What I’m Wearing This Week: Armoire

Hey, y'all! How about this weather? It's been freezing and dreary here since before Christmas, and I'm over it! I have zero motivation, energy, or brainpower. All I want to do is doom scroll on my phone and hide from the world. I can't wait for the day when I can pack up and move somewhere that's almost always warm and sunny... hello, Florida.

I keep searching for new ways to block the buns from getting underneath the couch, but they constantly outsmart me! Mr. HGL was not this clever or smart, or maybe he was so content, he didn't need to destroy things and search for a way to escape.

I've only got Armoire right now, and the pickings are slim—mainly because I've rented most items and the new ones are always a season too soon.

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 $113,007 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 Reiss, Staud, Avec Les Filles, and Steve Madden arrived fresh from the dry cleaner, neatly folded, and sealed in a shipping bag.

Reiss Macey Velvet Cutout Midi Dress, Retail Value $240, Armoire $204

About the designer: Launched in 1971, REISS opened in Bishopsgate, London selling men's tailoring. In 1997, they hired an in-house design team, and in 1998 they opened stores across the UK and Ireland. From there they launched womenswear, opened international stores, personal tailoring and shopping services, and a childrenswear division.

Why I rented: For NYE!

How I styled it: I paired this dress with a B-low-the-Belt belt, floral earrings, a feather hairclip, a vintage Chanel bag, and Charlotte Olympia pumps.

Size and fit: I got a 6 and aside from being a little short on me, it was a great fit.

This dress is crafted in plush velvet with a cutout asymmetrical neckline, long sleeves, back-zip closure, and back vent. It's lined and cozy like a nightgown.

Condition: Brand new with tags.

Honest review: Even though the midi length was more knee-length on me, it was very plush, elegant and timeless. I normally think Reiss runs a little big, but this dress was a perfect fit!

Staud Edna Ribbed Knit Maxi Dress, Retail Value $295, Armoire $192

About the Designer: Staud, founded by Sarah Staudinger in 2015, is a Los Angeles-based fashion brand that has quickly gained a reputation for its chic, accessible, and contemporary designs. Staudinger, who previously worked as the fashion director for Reformation, created Staud to fill a gap in the market for high-quality, stylish clothing that sits between luxury and fast fashion.

Why I rented it: Another day, another brand-new Staud dress.

How I styled it: I paired it with Rocksbox hoops, Kendra Scott Maya Necklace, Tamara Mellon strappy pump, the Chanel 19, and a Gucci studded leather jacket.

Size and fit: Crafted in a stretchy ribbed-knit blend, this striped dress features a round neckline, long sleeves, a back keyhole cutout with button closure, and a side slit.

I got a medium, and the fit was perfect—almost like it was designed just for me.

Condition: Brand new with tags.

Honest review: It's a great dress. Slimming, stylish, and super soft. It was just a little too cold in the DMV for an open back and it was difficult to hide the strapless bra.

Avec Les Filles Faux-Ever Fit & Flare Dress, Retail Value $119, Armoire $80

About the Designer: We’re AVEC LES FILLES, or “With the Girls”, en français. We launched in 2017 with a mission to offer trend-driven fashion that is distinctive and personal, yet versatile and accessible.

RETRO ★ STREET ★ RUNWAY

Our aesthetic style is based on three pillars: retro details, street influence, and runway inspiration. We are sure to have something that speaks to your authentic style. We are the culmination of “je ne sais quoi” style that Parisians innately possess. Born in LA, living in NYC, and inspired by Parisian chic, we were made for the world. We’re constantly evolving to fit your lifestyle, but we’ll always remain true to our values. 

Why I rented it: Ran out of items to rent.

How I styled it: I wore this dress as a pinafore or jumper and paired it with a Roksanda turtleneck, a studded leather belt, Kat Maconie ankle boots, the Pinko jacket and the Givenchy Nightengale Bag.

Size and fit: I got a medium, which was huge at the waist, even with a thick, heavy turtleneck. Crafted in plastic, this dress is sleeveless and has a scoop neck, back-zip closure, a princess-seamed bodice, a gathered waist, and a full skirt.

Condition: Good.

Honest review: I really liked this look, but it was a bit worn and stretched out.

Steve Madden Maureen Floral Print Mesh Dress, Retail Value $119, Armoire $80

About the 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: I really like Steve Madden clothing.

How I styled it: I paired this dress with Rocksbox leaf earrings, an Etsy gold-tone belt, AGL d'Orsay pumps, a Chanel bag, and a vintage fox fur jacket.

Size and fit: I got a medium, and it had a weird fit. It was twisted and stretched out on top, but the bottom fit perfectly. I had to twist it around a few times to lay it correctly. It's a pull-over design crafted in a mesh polyester and spandex combo. It features a ruched mockneck, gathered bodice, long sleeves, semi-sheer sleeves and hem.

Condition: Like new.

Honest review: I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Steve Madden makes nice, stylish clothing at a great price.

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 definitely got the most wear out of the Staud 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

I have a few good stories, but I'll wait until next time and focus on Armoire today. They're always adding new items to their rotation, which is excellent, but I still run out of pieces to try. In the past few months, I've ordered clothes that look great in the photos but arrive slightly damaged, too worn, or smell like cigarettes (people still smoke?). So, I'll throw them back in the shipping bag and return them immediately.

There are positives and negatives to their unlimited wardrobe option. If you receive an item you love, you can keep it for a long time, but I find myself receiving and returning items way more often than keeping them. Just like Rent the Runway, Armoire has a lot of pieces still in rotation from 2021, and I have a hard time imagining that they're still in good enough shape to rent out after hundreds of wears. But it's pricey! If it's not your style, you're not going to get much bang for your buck. (Sounds like the matchmakers I just hired to help me weed out the wacky men in this town).

Also, Armoire's style isn't exactly my style, so I really have to comb through the site to find things I really like. When I score something cool, I may hold on to it for two months. Sorry, not sorry. I know clothing rentals are tricky, and I'm not quite sure how you can make a profit without band-aiding pieces and sending them back out.

On a positive note, I finally purchased the MSGM rainbow dress I rented last year for $63.

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 $118,624!

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