Good morning and hoppy Friday! We are back with Armoire and this week might give you some Halloween costume inspiration. I was pleased to discover that Armoire allows you one free rental/add-on for your birthday, but I didn't use it this time. I still have the Black Halo jumpsuit and they haven't offered me a discount!
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 $37,338 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
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All of the items by Mara Hoffman, Alice + Olivia, Anna Sui, Hunter Bell, and Derek Lam 10 Crosby arrived on time and in great condition. Each item was fresh from the dry cleaner and neatly folded.
THE GOODS
Mara Hoffman Mid-Rise Geometric Print Pencil Skirt, Retail Value $198, Armoire $59
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How I styled it: I met my sister for dinner at Nachos Mama's, and while I was walking into the restaurant, I got cat-called and followed by a group of guys in a car. You hear so many bad stories today that when I'm in a situation like that, I'm not sure if I'm supposed to turn around, acknowledge them and say thanks, or pull an NYC move and pretend I'm hard of hearing. Well, I ignored them, and they kept following me, so I ducked into a shop to get away. Guys, this is NOT ok!
Anyway, I wore this geometric print skirt with my Alice + Olivia cropped leather top, a grommet belt from & Other Stories, a Maje studded leather jacket, Nicholas Kirkwood sandals, and a Balenciaga City studded patent leather clutch.
Size and fit: I got the medium and this fitted skirt fit very well. It's a form-fitting design with a colorful geometric pattern, banded waist, and side zip closure.
Condition: Very good, but a bit worn.
Honest review: The waist of the skirt is a little stretched out and the fabric isn't the most forgiving, so I added a belt to disguise it. I think the resale price is appropriate, and even though I'm a huge fan of Mara Hoffman's prints, I'm not buying it.
Alice + Olivia Lace Overlay Cami, Retail Value $275, Armoire $91
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How I styled it: I wore this top to a birthday party at Vanish Brewery and paired it with Alice + Olivia flared jeans, a leather jacket from a sample sale in NYC, the Chanel 19, and Salvatore Ferragamo Gavina block-heeled sandals. I thought maybe it would be chilly, so I brought a jacket, but I was melting instead.
Size and fit: Since I live in dresses (and own far too many), I'm always on the hunt for an awesome top. This pullover cami features adjustable shoulder straps, a v-neckline, tiered lace overlay, and flesh-toned lining. I got the medium and it's a bit wide. I tried it with a mini skirt, and it created this bubble silhouette, and then pulled on my bell bottoms, which seemed to work a bit better since it creates a bit of an hourglass shape.
Condition: Very good, but a little worn.
Honest review: I like it, but I don't love it. The design adds weight to the upper body and I'm not wild about the exposed, flesh-toned lining underneath the lace overlay. It doesn't make it look sexy – it looks more like a designer mistake. Costume inspo? Maybe Farrah Fawcett in Charlie's Angels.
Anna Sui Peacock Border Lace Mini Dress, Retail Value $590, Armoire $384
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How I styled it: As I was uploading these pictures, I wondered what happened to my neck? And why do I look like Dr. Evil? There are some items that are better suited for shorter women, and this is one of them. Since the dress itself is quite detailed, I just paired it with Ferragamo sandals, Mignonne Gavigan Madeline Earrings, and the Saint Laurent Sac de Jour.
Size and fit: I got the 6 and while it fits, it looks quite snug in the photos. This beautiful Anna Sui dress gives off vintage boho vibes with its abstract print, embellishments, lace trim, sheer panels, princess seams, and three-quarter-length sleeves with ruffled cuffs.
Condition: Great.
Honest review: It's a lovely dress, and the colors are great, but it makes me look like a turtle!
Hunter Bell Bennett Balloon Sleeve Maxi Dress, Retail Value $525, Armoire $257
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How I styled it: If my mom saw me in this dress, she'd tell me I looked like her favorite nun from Catholic school. Anyway, here's my choir girl look and it's not easy to pull off. At first, it looks like a fancy trash bag, but then I started messing around and added a vintage necklace, the gold-tone Etsy belt, the Hermes Clic Clac bracelet, and Ferragamo sandals. As for outerwear, a cape would probably work best because it's a bulkier material and won't easily slide into the sleeves of a jacket or coat.
Size and fit: I got the medium and it's huge. I think I could've gotten an extra small! This LBD is crafted in a medium-weight fabric with a woodgrain jacquard finish, and it features a crewneck, balloon sleeves with tie cuffs, side slit pockets, an open back with self-tie and zip closure, and a full skirt with a tiered hem.
Condition: Great.
Honest review: Despite looking like the oldest member of a high school choir or a witch, I don't hate it, but I don't love it. I'm not going to pick up any guys wearing it, but this is a great house dress (or maybe a muumuu), it's really well made, the fabric is pretty luxurious, and it's quite comfy too. When I wore it to Target, I forgot about the zipper, so I flashed my thong to the entire store. Lovely!
Derek Lam 10 Crosby Horizontal-Striped Shirt Dress, Retail Value $395, Armoire $158
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How I styled it: And for my final Halloween costume, this looks like I stole my dad's pajamas from the 80s, sewed the pieces together, and created a dress! I tried it with the Etsy leather belt, a newsboy cap, and Ulla Johnson strappy sandals.
Size and fit: Oy vey. It looked soooo cute on the model and I loved the gathered waist, but not so much on me. I got the 6 and this menswear-inspired, horizontal-striped shirt dress features a shirt collar, shoulder epaulets, long sleeves with buttoned cuffs, front patch pocket, button-front closure, cinched waist, hip pockets, and a flared hem.
Condition: Good, but a bit worn.
Honest review: I just can't get past the fact that this looks like a pair of pajamas my dad had back in the day. Even Mr. HGL is judging me from the corner of the couch.
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 all items out in public aside from the 10 Crosby dress but got the most wear out of the Mara Hoffman skirt.
- Did they meet or exceed expectations? It's not Armoire's fault that I chose some scarier items this week.
- What’s the return process like? Place the items in the bag, seal it up and that's it!
FINAL THOUGHTS
I wanted to know what you like or dislike about this weekly series. What's beneficial? What would you like to see more of? Do you want more explanations of why a piece was chosen, or why I created a certain look? Would it be more helpful to see additional styling options per piece? Should I try for a weekly theme? Or dive deeper into the designer's history?
Or maybe you're just here for Mr. HGL and I totally get that! Sound off in the comments.
CAN YOU STILL GET THIS BOX IF YOU SIGN UP TODAY? Yes, all these items are still available to rent.
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 $37,338!
What are your thoughts about Armoire and rentals in general? Let me know what you think down below!
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