Me, again! Last week was busy. I finally found a dress for the wedding, and I got it off eBay (whoops). I took my little white fluffer to get de-fluffed, visited my dad and stepmom, and contemplated some of life's most pressing questions... should I get Thai food or Vietnamese for dinner? The answer to that question comes later.
Ever notice how picking out clothing is almost as stressful as choosing a nail polish color at the salon? How does that decision become so daunting? You stare and compare, and ponder the shades and the meaning of life, only to end up with something that's super temporary so it doesn't really matter! But it does. Ugh, as if! It's a great thing I never got a tattoo — I have serious commitment issues (ask my exes) and I probably would've chopped off my arm by now.
Well, with rentals I find myself pondering my outfits and excursions way more than I normally would — I almost feel like Cher in Clueless, but with a way more advanced closet organization system.
"Do you prefer fashion victim, or ensembly challenged"— Cher
WHAT I’M WEARING THIS WEEK: Armoire
Welcome back to What I'm Wearing This Week: Armoire. For the newbies, every Friday on WIWTW I'll recap the clothing rentals I wore for the week. I’ll take you on a trip through my life (recovered from COVID in March, now fully vaccinated), where I’m going (90% of the places are outside, and I wear a mask), what’s missing in my closet, my current obsessions, what I’m excited to try, and maybe even buy. We’ll explore designers and trends, and a variety of styles and brands. And each week I’ll fill you in on why I chose each item, the total value of the rental compared to the retail price (as of today I've rented $16,539 worth of clothing), and more.
Armoire, which is a clothing rental company for women, is all about female empowerment. From the hand-selected and curated inventory of styles that are designed by the Boss Lady, for the Boss Lady, to their involvement with female-powered brands, and their partnership with Dress for Success Seattle, they’re a brand built for today’s woman.
This is a review of the Unlimited Plan for $249/month.
ACTIVE DEAL: Get $30 OFF 1 month of the 7-item plan OR 50% OFF 1 month of the unlimited plan.
CODE: 7MSA89 or MSAUNLIMITED50
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
WHAT I RECEIVED
I did a much better job this time...YAY! I chose items by Stella McCartney, Joie, Rag & Bone, and more. Sadly, WHERE'S BUNDO didn't work out quite so well this week since he got a haircut, and would prefer to sleep (and pee) in my bed.
Don't bother me...I'm moody and sleeping in my poop.
THE GOODS
Joie Faux Wraps V-Neck Jumpsuit, Retail Value $368
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How I styled it: I wore this to pick up a friend from the Dulles Airport. I got there early, only to remember he no longer needed me to pick him up (am I in the early stages of dementia, or what?). Then, since I've only been driving for about a year, I got on the highway going in the wrong direction, missed my exit, and ended up a good 25 minutes out of my way! WTF is wrong with me? We ended up meeting for dinner at Tiki Thai instead.
I paired the jumpsuit with Kat Maconie Sock Boots, Chanel Gripoix Bracelet, the Gucci Studded Leather Jacket, and my seriously overpriced Chanel 19 Bag that now looks like I've sat on it. For these crazy prices, Chanel needs to get it together! Quality has gone down while prices have skyrocketed.
Size and fit: I ordered the Medium and it's a little big in the chest, the torso is quite long, and the pants are a bit short (although I think they're supposed to be cropped).
Condition: Great, no issues.
Honest review: It's cute, but I think it's designed for someone who's a little shorter and doesn't need to wear a push-up bra to fill it out... like I'm back in 10th grade or something.
Anna Sui Butterfly Garden Maxi Dress, Retail Value $640
1 of 5 | Anna Sui Butterfly Garden Maxi Dress
How I styled it: I know I have issues...and maybe that explains why I got another Anna Sui dress that's the maxi version of one I got a few weeks ago. I wore this dress to dinner with my dad and stepmom at Ryleigh's Oyster House in Baltimore County, Maryland on Halloween. I guess you could say this was my costume. I wore it with Nicholas Kirkwood flats, a shearling vest so I didn't cover up the bell sleeves, and a vintage Chanel Bag that I now want to sell since they raised the prices again on November 3rd! That'll be quite a profit.
Size and fit: I got the 6 again, and it fit perfectly.
Condition: Great.
Honest review: Despite being a Little House on the Prairie, I like this dress, but I wish designers would charge an extra dollar or two and add a slip to the skirt. Nobody needs to see the outline of my legs in the sun...I'm not a stripper ;-). As I said before, Anna Sui's items are cute but so overpriced! If she dropped the prices, I'd buy it. It doesn't even have a slip!
