Hey, y'all! So, I've got some bad news. After two years, the partnership with RTR has ended which means I probably won't be reviewing them here anymore. RTR is my absolute favorite, and I will pick up the membership on my own, but I'm waiting to see what happens with the economy before I drop $152 a month on clothing.
The 5-item per month plan at $94 seems like my best bet, but it only gives me access to items worth $350 and below which would rule out almost everything I want to wear. We've still got Armoire, and I just signed up for a trial membership at Adorned in Style which looks just like ModLuxe.Rent, so we'll see what happens there.
To be honest, between both Armoire and RTR, I was receiving about 25 items per month, and I hardly had any time to wear most of it.
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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I kept the Paco Rabanne dress from last time, so I only received four items by Saylor, Alexis, Esteban Cortazar, and Cinq a Sept which arrived fresh from the dry cleaner, on the hanger, and sealed in plastic bags.
THE GOODS
Saylor Milo Puff Sleeve Dress, Retail Value $322, RTR $97
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About the designer: In 2014, after losing her job, Jillian Shatken booked a trip to the west coast and it was there that she first saw LA's female-centric fashion scene. She met women creatives not much older than herself running their own companies and brands. It felt like the beginning of something important, and it was truly eye-opening.
With nothing more than a small savings account, a few rough sketches, and one very game business partner, Jillian decided to give Saylor (a name she saved for her future daughter) a shot. Today Saylor is sold in over 450 retailers, has quadrupled in size, and works out of a light-filled Garment District office in NYC.
Why I rented it: Started running out of options and I've had this on my list for almost two years.
How I styled it: I wore this dress to happy hour at Jackson's and paired it with oversized gold-tone hoops by Cocoacentric, carried the Louis Vuitton Graffiti Speedy, and wore Jimmy Choo Patent Leather Wedges.
Size and fit: Designed in burnt orange crepe, the Milo dress features a scalloped round neckline, short puff sleeves, back zip closure, embroidered waistband, and a flounced skirt. I got a medium and while it fit well, it was pretty short!
Condition: Excellent.
Honest review: The quality was so much better than I expected, I discovered I really do like the color orange, and the resale price is right! But it's a bit too short for someone my age.
Alexis Floral Farah Dress, Retail Value $682, RTR $205
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About the designer: Founded in 2008 by mother-daughter duo Ana and Alexis Barbara, ALEXIS is for the woman who embraces all aspects of femininity, sophistication, and elegance. The spirit of the ALEXIS brand echoes the personal style of Ana and Alexis, their worldly travels and passion for vintage have played an integral role in shaping their design style and aesthetic into what it is today.
Their advanced contemporary collections embody effortlessly chic sensibilities in a woman's everyday lifestyle. Opulent dresses and versatile separates serve as the perfect canvas for richly decorated laces, romantic silks, and striking textiles.
Why I rented it: I love Alexis, and I figured the blue and white would be perfect for the 4th of July holiday week.
How I styled it: I wore this dress to meet my friends for brunch and a concert in Old Town Alexandria. Since it was 4th of July weekend, I wore this beautiful blue and white dress with my Ferragamo Gavina Sandals, and I slung the Chanel 19 across my body.
Size and fit: Alexis is a designer that almost always runs small, and that's why I got a large. Crafted in a white and blue, cotton blend with floral Santorini embroidery, this sleeveless dress features a crew neckline, back zip closure, defined waist with embroidery, and an A-line skirt with floral crochet details.
Condition: Very good. Clearly worn a bit.
Honest review: Another stunner by Alexis! It's a little heavy for the dog days of summer, but otherwise a total winner. Mr. HGL is clearly not happy with me.
Estaban Cortazar Cut-Out Midi Dress, Retail Value $365, RTR $320
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About the designer: Colombian designer Esteban Cortázar is one of the youngest fashion designers to ever debut at New York Fashion Week. Inspired by his Colombian heritage and Miami upbringing, when he was 13, Cortázar showed his sketches to Todd Oldham who became his mentor. At the age of 18, he began his fashion apprenticeship with Bloomingdale’s which led to him designing his own Bloomingdale's window display in 2002. In 2007, he moved to Paris to become the Creative Director for Emanuel Ungaro but left in 2009 when Lindsay Lohan was appointed co-director. From that point forward, he focused on creating the Esteban Cortazar collection.
After showing Paris Fashion Week, Cortázar's style of slick, sculptural lines full of ease, grace, and flow earned him a cult following. Today his collections are available in over 30 stores worldwide and Rent the Runway!
