The Journey Begins at UPS

As I stood in the UPS queue on Orchard Street, gripping my soft-zippered Nuuly package, I couldn't help but notice a fellow returner in front of me. We were just two fashion enthusiasts, parting ways with our lightly worn wardrobe rentals. But a glance behind the counter revealed a mountain of cubes filled with colorful maxi skirts, trendy tube tops, and oversized jeans, all waiting for their turn to be sanitized before embarking on their next adventure. Little did I know, my journey of renting clothes was about to unravel my personal style.

A Style Awakening?

As I continued using Nuuly, I started spotting these rentals everywhere—like a For Love and Lemons dress I had my eye on but was perpetually unavailable, a chic fleece coat on a girl exiting Zara in Soho, and even a denim halter I recognized from a previous rental, now being flaunted at a bar in the West Village. With 300,000 subscribers to Nuuly, a service owned by URBN—parent company of Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters—I felt like a style clone in a sea of duplicates. Instead of honing my personal style, I found myself drowning in a wave of sameness.

The Dating Analogy of Fashion

My journey with rental clothing felt strangely akin to dating. I first tried Rent the Runway in May 2022, looking to escape my pandemic fashion rut. Initially, I embraced the fun, designer pieces that felt tantalizingly out of reach. But as tastes evolved, so did my desire to end that membership. Nuuly caught my interest next; it was like the younger, trendier sibling of its predecessor. With six items delivered monthly, I aimed to revamp my wardrobe and explore emerging trends, from a daring horse tank top to more familiar silhouettes.

The Disposable Dilemma

Yet, despite this exploration, I grew disenchanted with my revolving wardrobe. Renting clothes limited the opportunity to form meaningful connections with my existing pieces. I once thought that wearing items more than once was a fashion faux pas. However, I’ve since realized that true style reflects a curated collection of garments you adore—pieces that are cherished, restyled, and repeatedly worn. My beloved dark-blue jeans, the oversized blazer I picked up in Paris, and my trusty tank top are irreplaceable treasures, nowhere to be found on Nuuly.

A Necessary Breakup

Certainly, rental services serve a purpose—especially for those adjusting to body changes or seeking an outfit for a fleeting occasion. But for someone like me, eager to embrace a wardrobe that truly represents my personal style, it’s time for a change. I'm ready for a closet commitment, one that speaks to who I am rather than who I want to be in the moment. So, here’s to a break from Nuuly—it's time to reclaim my unique style and invest in pieces that I can truly call my own.