Happy Friday, everyone! What are you doing this weekend? Let me know in the comments below. Welcome back to What I'm Wearing This Week: Armoire. A quick rundown for the newbies...every Friday I'll recap the clothing rentals I wore for the week. I’ll take you on a trip through my life (recovered from COVID in March, now fully vaccinated), where I’m going (90% of the places are outside, and I wear a mask), 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 $8,269 worth of clothing), and more.
Before we get started, I understand the photos aren't professional and I finally purchased some equipment to help me get the job done right, and without teaching my bunny how to hold the phone. Stay tuned!
Now, I'm gonna let you in on something kind of scandalous...when I received my package of six items, I opened it to find three. So, I quickly took pictures of the shipping bag and the contents and realized someone (probably at FedEx) actually opened the resealable bag, removed a few items, and sealed it back up. Can you believe it? So, I quickly contacted Armoire and they were incredibly helpful, had me choose a few more looks, and sent them straight away. Thanks, y'all!
So, what was going on this week? Keep reading the find out!
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
WHAT I’M WEARING THIS WEEK: ARMOIRE
The last time I reviewed Armoire, I hadn't exactly figured out the site or how to find all the hidden gems, but this time I went on a treasure hunt and uncovered lots of goodies that are more my style, and for my age. Sweet! But first, a little bit of a background on Armoire...
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.
Use coupon code MSA7ITEM to get $50 OFF the first month of the 7-item Capsule Membership or MSAUNLIMITED to get $124 OFF the first month of the Unlimited membership.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
WHAT I RECEIVED
The Armoire shipment bag had clearly been opened and resealed before it arrived.
This guy has to inspect everything to make sure it passes his sniff test.
As I mentioned above, this shipment was a little more complicated due to theft, but once everything was sorted out I received a new shipment. When I opened the garment bag, a lucky penny popped out. Luckily, all the items arrived this time!
THE GOODS
Alexis Ruffle-Trim Cold Shoulder Blouse, Sachin + Babi Noir Mid-Rise Lace & Mesh Overlay Midi Skirt
Alexis Ruffle-Trim Cold Shoulder Blouse, Retail Value $340, Sachin + Babi Noir Mid-Rise Lace & Mesh Overlay Midi Skirt, Retail $245
How I styled it: I love Alexis and own a few of her dresses. They're frilly, fun, and unique so I was thrilled to find Alexis on Armoire. And I also love Sachin + Babi — in fact, one of the most-loved items in my closet is a Sachin + Babi Cobalt Blue Midi Mesh Skirt. Needless to say, I was very happy with my options this round and combined both items for date night at the rustic, Brit- and fox-hunting-inspired Hunter's Head Tavern in Upperville, VA. You might be wondering why I got dressed up to go to a tavern, but this isn't just a tavern, it's an institution in Horse Country, USA. People roll up in their fanciest Rolls Royce and throw on a top hat to come to such a low-key destination.
Anyway, I topped off my look with a vintage belt from Etsy, a pair of Nicholas Kirkwood Sandals, Julia Voss Gold Hoops, and a vintage Chanel Classic Flap Bag. And to be honest, I don't like the outfit at all. The skirt is beautiful and features a floral lace design that sits atop mesh overlay, but it looks like it's swallowing me up. Now, I wish I hadn't worn it together.
Size and fit: Alexis can be tricky in the bust area, and since I'm not busty but have a wide ribcage I took a chance on the Medium. The sleeve length hit right at my wrists, the ruffles fell exactly in place, and the cuffs were easy to tie, even while I was wearing it. It features a back keyhole button closure that made it easy to put on and take off. The skirt's a size 6 and while it fit me in the waist and featured an exposed back-zip closure, the fullness and length of the skirt didn't flatter my hips, calves, or ankles.
Condition: Both items arrived in excellent condition.
Honest review: I love the top so much, I just might buy it, but I give the skirt a hard pass. It's not very flattering on me.
Black Halo One-Shoulder Draped Jumpsuit, Retail Value $495
Black Halo One-Shoulder Draped Jumpsuit
How I styled it: This jumpsuit makes me wanna jump, jump for joy. It's an asymmetrical, one-shoulder, cape-like jumpsuit that is divine! I wore it to my friend's birthday party at the Riggs Hotel in Washington, DC and it was absolutely perfect. I paired it with a B-Lo the Belt Patent Leather Belt, a Breakfast at Tiffany's-inspired hat I got on Amazon, a pair of suede pumps, a vintage Chanel Gripoix Bracelet, and a designer resale Chanel 19 bag.
Size and fit: I got the size 6 and it worked. Since I'm tall and have an abnormally long inseam, it can be difficult to find clothing items that fit me well in the legs — especially jumpsuits. Every time I try on a jumpsuit, it's either too short in the torso or the pants are total high waters. This design seems like it was made for taller ladies.
Condition: Perfect!
Honest review: I'm seriously considering a purchase. I have such a hard time finding jumpsuits that are long in the legs and torso, and don't choke me at the same time — this is a fashion unicorn (and we all know just how much I like unicorns). My only concern is the complexity of taking it off and putting it back on in a public restroom.
