Everything I Rented from Nuuly This May
Some wins, some losses.
Published June 4, 2025
It's been a minute since I've done a style post, but my journalism coverage this summer also has a lot more fashion content queued up. Which is a fun space to land in! It's so refreshing to tap into visuals after such a verbal-heavy few months, and ya girl loves a maximalist outfit.
Admittedly, I did find myself at a bit of a loss while filling my Nuuly rental in May. I held onto my February haul for far too long considering I live in an eternally warm climate (as it was mostly sweaters and whatnot), and deeply longed for an event to go to on-island. Last year, I had the luck of one or two cocktail-ish nights I could doll up for, and I do love an excuse to get all dressed up.
I ended up opting for mostly staples, but with one or two "should the occasion arise..." picks, either to use for a surprise this month or to just file away in my fit-check knowledge if anything pops up in the future.
In case you're new to the Nuuly concept (or Words Like Silver overall), this rental service is a competitor to Rent the Runway et. al, but is stocked with more contemporary brands I drift towards like Free People, For Love & Lemons, and plenty of up-and-coming independent lines.
I totally credit stumbling into this service my senior year of college as the reason I've gotten to write for fashion mags like PEOPLE, Byrdie, and more. (Basically, it's my Y2K rom-com origin story. I started getting more creative with what I wore, or at least appreciating my ability to differentiate the way I wanted without buying.)
The price has gone up since when I originally joined—now sitting at approximately $98/month—so I'm more likely to skip a month here or there, but I rarely buy new clothes (or new anything, really) so it satisfies my maximalist desire to still refresh my closet, wear a new frock to an event, take a different mirror selfie, etc,.
The May Nuuly
First of all, it's nearly always hot in Hawai'i, and I have no travels that would take me into a different climate. I'll stock up a new Nuuly when I eventually head to Canada later in the summer. Even that's mostly warm-weather, excepting stormy days and when the temperatures drop at night. (Enter: my snuggliest, coziest fleece for a wind-whipped boat ride. I get anticipatory shivers just thinking about it. And some cocoa, post-lake dip.)
"Tiny tops," as my old roommates would call it, are a total staple here. I picked a nice top that actually covers my midriff for going to dinner, running an errand, or just anything else where I'd like to look slightly more put-together. Breezy pants have been such a winner for me lately, a shirt pullover tends to be great as a layer when a sweater will be too hot, etc,. etc,.
The leopard-print jumpsuit and the polka-dotted dress were, frankly, wishful thinking, but that's okay because they're the worst fit-wise out of this bunch.
1. Be Right Back Tube Top: A strapless ruched top has been a staple for me over the last few years. The finish of this one is especially attractive.
2. Tabitha Mini Dress: On me, this is not a dress; it's firmly a tunic. That being said, I figure it would be good for any more polite occasions paired with jean shorts, or as a cover-up.
3. Jude Denim Pullover: A solid in-between layer when I want something more substantial than what I'm wearing but not quite at sweater level.
4. Santa Fe Jumpsuit: If I were a short girl, this is exactly the type of going out outfit that would be so up my alley: attention-grabbing, flattering, loosely 70's in vibe. But, alas, the proportions do not do it for me.
5. Tilly Midi Dress: I pictured picnic, maybe, or an occasion for an elevated sundress. Hit or miss, perhaps.
6. Pilcro Relaxed Linen Blend Pull-On Pants: Absolutely the winner of this batch. I want to wear them constantly.
My Fit Notes
Height: 5'10
Weight: 135
Body Type: Hourglass
Chest: 32C
Olive skin, brunette, hazel-ish eyes. Not as tan as I should be at the moment for living on O'ahu.
My Verdict
Be Right Back Tube Top
Originally $48, now $40 (17% off)
A strapless top is always a win, especially right now when I'm really proud of the efforts I've put into strength training more. I loved that this one's neutral, because I could pair it with a bright maxi skirt or jeans or shorts or whatever. (P.S. have you ever heard of the hemline index?)
The oyster shade is gorgeous, and it has a subtle shimmery finish to add a little pizzazz. I needed to have gotten a smaller size. I would maybe re-rent if I had five items picked and needed a sixth to throw in. All in all, it's pretty and useful and comfy.
I ended up styling it with the linen parachute pants below, so the entire look ended up being relatively earthy, but could also wear my staple light wash wide-leg ripped jeans. (Apparently, barrel jeans are having a moment too.) Definitely want to be wearing necklaces for this one.
