Anyone who’s been pregnant knows one of the key wardrobe challenges is trying to feel like yourself while dressing your bump on a budget. You can scoop up a bunch of blah basics at mass-market retailers, but those may not really fit your lifestyle. And you can turn to designer maternity clothes for a more distinguished look, but that’s a big expense for a wardrobe you’ll only wear for a matter of months. No one wants to invest in a maternity coat only to wear it for one season.
And then, of course, there’s that other whopper of a pregnancy-dressing challenge: time. Who has the time — not to mention the inclination — so scour the shops for specialty stuff in the midst of all the preparations for a baby on the way?!
Well, now there’s a new way to tackle all of these maternity wardrobe problems in one insanely easy and affordable step: a new service that allows you rent clothes affordably, ships them to your door … and helps you pick them out to boot!
Fashion rental subscription company Le Tote has expanded into the maternity category after announcing the plan and starting a waiting list back in May.
It works like this: For a flat charge of $59 each month, subscribers have unlimited access and clothes delivered to their door based on their personal taste preferences. Each box that comes in the mail holds three pieces of clothing as well as two accessories. And subscribers can send their stuff back as often as they like during the course of the month for the same flat price.
Brands in the shipment may include 9Fashion, Japanese Weekend, Lilac, Noppies, Olian, Ripe, Tart Collections, and even Kate Middleton-fave Seraphine. (And if you fall in love with something, you can buy it for as much as half-off retail.)
Le Tote co-founder and CEO Rakesh Tondon says he came up with the idea after his first-hand — well, actually close second-hand — experience with the struggle. His wife had major trouble finding fashionable maternity clothing when she was pregnant, and frequently swapped clothes with friends in order to cobble together an affordable wardrobe.
“For decades, women have been sharing and swapping maternity clothing with one another, including my wife, which is why we feel maternity is such an important and essential extension of Le Tote’s service,” Tondon said in a release.
Le Tote joins Stitch Fix, which began offering a maternity option in March.
It’s a good time to be a stylish mama-to-be!
Alesandra Dubin is a Los Angeles-based writer and the founder of the lifestyle blog Homebody in Motion. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Google+ and Twitter.