<div class="block">Are you in the market for a closet overhaul? Maybe consider upgrading your fashions with some rental options. Sherita Janielle, founder of ModernWomanAgenda.com, joined &#39;Stretching Your Dollar&#39; to talk about how clothing rentals could be a more affordable option than just outright buying new gear. </div>

Stretching Your Dollar

Stretching Your Dollar: Upgrading Your Look With Clothing Rental

I wanna look our best but creating a wardrobe can be very expensive. So are clothing subscriptions and rental services the way to feel fashionable without blowing your budget? Joining me now is Sharita Jen Yel, who's the founder of modern woman agenda dot com. Uh Cherita, it's great to have you on the show today and uh we all know the same right dress for the job that you want, but it can be expensive, right? That is so true. Clothes have gotten so expensive. So dressing for the job you want may be a little out of reach. And I know for certain that when you feel confident on the inside that generally that projects to your outside and people then perceive you as more positive and more productive, but just because you're wearing expensive clothes doesn't automatically mean that you're going to look your best. So it's all about styling and how you put your outfit together as well. Why are rental services Sharia potentially a better option than buying clothes outright? Well, depending on your lifestyle, renting clothes can be a huge money saver for myself. Over the past four years, I have rented over $200,000 worth of clothes is what rent the runway has told me. And generally I opt for the more expensive items that I would not purchase. Um, if you're often going to events or traveling, it can be a great resource and if you just get bored of your outfits and you don't want to go spend time constantly. Uh, um, shopping online, it's a great option as well. Yeah, it can be a lot of fun, that's for sure. Um But we all know right, that you can change sizes over the course of a season, even the year, maybe it's through pregnancy, weight loss, whatever it may be. So, what are the benefits to renting clothes if that is the case? Exactly. So I would say so I said I used to rent the runway and it's a great plan especially. Um, said if you're changing sizes, if you have, they have maternity clothes, casual clothes, if you're traveling. And also I think because of the variety of clothes that they carry, it's a good option because you can update your casual wardrobe, your work wardrobe to get something for a wedding, for a formal event and then you just wear it and then you return it as well. So this option is really easy. You don't have to worry about going to the dry cleaners and if you get, if you get a little stain on it, they take care of it as well. Ok, so run the runway. I heard you just mentioned that. How does that compare on a price point? I mean, do you find that it is affordable for Americans? I would say that depending on how you shop. So yes, I mean, if you are generally finding deals, if you're going to the discount stores, this may still be an expensive option for you. If you're renting about 10 items a month, that will run you about 100 and 55 to $60 with tax depending on where you are. So it can be like uh uh like I said, a huge savers because there's no way that I would have spent $200,000 on clothes over the past four years. But I, but it can, it can definitely be a savings because evening gowns, suits can get so expensive. Any other clothing rental services, Cherita that you'd recommend. Well, depending on your life. So I said, so armoire is great. If you are a working woman, they gear towards that and they use a stylist and an algorithm to test her your style preferences. So they can suggest clothes for you. There's also newly, they are more kind of your downtown boho chic and they tend to uh source from like urban Outfitters or anthropology. And then there's also a service called Turi where you can rent from other uh shoppers themselves. So if you've got a great closet and you wanna make some extra money. You can put your clothes on there to rent as well. What about options for men? Can they hop on the party too? They 100% can. This is new because in the beginning when rent the runway started, there wasn't many options for men and now men can rent. There's a couple of companies that are doing. This is a company called Taylor with an E there's thread and then the designer Vince also rents out their pieces and you can get those for men and women and they have great classic piece as well. And I'm glad that they finally have tailored to the men's wear because men felt left out for a very long time. Yes, let's get the men on board here too. With options. Wedding season, always a popular time can be very expensive. Do you think renting is definitely the way to go during wedding season? I absolutely think so. And you think of it as just for the guests. But if you're the bride even, it's a good option because you have rehearsal dinners, you have wedding events, bachelorette parties. So yes, wedding opt renting from weddings is a great option. I would say that you can make sure that you're getting something new if you are going to many weddings in one season and you're seeing the same group of friends and you don't want to spend money on a gown or a cocktail dress. So it's a great option for that as well. I would just say if you're renting something, just be sure to pay attention to the sizing because you don't want to sit and have to rent and then have to send it back. So be sure that when you're renting it's something as a designer that, you know, uh especially if it's for a wedding because the last thing you want to come to you, you try it on, it doesn't fit and then you're stuck. I was gonna say any hacks. Um, if you get the wrong size, right? If it just isn't right for your body type, maybe add a belt. What would you recommend? I would say, well, sometimes you can exchange. So if you rent it early enough and some, depending upon the rental, they may include an optional size that you can try on as well. But I would say to stick to designers that, you know, um I would say also another tip of your renting and in order to get the most out of your rentals is make sure that you're wearing the clothes. But I know some people, if you're buying clothes and they're staying in your closet, it's the same as if you're renting them. If you're not wearing them, you're actually losing money and, and be careful when you're looking for something specific because these rentals as they come and go, uh, things can be available and unavailable at any moment. So be flexible and make sure you have other options and just don't have your heart set on like one piece. All right, Cherita Janelle joining us all the way from Lisbon, Portugal. Cherita. Thank you.