We Tried Rent the Runway's New Personal Styling Service—Here Are Our Thoughts

In the clothing rental space, Rent the Runway is undoubtedly one of the leaders. The brand—which has been around since 2009—has made it way easier (and more affordable) to access designer clothing and accessories, offering selections from major names like Christian Siriano and LaQuan Smith.

The fashion platform features two ways to use its service–you can do one-time rentals or opt into a subscription plan. For those who become members, Rent the Runway offers a host of VIP perks (think: faster shipping, discounts, and dry cleaning or repairs). The newest one? One-on-one personal styling. Ahead, learn more about the service and Team Byrdie's honest experiences with it.

How It Works

As mentioned, the 1:1 styling service is a new members-only benefit. The brand describes it as a speedy service that can help you pick items for your shipment, style your pieces, or answer any questions about the service. New subscribers can opt into the service for free at checkout. Once you provide your phone number (or text the provided concierge number), you'll be connected to a team member and can text back and forth. Personal stylists are currently able to assist from 9 AM to 8 PM EST during the weekdays and 9 AM to 5:30 PM EST during the weekends.

When the text exchange begins, members will be prompted to explain why they're reaching out so they can matched with the best team member. If you're looking to have a concierge select all the items for your shipment, for example, you'll be matched with someone who will ask a series of personal style questions (like "Any trends you'd like to try or avoid?" or "What types of items are you interested in renting?"). From there, they'll add selections to your bag and create a custom list of clothing options based on your responses.

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Our Reviews

Olivia Hancock, editor

I'm a clothing rental devotee. Every month, I turn to Rent the Runway or similar platforms to help me put together chic outfits for all occasions, from casual days in the office to nice dinners in the city. But despite being an RTR fan, it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming to go through the countless pages of inventory, so I was excited to enlist the help of a concierge.

With the plan we tried, we received 10 items (two shipments per month). For my first go-round, I told the concierge I was looking for matching sets, maxi dresses, high-waisted pants, and sweaters. I liked that my stylist asked detailed questions about my color and trend preferences. I especially appreciated the inquiries about sizing because I'm very particular about the fit and length of my clothes. The items added to my first bag and curated list (the concierge will create a custom list with alternate options) were spot-on with my sense of style. However, I knew most of the clothing options in the bag wouldn't fit how I desired, so I replaced them all with options from the list. From start to finish, the first experience with my concierge took about three hours. They responded quickly during the questionnaire portion, but it took them a while to select my items. However, I wasn't in a rush to order my shipment, so this wasn't off-putting.

For the next shipment, I started the text exchange by telling my concierge I needed looks for an upcoming trip to Paris. This time, my concierge was a bit more personable, asking me about the types of activities I'd be doing abroad and complimenting my taste in designers. Again, the entire process took about three hours, but this time, the brand sent an alert letting me know they were experiencing a high volume of styling requests (being kept in the loop is always nice!). The selections in my bag weren't as aligned with my sense of style this time, so I loaded my cart with options from the curated list. Overall, I really enjoyed interacting with the RTR luxury concierge service, as it's very thorough. It's such an easy way to navigate the vast sea of clothing options on the platform, and both of my shipments had pieces I'd wear over and over again.

Eden Stuart, editor

"Overall, I found working with the concierge pretty straightforward and comprehensive. Once the concierge reaches out to you (I got my text about two hours after I initially ordered my plan), they'll ask you several questions, ranging from what occasions you're looking to dress for to what colors and items you tend to gravitate toward or avoid. They also asked me to send over a photo of an outfit that represented my style—naturally, I sent several—which, as someone with a pretty well-established style point of view, was helpful.

My only grievance with the process is that it took several hours. Five, specifically. In fact, by the time the concierge had finished adding her selects, I had stepped away from my phone for an appointment. It wasn't a big deal—at that point, my selects list was already established on my profile— but if you don't want to lose your connection with your original concierge (if you're away from your phone for a while, you have to reconnect with a new concierge), you'll want to keep your phone close by through the day.

Of the five selects my concierge added to my bag, I kept two: Two were no longer available by the time I checked out, and one, a gingham blazer, wasn't really my style. I ultimately ended up with a black-and-white floral turtleneck by Tory Burch, a camel-colored Peter Som Collective sweater with a cold-shoulder cutout, a red faux-leather skirt by Saunders Collective, a camel-colored blazer by Anine Bing, and a black-and-white Anine Bing blazer that felt like a more "Eden" version of the gingham blazer I decided not to go with.

Overall, I was really happy with my selections. Everything was my style, and most were quite comfortable (the camel-colored blazer was fabulous but would probably be better for fall; it didn't play well under coats). I asked for 'Outfits that transition well from work to dinners and parties, as well as a few pieces that would work for comfortable yet stylish brunch outings.' I'd say the concierge hit the nail on the head with her picks. Despite how long it took, I would work with the concierge again—especially considering those picks are saved to my profile, and I could pull from them all season long."

Abby Dupes, associate editor

"I can be pretty picky about my style, as I borrow from multiple aesthetics like classic feminine, old school prep, and eclectic grandma. On top of my discerning eye, I'm a midsize gal with a little bit of a curve, making it nearly impossible to tell which size I need when ordering online. Though I was initially skeptical about Rent The Runway's concierge service, I found myself enjoying it by the end of my rental cycle. Within a half hour of requesting styling help, I received a detailed questionnaire about my style and body, including my likes and dislikes. I went nano-specific, emphasizing my upcoming events and even sending photos of past outfits I've worn and loved. From there, we cultivated a list of pieces that fit my style.

This Dolman sleeve, mini-turtleneck Tory Burch sweater, and Esteban Cortazar Collective pleated skirt with gold, horse-bit-like buckles was a huge hit for a cozy dinner party with friends. And Ciao Lucia's Rochelle Dress turned heads at the office. All in all, I would recommend using the concierge service—especially if you're close to an event and don't have time to scroll through Rent The Runway's vast (and sometimes overwhelming) pages."

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Read the original article on Byrdie.