What I’m Wearing This Week: Armoire

Hoppy Friday! Dolce got a haircut last weekend, so they are fighting again. As soon as we returned, she went crazy. Luckily, I was prepared for the worst and had the gates to separate them. Darby, the groomer, said she'll calm down once she's fixed, but she may still be a little wild and crazy.

You may notice Mr. HGL's photo is gone. I moved it to the bedroom, now next to my bed. Also, the rolled-up black moving blankets under the couch are there to keep the buns from going underneath and digging. It hasn't really worked... they're too smart and tag team to dig, eat, push, and pull them to get around. The inside of the couch looks like a haunted house with torn, black fabric everywhere. Mr. HGL was never like this! What the fluff?

In other news, I'm still waiting for my test results. My derm's office forgot to add the diagnosis code for my bloodwork, and now they're trying to track it down. Sigh. I don't feel any better; the itchy bumps are still everywhere. I'm not allowed to change my diet until they know whether it's gluten-related because they'll have to do further tests if my blood doesn't show anything.

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.

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 Staud, Hunter Bell, and Tuckernuck arrived fresh from the dry cleaner, neatly folded, and sealed in a shipping bag.

Staud Hampton Sweater Dress, Retail Value $368, Armoire $226

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: It's cute and brand new!

How I styled it: Despite being a sweater, it's a bit off-season. Aside from running errands, I didn't really get to wear it out in public. If it were summertime, I'd throw on some slides or flip-flops, sunglasses, and a straw hat!

Size and fit: I got a medium and it's definitely roomy. Crafted in an open-knit, cotton blend, this sweater dress features contrasting stripes, a ribbed zip-up stand collar, long sleeves with ribbed cuffs, front-zip closure, and rubber hem.

Condition: Brand new with tags.

Honest review: It's no wonder it's called a Hamptons dress; it looks like something you'd wear for a nighttime stroll on the beach or a surf shack after a day in the sun. It's soft and open-knit and has quickly become my go-to WFH dress.

Staud Shocko Button-Front Sweater Dress, Retail Value $165, Armoire $124

Why I rented it: I wanted a stylish knit dress to take me into the spring.

How I styled it: I wore this dress a few times (mostly around my place) and paired it with an Obi belt, chain-link earrings and necklace set from Etsy, J. Crew d'Orsay flats, an unbranded shearling vest, and the Valentino Rockstud tote.

Size and fit: I got a medium, which stretched out like a large! This ombre knit dress is crafted in a soft and stretchy viscose blend and features a v-neckline, long sleeves, front button closure, and front slit.

Condition: Brand new with tags.

Honest review: At first, I loved it, so I bought it with my discount, but afterward, I remembered the other Staud dress stretched out and gave me a big old butt, and this one did too. I'll try to shrink it; I may have to sell it if that doesn't work. I should've purchased the Wednesday Addams dress instead.

Hunter Bell Finley Bow Neck Blouse, Retail Value $385, Armoire $119

About the designer: Hunter Bell is an American fashion designer based in New York City and the owner of Hunter Dixon. Bell was the season two winner of Fashion Star. She attended the University of Alabama and graduated in 2003 with a degree in fashion design and studio art.

Why I rented it: I needed a fun, fashionable blouse.

How I styled it: I wore this blouse with Veronica Beard jeans, Amazon earrings, an unbranded shearling vest, Tecovas cowboy boots, and a Valentino Rockstud tote.

Size and fit: I got a medium, but it was a little short and boxy on me. While Armoire claims it's crafted in silk, it's polyester with a tiny bit of nylon. It features a pussy bow necktie, puffed shoulders, long sleeves with double button cuffs, front button closure, and a shirt hem.

Condition: Great!

Honest review: I like the style, print, and design. It's versatile and colorful,l and I'm happy I rented it! It's perfect for jeans or a leather skirt.

Tuckernuck Domino Leopard-Print Dress, Retail Value $198, Armoire $148

About the Designer: Hi, we’re Tuckernuck. We're a company started by family and friends who love color, stripes, bucket lists, and nostalgia. Maddy and September are old college pals. Jocelyn is Maddy's older sister.

