What I’m Wearing This Week: Armoire

Happy Fri-YAY! I had some questions for Nuuly, so I’ll wait until next week for the full review.

You'll notice Mr. HGL has a new sleeping spot in the photos... on top of the couch at the window. I guess he turned into a cat, and I totally missed the transformation! Health-wise, he has mostly good days, but I swear he's learned how to manipulate me with his nose.

If he's mad or pouty, he forces air through his nostrils and grunts at the same time. If he's excited, he'll quietly squeal or squeak. And if he wants my attention, he'll stand behind me breathe in and out really quickly (and loudly) until I finally acknowledge his presence. He's a smart little dude!

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, 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 $94,167 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 

All four items by BCBG, Steve Madden, Yumi Kim and Paco Rabanne arrived fresh from the dry cleaner, neatly folded, and sealed in a shipping bag.

BCBG Metallic Printed Smocked Blouse Retail Value $228 Armoire $182

About this designer: Max Azria launched BCBGMAXAZRIA and opened its first headquarters in Downtown Los Angeles in 1989. The Tunisia-born, Paris-raised designer played an instrumental role in creating the contemporary category.

Azria moved to the U.S. in 1981, after designing a women’s wear collection in Paris for 11 years. He first launched a new concept retail chain called Jess, then launched BCBGMAXAZRIA merging European sophistication with an American spirit. BCBG stands for “Bon Chic Bon Genre” as in the French way to describe the stylish youth of Paris, and the brand set the template for a younger, trend-driven fashion tier that differentiated itself in feel and cut from the bridge category in department stores. With his wife, Lubov, they expanded the brand and added the Hervé Léger by Max Azria to the fold.

Why I rented: I needed more tops for my new jeans.

How I styled it: I wore this top with a pair of Alice + Olivia jeans and a pleated leather Alice + Olivia skirt. I also wore J. Crew flats, a pair of Sam Edelman Cowboy boots, an unbranded shearling vest, and the Saint Laurent Sac de Jour.

Size and fit: This semi-shear printed metallic blouse features a smocked mock neck, long puffed sleeves with smocked cuffs, and a keyhole back closure. I got a medium and it was blousy and boxy!

Honest review: Frilly, fun and fashionable. Just be sure to wear something underneath! 

Steve Madden Vivienne Mesh Dress Retail Value $69, Armoire $59

About this designer: What began as a modest $1,100 investment in 1990 has developed into one of the most iconic brands in footwear. From a factory in Queens, NY, Steve Madden has revolutionized the shoe industry, merging years of experience with unique and creative designs. Inspired by rock and roll and his New York roots, his vision to provide on-trend women and men with an outlet to express their individuality is innovative, daring, and inspiring. Steve’s innate understanding of trends and unparalleled willpower have resulted in millions of customers worldwide and propelled his designs to the forefront of fashion. He has expanded the Steve Madden brand into a true lifestyle and destination for footwear, handbags and accessories, sold in over 80 countries worldwide. It’s about authenticity. It’s about embracing individuality. It’s Steve Madden.

Why I rented it: It looked like a fun going out dress and it didn't fail!

How I styled it: I wore this dress nonstop and dressed it up and down. It's really versatile! I wore it with J. Crew flats and Calzedonia nylons for a grand tour of Dewey Beach Breweries! We checked out Dewey Beer Co., Revelation, and Dogfish Head. The final pic is of me at Dewey Beer Co.!

I also wore the dress out on the town with Karl Lagerfeld Strappy pumps, a vintage fox fur jacket, and the Fendi Fendista Clutch. And I also wore it to watch the Superbowl with an & Other Stories belt, Maje Studded Leather jacket, and a pair of Rag & Bone Studded Ankle boots.

Size and fit: I got a medium and this mesh dress is lightweight, cozy and sexy! It's designed in a body-hugging, midi length with turtleneck, long sleeves and raw-edge hem. It comes with a detachable slip and it's a pullover style.

Condition: Excellent. Only worn a few times.

Honest review: I loved this dress so much, I was about to buy it from Armoire, but curiosity get the best of me, and I searched for it on Google first. The discount (used) price on Armoire was $59, but I found it brand new for $30. Of course I bought it! And I got one in pink too!

