What I’m Wearing This Week: Armoire

Hello and Happy 5th of July! Hope you all had a lovely day and got to see some fireworks. I debated hopping on the subway to see the fireworks on the Mall, but the crowds were just too crazy. And honestly, I don't feel super safe in large crowds anymore.

Anyway, let's check out Armoire!

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 $101,958 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 Hutch, Ted Baker and ASTR the Label arrived fresh from the dry cleaner, neatly folded, and sealed in a shipping bag.

Hutch Monty One-Shoulder Dress, Retail Value $198, Armoire $158

About the Designer: Launched in 2010 by New York native Daniel Saponaro, Hutch is a women's contemporary line designed in NYC and recognized for easy, feminine pieces that are bold yet flattering and versatile.

Opting for timelessness over trendy, as a rule, every style shows Daniel's vision and love for bright colors, conceptual prints, and a toned-down sexy sophistication. Now carried in over 220 boutiques nationwide, Hutch has been profiled by WWD and seen in magazines like InStyle and People Stylewatch.

For ten years, before launching Hutch, Daniel resided at luxury evening and contemporary companies alike, designing for Heidi Weisel, Samantha Treacy, Isaac Mizrahi and Thread Social, among others. Brooklyn born and a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC and the Instituto Polimoda in Florence, Italy. Daniel lives in Brooklyn with his husband Kyle and their long-haired Dachshunds, Rusty and Moxley.

Why I rented: Barbie pink has quickly become one of my favorite colors.

How I styled it: I wore this dress to Hip Flask at the Marriott (only one of the best rooftop bars in the DC area) and paired it with Mignonne Gavigan Lorenza Floral earrings, the Louis Vuitton Cherry Blossom satchel, and Karl Lagerfeld Strappy pumps.

Size and fit: I ordered a medium and the design was a bit odd. It fit well on the bodice, but the waist and hip area gathered in weird spots and caused some bumps.

This one-shoulder dress is crafted in a floral velvet burnout design with an asymmetrical, one-shoulder neckline, side-zip closure, slightly elasticized waist, ruched waist and hip, and an asymmetrical hem.

Condition: Great.

Honest review: Loved the color and design, but the fit was a little off. The way it twisted on my body and gathered on the side had me constantly trying to fix and straighten it. It needs a more lining or some shapewear to smooth it out.

Hutch Joslin Halter Maxi, Retail Value $298, Armoire $234

Why I rented it: The colors, print and design immediately caught my eye!

How I styled it: I kept it simple. Kendall Scott Layne Metal earrings, the Prada Bunny clutch, and a pair of Tabitha Simmons Floral Laser-Cut leather pumps.

Size and fit: I got a 6 and it fit like an 8. Oversized in the waist and bust, but I still made it work.

Crafted in cotton sateen, this halter maxi dress is blooming with a floral print! It features an adjustable crisscross halter neckline with back button closure, fitted bodice with keyhole detail, back zip closure, tiered skirt, ruffled trim, and a front slit. It's fully lined and more elegant in person than it looks in pictures.

Condition: Brand new with tags.

Honest review: It's a heavier fabric for the summer, but very well made. The colors are brilliant, the ruffled trim is darling, and I love the crisscross neck. I just wish I knew to size down.

Ted Baker Immia Halter Tie Midi Dress, Retail Value $120, Armoire $102

About the Designer: Having launched as a shirt specialist of some repute in Glasgow Ted Baker quickly became the place to buy some of the very best contemporary men's shirting around.

From the beginning Ted has had a very clear, unswerving, focus on quality, attention to detail and a quirky sense of humour, so much so in fact that the first stores used to provide a laundry service for every shirt purchased – something that gained the quickly growing brand the title of ‘No Ordinary Designer Label’. Everything produced under the Ted Baker name has his personality woven into its very heart.

Why I rented it: It screamed SUMMER!

How I styled it: You're going to laugh, but I wore this dress to work with the Pinko blazer, Ulla Johnson sandals, and a Louis Vuitton tote, and then removed the jacket for our team backyard BBQ afterwards.

