Hello, every bun and hoppy Fri-Yay! It's been a hectic week—I caught a bad cold that's been flying through my office, so I haven't done much at all in the past two weeks. Now I'm recovered, and Mr. HGL got a haircut so he's looking all snazzy, and we're ready to party!
Hard to believe we've already been in the new place for a month, and I feel like I'm still only about 80% set up. I've already spent too much money and my commute home from the office is pretty costly too, thanks to the standstill traffic on 495. Sigh!
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 Toccin x RTR, Caroline Constas, Chiara Boni La Petite Robe, Amur, and Shoshanna arrived fresh from the dry cleaner, on the hanger, and sealed in plastic bags.
THE GOODS
Toccin x RTR Zebra Print Smocked Maxi Dress, Retail Value $495, RTR $445
About the designer: Tocci x RTR is an exclusive collaboration between the two brands.
TOCCIN began with the mission to make women feel more confident, comfortable, and stylish. Michael and Alex Toccin honed insights from years in the fashion industry, and as a couple living in New York, to design the right elevated essentials for women on the go. From luxurious knits to tailored blazers, to dresses for work or special occasions, their collections are designed for the lives women lead today.
Why I rented it: It's been on my wish list for a few months and now the weather is perfect for it!
How I styled it: I wore this dress to the Alexandria Bier Garden and paired it with Mignonne Gavigan Micro Madeline Earrings, Ulla Johnson Strappy Sandals, and the Chanel 19. I also wore this dress to the office and threw on the Pinko Blazer and carried a vintage LV tote.
Size and fit: I got a medium and while it was a little oversized in bust and a tad short, it was a good fit. This lightweight zebra-print dress is rendered in Georgette satin with a halter neckline with tie closure, plunge v-neckline, back zip closure, elasticized and smocked waist, side slash pockets, and a flowing hem. It's lined, but still a little sheer.
Condition: Great.
Honest review: Loved it and got tons of wear. Easy, breezy and stylish too!
Caroline Constas Finley Dress, Retail Value $495, RTR $320
About the Designer: For creative director Caroline Constas, wanderlust is a way of life, inspiring her namesake line of jet set-ready pieces. Her whimsical off-the-shoulder silhouettes and weightless cotton fabrics have been flattering women’s frames since 2015. Her ethereal designs translate in both ready-to-wear and swim collections which are made for the modern-day globetrotter.
Caroline’s Greek American heritage and extensive travels throughout the world adorn each collection with an effortless sense of glamour. CAROLINE CONSTAS re-imagines the Mediterranean lifestyle season after season and is dedicated to the destination bound woman.
Why I rented it: I've admired her designs on The RealReal for years and finally got to try a dress.
How I styled it: I wore this dress to my sister's birthday party at Nick's Fish House (twice) and paired it with a Kendra Scott Maya necklace, Rocksbox hoops, Ferragamo Gavina Block-Heeled sandals, and the Chanel 19.
Size and fit: I got a 6/8 and it fit more like a 6 than an 8. Crafted in a crisp organic cotton blend, this dainty polka dot dress features a square neckline, puffed sleeves with self-tie cuffs, smocked bodice (easy to pull on and take off), dropped waist, and a tiered ruffle hem.
Condition: Great.
Honest review: A little too young and short for me, but I loved it anyway. The colors are bright and cheery.
Chiara Boni La Petite Robe Lilli Print Dress, Retail Value $750, RTR $300
About the Designer: Born in Florence, a liceo linguistico graduate, in 1971, Boni opened her first clothing and accessories boutique, "You Tarzan Me Jane" in her hometown. A member of the group UFO (Urban Future Organization), in 1973 she got her first magazine cover on Domus. In 1975, she launched her first couture collection. In 1985, following an agreement with the Gruppo Finanziario Tessile (Gft), she founded the company Chiara Boni Spa and launched her eponymous brand. In 2008, she launched "Chiara Boni Girl" and "La Petite Robe" collections.
Boni's neo-avantgarde style is characterized by the use of stretch or soft materials, notably spandex and organza. Known for her often provocative fashion shows, in the 1990s, she was one of the first stylists to organize a fashion show fully consisting of transsexual models, and she brought pornstars Moana Pozzi and Éva Henger onto the catwalk.
