I took the plunge and ordered RTR again, and it wasn't the best experience. For starters, they changed their shipping method— it used to be Pandion (I know, who?), but now it's UPS. This isn't a big deal at all, except that it now takes two days to receive your rentals whereas it used to be just one.
Secondly, they're keeping some of their products in rotation for far too long! I rented an Herve Leger dress and it was so stretched out, it was completely unwearable. You'll see what I mean!
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
All five items by Ulla Johnson, Ronny Kobo, Hemant & Nandita, Bibhu Mohapatra Collective, and Herve Leger arrived fresh from the dry cleaner, on the hanger, and sealed in plastic bags.
THE GOODS
Ulla Johnson Agathe Gown, Retail Value $1,250, RTR $875
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.
Why I rented it: I wanted something fun and fashionable to wear to my fancy friend's baby's 1st birthday party at a vineyard in Virginia.
How I styled it: Since the b-day party had a country-western theme, I wore this dress with J. Crew flats (the cowboy boots didn't work well), a straw cowboy hat from Key West, and a Pinko Jacket from Armoire that I'll review soon.
Size and fit: I got a 6 and it ran slightly larger on me but would probably fit a woman better who has boobs! This beautiful silk chiffon dress is crafted in a crisscross v-neckline with double shoulder straps, concealed side-zip closure, ruffle-trimmed bodice, and a tiered maxi skirt. It's lined but still a little sheer.
Condition: Great!
Honest review: I loved the dress; it was perfect for the party! The only issue was the v-neckline, which had inflexible wires, making it difficult to pair with a bra.
Ronny Kobo Green Satin Top, Retail Value $295, RTR $95
About the designer: Originally from Tel Aviv and raised in Hong Kong, Ronny Kobo's interest in fine art, travel, and culture eventually led her to New York City, where she graduated with a master's degree from NYU. She speaks fluent English, Hebrew, and Spanish.
Ronny started off her career by founding her own line of accessories and ultimately launched the trendsetting apparel brand Torn by Ronny Kobo in 2009. Additionally, she held a seat on the board of Christie’s Auction House. Ronny Kobo's current collections are best known for standout prints, upscale versatility, and timeless silhouettes.
Why I rented it: I needed something green for St. Patrick's Day.
How I styled it: I wore this top to all the festivities in Ocean City, Maryland and since it was kind of chilly and we walked a lot, I wore it with Veronica Beard Flared Jeans, Tecova Cowboy Boots, a Gucci Studded Leather Jacket, and the Chanel 19 Bag.
I also paired it with a leather pencil skirt, a Burberry Patent Leather Bomber Jacket, and a vintage Louis Vuitton Epi Tote.
Size and fit: Crafted in silky satin with a subtle wave-like design, this dressy blouse features a fold-over mock neckline, puffed shoulders, long sleeves with single-button cuffs, open back with hook-and-eye closure, and a cropped and banded hem.
I got a size 6 and it fit perfectly throughout, although the cropped hem was almost a little short on me.
Condition: Great.
Honest review: It worked out perfectly on St. Patrick's Day. It's lightweight, comfy, and eye-catching in a brilliant lime green hue. My only complaint is that the snaps wouldn't stay closed. Oh, go Maryland!
Hemant & Nandita Printed Mini Dress, Retail Value $350, RTR $158
About the designer: Established in 2004, RTW label Hemant & Nandita, has quickly carved a niche for its extremely luxurious yet wearable aesthetic that combines the old with the new. The Hemant & Nandita label is synonymous with an aesthetic that brings together two seemingly disparate sensibilities that share a common vision.
Their seamless ability to blend traditional elements with the contemporary bohemian bits fused with the international silhouettes has since been their stronghold & hallmark. Over the years, brand has carved a niche for itself in the world of fashion with ingenious quirky, witty designs, prints & textures. A beautiful blend of ethnic Indian traditions & contemporary western style, it's also a celebrity favorite.
Why I rented it: It's cute and colorful!
