!
Free People Night Owl Bodysuit
Originally $68, now $60.52 (11% off)
I wore this top with jeans to dinner with a friend to celebrate being done (hahahah) with my book revisions. (The most recent update: I am never, ever done.)We ordered burrata and brussels and paella and split a bottle of red on the back porch of Maya's Tapas and Wine in Haleiwa on a relaxed Thursday, and it was absolutely perfect.
Fit: I did have to be a little careful of the drape so as not to nip slip, but the combination of the loose fabric and the light purple color made me feel really elegant. I was definitely aware of it the whole time I was wearing it, but not sure sizing down would do anything. Maybe fashion tape?
Styling: I ended up wearing it with platform sandals and pink jeans because my default (ripped light denim) were in the wash and the coloring still made sense. Tall girls: check out Just Black Denim. Trust me.
Intimately Cocktail Hour Bodysuit
Originally $88, now $57.20 (35% off)
I wouldn't quite wear this one out-out because the silk makes me suspect that it would not hold up to the sweat of a dance floor, but I was envisioning it as a pretty date night choice. It's very form-fitting, which I love, and as a whole, I do love lingerie-ish tops like this for being sensual but not aggressive.
Fit: The material was comfortable. I did have to be careful in my pairing to make sure the lace bottom of the jumpsuit didn't show in my try-on; I would only wear it with something high-waisted to be sure.
I'd picked it out in a rose colorway, but Nuuly made a swap for me without asking and gave me a bonus item for compensation. That'd never happened to me before, but I did like what I ended up with. I'm not sure if I'll wear it now (see above) but it was worth the rental as a one-time-wear.
Good American Compression Shine Dress
Originally $119, now $69.02 (42% off)
I'm really into fuschia and the shine (as in the cocktail cape dress above too), and I just feel great in a body-conscious silhouette. I've been working hard this year in the gym and so actually sort-of have more muscle in my arms than I ever have, even though I still have a long way to go. So that's nice. Definitely a rental versus a buy. I originally considered it even as a Halloween costume option in case my Medusa options didn't work out; I could do decade vibes or even go Barbie.
Fit: Tall girls, take note. This one is short. I'm usually okay with going short for a dress I'm wearing out, mainly because I know I'm in Hawai'i and around people who would otherwise see me in a full-on bikini (so the body exposure is the same, logically). Plus, I always wear spandex shorts under dresses because I know I love to move on a dance floor.
Styling: One of my best friends is having a 90's-themed karaoke birthday party this weekend, and I think I could pair this with a choker, oversized denim jacket, parachute pants (which I have in black or the same pink color), and a scrunchie to be on-theme.
Ecote Isley Strapless Smocked Midi Dress
Originally $79, now $40.29 (49% off)
Love the color, and overall love that my Nuuly was super aggressively colorful this month as a trend. I envisioned throwing this one on as a dress for just "wherever the day takes me." I don't normally love a midi because it makes me feel frumpy, but the asymmetrical sort of flow of this one exempts it.
Fit: I don't think I love ruched tops because of how much they show in your chest (so I'd definitely be more comfortable wearing over a swimsuit because I don't want to wear a bra with this one) but I do like that you could wear it straight for a low-waist or fold over to be more of an empire-waist situation. Very pick your poison. Keep in mind that it does wrinkle super easily too, so it's not as low-maintenance as you'd think.
Styling: Overall, I just love having a throw-on dress on hand that could either be a cover-up (i.e. I do not care that it gets sunscreen-y or covered in sand) or a real, more dolled-up dress. Plus, I love renting coverups because you, personally, do not have to worry about any maintenance beyond being considerate. I would rent again, but probably wouldn't buy.
Endless Rose Strapless Floral Midi Dress
Originally $95, now $84.55 (11% off)
I'd say I don't often have a dud, but occasionally, it happens. This dress looks so good on the Nuuly model, and I definitely had a vision for it. The black-and-white florals are so graceful.
That being said, I tried it on and it didn't do much for me. I thought maybe it would look great with some tailoring (which, at my current life moment and budget, I rarely do) but of course, I wouldn't buy. Even if it had arrived in time for my event, I probably would have picked the sundress I went with over it anyway.
