What I’m Wearing This Week: Armoire

Happy Friday, everyone. The other day, I scrolled through my photos and realized I have many Armoire items to review. The bunny—they called him Freddie, but I'm leaning towards Dolce—is still incredibly skittish and moody. He hides from me, has attacked the wall, dug up the rug, eaten a small hole underneath the sofa, and bit me so hard, he drew blood! Maybe I should call him Bunnicula.

I'm trying to be patient, calm, and understanding, but he's a real handful! I took him to get a haircut two weeks ago and the groomer said she thinks he's just around 1 year old—she also commented on his timidness and attitude problem.

Geez, Mr. HGL really was an angel. I really want to get Fred/Dolce/Houdini/Bunnicula a friend, and I feel like it may help, but at the same time, I'm worried he'll attack the bunny too. Sigh. I miss Mr. HGL. He is in a few of this week's photos because I took them while he was still with me.

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 Farm Rio, Hutch, Badgley Mischka, and Milly arrived fresh from the dry cleaner, neatly folded, and sealed in a shipping bag.

Farm Rio Piping Cutout Midi Dress, Retail Value $230, Armoire $189

About the Designer: With over 20 years of history, FARM is Brazil’s most beloved clothing and lifestyle brand. The story began in 1997 in Rio at a local independent fashion market called Babilonia Feira Hype where founders Katia Barros and Marcello Bastos took their chances on launching a clothing line that embodies the feminine spirit and vibrant colors of Rio.

Brazilians quickly fell in love with the brand, the booth became a store, that grew into more stores, and now FARM is Brazil’s most recognized brand.

Why I rented: Work, work, work.

How I styled it: I wore this dress with Ferragamo Gavina Sandals, Etsy Chain-Link Earrings, and the Louis Vuitton Graffiti Speedy.

Size and fit: I got a medium, and this dress fit true to size. The fabric was very silky. It features a crew neckline, puffed three-quarter sleeves, pleated bodice, back-zip closure, and a keyhole cutout with a beaded tassel pull.

Condition: Great.

Honest review: It wrinkled easily, and the keyhole tie kept coming undone! But I loved the color.

Hutch Alden Wrap Maxi Dress, Retail Value $230, Armoire $143

About the Designer: Established in 2010 by New York native Daniel Saponaro, Hutch is a women's contemporary fashion brand headquartered in NYC. Renowned for its effortless, feminine designs, the brand is celebrated for creating bold, flattering, and versatile pieces. Every garment reflects Daniel's passion for vibrant colors, imaginative prints, and timeless elegance. The brand takes pride in its commitment to size inclusivity, ensuring that their fashion-forward styles cater to diverse body shapes and sizes. Hutch is now carried in over 350 boutiques nationwide and sold on Nordstrom, Anthropologie, RentTheRunway, Nully, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdales starting in 2024. Hutch is not only loved by their customers but has been worn by A-List celebrities such as Lucy Hale, Iskra Lawrence, Mary Fitzgerald, and Shanina Shaik. 

Why I rented it: I needed something else.

How I styled it: I paired this maxi dress with Mignonne Gavigan Floral Cutout Earrings, Tabitha Simmons Laser-Cut Pumps, and a vintage Chanel Bag. And a fluffy white bunny ☹

Size and fit: This printed dress reminds me of a butterfly! It features spaghetti straps, a V-neckline, a wrap-around tie closure, and a front opening. I got a medium, which ran a little larger... probably because the tie kept coming undone.

Condition: Great.

Honest review: The wrap wouldn't stay closed, I didn't love the print, and it was a little dowdy.

Badgley Mischka Strappy Cage Waist Sheath Dress, Retail Value $130, Armoire $110

About the Designer: Mark Badgley and James Mischka have been hailed by Vogue as one of the “Top 10 American Designers” and as the darlings of the Hollywood set. The design duo has made their mark over the past three decades with glamorous, stylish and wearable evening wear and accessories.

There is a unique synergy between the talented duo, who met while studying at Parsons School of Design in New York. They share a similar aesthetic about clothes and the way people dress. Both men spent time designing for leading names — Mark for Donna Karan; James, the men's collection for WilliWear WilliSmith — before starting their own line.

Mark and James joined forces to launch Badgley Mischka in 1988 and since the beginning Badgley Mischka have captivated the fashion press and prominent retailers around the world with their sophisticated style that caters to a younger, more modern couture customer, without forsaking women of any age. They have remained true to this design philosophy and the consistent integrity of their collections. Their timeless designs appeal to a range of fashionable women, including Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Sharon Stone, Jennifer Garner, Julia Roberts, Kate Winslet, Sarah Jessica Parker, Helen Mirren and Ashley Judd.

