We used Rent the Runway Unlimited to rent $4,862 worth of designer clothes in a single week - here's how the subscription plan works and why we're so willing to pay the $160 monthly fee

The overall retail cost of clothes: $2,460 Left: Jill Sander Navy Tented Green Shirtdress, $750 retail Second to Left: Veronica Beard Moroso Dickey Jacket, $650 retail Right: MDS Stripes Sleeveless Peasant Dress, $545 retail Second to Right: Osman Amelia Stripe Dress, $515 retail I've been paying for an RTR subscription since November-ish (sometime in early winter, at least), so I've used it in all kinds of weather. I love it year-round, honestly — in the winter, I rent cute coats and sweaters, and during the rest of the year, I love using it for flouncy, fun dresses I'd never otherwise buy. One thing I love is that RTR users can upload photos of themselves in the clothes they rented and leave reviews about the fit, and you can sort by people who have similar body types to you. I rarely order an item unless I see pictures first because it helps me make a better call about fit. You wouldn't know it from the clothes I rented, but my closet is almost exclusively made up of neutral black, white, navy, and cream-colored clothing. RTR lets me be a little bolder and more experimental with my choices (bubblegum pink? Who have I become?!). Most importantly, though, is that it's helped me quit fast fashion and generally shop less. I know I can always find something chic and fun on RTR that feels current and trendy, so I'm much less tempted to pop into Zara. Instead, I spend my money on basics and classics that I'll wear for a long time. The overall retail cost of clothes: $1,502 Left: A.L.C. Dane Skirt, $295 retail; Kooreloo Blue Petite Bag, $325 retail Second to left: Louna Floral Smocked Waist Blouse, $92 retail Right: Susana Monaco Strap Back Tube Jumpsuit, $220 retail Second to right: Solace London Colorblock Manon Dress, $570 retail If you had told me I'd be happily spending $16o on a clothing subscription every month only a year ago, I would have laughed. My other subscriptions are few and unanimously priced under $10: a joint Hulu x Spotify, my favorite publications, and Scribd. But RTR Unlimited actually winds up saving me money. Instead of spending around that amount on cheaper, underwhelming clothes that clutter my closet and end up in a donation bin later, I've almost entirely stopped external shopping. I have more closet space. I've finally donated so-so blouses I thought I needed. Rather than buying to fill gaps in my closet, I rent for those needs and use the flexibility of the subscription to only buy the things that I'll still want to own in five years. In the end, I have nicer clothes to wear every day and my non-RTR closet is less cluttered and of a higher overall quality. I also get to shop habitually (which is a hard habit to break) without contributing to the waste of the fashion industry. I pause it sometimes in the winter, but Unlimited is at its peak usefulness in the summer. There are plenty of weddings, reunions, vacations, and gatherings to go to, and the color palettes are even more bright and patterned — and therefore memorable — than any other season. It's hard to afford multiple $200 sundresses, and tough to decide which patterns you'll wear enough to make the purchase worth it. RTR Unlimited is how I afford to wear new designer clothes out on Friday nights, dates, and to yet another wedding reception — and never pay for dry cleaning. The overall retail cost of clothes: $900 Left: RED Valentino Blush Polka Dot Top, $550 retail Middle: Proenza Schouler White Label White Denim Culottes, $350 retail After hearing so many rave reviews from coworkers and friends, I decided to give Rent the Runway Unlimited a try. The trial is too good of a deal to pass up — $60 for a month of unlimited designer clothing — and after just one month I was happy to pay full price ($160 a month) for the service. I love shopping and trying new styles, and like to splurge on luxury pieces every now and then. But, in true New York fashion, my closet is not big enough to house a continual stream of new purchases. I'm at capacity and I'm not about to pull a Carrie Bradshaw and turn my oven into a shoe rack. Rent the Runway is the perfect way to test out new trends, wear pieces that you wouldn't usually buy, and keep your wardrobe constantly fresh. The service has solved my closet full of clothes but nothing to wear conundrum by providing me with cute new pieces whenever I want. I definitely have had some misses — just like any online shopping experience, sometimes things don't fit or you end up not liking them in person. But, RTR makes it easy to return and swap out those meh pieces for ones you really love. I'm ultimately saving money, getting to experiment with my style, and I wear pieces that are way out of my budget. Honestly, online shopping is a lot more fun when everything costs $0 (sort of). Try Rent the Runway Unlimited, $119 for your first 2 months

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We used Rent the Runway Unlimited to rent $4,862 worth of designer clothes in a single week - here's how the subscription plan works and why we're so willing to pay the $160 monthly fee

Sally: one week with RTR Unlimited

Mara: one week with RTR Unlimited

Remi: one week with RTR Unlimited