Good morning and happy almost weekend! This will be a shorter post because RTR's shipment literally stunk and I'm not happy about it at all. Keep reading to find out what happened.
Update: I don't have any rentals to wear this week, so we'll be skipping 10/21.
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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While all four items by Jonathan Simkhai, Cedric Charlier, LAPOINTE, and Adam Lippes Collective arrived on the hanger and were sealed in plastic bags, only two of them were actually clean.
THE GOODS
Jonathan Simkhai Holland Denim Dress, Retail Value $375, RTR $337.50
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About the designer: Founded in 2010 in New York, Jonathan Simkhai launched his namesake label after years of experience as a fashion buyer and merchandiser. He honed his technical skills at the Parsons School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology. The early success of the label propelled Simkhai into the CFDA Fashion Incubator program where he developed his eye for quality of craft. Simkhai is inspired by the built environment and architecture, which motivates his creative process and desire to push conventional design boundaries. His corporate headquarters are now based in Los Angeles where he opened his first retail store.
How I styled it: I ordered this dress because the weather is a mix between cold, humid, and in the 70s, so I figured it would be easy to layer and I was correct! I paired it with a vintage leather belt, Kendra Scott jewelry, Calzedonia tights, Kat Maconie sock ankle boots, the Gucci Studded Leather jacket, and a pre-owned Chanel 19.
I wore it to my cousin's wedding celebration at a cool brewery out near the West Virginia border called Wheatland Springs and paired it with my Tecova Cowgirl Boots to the family gathering because it was held in a rustic barn.
Size and fit: I got the 8 and it was almost a perfect fit. The Holland Denim Dress is crafted in 100% organic cotton, and it features a crew neckline, puffed raglan sleeves, an exposed back zipper, and flared hem.
Condition: Very good, but quite worn.
Honest review: I love the dress. It's super versatile, lightweight, cute, and comfy! Not something I'd buy, but it's a great rental.
Cedric Charlier Knit Striped Midi Dress, Retail Value $1,295, RTR $1,165
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About the designer: Belgium born and trained at the famous Ecole Nationale Supérierure des Arts Visuels of La Cambre, Cédric Charlier moved to Paris after winning the Moët Hennessy Fashion award. After working with Michael Kors, and Alber Elbaz at Céline and Lanvin, he was then hired as art director of Cacharel. He launched his own house in 2012 in an effort to create edgy, carefully cut, artistic designs that are masculine and feminine.
How I styled it: With this dress, I decided to try out a few looks and repeated a few of the items from above. Since the neckline isn't quite right, I wore the Kendra Scott Maya Chain Necklace (and earrings) to cover it up and the Etsy Obi belt, a pair of pre-owned Nicholas Kirkwood Flats, a vintage Yves Salomon jacket, and my pre-owned Saint Laurent Sac de Jour.
I wore it to meet my friend Roxy for lunch at the fab Cafe Milano.
Size and fit: I got the 6 and this form-fitting, striped knit dress was fitted up top, but a bit bigger on the bottom. Crafted of ultra-soft, virgin wool, Cedric Charlier's red and pink sheath dress features a v-neckline, long sleeves, and it's a pullover design. It hits at midi length, and it's easy to dress up or down.
Condition: Average. It was stretched out in the sleeves, and there was a slight tear and popped stitches on the right side of the dress.
Honest review: While it's toasty and cozy, the design is off. I feel like the V-neck should be deeper or it should've been designed as a crewneck dress. Also, the fabric is pretty unforgiving.
LAPOINTE Crinkle Scarf Neck Top, Retail Value $990, RTR $445
How I styled it: No styling with this one because the top arrived dirty, and I immediately took it off.
Size and fit: When I took it out of the plastic wrapping and tried to slide it over my head, I noticed water stains on the blouse and makeup stains on the neckline, so I removed it.
Condition: Dirty and stinky.
Honest review: Oh my god! It smelled so bad, I had to zip it up in the garment bag immediately and throw to the back of the closet.
Adam Lippes Collective Tiered Ruffle Top, Retail Value $370, RTR $259
How I styled it: After my experience with the LAPOINTE top, I decided to investigate and discovered this one was dirty and stinky too.
Size and fit: Nope, wasn't about to pull it over my head. No thanks!
Condition: Dirty, stained, and stinky.
Honest review: The armpits smelled so bad and there were grease stains all over the front of 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? OMG no, no RTR. No.
- Did they meet or exceed expectations? Complete failure.
- 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. You can also drop it off at one of their exclusive drop-off points in some of the major cities.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Wow, what a massive disappointment. So, when I removed the hangers from the bag, I stuck all four items in the closet, but I kept smelling something weird. I came out to the main room to check Mr. HGL's litter box and that wasn't it, I checked the fridge for spoiled food, and took out the trash too. Then, I wondered if my neighbor was smoking up, so I popped my head out into the hallway to sniff around there too. I didn't put it together until the next day when I pulled the plastic wrapping off the hangers and was about to pull on the LAPOINTE top when I realized it stunk like really dirty armpits! I examined the blouse and discovered grease stains, water stains, and makeup around the neck too. Then, I removed the Adam Lippes top, and it looked like someone had spilled a beer down the front of the blouse as each tier of ruffles had lots of splash stains. After that, I made the horrible decision to sniff the armpits and this top stunk too. I threw them back in the bag, zipped them up, and placed them on the floor in the back of the closet.
This is beyond unacceptable and it's unlike anything I ever could've imagined. If you've ever been stuck in a cab or Uber with someone who absolutely stinks and makes you gag, this was a very similar experience. I almost threw up twice and considered just sending the whole thing back, but I had to write this review. I have no idea what happened or why, but I'm assuming it has something to do with the massive layoffs that occurred a few weeks ago and maybe this was their payback for being fired?
Now I'm scared to receive my next shipment and I will complain. What are your thoughts after hearing about this blip? I know it's a one-off situation, but it's still not good!
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 $82,713!
Do you subscribe to Rent the Runway? Let us know what you think down below!
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