Rent the Runway fashion frenzy is at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets

By Christine Urio
CENTRAL VALLEY — Quit cutting coupons, piling on points, racking up rewards and searching for sales because Rent the Runway is in town at the Woodbury Common Premium Outlets for a sample sale.
Those familiar with Rent the Runway know the benefits of renting gently worn designer attire and accessories at a fraction of what it would cost new. Why buy an outfit knowing you’d be wearing it only one time when you could rent an even more spectacular one at a price that’s less than if you bought that non-designer dress?
Now, everyone has a chance to buy some of the fashions and accessories to be removed from Rent the Runway’s inventory at up to 90 percent off what they’d cost new.

Fashionistas and special occasion attire shoppers wanting to own some of those designer pieces descended upon the outlets on May 19, the first day of a three weekend sample sale event.
“Rent the Runway is the Netflix of fashion, allowing women to rent designer apparel and accessories through its mobile app, website and retail stores,” said Maureen Sullivan, Rent the Runway president. “It started as a dress rental company for special occasions, a concept that struck Jenn (Hyman) after witnessing her sister go into credit card debt to purchase yet another designer dress for a wedding, to avoid being photographed wearing the same dress twice.”
With retail stores located in New York, Washington D.C., Chicago and Las Vegas, Rent the Runway has been profiled by finance and fashion media since its 2009 founding with millions of customers happy to have worn couture creations. Now, the company has selected Woodbury Common to be the venue for its first sample sale outside of the New York City area.
Woodbury Common, known for its luxury, designer outlet shops, regularly draws international shoppers from Europe, Asia and South America in addition to local, regional and New York area shoppers.
“We’re always looking for new ways to innovate and engage with our customers and gain exposure to new ones, and we’re excited to be opening up temporary shop at such a well-known destination for designer shopping—the outlets was a natural choice,” Sullivan said.
Rent the Runway patrons have rented attire for everything from black tie weddings to Sunday brunches, complete with matching handbags to jewelry and accessories.
Goshen resident Ryann Edwards has used the Rent the Runway services five times for bridal showers, weddings and black tie fund raisers.
“I actually found out about Rent the Runway around four years ago,” Edwards said. “My roommate was always renting dresses from there and I was curious about the service, so once I had an event that I needed a dress for, I knew I wanted to try it. My favorite is their selection. Seriously, there’s something for everyone and every occasion.”
More than 10,000 apparel and accessory pieces available for purchase over the three weekends.
Customers will be able to shop from hundreds of designer brands like Sachin & Babi, Elizabeth & James, ZAC Zac Posen, Opening Ceremony, Alexis Bittar, Parker, and Cynthia Rowley, all at up to 90 percent off retail price, with sizes ranging from 00 to 22.
“I’m definitely planning to attend the event at Woodbury Common, but I’m not going in with anything specific in mind because I know there will be so much to choose from—better to keep your options open,” Edwards added.
Rent the Runway officials said the company is revolutionizing fashion by allowing millions of women to rent designer apparel and accessories by making designer fashion rental a convenient and affordable experience.
“We’re democratizing luxury and changing the way women get dressed,” Sullivan said. “Our 5.5 million members are a vibrant community of amazing women who are relying on our infinite closet to help them find a perfect look—whether she is relying on us to help her get dressed for a special moment in her life, or using Rent the Runway to power her everyday work wardrobe –we are in the business of helping women feel confident and amazing.”
For more information, visit: https://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlet/woodbury-common/stores/rent-the-runway or call 928-4000.