Back in 2012, we couldn’t find curated boutiques we loved close to home—you know, those special shops you discover when traveling and tell your friends about. So we created Tuckernuck, a shopping destination that’s easy, exciting, and full of the best brands with cool stories.

We want to make shopping fun and easy, and for you to feel effortlessly cool, confident, and ready for wherever life takes you. The magic is in the mix of our curation—we search, sift, design, and refine, letting you discover the best products and lifestyle inspiration.

Why I rented it: I've heard so much about Tuckernuck (it's based in DC), but I've never tried anything of theirs!

How I styled it: I wore this dress with Sheertex tights, Kat Maconie ankle boots, B-Low the Belt Belt, the Chanel 19, and the Yves Salomon Shearling Jacket.

Size and fit: I got a medium, which fits like a 6, not an 8. It's designed in polyester with zero stretch, and it's a bit short on me. The dress features a round neckline, puffed shoulders, long sleeves, back-zip closure, and an on-trend leopard print.

Condition: Brand new with tags.

Honest review: It is a little short, but otherwise, I loved it!

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 everything, and each piece served its own purpose.
• 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 created the blog (I have a good story to tell!) but haven't gotten far—mainly because I don't feel well. I'll get back to it next week, and hopefully, it'll be up and running by the end of the month.

I think I mentioned hiring a matchmaker. Since I pick and attract all the wrong guys, I decided putting the power in someone else's hands was better. Hmm, ok. I met the matchmakers in person, and we reviewed my likes, dislikes, and non-negotiables. I told them about my dating horror stories (including the one you've not yet heard), and they assured me they've got a huge network of men who fit the bill.

I was very, very specific because I don't want to waste my time or lose money.

Here's how it works:

Some matchmakers will charge you over $1,000 for a match, so this didn't seem too bad, but my friends were skeptical. The DC area is large—if you consider Northern Virginia, a few counties in Maryland, DC proper, and two counties in West Virginia, you're looking at close to 6 million people. But here's the catch: everyone in the social scene either knows each other or knows of each other. It's a very small community.

It took them about two weeks to discover my perfect match. They texted me and sent over his picture and intro video...

Not only did I know him, but I used to date his friend, and I already had long-standing feelings about him. I immediately said no, and they wanted to know why. I explained our connection and explained nicely why I wouldn't be interested even if I didn't know him.

They wouldn't take no for an answer and called me immediately to talk me into a yes.

"You check off each other's boxes."

"You feel the same way about X, Y, and Z."

"He has every quality you requested. We think you need to give him a shot!"

Since it was my first match and I didn't want to piss them off, I agreed. It was a mistake. I figured I'd lose the money anyway, I should keep an open mind, and maybe we'd have a fun night out. Yup, he was just as weird and awkward as I remembered.

We met up at The Occidental (which was awesome), and I chatted with the chick beside me. Otherwise, the night was a bust, and I was out $325.

When I left, the matchmakers immediately wanted details, so I sent a voice message saying I wanted a family-oriented guy (estranged from parents, brothers, and sisters for nearly a decade is a huge red flag) and would prefer someone with kids. I wasted almost two years of my life with a guy who was estranged from his entire family, and of course, it wasn't his fault! He was wronged. 🙄 I'm done with dating black sheep... they tend to have serious anger issues.

I didn't go into any other details because, well, everyone's offended by everything. "We will make those notes about finding someone who is more family-oriented! Onward and upward, we've got this!"

I said I needed to pause since I'll be out of town often in the next few weeks. But honestly, how many people can they find that I've never met? And will they try to talk me into saying yes to everyone, even if I know them or my gut says no?

I could drop $1,000 in one month to get set up with guys I know who either I've dated or haven't dated FOR A REASON. Maybe I'll give them one more shot, but otherwise, my friends and I may jump on the pickleball bandwagon, and I will travel a lot this summer.

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!