Yay for the weekend! Looks like it's going to be beautiful. The other day I attended a birthday party for a poodle in a park in Georgetown, D.C. My friend is super fancy so of course, everything was beautiful and meticulous. I wore one of the rentals you'll see in a few and you will definitely question my decision to wear a dress like that in the woods.
P.S. I told the Shiba Inu he owes me some serious coin. Sometimes it feels like crypto is a joke.
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WHAT I'M WEARING THIS WEEK: Rent the Runway
Welcome back to What I'm Wearing This Week — Rent the Runway where you can rent and wear designer items by names you know and love, and up-and-coming designers too!
For the newbies to WIWTW, every Friday 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. Well, that's if the price is right!
For sizing reference, I am 5'11", weigh 140 pounds, and have a 33" inseam.
Rent the Runway is a clothing rental company, but it was the first clothing subscription platform that provided the everyday woman with access to authentic, luxury fashion. Since its launch in 2009, RTR has gone through many iterations, some of which were the result of the pandemic, and now it's also a sustainable resale platform where shoppers can rent, buy, or subscribe to secondhand clothing.
This is a review of the Most Loved Up to 8 Items Per Month plan.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
WHAT I RECEIVED
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All items by Stella Jean, Altuzarra, Love Shack Fancy, and Jason Wu were fresh from the dry cleaner, on the hanger, and sealed in plastic bags. Mr. HGL is all over the place this week.
THE GOODS
Stella Jean Pleated Tie Dye Blouson Dress, Retail Value $800
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The backstory: Yep, this is the dress I wore to the dog's birthday party.
How I styled it: I went sprinting that morning and managed to damage my Achilles because I stupidly chose to wear this dress with a pair of very flat, strappy TKEES Gemma sandals. Why does that matter? I have microtears on both sides due to decades (am I really that old?) of short-distance running and you're really supposed to elevate and support your Achilles afterward, but I went flat. Anyway, I also wore it with a vintage beige Fendi Fendista Crossbody Pouchette.
Mr. Hoppy Golightly says: It looks like a mouth or a pair of lips. I know! It's a bottom lip and a partial top lip with black lipliner! Come on now, you know a dress like this doesn't look good on an inverted rectangle body shape. You need to wear well-structured clothes that define the waist, so you look like you have curves. Avoid baggy and shapeless garments that flare out too wide and for fluff's sake, stay away from colorful trash bags.
Size and fit: I don't even know what to say here. I ordered the US 6, and it swallows you up and spits you out. The armholes are very tight, the back button closure fails to keep the dress in place, the elasticized waistband bounces around and the gathered shoulders are all over the place. I love the box pleats and I think the print is fun, but otherwise this dress is kind of a mess. Oversized, sloppy, and uncomfortable. On a positive note, it's lightweight and if you've indulged in a huge meal, it's easy to disguise.
Condition: Great condition.
Honest review: I tried to belt it to hopefully pull the look together, but that didn't work either. I removed the belt and kept pulling it down to try and thin it out, but it kept bouncing back up like a freaking basketball.
LoveShackFancy Pink Pamela Dress, Retail Value $445
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The backstory: I wore it to Jackson's where I pretended to be 25 all over again. I didn't wear it again after that because I was too self-conscious.
How I styled it: I couldn't decide if it should be worn with a belt or not, so I tried both options and elevated the look with Nicholas Kirkwood sandals. I found the hat on some Chinese fashion site, and it was only $25! Quite the steal as it's really well made.
Mr. Hoppy Golightly says: You are no longer in your early 20s. Go put on clothes designed for a middle-aged human, quit interrupting my nap, and get a tan! Hop to it.
Size and fit: I got the 4-6 and could barely zip it up. It's a bit tight around the shoulders and the hem is quite high on the one side. For someone like me who has such broad shoulders, I'm not sure this look is the best option. The one-shoulder detail is elasticized but didn't stretch quite enough for me. The eyelet detail, ruffled trim, and asymmetrical hem make it a very romantic, feminine dress that's perfect for summer fun.
Condition: Very good, but you can tell it's been worn a lot.
Honest review: I'm too old and tall for this dress. I look like the mom of a teen girl who's trying so hard to look like the cool mom and fit in with her daughter's friends. And yes, I'm referencing Mean Girls because it's one of the best chick flicks ever!
