An ordinary dress would never work for Slaviana Stefanova.
The UF psychology and political science sophomore had planned a dinner date with her boyfriend to celebrate their two-year anniversary.
She could settle for a plain dress pulled off the racks from a local department store, she could spend a fortune for a designer creation, or she could bypass the decision entirely.
As a campus representative for the web-based company Rent the Runway, Stefanova, 20, knew there was a way for her to look great while on a budget.
According to the company’s website, Rent the Runway is an online service that allows members to rent designer dresses, jewelry and accessories for up to 90 percent off retail prices.
Prices and designers vary, but most items are available for $50 to $200 for a four-day or eight-day rental. The eight-day rental costs a little extra, though. Two different sizes of the same dress are sent before the event in case one doesn’t fit, and it’s free to return them by mail, Stefanova said.
Industrial and systems engineering sophomore and manager of the UF representative team Ashley Papagno said most college-aged women do not have a lot of money to buy expensive clothes or have space in tiny apartments to store dresses they may only wear once.
She said these reasons make Rent the Runway both an economical and practical service for students.
“It’s like online shopping, but it doesn’t haunt you,” Papagno, 19, said.
UF’s team of campus representatives promotes Rent the Runway by hosting events like trunk shows and advertising through social media websites.
Paige Gross, a 19-year-old recreation and event management sophomore at UF, is a manager for the team. She said using social media will encourage more young women to take advantage of the company.
UF representatives for the company spread awareness through their Facebook page. By liking the Rent the Runway at UF page, students can receive promotional codes.
In April, the team promoted its Gainesville Fashion Week show by posting pictures of the models on websites like Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
Jennie Clark, a 21-year-old advertising senior, said she thinks the web-based platform of Rent the Runway and the use of social media to promote the company has played a large role in its success.
Papagno said social media helps make the Rent the Runway experience more relatable.
“It’s definitely an advantage over other online stores because . . . you have actual girls who share how the dress fits, specifically down to the details,” she said.