How I styled it: I wore this dress to watch a few March Madness games (yes, I know I was overdressed). I paired it with a Vince Leather Jacket (I paid $22 because The RealReal gave me a $40 off coupon with no minimum purchase, so I paid for shipping and taxes), a vintage Louis Vuitton Cherry Blossoms Bag, Karl Lagerfeld Strappy Pumps, and a pair of Gucci Sunnies from Saks Off Fifth (they were on sale)!
Size and fit: Crafted in a lightweight linen and cotton blend, this print abstract printed mini dress feature a banded backline, puffed shoulders, long sleeves with buttoned cuffs, front button closure, self-tie waist, and embroidered handkerchief hem.
Condition: Great.
Honest review: Super cute, but mental note: Indian designers do not design for women who are 5'11" with a 33" inseam.
Bibhu Mohapatra Collective Puff Sleeve Midi Denim Dress, Retail Value $425, RTR $180
About the designer: While designer Bibhu Mohapatra moved to the U.S. in 1996, his years growing up on the east coast of India in Odisha, formed the expanding spirit of everything he sees and creates. His mother Sashikala, instilled in him at an early age a near obsession with handwork and textiles as well as a deep appreciation for making clothes that function and symbolize something powerful.
As the longtime design director for J.Mendel (before that he spent a year designing at Halston), Bibhu spent a decade honing his knack for strong tailoring balanced with wearable, expressive design.
In January 2010, Bibhu was a finalist in the Women’s Apparel 2010 rising star award presented by the fashion group International. In May 2010 he received the young innovator award from the national arts club, and in June 2010 he became a member of the Council of fashion designers of America. In January 2011, Bibhu received the Ecco Domani fashion foundation award.
Bibhu Mohapatra signed his first licensing deal in 2014 for a namesake fur collection with BC International.
Why I rented it: Needed something new for the office.
How I styled it: I paired this dress with sheer nylons, J. Crew Mary Jane Flats, Aster Maggie Drop Earrings, and the Balenciaga Graffiti Bag. I also tried it with Aquazzura Pumps and a Pinko Jacket.
Size and fit: I got a 6 and it was true to size, if not a tad big on me. This blue denim dress features a crew neckline, lace-up detailed shoulders, short-puffed sleeves with elasticized cuffs, back zip closure, and asymmetrical hem with lace-up detail.
Condition: Great!
Honest review: Very cute and great for work, but there was a something about the design that I didn't love. Maybe it's the asymmetrical hem? It also arrived a little stiff and wrinkled.
Herve Leger Icon Dress, Retail Value $890, RTR $401
About the designer: Hervé Léger is an iconic luxury brand known for its form-fitting, knitted bandage dresses (or body con) that hug every curve of a woman's body. The brand's founder, Herve Peugnet, had previously worked for Chanel, Lanvin, Fendi, Diane von Furstenburg, Chloe, and Swarovski. The famed bandage dresses were inspired by his experiences designing bathing suits and the throwaway seam bindings.
In 1998, the brand was bought by Max Azria (of BCBG fame) and in April 2007, he relaunched the Hervé Léger brand under his own design direction with a capsule summer collection. In February 2008, Max Azria presented the Hervé Léger by Max Azria collection at Bryant Park during the Fall 2008 New York Fashion Week.
Why I rented it: Honestly, I was thinking about wearing it on St. Patrick's Day.
How I styled it: I couldn't wear this dress. It's so stretched out; it needs to be removed from the rental rotation immediately.
Size and fit: Just look at the pic. WTF.
Condition: Average at best.
Honest review: OK, this is ridiculous. I look like a damn peapod. I'm tall with broad shoulders and a wide ribcage and this thing is sliding off me. It's stretched out everywhere and completely unwearable. What a disappointment!
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? The Ulla Johnson dress and Ronny Kobo top worked best for me.
