HER Style Podcast | Episode 233: Nuuly Review! I Tried a Clothing Rental Service for 2 Months and Here's What I Think
In Episode 233 of the HER Style Podcast, host Heather Riggs dives deep into her two-month experience with Nuuly, a popular clothing rental service. Aimed at empowering ambitious women to build their dream wardrobes and enhance their confidence, Heather provides a comprehensive review that covers the benefits, drawbacks, and unexpected insights gained from experimenting with clothing rentals.
1. Introduction to the Nuuly Experiment
Heather opens the episode with her motivation for trying Nuuly, addressing common wardrobe frustrations such as having a closet full of clothes yet nothing to wear, and the desire to break free from autopilot shopping habits.
“[00:00] A: I finally did it, Friend. I decided to see what all the fuss is about firsthand… I joined Nuuly back in March and after testing out two months worth of hauls, I am ready to share all of my candid thoughts about this clothing rental company.”
2. Background: Heather’s Wardrobe Challenges
Heather recounts her personal wardrobe struggles post- motherhood, highlighting how her previous approach of copying influencers and using generic capsule wardrobes left her feeling more frustrated and confused about her style.
“[01:00] A: After having my son in 2018, my whole life changed. My clothing didn’t feel right for me anymore… I ended up feeling even more frustrated and confused about what to wear.”
Determined to rebuild her wardrobe efficiently, Heather mapped out a system inspired by her most successful styling clients, leading her to the Nuuly experiment.
3. Deciding to Rent: Cost-Effectiveness and Strategic Shopping
Facing a limited spring and summer wardrobe budget of $1,000, Heather considered renting as a strategic alternative to buying expensive, seldom-worn pieces. She realized that for the cost of a single $98 blouse from Anthropologie, she could rent six items from Nuuly, maximizing her budget without compromising on style.
“[05:00] A: I realized I could rent six items from Nuuly for the exact same price [of the Anthropologie top]. Much to my surprise, my husband actually agreed… I went ahead and signed up.”
4. First Rental Haul: Selection and Strategy
Heather shares her meticulous process for selecting her first six rental items, emphasizing the importance of aligning choices with her upcoming events and personal style preferences. Her initial haul included versatile pieces suitable for work, social outings, and family events.
“[10:00] A: The first piece I chose was the Anthropologie top I wanted because how could I resist?… I also got another button-down shirt in my exact eye color and a butter yellow cashmere T-shirt because of my obsession with soft butter yellow pieces.”
5. The Rental Experience: Pros and Cons
Pros:
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Quick Turnaround and Convenience: Living near Nuuly’s home base in Philadelphia, Heather enjoyed fast shipping, receiving her orders within one to two days.
“[12:30] A: My orders have arrived super fast… the turnaround time was very quick, which makes planning a whole lot easier.”
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Cost-Effective Variety: Renting allowed Heather to try new brands and styles without the hefty price tag of purchasing each piece.
“[13:00] A: It’s been so much fun getting new pieces every month without having to spend hundreds of dollars… a win-win for my family.”
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User-Friendly Platform: Nuuly’s extensive filtering options made it easy for Heather to find pieces that matched her size, style, and occasion needs.
“[14:45] A: Nuuly has a very nice selection of clothing. It’s easy to search for what you want based on your preferred sizes…”
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Simple Return Process: Proximity to UPS locations facilitated easy returns, allowing Heather to manage her rentals seamlessly alongside her regular errands.
“[16:00] A: The return process is very simple. I just doubled up and dropped off my Nuuly return right before hitting up the grocery store.”
Cons:
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Quality Issues: While some items arrived new, others showed signs of previous wear, prompting Heather to spend additional time steaming and freshening up the pieces.
“[16:30] A: The quality isn’t amazing… you can tell other people have worn these pieces before.”
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Sizing Challenges: The lack of detailed size charts required Heather to rely on customer reviews and external sources to determine the best fit, making the selection process more time-consuming.
“[17:00] A: There are no size charts on Nuuly, so you have to go by what other renters have said about the fit…”
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Limited Flexibility: Once selections are locked in, Heather couldn’t swap out items if they didn’t meet her expectations, potentially leaving her with pieces she didn't fully utilize.
“[17:30] A: Once you rent, you’re locked in. You can’t swap those pieces out if you don’t like them…”
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Time-Intensive Curation: Curating a successful rental haul required significant time and strategic planning, which might be overwhelming for those with busy schedules.
“[17:15] A: It’s taken me quite a while to curate both of my monthly hauls so far… maybe I will get faster with experience.”
6. Final Verdict and Recommendations
Despite the drawbacks, Heather concludes that Nuuly has been a positive addition to her wardrobe strategy. The ability to refresh her wardrobe without substantial financial commitment and the enjoyment of trying new styles outweighed the cons.
“[17:50] A: What is next for me? I have decided that I’m going to keep renting with Nuuly. All in all, it has been a really great experience.”
Heather emphasizes that successful use of rental services like Nuuly requires a clear understanding of personal style, body type, and wardrobe needs. She advises listeners to build confidence and strategy in their shopping habits before embarking on rental experiments.
“[18:10] A: You really need to be a confident and strategic shopper in order to take full advantage of a month-to-month clothing rental service.”
7. Closing Thoughts and Community Engagement
Heather invites listeners to join her Her Style Collective, a 90-day group coaching program designed to help women discover and refine their personal style. She encourages sharing experiences with Nuuly and other rental services, fostering a community of support and style empowerment.
“[18:30] A: I would love to team up with you inside Her Style Collective and we can get you all sorted out with your purchases, rentals, whatever it is that you need for your wardrobe this season.”
Heather wraps up by encouraging listeners to reach out via Instagram and participate in ongoing conversations about style journeys.
Key Takeaways:
- Nuuly offers a cost-effective way to diversify your wardrobe, especially for special occasions and seasonal updates.
- Quality and sizing can be inconsistent, requiring extra effort to ensure satisfaction with rentals.
- Strategic planning and a clear understanding of personal style are crucial for maximizing the benefits of clothing rental services.
- Community support and personalized coaching can enhance the overall style and wardrobe-building experience.
Heather Riggs’ candid review provides valuable insights for women considering clothing rentals as a means to elevate their style without overspending. Her balanced perspective highlights both the potential advantages and limitations, offering listeners a thorough understanding of what to expect from services like Nuuly.
For those interested in exploring their personal style or seeking guidance on wardrobe strategies, Heather’s Her Style Collective presents an opportunity to receive tailored support and connect with like-minded women on their style journeys.
Next Steps:
- Take the Free 5-Minute Personal Style Quiz: herstylellc.com/quiz
- Submit a Question for Q&A Thursday: herstylellc.com/podcast
- Join HER Style Collective: herstylellc.com/collective
- Visit the Website: herstylellc.com
- Email: support@herstylellc.com
Stay empowered and stylish with Heather Riggs as she continues to guide you in building a wardrobe that reflects your unique personality and lifestyle.