Altuzarra Constance Pleated Plaid Dress, Retail Value 2,495
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The backstory: Confession time — sometimes I rent items based on their retail price and this dress is a perfect example. At $2,495, I figured I could really get my rental's worth, and this is not the first or last time I've done this. In fact, when I heart or search for items, I filter from highest to lowest retail price and that's how I make a lot of my decisions. Anyway, one of my close friends is moving to Chicago in about two weeks so I met her for dinner at Tiki Thai and it was amazing as usual.
How I styled it: Since the plaid print and box pleats are everywhere, I decided to break it up a little bit with a gold-tone belt. I also wore a gold-tone cuff and oversized, ribbon-like earrings. When I met her for dinner, I wore the Ferragamo Gavina Sandals, but I like these heels way better with it.
Mr. Hoppy Golightly says: Ugh, another one of these colorful trash bags? You look like a giant birthday present wrapped up in a fancy tablecloth. I'll bet if you jumped out the window like Wendy from Peter Pan, you'd slowly float down to the ground. Let me help you test that theory!
Size and fit: Look, I've got wings! I ordered the dress in FR 38/US 6, and it was an absolutely perfect fit. Tailored from free-flowing, box-pleated plisse, this expertly crafted midi dress is designed with a cocoon-like bodice, billowy sleeves, A-line skirt with a thigh-high slit, and concealed back zipper. I think this dress works great for any body shape or height, but I'd recommend belting it, so you don't get swallowed up in a sea of pink plaid.
Condition: Excellent.
Honest review: This dress is definitely worth the money and it's definitely a showstopper. It's elegant, expensive and something I could absolutely see Kate Middleton wearing to an event. Alas, it's a little too fancy for everyday wear — says the girl who wore it to a Thai restaurant — but whatever, you do you. Who cares?
Jason Woo Collective Leopard Print Handkerchief Dress Retail Value $365
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The backstory: I've gotten a lot of wear out of this dress, but most notably out to this awesome brewery/winery/cidery/event space out in Leesburg, VA called Vanish. We were trying to decide where to go Memorial Day weekend and this is the place I chose because it's huge, you have many different options when it comes to food and drinks (but watch out for their Jell-o shots because they'll kill ya). If you're feeling spendy, you can shop for clothing, coats, jewelry, and accessories, and if you'd like to hear a band, they've got live music.
How I styled it: At first, I belted it, but because there's so much fabric, it gathered a bit too much. I wore this dress with my Ferragamo Gavina block-heeled sandals and the Chanel 19.
Mr. Hoppy Golightly says: You again? You look like a kite! Go fly a kite and let me sleep. Ok, byeeee!
Size and fit: RTR suggested a 6 and that's what I got. This dress is a lightweight, flowy design crafted in crepe de chine with a colorful leopard print, V neckline, thin shoulder straps, and a trendy handkerchief hem.
Condition: Great.
Honest review: I got a ton of wear out of this dress and while I considered a purchase, the truth is I already have too many dresses and not enough places to go.
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 the most wear out of the Jason Wu dress. The LoveShackFancy dress was too short and tight. The Altuzarra was too dressy for everyday wear. And the Stella Jean? Lol.
- Did they meet or exceed expectations? I screwed up again this week! Sometimes I feel under pressure to choose items quickly and then they end up being all wrong for me.
- What’s the return process like? Simple! Just place your items in the pre-paid garment bag, slip in the return label, and send it back via UPS.
FINAL THOUGHTS
You know just how much I love designer resale, but I've also mentioned that I think it's now too pricey and just not worth it anymore. Well, one of my best friends who works for The RealReal recently told me it's a sinking ship, so imagine my surprise when the CEO resigned on Monday.
If you read another post of mine, you'll understand why I'm now a little hesitant when it comes to designer resale and why I think this is the perfect opportunity for clothing, jewelry, and accessories rentals to come in and take over. I truly think designer resale will follow the course of the current real estate market — the prices are not sustainable and the bubble is about to burst.
CAN YOU STILL GET THIS BOX IF YOU SIGN UP TODAY? Yes, all items are still available.
VALUE BREAKDOWN: The Up to 8 Items membership costs $99/month (and goes up to $135/month after the first two months) and so far, I've received styles with a retail value of $58,678!
Do you subscribe to Rent the Runway? Let us know what you think down below!
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