Size and fit: Rendered in textured satin, this tie-neck swing dress features an oversized floral print, a self-tie belt and twirl-ready skirt. It's designed to be boxy and a little oversized, so the 6 I rented fit just fine.

Condition: Great.

Honest review: Perfect dress for the summer! But the material doesn't breathe so it'll trap heat and warm you up quickly if you're outside.

Unfortunately, Ted Baker just filed for bankruptcy in North America, so you may find some good deals at the stores.

ASTR the Label Santorini One-Shoulder Dress, Retail Value $120, Armoire $102

About the Designer: Taking inspiration from the latest trends and affinity for all things feminine, the creative collective behind ASTR The Label aims to immerse their customers into a world of effortless beauty. Since 2012, the brand has stood as a wearable interpretation of attainable style for all occasions. Featuring distinctive looks that exude romance, ASTR The Label offers collections that are recognized for their quality and unique combination of contemporary sophistication, versatility and chic design. By catering to the fashion needs of the #ASTRBabe, our collections continually feature on-trend and thoughtfully crafted garments for the modern woman.

Why I rented it: I was curious, and the design and colors caught my eye.

How I styled it: I paired this dress with Lele Sadoughi's Crystal Lily earrings, a vintage Chanel bag, and my new Saks Fifth Avenue Kitten heels!

Size and fit: I ordered a large because everyone said it ran small, but the dress was almost too big on me. Crafted in luxe polyester (haha), this frilly dress features a one-shoulder neckline with puffed sleeve, side-zip closure, fitted bodice with defined waist, and a midi skirt with handkerchief hem.

Condition: Great.

Honest review: A bit dressy for everyday wear, but I loved the 80s flair.

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 equal wear out of every piece, but the 80s prom dress.
• Did they meet or exceed expectations? Exceeded expectations.
• What’s the return process like? Place the items in the bag, seal it up and that's it!

FINAL THOUGHTS

Story time—update! Found some photos! 😅

So, it was my Notre Dame Fighting Irish hat, not James Madison. And the shots are called chocolate cake which is Frangelico and Absolut Citron, and we drank them like water. As for my bangs, I cut them myself. All the models had these amazing curtain bangs, but I had zero dollars and couldn't afford a haircut so when I came in from the clubs one night, I took scissors and cut them myself.

And to think I ended up with a Mr. Big the next year (that story is for a future post) for about 8 years who took me to all the fancy spots looking like Raggedy Ann.

The other day I met a girl who lived in NYC around the same time as me (she was smart and left after 5 years, not 14!) and we traded stories. She was in a totally different industry, so she didn't get to experience the craziness of fashion events, club openings, brand launch parties (Jessica Simpson's Dessert launch party was the BEST!), and even Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries' wedding reception—totally fake and made for TV.

The convo started while discussing the work ethics of Gen Z versus Gen X (us) and how they call out with a hangnail, and we'd roll into the office in an ambulance if we had to. Even if you were legitimately sick in NYC, you could not call out, ever! So, calling out with a hangover was never an option.

I have wild stories and I'll write some down as I remember them, but this one stuck in my mind because it was 4th of July weekend in 2002. My bestie/roommate and I tore up the town pretty much every night of the week, and the second a new club or lounge opened, we'd be in line at 1am—didn't matter if it was Monday night, Wednesday or Friday. We just had to see Lindsay Lohan stumble out the front door or dance next to Paris Hilton on a banquet.

As you can imagine, we met some pretty interesting people. Back then we didn't have a smartphone, so we'd have to talk to each other (gasp!) and that made meeting men way easier and more fun! All we needed was a cocktail napkin and a pen, and we had dates set up for the next month or longer.

We attended the opening party of some club in West Chelsea where we got picked up by a group of wealthy men. We scribbled our numbers down on a cocktail napkin and crossed our fingers! Neither of us remember getting home that night, but it was a Thursday, and I don't think I had to go into Cosmopolitan Magazine for my internship the next morning, so we probably stayed out until the sun came up.