Why I rented it: I've never tried anything by Chiara Boni, and I see her designs in places like Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
How I styled it: I pulled a Day-to-Night Barbie move with this dress and I wore it to the office and out afterward to Patsy's. I paired it with chain-link drop earrings and a matching necklace, a Gucci Studded Leather jacket, Saint Laurent Sac de Jour tote, and a pair of Tabitha Simons Laser-Cut pumps.
Size and fit: Rendered in brocade-printed jersey (felt like neoprene), this slim-fitting sheath dress has a sweetheart neckline, thin shoulder straps and it's a pull-on design.
It was totally stretched out in the butt, and I almost couldn't wear it.
Condition: Worn, stretched out and ready to be retired.
Honest review: I discovered it's been stretched out so many times, they've had to take in the shoulder straps about an inch and a half. It was worn, the hips and butt were huge, and the fabric was thinner than I expected. RTR needs to retire it.
Amur Holland Tie Pleated Maxi Dress, Retail Value $598, RTR $420
About the Designer: Designed for now and what's next; AMUR is rewriting the narrative of responsible dressing. Learn more about our efforts towards a more sustainable future.
Why I rented it: I had never seen it before!
How I styled it: I got a lot of wear out of this dress and wore it back to Nick's Fish House for round two of my sister's birthday festivities. I paired it with Mignonne Gavigan Safi studs and her Kaya Crystal hoops, Alexander Birman Suede wedges, and the Fendi Fendista Pochette crossbody.
Size and fit: I got a 6 and it was a little snug up top. This pleated maxi was designed in recycled polyester chiffon with a square neckline, spaghetti straps, top side zip closure, back zip closure, tie-detailed waist, pleated maxi skirt. It's fully lined and heavier than expected.
Condition: Great.
Honest review: Aside from being a little small, I loved the dress, the pleats, the cutouts, and the print.
Shoshanna Bayard Dress, Retail Value $595, RTR $210
About the designer: Shoshanna Gruss is the founder and creative director of Shoshanna, her eponymous collection which debuted in stores in November 1998. Gruss revolutionized dress departments nationwide with the launch of her first collection. Her dedication to fitting and flattering the female body while indulging in whimsical details were a refreshing change from the contemporary offerings of the moment. Gruss continued to make waves in the marketplace with the launch of her swimwear collection in the Spring of 2001. She was the first to pioneer a change in the swimwear industry by selling tops and bottoms as separates with lingerie inspired sizing.
Gruss was born and raised in Manhattan where she honed her personal aesthetic and developed her eye for the distinctive details that have come to epitomize her collection. After graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles with degrees in History and Art History, Gruss eschewed from the prescribed career path and chose to explore her interests in fashion at the ground level, working at a lingerie factory. This experience provided an invaluable education in design, fabric sourcing and garment construction. Armed with her newly acquired knowledge, Gruss was able to create a collection of dresses that spoke to her personal fashion frustrations.
Why I rented it: Meh, I couldn't find anything else.
How I styled it: I didn't end up wearing this dress because it was too much for work, and too much for going out during Memorial Day weekend. I paired it with Nicholas Kirkwood Block-Heeled sandals and a vintage Chanel bag.
Size and fit: I got a size 6 and it definitely runs on the smaller size in the bust area. This floral lace embroidered sleeveless dress features a crewneck, back zip closure, semi sheer panels, shirred waist, and tulle hem.
Condition: Great!
Honest review: It's a stunning dress that's artfully designed with floral embroidery, but it wasn't my fave.
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 Toccin, Caroline Costas and Amur dresses were amazing!
- Did they meet or exceed expectations? They met 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
The more people who sign up for RTR, the fewer clothing options. I have probably 500 summer items on my wish list and had about 125 available pieces. The pickings are getting slimmer, and it seems they're holding onto some of the best items for one-time rentals.
And then there are the items that have been in rotation for years (maybe close to 8 or 10) and they're really showing their wear and tear. How many more super stretched out items do I have to endure before they finally take them out of rotation?
Then there's The Vault which are luxury black tie pieces for one-time rentals, and it makes perfect sense if you have a very special event, but they're otherwise unavailable and can cost you up to $800 for four days. Hmm.
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 $169,892.
Do you subscribe to Rent the Runway? Let us know what you think down below!
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