Monthly clothes subscription

Isabel

I just found out about Gwynnie Bee, a monthly clothes subscription. I don't know if it is the only one, but it really confuses me. I don't think that I would like it or ever use something like this.

Can you see yourself doing this ? Also, I can't imagine it being profitable...

http://intro.gwynniebee.com/pages/howitworks3

12 years ago

Dressing

24 replies

Latest reply was from CocoLion

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Mixed bag of designers.
Rent the Runway makes more sense.

12 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

It's like that Bag Borrow or Steal service

I dunno, I don't want to rent clothes - It's just kind of ... weird.

12 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

I have also never heard of Rent the Runway. I will have to check that out, Anna.

Lyn* , I find it weird too. Plus you can't have anything altered to fit. I like my clothes to be "mine". I don't think that I would like something on a regular basis that needs to fit other people too. But who knows.

12 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I can see renting a dress you will wear once, though. I would rent my wedding attire, for example.

I love this dress - I need a simple wedding - http://www.renttherunway.com/s.....meteadress

12 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

Alison at http://www.wardrobeoxygen.com subscribes to Gwynnie Bee and really likes it. I've been really intrigued but unfortunately they don't carry my size!

12 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

MaryK, would you be interested in wearing something a few times and then sending it back ? I will have to read about it at WO. I can see it making some sense if someone is either losing weight or gaining weight.

12 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Or experimenting with different styles!

12 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

Lyn, I would also rent no problem for something that would happen once. Absolutely. I am actually thinking of doing that for a wedding this fall.

12 years ago

Sylvie

Veteran

I really can't see myself doing that. I don't know how many pieces of clothing you can try on per month, but let's suppose it were 5. Out of those 5, let's suppose one of them fits me. So each month, I'm paying to wear a single piece of clothing a few times.

For it to be worth it to me, I would have to be renting a special occasion dress or shoes or purse - something that has very high CPW but is still necessary. Basically a lower end version of Rent the Runway.

12 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

I would absolutely love to have something to wear a few times and send back! Plus I think you have the option to buy the pieces you fall in love with. And you can keep the pieces as long as you like, I think.

12 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

It'd be a fun chance to try on something more fancy! :3 and it won't clog your closet!

12 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

I keep finding I tire of things easily. I would be interested in order to try pieces out first, but no sizes for me!

12 years ago

Marley

Veteran

I would also be interested in this - just to try things out. But, not my size.

12 years ago

Diana

Veteran

Hmm, it sounds kind of like Netflix for clothes? I would be concerned about cleanliness though - even if things have been professionally cleaned between users, I have a lot of issues with perfumes, detergents, etc. (For example, I am allergic to Oxy-Clean! I know, right? Point being, I have problems with stuff that nobody thinks is problematic.)

I agree with Sylvie too. I would bet that the majority of things I "ordered" would either not fit or be an unflattering fit, so it would get sent back unworn.

12 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

I think Alison from Wardrobe Oxygen does this?? Edit... Woops MaryK already mentioned this ...sorry.

12 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

I find it intriguing. Perhaps when you are a blogger and don't want to erver wear the same outfit twice this would make sense, or if you are experimenting with new styles, or if your weight is changing a lot this would make sense. Still, at the subscription rate, it does sort of beg the question why not just thrift it? I suppose you get more up to date styles with a subscription, but both clothes are already used, and you can always re-donate.

12 years ago

Susie

Veteran

I do like the idea of Rent the Runway. My sister has used that several times for special occasion dresses. Sometimes I feel like some of my purchases (the mistakes, obviously) should have been rentals as I only wore them a couple of times and then purged them.

12 years ago

Cindy

Active Member

I am on month four as a member of Gwynnie Bee. I joined because I didn't want to buy clothes in my current larger size. The first month I did have a few items that didn't fit but now I know which sizes to order. It has allowed me to try things in colors or styles I might not have tried otherwise. I believe the service would be most useful for someone who's weight/size is in transition (new mom?) and/or someone who needs office appropriate clothing on a slim budget. Since I don't normally wear that many dresses and I have accepted the fact that my weight/size isn't likely to go back down I have decided to cancel my membership at the end of the month so I can put the money toward building a wardrobe in my new size.

12 years ago

Sarah A

Veteran

I can see the attraction of these services for special occasion dressing and to try new styles. After buying several things that dont get much wear before being donated it seems to make sense but on the whole i think even with my mistakes i spend less in my current mode and budget really drives my fashion fun.

12 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Well, it's a little bit like a laundry service... that's always giving you somebody else's clothes. Which is weird. And it's weird, because with this service, you could conceivably not actually own any clothes. You could really lose the shirt off your back if you went broke.

On the other hand, it's a laundry service. And full-service closet purging service. Something to be said for that. I suck at both.

But they don't have my size and you don't get to alter for perfect fit and my mother freaks out about wearing other people's germs...

12 years ago

Nicole D

Veteran

I would love to try it but I don't think they work in Canada (except for Rent, Frock, Repeat which does mostly formal wear and eventually sells the dresses at a great discount). Knowing me, though it would not put a dent in my shopping habit.

12 years ago

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I can't see myself doing this, even though I've made a lot of mistakes over the past couple of years with clothing purchases, and I am *also* dealing with weight issues.

I would be more inclined to at least consider the idea of renting a fancy gown for a one-time special event, but even then - I'm not so sure. It'd have to be some really big-deal "once in a lifetime" event for me to consider it at all.

It's not that I don't think it's a good idea (ie. "Netflix for clothes"), I just can't see myself doing this. Maybe there's a bit an 'ick' factor, plus there's wanting to pick out my own things from all kinds of stores/retailers and so on.

I used to think how easy it would be if I just bought all my clothes from Ann Taylor or something, but I've realized that shopping at all kinds of places is much better for me. I'd be afraid of looking like a "certain store" if I were to try the subscription clothing service as mentioned. Even if it was Nordstrom - I *still* wouldn't want everything I wore to be from one store.

Does that make sense?

12 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I actually like this concept, because I tire so quickly of clothes. This particular site you've linked to wouldn't work for me, not my size, but maybe I will check out some others like it.

12 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I just checked the Rent to Runway site and it makes so much sense for my 1-4 occasions a year that I dress up. Last year I bought a sheath for $400 and wore it once, and don't care to wear it again. (I plan to post it on eBay.) I could rent several dresses for the same amount of money and have the variety I crave. I might just try this out for my next opera night.

12 years ago

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