As a Mom, I Have Zero Time to Think About Getting Dressed, so I’m Grateful For This Clothing Service

Updated on Sep 21, 2019 at 2:45 PM

Haverdash

As a new mom returning to work last Summer, one of the hardest adjustments was finding a new morning routine. My life had completely flipped upside down, and nothing about my old pre-baby life seemed applicable anymore. In my early 20s, I spent all of my paychecks on purses and shoes; in my early 30s I spent it all on plane tickets and eating out. Now, with a new baby in my life, all of my money was going toward her and making our new life as high-functioning as possible. Money spent on my closet, while a passion of my 20s, just didn't make sense. I was excited to return to work and my writing, but the last thing I wanted to do was spend extra money on clothes.

Part of my new routine involved finding ways to get dressed quickly and easily, sometimes even in the dark because I left for work so early. Where my pre-baby life gave me plenty of time in the morning to scan my closet for inspiration in broad daylight, I was now finding myself grabbing whatever I could see using the flashlight function of my cell phone and throwing it into the basement hallway so I didn't wake my husband when I got dressed at 6:00 a.m.

I finally decided to try the clothing rental subscription service Haverdash. While there is certainly no shortage of places to rent clothing these days (and I've tried many of them!), the prices range quite considerably. Haverdash, though, is probably the cheapest, at $59/month. You get three pieces to borrow at a time, and they keep it pretty simple.

I went online to pick out my rental pieces and was pleasantly surprised. They were the the type of throw-on-and-go things I needed in my wardrobe: fresh prints that were seasonally appropriate and worked well with what I owned. Here's how I felt about the service, and more importantly, how it set me up for success.

How it works

When you see something you like, you add it to your closet. Once you have enough in your closet, Haverdash ships three pieces out to you. You can prioritize items too, but you never know exactly what's going to show up.

Outfit 1: Printed jumpsuit

Why I loved it: It came unwrinkled, with no extra bags or hangers I had to stow. Just the jumpsuit and a few things wrapped up in tissue paper. I hung it and forgot about it until work. The second I spotted the print, I grabbed a plain white T-shirt out of my drawer and a pair of espadrille sandals.

I was comfortable, and I looked office-ready. I hate showing up to work looking like I didn't try in a wrinkled T-shirt and crumpled jeans, so this was great.

Outfit 2: Striped jumpsuit

Why I loved it: OK, you caught me. I have a penchant for jumpsuits. It was unusually hot in San Francisco so I was grateful to find this linen number hanging in my closet that morning. The back is open with a thick tie — not necessarily office-appropriate — so I threw on this old denim vest I found years ago at a thrift store in Colorado, and some strappy sandals that had been hiding in the back of my closet. Again, this took as little effort as putting on jeans and a t-shirt, and I felt so much more put together at work.

Outfit 3: Printed dress

Why I loved it: On a warm Summer weekend this dress ended up being perfect for a visit to the fair with my family. The print was busy enough such that anything my daughter spilled on me went virtually unnoticed, and again, because it's a rental service, I didn't have to clean it after!

Final thoughts

When I put my daughter down for sleep and have finished cleaning up after her, all I want to do is spend a little time with my husband and then go to sleep. Knowing that there is something fresh waiting for me in the closet that requires zero thought removes a huge burden for me now. It's clutch as a parent to get this little bit of time back!