Hoppy Friday, every bun! I've only heard Mr. HGL sneeze once in the past week, so that's good news. He also hasn't peed anywhere he shouldn't so maybe (hopefully) the meds are working after all. He's also back to judging my outfits.
I'll have to let y'all in on a little secret. My sister has been using Grande Lash-MD and her lashes have grown like crazy, so I decided to buy it and I'm thrilled with the results. I'm addicted to eyelash curlers so my lashes will break in half and fall out quite often (I swear by the Shiseido Eyelash Curler) and as much as I'd love to get eyelash extensions, they just seem like too much work, and they don't last so Grande Lash it is!
I know I'll have to continue applications to keep the lashes growing, and that's ok as long as I don't end up with any issues.
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 four items by Rotate Birger Christensen, Busayo Collective, Rhode, and Stella Jean arrived fresh from the dry cleaner, on the hanger, and sealed in plastic bags.
THE GOODS
ROTATE Birger Christensen Jacquard Open Back Dress, Retail Value $460, RTR $460
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About the designer: Rotate is a brand from Birger Christensen, created in partnership with influencers and stylists Jeanette Madsen and Thora Valdimarsdottir.
Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, the brand has taken the world by storm with its sexy minidresses and covetable pieces for the going-out wardrobe. The Rotate brand is a response to Jeanette and Thora’s musings over the gaps in their own wardrobes, designing the pieces that they dream of having in their closets.
How I styled it: I wore this dress to my mom's birthday celebration at Petite Louis. I ended up adding the Etsy Obi belt because the fabric was quite thin and revealing and the back tie closure is crooked, so I need to cover it. I also wore Tabitha Simmons Floral Leather Laser-Cut Pumps, Lele Sadoughi Mother of Pearl Lilly Earrings, and the Chanel 19.
Size and fit: This 80s-inspired floral print red jacquard dress features a round neckline, very puffed sleeves, an open back with a lace corset design, a side zip closure, and a smocked and gathered skirt. The bottom portion of the dress is quite flimsy compared to the top.
I got the US 8 and because the back tie closure is adjustable, you can make it fit a little better, but it does run a little small.
Condition: Excellent.
Honest review: I love the sleeves and the fabric, but if you rent it, I'd suggest wearing shapewear because it's unlined and shows a little.
Busayo Collective One-Shoulder Tie-Dye Maxi, Retail Value $650, RTR $98
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About the designer: Based between Brooklyn and Lagos, clothing label Busayo is the brainchild of lawyer-turned-designer Busayo Olupona. From the start, the designer wanted to integrate traditional Nigerian prints into her collections, specifically adire—a time-honored textile technique. As a result, Busayo has become known, and loved, for its bright, color-infused dresses and high-volume tops.
How I styled it: I wore this dress to see a comedy show with my friend Rania and it ended up being a hilarious night because the comedian pulled me up on stage and made fun of me for about 10 minutes. Afterward, the audience came up to me to discuss the routine (they might've thought I was an audience plant) and ask about this dress.
I wore it with Lele Sadoughi Pinwheel Earrings, the Prada Bunny Clutch (the price is really rising on the resale market), and a pair of leather sandals I bought years ago in London from & Other Stories.
Size and Fit: This dress is crafted of a pretty heavy linen and cotton blend that's fully lined with a blue and green tie-dye design, ruffled one-shoulder, sleeveless, back zip closure, gathered waist, side slash pockets, and a tiered skirt with flounced hem.
I got the 6 and really struggled to zip it up at first. I had to spin it around and clip the hook and then after using rubber gloves, I was able to close it.
Condition: Great!
Honest review: It's a tie-dye stunner. Well made, unique and the resale price is fantastic, but I didn't buy it.
Rhode Varja Dress, Retail Value $475, RTR $427.50
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About the designer: RHODE is a story of friendship that started on the corner of 6th Avenue and 18th Street in Manhattan. Purna and Phoebe became college roommates and met at Bed, Bath & Beyond to shop for their dorm room which led to a long-distance friendship spanning two decades. Even though Phoebe became a travel photographer and producer in NYC and Purna, a fashion buyer in Dubai, they’d meet up for trips all over the globe. During these visits, they'd discuss what was missing in their closets and eventually quit their jobs to combine a love of travel and style into their vision for Rhode: a line of timeless pieces that are ready for anything.
How I styled it: I only got to wear this dress once which is sad because it's pretty awesome. I tried to wear it with a belt and unbelted, and I think I like it better without the belt. I also wore Nicholas Kirkwood Sandals and the Saint Laurent Sac de Jour.
Size and fit: This stylish cotton-blend mini dress features a round neckline, tiered and ruffled balloon sleeves, and a concealed back zip closure. It's a little short on me, but the medium worked very well.
Condition: Great.
Honest review: It's a little short without tights, but it's simplistically sweet and the ruffled sleeves add a fun, fluttery touch.
Stella Jean Tiered Midi Skirt, Retail Value $495, RTR $445
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About the designer: Stella Novarino, known professionally as Stella Jean is an Italian fashion designer of partial Haitian origin. She is a member of the Italian Chamber of Fashion and the only member of Afro-European background. Living and working in Rome, Jean is considered to be Giorgio Armani's protégé.
The basis of Jean's work is multiculturalism applied to fashion, resulting in a cultural fusion of her own métisse identity. Her work often merges classical Italian tailoring with stylistic features of varying cultures. Stella Jean created the business model and sustainable development platform: "Laboratorio delle Nazioni". In 2019 she was highlighted by the New York Times as the most convincing of all the New Gen designers in Milan.
How I styled it: This time since the waistband is so stretched out, I paired it with an old Ella Moss Off-the-Shoulder Top, Kendra Scott Maya Chain Necklace, Luv AJ Pyramid Stud Hoops, and Tabitha Simmons Sandals.
Size and fit: I got the US 6 and it's huge. They tried to fold over and sew the waistband to make it fit better, but that didn't work. This midi skirt features a wide elasticized waistband and graphic ruffled layers.
Condition: The waistband is stretched out and discolored. If they could somehow replace the waistband, the skirt would be great. Instead, RTR keeps stitching it together to keep it up.
Honest review: If you remember this skirt from last year, you know how much I loved it. When RTR announced a five-piece plan, I immediately decided to rent it again and hold on to it for a while. Well, I sent it back pretty quickly because it's so stretched out, it fits terribly. I think they need to retire it... and the resale price hasn't dropped in a year. Yikes!
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? It's funny that my least favorite item this round is the one I loved the most last year. I got the most wear out of the Busayo and Rotate dresses.
- Did they meet or exceed expectations? They met expectations, but it's time to retire the skirt!
- 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 owe you all an apology because I made a huge mistake last week with the jumpsuit. When I went to the site and ordered the Meghan LA jumpsuit, I didn't examine it closely, and turns out it's the wrong item. Once it arrived, I tore open the package to discover it was not the same at all. The fabric is different, the cut is shorter, the torso is longer, and the back tie closure feels like a piece of toilet paper.
Well, back to the store it goes! I'm disappointed... I really wanted that jumpsuit in blue.
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 $117,777.
Do you subscribe to Rent the Runway? Let us know what you think down below!
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