The next day, this guy named Mike called us to invite us on his yacht in the Hamptons. We had never been there but heard so many amazing things—of course we said yes! So, these guys picked us up on Saturday at 8am in a huge black limo and we drove out to Southhampton with a bunch of strangers (yes, we took lots of chances and we're lucky to be alive), but everyone was really nice and well mannered.

Got to the Hamptons by 11am and hopped right on the yacht, which was huge, fully catered, and packed with models. I must've looked like Raggedy Ann in my horrible denim skirt, a torn James Madison baseball cap, and an $18 top from Old Navy. SIGH.

Mike showed us to the toilet and then handed us Bloody Mary's which were full of vodka with a splash of mix. "Bottoms up, ladies!"

Claire warned me about drinking too much. "We've got a really long day ahead of us. Pace yourself!" But I proceeded to get trashed by like 3pm and then puked because I had zero self-control and motion sickness, so I passed out on the floor next to one of the beds downstairs. Classy!

Mike came down around 5pm to wake me up. "We're going to dinner and then hitting the clubs!" I drug myself out of bed and threw on a baby blue tube dress from Express and grabbed my Canal Street "Louis Vuitton" bag—just me supporting the counterfeit market, you know! We piled back into the stretch limo and drove to dinner and then hit two hotspots: Jet East and Conscience Point.

By midnight, I was half dead and dancing on the banquet at Conscience Point next to a group of investment bankers. Don't remember a damn thing, but I did fall off, and have pics that I'll add to the post when I go home this weekend.

After God knows how many bottles of champagne, vodka and wine, we got back into the limo and went to Jet East. It had to have been around 3am at that point... I shiver just thinking about it. Well, I collapsed on the floor and got kicked out, so roomie had to leave with me.

We somehow got to Main Street in Southhampton and passed out on wooden benches across the street from each other and in front of an old movie theater. We looked like total scrubs. Around 6am we were woken up by beeping and screaming. An old man who lived in the town drove up in his 1930s pickup truck covered in rust, yelled and told us to get in! So, we did. The beginning of a horror movie?

He asked where we were going, and we said we needed to catch the Hampton Jitney bus back to the city because I remembered I had to work a waitressing job at 3pm on the Upper West Side! Whoops. So, he drove us to the bus stop and screamed at us the entire time.

"You girls and your trashy friends have ruined our once quiet community! You are a disgrace to the townspeople, and we don't want to ever see you here again!"

So, he dropped us off at the stop and we had to wait a good two hours to catch the bus, so we again passed out on benches, and I puked in a potted plant.

Finally got on the Jitney to head back to the city, when I realized I left my old school Nokia phone on the bench, but it was too late. On the way back, a Corvette cut off the bus, which swerved to miss it, ran down an embankment and knocked over a fire hydrant which sprayed water all over everyone on that side of the bus. Of course, it was us.

So, we had to get off and wait for the police and a new bus. So much for a nap before my shift! At this point I was still drunk, so the deathly hangover had not yet hit me until the new bus arrived. The bus did NOT have a toilet, so I puked in my fake bag. Louis Vuitton is now known as Louis Ew-VOM.

We finally got back to the city and got off early because we could walk faster than it was moving and at that point I was running late. As soon as we got off, my friend realized she left her wallet on the bus, so we had to SPRINT up First Avenue to catch the bus many blocks ahead and was luckily able to get her stuff.

We got home, changed and I went to work. It was the absolute worst hangover of my entire life. Sun poisoning + a hangover + motion sickness (still felt like I was on the boat) = BRUTAL. I got to my shift and started crying. I was pretty certain I belonged in a hospital, so I begged to leave, one of the girls covered me, and I walked to myself to Mount Sinai.

They discharged me after a dehydration episode... the emergency room visit (I didn't have insurance), plus a new phone cost me thousands of dollars. Oh, we never saw those guys again.

And that was 4th of July weekend in 2002. 🎇🎆 I have the photos at my mom's. I'll look for them over the weekend so you can see how I tried to cut my own bangs too!

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 $103,530!

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