It's Fri-YAY — hoppy Easter weekend!
I ended up postponing my trip to Nashville for many reasons: work is too busy, I have some family obligations, my friends live right near the school shooting, Mr. HGL is under the weather, everything is too expensive, and Southwest makes it too easy to play musical flights. At first, I had booked an entire week, then I cut it back to 4.5 days and now I'm searching for my next long weekend, but not sure when it'll happen. I rented all these adorable dresses for the trip and it's too chilly to wear them here!
So, the past week and a half I've had terrible itching and welts on my legs and feet, and it's baffled me. First thought was bed bugs, but I haven't been anywhere, no one's stayed here, and I live in a new and very clean building. Then I thought it was the new body wash or lotion my mom gave me, and then I finally figured it out... I am allergic to a new pair of Wolford nylons. I've never had a problem before, so I don't understand. Maybe they were returned? I'll hand wash them and see if that helps, but otherwise, they're going in the trash.
Everything has cleared up since I stopped wearing them. Weird!
WHAT I'M WEARING THIS WEEK: Rent the Runway
Welcome back to What I'm Wearing This Week — Rent the Runway where you can rent and wear designer items by names you know and love, and up-and-coming designers too!
For the newbies to WIWTW, every Friday I’ll take you on a trip through my life, where I’m going, what’s missing in my closet, my current obsessions, what I’m excited to try, and maybe even buy. Well, that's if the price is right!
For sizing reference, I am 5'11", weigh 140 pounds, and have a 33" inseam.
Rent the Runway is a clothing rental company, but it was the first clothing subscription platform that provided the everyday woman with access to authentic, luxury fashion. Since its launch in 2009, RTR has gone through many iterations, some of which were the result of the pandemic, and now it's also a sustainable resale platform where shoppers can rent, buy, or subscribe to secondhand clothing.
This is a review of the Most Loved 10 Items Per Month plan.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
WHAT I RECEIVED
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All six items by Essential Antwerp, Saloni, Slate & Willow, Ulla Johnson, Patou, and Patou arrived fresh from the dry cleaner, on the hanger, and sealed in plastic bags.
THE GOODS
Essentiel Antwerp Camas Jacquard Dress, Retail Value $485, RTR $436
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About the designer: In 1999 Esfan and Inge took a chance and launched a T-shirt collection. Four styles, twenty different colors: their response to the monochrome fashion landscape. After a year, the first store opened in Antwerp. Four seasons later, knitwear, jackets, dresses, shirts, and trousers in trendy colors, new materials, and an entire range of accessories were added. Essentiel Antwerp grew into a global brand with a powerful message of love, fun, and colorful surprises. A universal message that translates anywhere and everywhere in the world.
How I styled it: Since the dress is such a loud piece, I wore it with black tights, Kat Maconie Sock Boots and the Zara Floral Earrings I got for the "gala". I wore the dress to Tyson's Galleria to check out a few things (nothing happened this time) and then met my friend to watch some March Madness games at Yardhouse Tyson's.
My two brackets were absolutely destroyed... I had 'Bama winning the entire thing on one of them, and then Gonzaga winning the other. Who would've thought San Diego State would come out of nowhere and do so well? This is why college basketball is my favorite sport—it's so unpredictable.
Size and fit: I ordered the 6 and it was quite oversized. This pink jacquard dress features a textural floral print, a round neckline, 3/4-length sleeves, a dropped waist, and flounced hem.
Condition: Great!
Honest review: While I think it's a very beautiful and incredibly well-made dress, it's certainly not a dress a guy would understand! It's a designer tent and I love it.
Slate & Willow Beaded Shoulder Leather Moto Jacket, Retail Value $695, RTR $139; Saloni Rina Scalloped Dress, Retail Value $595, RTR $535
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About the designer: Saloni Lodha founded her eponymous label in 2011 with a vision of elegant femininity imbued with vibrant color.
