You buy the perfect dress. It’s unique, and you get a boatload of compliments. After a while, though, you feel like you’ve reached your re-wearing limit, and people might start to think this is your only dress. You still love it, but you’re ready for something new, so you buy the next perfect dress.

Repeat cycle.

There’s nothing like the feel of a new dress and how it boosts your confidence. However, like anything, it won’t be a new dress for long.

I’ve been looking for ways to break that cycle. To begin, I’ve started renting dresses on a monthly basis. I receive five dresses per month, and I work those into my wardrobe with the dresses I own. So far, this has been an amazing solution. I always feel like I have something new to wear, and I can still utilize the staples I own. Then, even before I’m tired of wearing the new dresses, it’s time for a refresh, and I send them back in exchange for a brand-new lineup.

This process is not without its flaws. If you pick a dress that ends up not being flattering, you’re stuck with it for the month. You also might receive dresses that are a bit worse for the wear, since they’re in a renting cycle. If you have an issue with wearing pre-loved clothes, this is not for you. Finally, most rental services do not permit you to launder the dresses yourself. I am currently using Rent the Runway, and they have their own cleaning process and don’t allow you to wash/dry-clean your rented items. So, if you’re like me and you have a sweating problem, wearing a dress more than once before washing it might not be feasible.

If you’re interested in renting some pieces, here are a few tips.

• Take photos of the items immediately when they arrive and particularly of any damage. If you have an iPhone, you can tap the information button and take a screen shot of the photo with the time stamp in case you ever need to dispute that you caused damage to an item.

• If you’re a sweaty lady like me, wear an undergarment with sweat protection. I have a Numi undershirt, and it works well as a barrier. You could also use underarm pads, but the adhesive could be an issue on a rented item.
• Stick with the styles you know you are comfortable wearing. If you branch out or pick a shape that doesn’t work for you, you’re stuck with it for an entire month (or whatever renting cycle you have).

I’m just starting out on my renting journey, and I’ll note any hiccups or benefits I find along the way.