Why I rented it: I needed something sleek and sexy. And the color caught my eye.

How I styled it: I paired this dress with a Pucci Scarf, Karl Lagerfeld Strappy Pumps, and a Louis Vuitton Cherry Blossoms Satchel.

Size and fit: I got a 6, and the dress was slightly oversized in the waist. I expected the caging to lie flat, but it bunched up instead. This sheath dress features a square neckline, cross-back spaghetti straps, back-zip closure, cutout cage waist, knee-length skirt, and back vent.

Condition: Brand new with tags.

Honest review: I loved the dress! But the caging (cutouts) were oversized and didn't lie on my body very well. And the hanging straps kept poking out of the openings, so I had to double-side tape them to the inside.

Milly Atalie Cady V-Neck Mini Dress, Retail Value $365, Armoire $255

About the Designer: Combining Parisian atelier techniques with New York energy, MILLY offers a bold twist on classic styles that elevate the modern high-endwoman’s wardrobe. Every season at MILLY is a new chance to be the life of the party, with high end women's clothing ranging from dresses and swimwear to tops, pants, coats, and blazers for every occasion. From work to cocktail hour, weddings, and vacations, MILLY always has you covered with our best high-end women’s-selling staples made for standing out—the coolest mix of timeless and on-trend signature styles.

Why I rented it: I planned to wear this to the office.

How I styled it: I paired this dress with a vintage studded leather belt, Ferragamo Gavina Sandals, a Hermes Clic-Clac Bracelet, and a Balenciaga Graffiti Bag.

Size and fit: Milly has been on my radar for about 15 years, and back in NYC, I felt like her designs were too preppy for me. Now, I really like them. This brilliant mini dress features a v-neckline, short, puffed sleeves, back-zip, and keyhole button closure. It's fully lined, and the fabric is really nice!

I got a 6 and it was a perfect fit, except for being too short for work.

Condition: Brand new with tags.

Honest review: It's a beautiful color and design, but it was too short to wear to the office.

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 wore each piece once.
• 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 keep thinking I'm OK, but I realize I'm not when put in certain situations. Before the pandemic hit, I was a social butterfly. My goal was to meet as many people as possible and collect all the friends I could handle, but now I'm introverted. The past few days, we had a work conference, and I felt like a cardboard cutout. I'm physically present in life, but these days, I feel like my mind is floating in the clouds.

Small talk is painful, and I have difficulty relating to people. Is it depression? Is it age? Have I just lost faith in people? I don't know. Of course, some of this involves losing Mr. HGL and the uphill battle we're facing with my dad's Aphasia, but everything feels pointless these days. And as for dating...

I recently met two guys who seemed to have potential. The first one, aged 54, told me he spends $6K on top-shelf tequila bottles whenever he goes to a nightclub — his response after I told him I spent over $6K to keep Mr. HGL alive in 2023. He owns a law firm in DC and NYC, but I do not want to date a guy who still acts like he's 25. Comparing Mr. HGL's life to a bottle of tequila was rude and pompous. I'm not impressed!

Then, I met another guy at my friend's birthday party. Despite having many friends in common, we'd never met before, and I was excited to discover more about him. After dating a slew of "entrepreneurs", I was thrilled to find out he'd worked for the same company for the past 14 years. Longevity, commitment, and stability are vital these days! He's also a year older than me, fit, tall, attractive, and funny, and we have similar backgrounds and values. Could he be the one?

During our 3rd date, he told me the CCP and the Chinese Mafia were after him. Why? He worked for a Taiwanese tech company and allegedly witnessed something shady, so he was forced to quit his job. So much for stability, huh? He said when he talked to his boss about it, he was told to go see a therapist.

He claims the CCP hacked into his phone, laptop, email, Alexa, Google search bar, and Bose system. They allegedly left threatening messages in his Echo Dot and blasted creepy versions of the Sopranos theme song out of his Bose speakers. They'll call him, whisper on the other end, and leave mumbling voicemails. He keeps changing his phone number and then puts his phone on airplane mode for days on end.

The only time I ever stepped foot into his place, he showed me his machete and told me about the guns under his bed. He's prepared to fight off the bad guys and sleeps on the floor because he's worried they'll break into his place in the middle of the night. Paging Bruce Willis in Die Hard!

SIGH. So, let's say he's telling the truth—the CCP and Chinese Mafia are after him because he witnessed something shady at a microchip factory in Taiwan, and they're trying to scare him into silence. Well, there have been quite a few unexplained "suicides" and "accidents" in DC rumored to be connected to China, Russia, and former politicians. What happens if they really are after him and we're out in public or I stay over, and they bust into his place for real? This is dangerous!

And if it's all in his head... double yikes. I cannot fix another man.

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 $106,232!

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