SALONI means beautiful in Sanskrit, and true to its name, the brand empowers its customers of all ages to experience the unabashed joy of living life in different hues. The brand’s unique alchemy comes from Saloni’s own story, her love of textiles, and intuitive sense of everyday dressing. For Saloni, creating beautiful things is a meditative journey, inspired by her childhood in India and a nomadic life lived between Hong Kong, Seoul, London, and Italy.
As a working mother of two boys juggling offices in different time zones, Saloni designs from an innate sense of what her customers need and desire. The playful and effortless collections allow the wearer to seamlessly transition from a formal occasion, a dinner at home, or a far-flung travel destination. The brand’s signature shapes, textiles, and custom prints are crafted with love and care to be collected and cherished over time.
Slate & Willow is a brand made exclusively for Rent the Runway.
How I styled it: I wore the Saloni dress out on St. Patrick's Day to The Old Brogue and it was a much better fit than the Alice + Olivia dress. I paired it with black tights, Kat Maconie Sock Boots, the Chanel 19 and I threw the Slate & Willow Beaded Leather Jacket on too. The Old Brogue is an underrated Irish pub that's quite authentic and has a really good vibe! It's also where they host a local Cars & Coffee every Saturday morning and apparently, the parking lot was packed with drunk people's cars who Ubered home, so there weren't many spots left to show off cars.
Forgot about pairing the look with a shot of Jameson and a Guinness that someone spilled on me. After we left the bar, we went to McDonald's curbside pickup where I couldn't remember how to use the app (thanks, Jamo), so I ordered a burger and fries the first round, then I placed an order for 20 McNuggets along with five packs of BBQ and five packs of honey mustard, then a third order for more fries, and finally I somehow managed to order two massive diet cokes! I don't even drink diet coke. The poor guy working the curbside to-go orders came out four times with my stupid orders.
$29 later, we were all set. Had I just remembered how to create a meal, the price would've been like $10 less. Luckily, I wasn't driving, and my friend and I couldn't stop laughing about the multiple orders and mishaps. It was the most I've laughed in a longgggg time and much needed. Needless to say, Saturday was a little rough.
Size and Fit: The dress was a size 6 and it was a little oversized. It's lined and crafted in green floral satin with a scalloped mockneck, long sleeves with scalloped cuffs, concealed back button and zip closure, blouson waist, and gathered skirt. The moto jacket is designed in real leather with a banded collar and snap closure, long sleeves with zipped cuffs, front zip closure, zipped slash pockets and it's fully lined.
Condition: The dress was in very good condition (a tad worn) and the leather jacket smelled like cigarettes and the beads were starting to fall out.
Honest review: Love the dress, and the older I get the more attached I become to the color green. My grandmother was born in Ireland and Emerald green was her favorite color so it's only natural for me to become obsessed with the color too. As for the jacket, it's cheaper leather and it smelled like cigarettes. I know leather is a difficult fabric to clean so I won't complain too much, but it did stink up my closet a little bit.
Ulla Johnson Solana Asymmetrical Jumpsuit, Retail Value $495, RTR $445
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About the designer: Born and raised in Manhattan, the daughter of archaeologists, Ulla Johnson honed her signature style between the streets of New York and the far-flung destinations of their family travels. Her eponymous line, founded in 1998 just after graduating from college, immediately caught the attention of the fashion press.
Growing from a handful of directional boutiques and with an early endorsement from Barneys New York, Ulla Johnson’s collection has gained a dedicated following and the support of retailers across the US, Europe, Australia, and Asia. She has never wavered in her steadfast attention to the details of construction that have become her hallmark, basing each of her collections on a foundation of natural fibers, beautiful finishing, and ease of fit and form. Ulla lives in Brooklyn with her husband and three children.
How I styled it: I wore this jumpsuit multiple times and paired it most often with Carolina Herrera Ruffled Point-Toed Flats, Mignonne Gavigan Lolita Hoops Earrings and I threw on the Yves Salomon Shearling Jacket because it's oversized enough to fit over the ruffles.