- Did they meet or exceed expectations? No, they didn't exactly meet or exceed 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
So, RTR is making all these corporate changes to be more profitable and offer better service to customers, but it's about time they take a good hard look at their stock and get rid of the pieces that are in bad shape, torn, stretched out, or permanently stained. I had high hopes for the Herve dress, but it fit like a Glade trash bag.
Despite my negative experience with the Herve dress, the first customer service rep was helpful and understanding, and she offered me a replacement spot. I sent them the pic with my bra hanging out and she laughed and said it's unacceptable, and they'll take it out of rotation too. They asked me to return the dress immediately and they'll open up an extra spot for me. Since my entire shipment was kind of a bust, I returned everything and chose my next batch.
Well, to my unpleasant surprise, there were only five open spots. I contacted RTR again to find out what happened to my replacement spot (#6) and was told my membership only allows me to keep 5 items at a time. Allegedly the replacement item would've been the 6th, so they couldn't give it to me. Grr!!!! I fought back and said that's not fair because I technically miss out on a spot for the month, but I lost the battle.
The other reason I wasn't thrilled with my shipment was due to the weather. I stupidly assumed the weather would be nice and warm, but it was too chilly to wear most of the items I rented. SIGH! Hopefully I'll have better luck with the next shipment.
OK, real talk, my hair is breaking and falling out. Not only is it growing faster on the right side, but the pieces on the left are breaking in half and I don't know what to do! Last year I figured it was a fluke and whomever cut my hair made a mistake, but now I see it's an issue with me.
Is it perimenopause? Stress? Lingering trauma from what I went through with my ex? I've never had this problem before. So, I Googled like crazy and here are the steps I'm taking for now.
- Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3: Yikes! I know all about the lawsuits, and while they're definitely a concern, I did a bunch of research and I'm willing to give it a shot. Will I regret it? Only time will tell. If I suddenly start wearing wigs, you'll know why. I'm much more willing to try this than board a Boeing 737-MAX.
- Wavytalk Hair Dryer: I've used the same old Conair hairdryer (that may sometimes spark) for years and it's probably about to catch on fire. After researching and reading dozens of reviews, I landed on Wavytalk. Sure, that Dyson hairdryer is amazing, but not for nearly $500. Oh, and I will no longer blast the heat directly on my hair, keep it cooler, and use the diffuser instead of throwing it in the trash.
- L'Oreal Paris Bond Repair Shampoo and Conditioner: I considered Olaplex Shampoo and Conditioner, but the reviews said they weren't worth it at all—plus, hair loss and apparently it makes your hair feel like hay. Great, give Mr. HGL a reason to eat my hair.
- CHI 44 IronGuard Thermal Protectant Spray: This jaded former beauty editor doubts the effectiveness of any heat protectant spray (seems more like a marketing gimmick than an actual remedy), but desperate times call for desperate measures. CHI had great reviews and I won't break the bank to spritz my tresses with a bottle of fancy, fortified water.
- Revlon Straightening Iron: I'm not ready to chuck my Revlon Straightener, but I'll quit using it at 450 degrees...and reduce the heat to 370. Turns out you can teach an old dog new tricks. Woof.
Have any advice you'd like to share? Obviously if it's hormones, there's not much I can do, but if it's because I've treated my hair like crap since 2020, perhaps I can repair it.
If my hair starts falling out in clumps due to Olaplex, I'll let you know. And if it completely restores my hair, I'll suggest it. Not gonna lie, I'm a little nervous. But I know about the Grande Lash lawsuit (hell, I even submitted my info for the settlement $$), but it's worked perfectly for me, I love it, and I've had no issues.
Months ago, I mentioned using Rogaine on my eyebrows to help them grow back, but I was scared it might lighten my eyebrow microblading. Well, just a few weeks in and my "eyebrows" started lightening up, so I gave it to my sister who has natural brows, and she hasn't noticed much of a difference.
Needless to say, I'm as skeptical about beauty products as I am about men. Actually, I'm more skeptical of men. LOL! That "Are We Dating the Same Guy" Facebook group (and maybe my own personal experiences) have ruined my faith in them!
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 $153,315.
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