Unlimited Clothing Rentals Put High Fashion Within Your Reach

Unlimited clothing rentals can give you access to a couture closet.

ByABC News
August 5, 2015, 10:05 AM

— -- Netflix made a name for itself by delivering DVDs to subscribers’ doorsteps. Now, fashionistas have the option to enjoy similar convenience, but with designer duds instead.

Le Tote, Gwynnie Bee and Mine for Nine all offer clothing rental services targeted to specific demographics, from maternity to plus-size to those who want their clothes curated for them.

Rent the Runway, the company famous for renting upscale couture gowns to the everyday woman, has also gone casual by offering an unlimited subscription, Rent the Runway Unlimited.

For $99 a month, Rent the Runway Unlimited lets people select three items at a time. Subscribers can use them and when they return them, they’ll be sent more new clothing in the mail.

Shipping and dry cleaning fees are included in the $99 monthly rate.

For fashionista Rachel Gwynne, one of the first to try Rent the Runway's new option after its launch last year, the unlimited service has been her lifesaver.

“It’s been amazing,” the 36-year-old said. “I am getting work outfits and everyday wear for a fraction of the cost. I am wearing things I would never buy otherwise.”

Lori Bergamotto, style director for Good Housekeeping magazine, says potential customers should compare the $99 monthly price tag for Rent the Runway Unlimited to what they have in their closet.

"The average American woman actually owns 30 outfits," Bergamotto told ABC News. "So if you consider the idea of rental retail, that you can get 30 different outfits in a month for a lower cost than buying 30 different outfits, you can see why the rental model is really appealing."

Rent the Runway Unlimited, which offers inventory from couture to casual, proved so popular after its July 2014 launch that it now has a waiting list to join.

The company told ABC News that the Unlimited option, which is still in beta mode, should be open again to all customers by early 2016.