Why I rented it: I really like most of the pieces I've rented by Esteban Cortazar, and I thought this could be a great dress to wear on the 4th of July.
How I styled it: I wore this dress to a local 4th of July fireworks party where I suddenly had a PTSD episode and ended up in tears. PTSD is interesting.... while I've had mostly good days for the past few months when it creeps up, it's really problematic. But anyway, I paired it with a stick-on bra (because of the cutouts), Nicholas Kirkwood Block-Heeled Sandals, and a vintage Chanel Bag.
Size and fit: I was unsure how this medium-sized bodycon dress would look on me, but it ended up working really well after I used double-sided tape to keep the cutouts in place. This pull-over, sleeveless knit dress features a crew neck, sculptural cutouts, and a side slit hem.
Condition: Great.
Honest review: Very well made for the price, and the cutouts were more tasteful than I expected.
Cinq a Sept Adeline Dress, Retail Value $525, RTR $473
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About the designer: Sharing its name with the French term for the liminal moment linking late afternoon and early evening, Cinq à Sept brings the intriguing tension between day and night to a new advanced contemporary collection. Inspired by the hours between 5 and 7 p.m., when city streets are awash in the warm glow of the vanishing sun and office desks are abandoned for cocktails and as-yet unknown possibilities, Cinq à Sept embodies a deliberate balance between sophistication and ease, youthful daring and confident allure. The collection’s modern feminine aesthetic embraces unexpected details and striking silhouettes, resulting in clothing that draws their romance and sexiness from the woman wearing them.
Why I rented it: It reminded me of the Philosophy dress I rented a few months ago.
How I styled it: I can tell I'm becoming a bit basic myself because I'm wearing the same things over and over again! I wore this dress out on Bastille Day to Le Diplomate, and afterward, we met some of our guy friends over at Casa de Montecristo to see if any eligible dudes were there, and my friend Celeste and I stunk like cigars.
I again wore the Chanel 19, and Ferragamo Sandals. Last week someone commented about my shoes. My feet are totally busted from wearing point-toed shoes and 4" heels every day in NYC (and sprinting), so there are a lot of styles I cannot wear. I'd love nothing more than to slip my feet into a pair of classic point-toe pumps, but my heels are too thin, so they slip right out. That's why I always wear strappy shoes—otherwise, they'll slide off. I'm also trying not to buy many things right now, so I'm not purchasing any new shoes or bags, but once the economy improves (is that ever going to happen?), I'll invest in a pair that's a little quirkier. For now, it's basics that can go with almost anything.
Size and fit: Crafted in a satin-like fabric with a scoop neck, thin shoulder straps, back zip closure, slight empire waist, and full skirt with tulle lining, this dress with French words was absolutely perfect for Bastille Day! I got a 6 and it was a little large on me in the bust area.
Condition: Great.
Honest review: So sweet and frilly. I loved the crinoline lining and the poof of the skirt. Got so many compliments on Bastille Day.
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? Since it was 4th of July week, I got a lot of wear out of the Alexis and Estaban Cortazar dresses.
- Did they meet or exceed expectations? They exceeded expectations.
- 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
Here's a sneak peek at a dress from Adorned in Style. Oh, and I started using Rogaine on my overplucked 90s brows (hope it doesn't fade the microblading) to see if it works. I'll let you know in about 8 weeks.
So, what's life like after RTR? We've still got other rentals! But after two long years, By Rotation is officially stateside and I set up an account. It's a peer-to-peer rental company, and I will list many dresses and tops, and maybe a few handbags too. I'll add the link to my closet next week!
One of my best friends who's held huge jobs at some of the biggest consumer brands had not heard of peer-to-peer rentals, and once I explained it to her, she was not impressed! "Ew, why would you rent designer handbags and dresses when you can buy them on discount?" Um, most of us don't have your salary. Nevertheless, she was intrigued by the idea and interested to see how it works out for me.
Peer-to-peer rentals also falls perfectly into my business plan, so I'm going to become an expert and hope my Chanel bags survive. I dropped my trademark for now since it was becoming a massive money pit and I have nothing to show for it yet, but I will revisit it in the near future. Just seemed like spending almost $400 every six months to keep the name afloat was kind of pointless, especially if I change the business model from my initial intentions.
Now I need to figure out how to design a much better site and add a Shopify-type setup.
Final thoughts on RTR? I love them, and I will be back, but I started running out of items to rent and the pieces were disappearing too quickly.
VALUE BREAKDOWN: The 10 Items a Month membership costs $104/month and goes up to $152/month after the first 3 months) and so far, I've received styles with a retail value of $130,090.
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