Equipment Button-Up Belted Dress, Retail Value $550
Equipment Button-Up Belted Dress
How I styled it: So, I put it together, took a picture, and took it off. Despite having a pair of Michael Michael Kors Platform Sandals that perfectly matched the reptilian print on the dress, and a reason to carry my vintage Louis Vuitton x Stephen Sprouse Graffiti Speedy, I didn't wear it out in public...I felt like a poser. It's an awesome dress if you're a high-powered lawyer or the female CEO of a tech company, but as a freelance fashion writer, it just wasn't me. Hey, I'm sure my mom would've LOVED it on me and told me I should dress like this more often, but I changed outfits once boyfriend started singing Van Halen's Hot for Teacher.
Size and fit: I got the Medium and it's huge. There's a good 6" fabric gap between my waist and the waist of the dress.
Condition: Great condition, no issues there.
Honest review: It's pretty, it's got a great print, it's just not my style. That's what these rentals are for...to explore styles, designers, and find the best you.
Anna Sui 3/4 Sleeve Square Neck Smocked Dress, Retail Value $730
Anna Sui 3/4 Sleeve Square Neck Smocked Dress
How I styled it: While this dress isn't exactly my style either, I got it anyway because I like to try new things! It's the perfect transitional Fall dress because it's lightweight enough to wear alone or layer up, and it's in autumnal colors with a fun, festive print. I wore it to brunch on Saturday and a trip to Costco...ah my life has changed so much since I left the city. So, I paired this dress with my Ferragamo sandals since it's still pretty warm out here, a vintage gold-plated choker from my stepmom, and my old school Fendi Fendista Crossbody Pochette.
Size and fit: I ordered an M and it's a little big on the shoulders, but maybe that's just because I'd prefer to wear it off the shoulders. Why follow the rules?
Condition: Brand new. I removed the tags.
Honest review: It’s super comfy, flowy, and ethereal, just like a nightgown. It's a great dress to wear if you're planning on eating lots of food or drinking too many Bloody Mary's at brunch because it conceals just about everything... and that way you'll never feel self-conscious. Would I buy it? Eh, I still think it's overpriced, even with the discount, but I would absolutely rent it again! Cheers to trying new things.
Maje James Mini Skirt, Retail Value, $295, Alexis Ruffle-Trim Cold Shoulder Blouse, Retail Value $340
Maje James Tiered Ruffle Eyelet Skirt, Alexis Ruffle Trim Cold-Shoulder Ruffle Blouse
How I styled it: Since I already reviewed the Alexis Cold-Shoulder Ruffle Blouse, I'll focus more on the Maje James Mini Skirt. Maje and Sandro are literally sister brands (designed by sisters) in the French contemporary world of fashion, but Maje is the flirtier, frillier older sister. Well, I fell in love with the skirt the second I spotted it on Armoire. From the two tiers of eyelet ruffles to the exposed back zipper, and the gold-tone grommets, it was perfect for me! I paired it with the Alexis Blouse again (and this time I'm much happier with the outfit), a vintage belt, a pair of Kat Maconie Pointy-Toed Sock Ankle Boots, and one very curious English Angora Rabbit.
Where did I go? Duh, to an 80s dance party! Well, not exactly...to listen to a cover band at the Tally Ho Theater.
Size and fit: Maje tends to run a little small, and while I assumed the M would fit me well, it was a little tight. Thing is, all of Maje's items tend to run on the smaller side. Your best bet is to check the size predictor on Maje's website before you rent one of their items, which I clearly didn't!
Condition: Both items were in mint condition.
Honest review: I love the skirt, and I love the blouse. I'd definitely rent both again, but next time I'd size up for the skirt.
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? So, you're probably starting to notice a theme here, and it's the color black and gold hardware. Almost every woman has a color palette they lean towards and mine is anything that pairs well with black and gold. You'll soon start to notice I don't own many brown, tan, or silver items and that's because I built my wardrobe around black handbags, shoes, and accessories. When I lived in NYC, I had minimal storage space in my 225 square-foot studio apartment and it really limited my fashion options. What's more, I didn't even have space for separates, and for the longest time, I only owned dresses because that's all that would fit in my one tiny closet! Anyway, my point is anything that's black is almost always going to be most helpful and versatile for me, and for that reason, the Alexis Cold Shoulder Top and the Maje James Skirt got the most wear. Both items can be dressed up or down, and match almost everything in my closet. The jumpsuit was also great, but a slight annoyance in the restroom.
- Did they meet or exceed expectations? Oh, exceed... for sure. This round was great. I'm getting the hang of Armoire and it seems as I keep renting from them, I'm able to unlock more looks that are all me. Of course, as I continue to step out of my comfort zone, I still want to try other styles, designers and color palettes, and clothing rentals give me that option.
- What’s the return process like? Again, just place the items in the garment bag, affix the pre-addressed return label, add another penny for good luck, and send it out.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Since this shipment was a little complicated, I have two additional items I will review next week and in the meantime, I will request four more. Rentals are really cool because I get to try before I buy, and it helps to rule out confusion with sizing and designers. And for those of us who are still a little skeptical about going out in public, Armoire does all the work for you!
Mr. Hoppy GoLightly is so over this. He just wants attention.
CAN YOU STILL GET THIS BOX IF YOU SIGN UP TODAY? Yes, all these items are still available to rent.
Use coupon code MSA7ITEM to get $50 OFF the first month of the 7-item Capsule Membership or MSAUNLIMITED to get $124 OFF the first month of the Unlimited membership.
VALUE BREAKDOWN: The Unlimited membership costs $249/month and so far I've received styles with a retail value of $8,269!
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