Tabitha Mini Dress
Originally $128, now $72 (44% off)
Eh. Similarly, this was a bit of a weird Nuuly because I wanted to fill it, but have been honestly pretty boring lately—so didn't have the usual benchmarks of knowing which occasions (interview/date/event/going out/whatever) I would want to use these clothes for.
So this was my polite pick, largely because I have plenty of little sundresses, crop tops, etc,. suitable for being a twenty-something by the beach, but less often have casual outfits to wear to warm-weather functions that might call for a little more restraint. Kind of meet the parents-type clothes, but without the necessity.
I wanted this to either be a little longer, or a bit less poofy. And I do like the print and color, but it still feels somewhat dated to me—like this would have been a "nice top" I'd wear to dinner at a mall restaurant in early high school. So, it's nostalgic in a perfectly fine way, but nothing noteworthy.
Nuuly-wise, I do like having an item I can throw on after a sunscreened beach day without worrying about upkeep, so having an easy dress or tunic is always a plus. Obviously, need hoops, cowboy boots, and some shorts to keep it from being indecent.
Jude Denim Pullover
Originally $128, now $88 (31% off)
When I end up having a work- or book-related call, I usually crank the AC and put on a sweater. I have one button-down I call my book deal shirt (which I actually previously bought from Nuuly—a splatter-painted vibe), but generally opt for cozy but polite. Still, many places on O'ahu don't have AC, so a sweater's a nice layer I can only get away with in the chilly comfort of my own home.
So a pullover's great for an extra layer when you don't quite want a jacket or anything heavy, but still might need a buffer. This one feels light but substantial, and I'm weak for any top that looks vaguely pirate-inspired. Big sleeves forever.
That being said, I do believe it should have a button versus being a mandated deep V, because that contributes to its versatility in being able to wear alone vs. as a layer, to work vs. out, etc,. Most of the time when I'm wearing a top of this nature, it's because I'm trying to look polished, which the depth of the V compromises.
I ended up styling with a pair of funky patchwork jeans I got from a boutique in Austin, Texas and would gladly go full-on Canadian tuxedo. Would also wear with colored pants, parachute pants, over a dress, you name it. So it's very easy to wear, for the most part, and I'm all about bang for your buck.
Tilly Midi Dress
Originally $149, now $116 (22% off)
Like I just noted, I have no occasions, which is a bummer. But, depending on the fabric, I figured this one could be a maybe if I had an excuse I could stretch into an excuse to wear a sundress.
I tend to not love the way I feel in midi dresses, despite knowing I look fine in them (because I always think my twin sister looks good in a midi) so I really have to be in the mood to wear one, but the vintage housewife atmosphere this dress evokes fits the way the length feels on me. News from your local style writer: polka dots are in this year? The equivalent of butter yellow over the last few years.
I sized up because the small went out of stock as I was about to check out, and some reviews noted that the pattern could stretch and show white if tight because it was screen-printed. I should have kept true-to-size, however. It wasn't quite clingy enough, and I'd have to yank it up since it's strapless.
Overall, I like the timeless summery vibe it evokes, and I'm always a fan of a hot red dress. That being said, I didn't feel great in it, so I wouldn't actually reach for it for an event. It's the type of dress I'd want to photograph, not to wear. Good to know!
Pilcro Relaxed Linen Blend Pull-On Pants
Originally $138, now $117 (15% off)
These neutral parachute pants — in fabric that's breezy for warm-weather — are so the winner of this Nuuly batch. I put them on the first day and have resisted the urge to reach for them daily.
The linen's lightweight, which is ideal for the island heat, but they don't wrinkle too badly or show sweat or any of my usual concerns for linen pants. They have a pleasant, wearable solidness to them still. I wasn't sure if the khaki-ish coloring would wash me out, but it hasn't seemed to and I haven't been tanned in a minute. The neutral makes it very easy to wear this pair with just about anything.
I've worn them to a workday with friends, to a movie night, in my home. I would wear them on a date or just to run errands. You can go more monochromed and earth (as pictured) or play with the textures and colors to have them blend in.
If you're not a billowy person, skip. They're definitely loose and have a broad shape to them. I love it, because I love the touch of pizazz, but I know plenty who would prefer their parachute pants blend in or flatter more. But I think the proportion is precisely what makes them so fun, and the wide waistband still cinches you at the waist.
I would have bought these if they weren't over $100. Before checking the brand, I'd thought they were in reach. Alas, I'll have to settle for wearing incessantly, renting again, and hoping that Nuuly slashes them further in the future.
The Proof's in the Mirror Selfies
