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When I was packing for a trip to India—a modest country known for its hot climate—I was at a loss for what to wear. My standard summer wardrobe consists of bike shorts, crop tops, and tanks. Not exactly temple-appropriate. I didn’t want to invest in a whole new suitcase of breathable, shoulder-covering outfits I might never wear again. So I turned to Nuuly, a clothing rental service, and browsed its collection of over 16,000 pieces. I added six items to my cart: a flowy white midi skirt, a patterned maxi skirt, two pairs of lightweight Donni pants, a breezy short-sleeve button-down, and a midi dress I never wore (too big).
It ended up being the perfect middle ground: I packed lightly, still felt put-together, didn’t overheat, and stayed true to my personal style. That trip changed the way I pack: Renting clothes has become my go-to travel strategy—especially when I have to dress for a different climate or cultural setting, or want to try out new styles without committing to them forever.
| Rental service | Cost per month | What's included | Minimum commitment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nuuly | $98 | 6 items per month | Month-to-month subscription (no minimum). Can pause one-month at a time. |
| Rent the Runway | $94 | 5–30 items per month, depending on plan | Month-to-month subscription (no minimum). Can also rent one-off items for events. |
| BNTO | $98 | 6 items per month | Minimum commitment: Month-to-month subscription (no minimum). Can pause one-month at a time. |
How Nuuly works
Nuuly lets you choose six items per month for $98, with no long-term commitment required. I've used it on and off for over a year now, often pausing my subscription to try other services like BNTO. But anytime I have travel on the calendar, I always come back to Nuuly—its brand lineup is that solid. You’ll find pieces from Agolde, Farm Rio, Donni, Free People, Anthropologie, Levi’s, and Alohas, along with smaller labels you might not have discovered otherwise, like Find Me Now and Boys Lie. (BNTO’s brands skew more streetwear or city chic, so I love it for everyday life, but Nuuly wins when I need versatile pieces for a trip.) Nuuly ships your items in a reusable garment bag with a prepaid return label, and everything arrives freshly cleaned.
There’s no option to swap pieces mid-month, so you’re stuck with your picks even if you don’t like them or they don’t fit—but that limitation has actually helped me become a smarter packer. I plan my Nuuly rental the same way I’d build a capsule wardrobe: thinking through what can mix and match, what fabrics will hold up well in transit, and what I’ll realistically want to wear. If you love one of the items, you can buy it. Most pieces are discounted from 15 to up to 75% off retail value, depending on how long the item has been in Nuuly’s rotation.
Picking six items you want can be time-consuming, but the interface makes it pretty easy to curate your cart. You can filter by size, color, brand, and even vibe—Nuuly has rotating seasonal “edits” like “Summer Outfitting” and “Trends” that make it easier to browse. I usually spend a little time reading reviews to avoid sizing surprises—and I always go to the brand’s website and reference its size chart—but most listings have detailed fit notes and photos from previous renters, which helps so you can try to see what the piece looks like on a similar body type. I also get to experiment with new styles, both when traveling and at home. If I’m not sure if a trend will work on me—like Bermuda denim shorts, drop-waist dresses, or skirt-layered-pants—I can try it with no strings attached. If I don’t like how it looks, I’ll just return it at the end of the month.
Why I love it for travel
While I found it most helpful for building my wardrobe for India, I’ve used it for other types of travel, too. On a recent trip to an all-inclusive resort in Aruba (not my usual vibe), I picked two vacation-y tops (one white tube top and one black embroidered piece) and a seafoam-colored maxi skirt that made me feel like I should be sipping something out of a coconut. I don’t normally wear things like that in my day-to-day life, but for a few days on the beach? It was perfect. And I didn’t have to make room in my already-stuffed closet when I got home.
A few notes for travelers: You can technically have your Nuuly shipped to your destination if it’s in the continental US and you coordinate with a hotel or Airbnb host in advance. (My Nuuly always arrives at my apartment in Brooklyn about two days after I place the order.) But unlike services like Rent the Runway, where you can swap pieces throughout the month, Nuuly locks you into your six picks until your next billing cycle. So if you’re planning a one-off trip, it’s still easiest to have the clothes sent to your home, pack what you want, and return everything after. That said, I could see it being useful for a longer winter trip—like a ski vacation—where you'd want a few statement jackets or layers delivered directly to your destination.
How to return your order
At the end of the month, you load everything back into the same garment bag, slap on the prepaid shipping label, and drop the bag off to UPS. Once UPS checks in your package, your Nuuly will unlock for the next month and you’ll be able to add new items to your cart. If you want to end your subscription, be sure to return your Nuuly before the return date or else it will automatically renew.
Nuuly has genuinely changed the way I approach travel style. I feel more put-together, I waste less money and closet space on one-off outfits, and I actually look forward to packing. If you’re a chronic overpacker or just bored of your wardrobe, it’s worth trying—even if only for the month of your next big trip.