Yumi Kim Teyona Printed Ruffle Dress Retail $248, Armoire $179 

About the designer: Surrounded by extraordinary women her entire life, including her mother who wore exotic prints and bold florals and proudly donned the classic Ao Dai (a traditional Vietnamese dress), Kim Phan was inspired by these bold women who gave her strength. When she moved to New York in 2004 and adopted a loving Yorkshire Terrier named Yumi, YUMI KIM was born.

Every piece has a story to tell. Coveted for its sunny color combinations and array of florals, the brand reflects the unique experiences that have shaped her life.

Why I rented it: Was low on items and needed something extra.

How I styled it: I couldn't wear it.

Size and fit: Well, I was out of options so I decided to try this dress in a large, hoping it would fit better than the others. But alas, it fit me like a romper minus the stitching between the legs.

Anyway, it's very cute but so small. It's crafted in polyester with a Swiss Dot pattern and also features a mock neck, long sleeves with puffed shoulders, back zip closure, and a tiered VERY mini skirt. Despite being lined, it's also quite sheer.

Condition: A little worn, but otherwise very good.

Honest review: The fact that I would be an XL in Yumi Kim is scary.

Paco Rabanne Polka Dot Tie-Neck Dress Retail $890, Armoire $TBD

About the designer: Francisco Rabaneda Cuervo, more commonly known as Paco Rabanne, is a Spanish fashion designer of Basque origin who became known as an enfant terrible of the 1960s French fashion world. Rabanne's father, a Republican Colonel, was executed by Francoist troops during the Spanish Civil War and his mother was the chief seamstress at Cristóbal Balenciaga's first couture house in Donostia, Basque Country. She moved Rabanne's family when he opened Balenciaga in Paris in 1937, due to the Spanish Civil War.

Rabanne started his career in fashion by creating jewelry for Givenchy, Dior, and Balenciaga and founded his own fashion house in 1966. He used unconventional materials such as metal, paper, and plastic for his metal couture and flamboyant designs. Rabanne is known for the green costume worn by Jane Fonda in the 1968 science-fiction film Barbarella. In 1968, he launched Rabanne perfumes.

Why I rented it: Because I love Paco Rabanne!

How I styled it: I wore this dress to the office and my cousin's confirmation and paired it with a vintage studded leather belt from Etsy, Sheertex Tights, Kat Maconie Toni Ankle Boots, Gucci Studded Leather Jacket and a Saint Laurent Sac de Jour Tote.

Size and fit: I got a medium and it fit quite well throughout! This dress is made of an elastane/viscose blend and features a high neckline with self-tie, long sleeves, front snap closure, and a belted waist that was missing the belt.

Honest review: It was sophisticated yet a little dowdy at the same time. It needs a slip so you can puff up the skirt and it was missing the belt.

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 got the most wear out of the Paco Rabanne dress. I loved the BCBG top too, but it was too sheer to wear without a top underneath.
• Did they meet or exceed expectations? Met expectations. 
• What’s the return process like? Place the items in the bag, seal it up and that's it!

FINAL THOUGHTS

I'm heading to Miami and Key West very soon and I've been pouring over the rental apps, hoping to find something awesome to wear, but I'm not loving anything right now. At this point I've rented what seems like half the items on RTR and I'm running out of options on Armoire too.

And after my Nuuly experience where I paid for it myself, I'm having second thoughts on dropping money on items I may not wear or love. So, maybe I'm having a slight change of heart and here's my thought process:

I love designer resale and there are certain brands (Self-Portrait, Alexis and Zimmermann) that I can't get enough of. I went to The RealReal to look at their resale prices and realized I could potentially buy 2-3 dresses by designers I love for the same price as a monthly membership to TRR, and then resell them when I get back from the trip.

Some of you are probably nodding your head in agreement right now. Do I buy 2-3 pieces and resell maybe for a small profit or rent 10 pieces the next month? Financially A makes the most sense and I'm only considering it because I'm not loving anything on TRR at the moment.

Things to ponder. Anyway, see you next week with Nuuly!

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 $94,167!

What are your thoughts about Armoire and rentals in general? Let me know what you think down below!