To be honest, I had heard about Nuuly for years, but thought it wasn’t for me.

Why I was skeptical of Nuuly:

As someone who forms emotional attachments to my favorite clothes, I was scared of the heartbreak of returning beloved items.

I also couldn't understand the VALUE of paying money to rent clothes that I would give back at the end of the month.

Would it not be cheaper and better in the long run to just buy a new clothing item each month with that same budget (and keep it)?

I had a couple good friends who used Nuuly and loved it, but for me, I’ll stick to doing my own shopping, please and thank you.

OK, just one box:

Yet, as fate would have it, I had a photo shoot coming up, so I decided I would get JUST ONE BOX and cancel my subscription after. I was already shelling out a good amount of money for the shoot, so might as well get 6 new items to wear to keep my branding photos fresh.

I would describe my ideal style as bold, colorful, feminine, and sexy, and while most stores only have a few items that feel true to me, Nuuly had thousands.

At the end of this blog I’ll share some time-saving filtering tips I’ve picked up that helped me narrow it down.

I settled on the following 6 items:

a duster with a gorgeous floral pattern in my Warm Autumn palette,
some red leather pants I thought would make a statement in photos
a green cocktail dress (no event, just for the photo)
a deep-V cream bodysuit (a staple hole in my closet)
some cute two-toned jeans I likely would never buy, but wanted to try
and a show-stopping moody silk dress that screamed headshot material.

**While this blog was not sponsored, and as you’ll see I’ll keep it 100 with you, I do get discounts on my own future boxes if you subscribe using my referral link.

What worked and what didn’t?

What I didn’t wear:

The clasp on the red leather pants was on it’s last leg. If I would have worn them, it would have for sure busted. The downside to renting clothes is that some pieces inevitably will have wear and tear. TO BE FAIR: if I would have listened to the reviews on this item, a couple people did mention a faulty clasp on these pants.

Lesson learned: believe the reviews. These ladies share their thoughts, their measurements, and pics of them wearing the item. If more than one warn you of the same thing, it’s probably true.

The silver lining is that Nuuly support is quick to do a partial refund for a defective item, or to offer you an extra item in your next box to make it right.

The two-toned jeans fit, but the material was stretchier than I prefer, and didn’t show off the goods in a way that I wanted preserved in a photo, haha. I went with some tried and true jeans from my closet instead.

The green cocktail dress was a gorgeous color on me, but I wasn’t digging it on my body type, and I’m of the mindset to not waste my time and self-esteem on clothes that don’t make me smile when I look in the mirror.

What I LOVED:

The floral duster was everything. Bohemian queen vibes.

The colors were perfect. It made me look even taller, it photographed like a dream, and I’ve been complimented by strangers and boutique employees in New York City everytime I’ve worn it since. (SPOILER ALERT: I bought it from Nuuly).

The deep V bodysuit was so flattering I would swear it was bewitched. When people in DMs saw pictures, more than one woman was like “I hope this isn’t creepy, but your boobs look amazing.” And this was with no bra. I rarely get basics as I find them boring, but it was another instant buy (and it was half-off)!

This is exactly what all the ladies in the reviews had said about the bodysuit. Again, listen to the reviewers!

I had seen a photo of the moody silk dress on one reviewer, and it was breathtaking. Even though it’s the type of dress that could become a wardrobe malfunction with one gust of wind, for a still, controlled photo shoot, it was just as epically good as I had hoped. (Not to beat the same drum, but the reviewers prepped me for this).

Photos in my Nuuly items by Danielle Pressley Photography

Please look at these amazing photos

I felt so confident having a few highlight pieces for my photoshoot. No, every item didn’t work, but for a scenario like this, where you have an event or photo shoot coming up, I’d recommend using all 6 slots as potential options so you have backup. To me, having 3 out of 6 work well in photos was definitely worth the $98.

I also ended up buying two of the pieces at a discount (you always have the option to buy your pieces at a reduced rate), so, if you believe in shopping math, the “savings” on the two items I bought subsidized the rental cost of the other 4. Don’t think too hard about it, and it will check out, haha.

Did I go back for more?

Even though I swore it was only going to be ONE BOX, once I understood the system, and saw how easy it was to return the items (just slap the prepaid label on the top of the zippered Nuuly tote, and drop it off at my nearest UPS access point, which happens to be walking distance for me), I chose to continue my subscription.

For my last two boxes, with no events or photo shoots coming up, I’ve decided to play with new-to-me styles and seasonal statement pieces.

My strategy is to grab a few “sure things” that are similar to items I already know I love, and a few things that are more experimental - things I wouldn’t normally buy, but drew my eye and intrigued me. Like playing dress up as an adult.

And while my brain tells me renting clothes shouldn’t be practical (internalized patriarchal values, is that you?),

I’ve discovered renting with Nuuly brings me joy.

It was FUN to pick up my new box. It tapped into my childlike surprise and wonder trying on each piece. It grew my confidence when I pushed myself to experiment. And seeing what I did or didn’t like on me is helping develop my sense of style.

Not every piece will earn a coveted spot in my tiny New York closet, but it could still give me a dopamine hit (the thrill of something new), and the existential joy of getting to define myself.

As someone whose body has fluctuated between several sizes, I’m also excited about the fact that each month, I’ll have the opportunity to have clothes I’m excited about that fit me and honor my body. I love how most items have reviews with photos on multiple bodies, with detailed notes on whether to size up or if it’s true to size. It cuts out a lot of the fit guesswork.

If you have a vacation coming up, it’s cheaper to do a month of Nuuly than to buy a ton of stuff you only plan to wear once. Pregnant? You could rent some fun maternity finds and care for yourself postpartum with happy clothes that fit.

And it’s also nice to know that if and when you do fall in love with a piece, you can buy it at a discount.

These pieces add a spark of joy to my everyday life

OK Lindsey, I get it, Nuuly is awesome and can help me explore with my sense of style and self. So how does it work?

Nuuly is a monthly clothing rental subscription. You choose 6 items from what’s “available now” in their inventory. It costs $98/month, and you can pause or cancel anytime (as long as you pause after returning your box and before the upcoming billing date). Once you choose your items, they are shipped to you in this convenient, zippered duffel bag.

When it’s time to return, you put your (dirty) items inside, zip it up, slap the sticker label the provide on top of the bag, and drop it off at the UPS store. There’s no penalty for returning them late, it will just eat into the time you have with your next set of items.

What kind of stuff does Nuuly have?

Nuuly is owned by the people who own Anthropologie, Free People, and Urban Outfitters, so that’s the vibe of items it has. It leans colorful, fun, and trendy rather than classic, conservative, etc. If you scroll these stores selection and none of it speaks to you, it won’t be your thing.