Hey there, I'm writing to you from Miami! I had a breakdown last week which led to tears, anxiety, and a minor panic attack, so I went to the Southwest app and booked a flight down south. I'm lucky because I have a few friends who moved here so I can visit them and enjoy the warmth too.
Next week's review will feature my trip. Last week I checked out Armoire to see what they had online and since the weather was just so blah, I rented a few fun, frilly things that I couldn't really wear out in public due to the weather, but the dresses boosted my spirits a bit and made me think warm thoughts.
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, now fully vaccinated), where I’m going, 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 $22,516 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
1 of 2 | Six Armoire items!
THE GOODS
Bailey 44 Mock Neck Textured Mini Dress, Retail Value $198
1 of 6
How I styled it: Black tights, cowboy boots, the Etsy belt, and this super fun, vintage wool coat (not pictured) with fox fur collar.
Size and fit: I ordered the Medium and it fit fine. It's actually a pretty comfy dress too!
Condition: Pretty good. Definitely worn a little, but nothing major.
Honest review: It's cute, but not my favorite. And despite the site saying it's red, this is definitely more of a brown or brick color than red. Wouldn't buy and won't rent again.
Ray Darten Silk Embroidered Front Gown, Retail Value $379
1 of 8
How I styled it: I have nowhere to wear this dress right now, but I was super curious and decided to rent it anyway! I tried it on with long leather gloves, a pair of suede pumps, lots of gold-tone jewelry and belt, a fancy hat, and bare legs. I wanted to channel Audrey a little bit.
Size and fit: Ordered the Medium and it fits like a glove. You definitely need to wear a strapless or razorback bra with it... or nothing at all!
Condition: Great condition. Was a little wrinkled, but that's to be expected with its weight and the packaging.
Honest review: Beautiful! Normally I talk about how an item isn't worth the money, but this dress is incredibly well-made, heavy, and luxurious. The design even looks hand-stitched which makes it worth way more than the retail value of $379 or the rental price of $190. I'm keeping it on my radar just in case I ever need a gown again.
Alexis Long Sleeve Mock Neck Lace Overlay Dress, Retail Value $545
How I styled it: Would've been great for Miami if I could zip it up.
Size and fit: Too small.
Condition: Average, a bit worn.
Honest review: Despite loving Alexis as a designer, the sizing seems to be quite inconsistent which is disappointing!
Bailey 44 Contrast Seam Keyhole Strap Body-Con Dress, Retail Value $248
1 of 6
How I styled it: Since it was about 35 degrees out, I messed around with all black everything. It was too summery for bare legs or nude-colored tights, so I opted for black tights, Sam Edelman ankle boots, cropped Maje leather jacket, Balenciaga City Bag clutch, and sunnies.
Size and fit: Form-fitting and a little complicated to slink into, this dress hugs every curve and can be a little unforgiving.
Condition: Very good condition.
Honest review: While it doesn't suck in quite as much as a Herve Leger dress, this bodycon design does a good job of keeping things in place. Except I popped a few seams trying to get it on... whoopsie daisy. I like the design of the dress, but I would rather see it in a color other than gray.
Zero + Maria Cornejo One Shoulder Silk Midi Dress, Retail Value $659
1 of 8
How I styled it: Um, party Mary called, and she'd like to wear this dress to a rave back in 1999. Despite being in Miami, I wouldn't wear this out in public, so I had fun with it instead. I wore black tights to make the length a little less dramatic. The Prada Bunny clutch, some knockoff Gucci platforms, the mink jacket that's disintegrating more and more every day, and Mignonne Gavigan earrings.
Size and fit: Tight, short, and complicated. There's an elasticized back strap to help keep it in place, but no zipper so good luck. I almost tore my rotator cuff trying to get into and out of this one-shoulder creation.
Condition: Great.
Honest review: Well, you already know what my mom and dad would say about this dress. Even Mr. HGL was back there judging me. It would be a great dress for Miami if I were 20 years younger and, on the prowl, or if I decided to join the cast of one of those Housewives shows, but I'm not a housewife and have no interest in blowing up my face with fillers.
Sachin + Babi Noir Textured Silk-Blend Eyelet Hem Midi Skirt, Retail Value $695
How I styled it: I didn't! The skirt fits like a trapezoid and is not like the photo at all.
Size and fit: I rented the six and it fit fine, but the design and the way the skirt puffed out towards the knees was so odd.
Condition: Average, a bit worn.
Honest review: I love Sachin + Babi and I have a skirt that's very similar to the one above, but the quality is soooooo different. They went from high-quality, heavy fabrics to this? This is so lightweight, misshaped and it just feels cheap. I guess Sachin + Babi Noir is their less expensive line, and you can feel it and see it.
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? Nothing really. I just wanted to try on some fun stuff to brighten my mood a little bit.
- Did they meet or exceed expectations? My expectations are pretty low these days.
- What’s the return process like? Place the items in the bag, seal it up and that's it!
FINAL THOUGHTS
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Armoire seems to be targeting the 20-something southern girl who just started her first corporate job. In order to remain competitive, this startup needs to invest in some older and more experienced buyers who've worked for bigger brands with a mix of mass-market and high-end designers. The rental business is not cheap, and neither is paying $249 a month for unlimited clothing. When I was in my 20s and even early 30s, I couldn't justify or afford to drop $249 a month on clothing rentals, unless I weren't paying rent.
Armoire is not responsible for the designers, the way their items fit, or the designs. I'm only suggesting they expand their assortment a bit and figure out just who their target customer really is and how that'll help them grow as a new business.
In other news, my boyfriend suggested I post some of my past fashion fails!
1 of 3 | White tights with silver sandals?
Gotta love the 80s and 90s.
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 $22,516!
What are your thoughts about Armoire and rentals in general? Let me know what you think down below!
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