Rag & Bone Cashmere Mock Neck Sweater Dress, Retail Value $525
1 of 5 | Rag & Bone Cashmere Mock Neck Sweater Dress
How I styled it: I wore this dress two ways: with a gold-tone chain necklace, gold-tone belt, and a pair of Aquazzura Point-Toe flats; and then a studded leather jacket, Nicholas Kirkwood Ankle Boots, a Tiffany & Co. Silver Bracelet, and my Balenciaga Graffiti City Bag. I prefer the second outfit because it's difficult to belt this dress, and the necklace got caught in all the wrong places.
Simplicity is key. I wore the first version to Ulta and to grab a quick bite with my stepmom at Barrett's Grill. I wore the second version of the outfit to see Last Night in Soho, which was not scary, just a little creepy. I loved the '60s fashion and taking a much-needed virtual trip through London too!
Size and fit: I ordered the Medium and it fit fine. I could see it being too tight on others, so you might want to size up.
Condition: Great condition.
Honest review: I like this dress. It's comfy and cozy, very versatile, and chic too. Whether you wear it alone, or with a jacket and belt, the possibilities are endless. Just wanted to warn you that the fabric and design can be unforgiving and might show every curve and bump. I'd rent it again, and I'd buy it if it were under $100.
Hunter Bell Keller Open-Front Cardigan, Retail Value $395
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How I styled it: I planned on wearing this oversized cardigan to drop off Mr. Fluff at Divine's Pet Care, but it was pouring and I knew it would never dry! Plus, I tried it on twice and I wasn't feeling it.
Size and fit: I got the Medium, the fit's a little off, and the sleeves are too short on me, but this is an issue I face often since I have very long arms. Too bad I can't fly.
Condition: No issues.
Honest review: Who knew giraffes were black and white? Oh wait, my sister calls me giraffe. I liked this knit way better on the model than on myself. It's a bit shapeless, the sleeves are too short, and it just hung open in the front. I've been hearing good things about Hunter Bell, but I'm not sure the babushka look is right for me — unless it also involves sunglasses, and a Hermes scarf wrapped around my head like Jackie O. Hmm...that gives me an idea.
Stella McCartney Pleated Maxi Skirt, Retail Value $1,695
Stella McCartney Pleated Maxi Skirt
How I styled it: I was really excited to try out this skirt, but it just wasn't working. Then, I thought maybe it's supposed to be a strapless dress instead of a skirt and that's when I discovered the issue...it's torn.
Size and fit: Torn and never worn.
Condition: Yikes.
Honest review: I am receiving damaged items more often than I should...
McGinn Wool & Faux Leather Circle Skirt, Retail Value, $125
How I styled it: Yet another example of items arriving in less-than-perfect condition, this skirt was quite frayed around the hem (I know it's supposed to be a little frayed, but it looked cheap), the wool section was a little worn, and the skirt itself was too short on me.
Size and fit: Ordered the Medium and it's a bit too short for me.
Condition: Average, and a bit worn.
Honest review: I'm too old for this item.
DID THEY DELIVER?
- What items were most helpful and versatile to own this week to ensure I got the most out of my rental and completed the look I craved? I wore the Rag & Bone Sweater Dress the most because it's such a great throw-on-and-go piece, and can pair with just about everything.
- Did they meet or exceed expectations? To be perfectly honest, I think rental companies need to double-check their items again before they send them out. I've discovered quite a few damaged goods. Luckily, they're quick to respond and replace, but if it's something you're hoping to wear the day it arrives, that could throw your plans into a tizzy.
- What’s the return process like? Place the items in the bag, seal it up and that's it!
FINAL THOUGHTS
My final thoughts are about the resale industry and rentals in general — from cars to office furniture, and jewelry to designer clothing, it seems like you can rent just about anything these days. As retail prices continue to rise, more and more people will turn to rentals to get their fabulous fashion fix. And if you missed it, Rent the Runway recently went public which is a huge sign that rentals are the present and future of fashion.
On November 3rd, Chanel raised the prices of their most popular handbags by up to $1,100 each — and this is after three other major price increases occurred during the pandemic. Meanwhile, brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Hermes have also hopped on the price increase and item limitation bandwagon, and while this may be good news for the resale industry, the fact is they'll raise their prices too.
When does it end? Within the next three years, I predict the designer resale bubble will burst (for items like handbags, wallets, sunglasses, and small leather goods) and rentals will become even more popular.
So, if clothing rentals don't exactly suit your needs, you've got lots of other options. What would you want to rent? No, my bunny is not rentable.
1 of 2 | There he is! I couldn't find Mr. Fluff!
CAN YOU STILL GET THIS BOX IF YOU SIGN UP TODAY? Yes, all these items are still available to rent.
ACTIVE DEAL: Get $30 OFF 1 month of the 7-item plan OR 50% OFF 1 month of the unlimited plan.
CODE: 7MSA89 or MSAUNLIMITED50
VALUE BREAKDOWN: The Unlimited membership costs $249/month and so far I've received styles with a retail value of $16,539!
What are your thoughts about Armoire and rentals in general? Let me know what you think down below!
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