I wore this jumpsuit so many times, but most notably to take my dad to St. Michael's the Archangel Ukranian Catholic Church, The Waterfront Hotel and The Admiral's Cup. He's had a rough time recently with some health complications and he's Ukranian, so my sister and I took him downtown for pierogis, borscht and beer.
Size and fit: I got the 6 and it's a perfect fit for me. It's easy to get on and take off, it's fitted up top, and flares at the bottom. The best part? It's long enough! This floral print jumpsuit is crafted in crisp cotton with a colorful floral print, sleeveless ruffled shoulder, asymmetrical neckline, side-zip closure, ruffled bodice and waist, and flared pants.
Condition: Great.
Honest review: Love it, want to keep it. I searched for the jumpsuit online, and while I found it for under $250, I can only find a size 2. SIGH!
Patou Pleated Dress, Retail Value $1,200, RTR $600
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About the designer: Patou is a fashion house created by Jean Patou in 1914. Patou is a century of couture, a revolution in women's fashion (sportswear, swimwear, sunscreen, and the monogram...), iconic ambassadors (Josephine Baker, Mistinguett, Suzanne Lenglen, Louise Brooks), as well as unforgettable perfumes (Joy, 1000), not to mention some of the most renowned designers who took over (Marc Bohan, Karl Lagerfeld, Christian Lacroix ...).
Patou is a renaissance, a new chapter of Patou-à-porter, women’s ready-to-wear with a few accessories here and there, under the artistic direction of Guillaume Henry.
How I styled it: I threw on a vintage belt from Etsy, Mignonne Gavigan Mini Hoops, Ferragamo Gavina Block Heeled Sandals, Gucci Studded Leather Jacket, Chanel 19, and a River Island Newsboy Cap.
I wore this look to meet a date at The Wren at the Watermark Hotel across from the Capital One headquarters although it really is just an extension of the office.
Size and fit: I got the 40R which is a US 8 and it was a little snug in the bust and waist. This beautiful crepe dress features a twisted collar overlay with v-neckline, long sleeves with mother-of-pearl buttoned cuffs, back-zip closure, twisted waist, and long pleated skirt.
Condition: Great... aside from the missing button.
Honest review: I had issues with both Patou items this week. This dress showed up missing a button on the cuff! So, I improvised and bought one at Michael's which didn't match, but at least I got to wear the dress after becoming a last-minute seamstress.
Patou Printed Scarf Dress, Retail Value $1,095, RTR $109.5
How I styled it: Unwearable.
Size and fit: Unwearable.
Condition: Brand new with tags. Seriously, WTF?
Honest review: This was disappointing and not RTR's fault. The dress arrived brand new with tags (yay!), but the zipper was broken. I tried so many times to fix it so I could wear it, and it just wasn't working. SIGH!
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? All the items I received were gorgeous, but both Patou items were such a disappointment with these complications.
- Did they meet or exceed expectations? The missing button was an annoyance, and the broken zipper too.
- What’s the return process like? Simple! Just place your items in the pre-paid garment bag, slip in the return label, and send it back via UPS. You can also drop it off at one of their exclusive drop-off points in some of the major cities.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I was overwhelmed with the amount of clothing this time and decided to hold on to the Ulla Johnson jumpsuit. I also had another dress that was still in its plastic wrapping when I wrote this, so I kept it as well, and I'll review it next round. And while I love the extra space, it basically means I'll hold on to one of the items a little longer.
In other news, Mr. HGL hasn't been feeling great, so I took him to the exotic vet again last night. He's always had allergies and an issue called Snuffles (quite common with rabbits), but recently he's been sneezing or coughing (I can't tell which one it is) so I took him back and he's now on two more weeks of meds.
Turns out the reason he's been peeing on my bed and the couch is due to excess calcium in his bladder, he's in the early stages of arthritis and he's got a sinus infection. They'd like to drain his bladder, but I'm worried about the process because they'd have to use anesthesia and rabbits don't always survive being put under.
Let's wish him well.
VALUE BREAKDOWN: The 10 Items a Month membership costs $104/month and goes up to $144/month after the first 3 months) and so far, I've received styles with a retail value of $115,626.
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