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What I’m Wearing This Week: Armoire

Mary Zubritsky
ByMary ZubritskyNov 4, 2022 | 5 comments

Armoire
5 overall rating
8 Ratings | 22 Reviews

Happy Fri-YAY! Before we jump into the review, I have a quick story.

Monday night at 1:30am I was suddenly woken up because the light in the living room turned itself on. Mr. HGL started stomping and I came out to investigate. Now, if this light were connected to a switch or even Alexa, I'd write it off as some tech glitch, but the light requires the turning of a knob for it to physically turn on. Only two of the three lights were actually on, so the knob had to be turned twice. Alarmed, I checked the entrance to make sure I hadn't left the door unlocked and it was locked, and then I checked all the closets to make sure someone wasn't hiding in there. NOTHING. It's a small place so there are only so many hiding spots. Oh, I also discovered one of my candles was flipped upside down. Maybe Mr. HGL was throwing a party while I was sleeping!

Now, I've had some ghostly encounters in the past so I'm definitely a believer, but this building is new, and I've never had anything weird or creepy happen here before, aside from my ex stalking me. It doesn't make sense. What do you think happened? Who was playing a Day of the Dead trick on me?

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 $41,198 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 

All of the items by Reiss, Oak, Reiss, Helmut Lang, and Equipment arrived on time and in great condition. Each item was fresh from the dry cleaner and neatly folded. I kept the Reiss jumpsuit, so I only received five items this week.

THE GOODS 

Reiss Harlyn Jersey Maxi Dress, Retail Value $360, Armoire $252

 

About the designer: Reiss is one of Kate Middleton's favorite brands! Launched in 1971, REISS opened in Bishopsgate, London selling men's tailoring. In 1997, they hired an in-house design team, and in 1998 they opened stores across the UK and Ireland. From there they launched womenswear, opened international stores, personal tailoring and shopping services, and a childrenswear division.

How I styled it: I paired the dress with a vintage watch necklace from my stepmom that I don't wear enough, and a pair of Charlotte Olympia Suede pumps.

Size and fit: I got the size 6, it's a perfect fit and the length is ideal for my long legs. This jersey wrap-style dress features a plunging neckline with long sleeves and a ruched, wrap-around silhouette at the waist to create an hourglass figure. It's a pull-on maxi that's fully lined and has a high slit on the side.

Condition: Excellent.

Honest review: The material is a bit cheap, but the dress itself is a stunner. It's comfy and flowy and super flattering. I actually threw it on for a few Zoom calls and wore it throughout the day because it was like a nightgown for a princess. 

Reiss Pennie Shimmer Belted Trousers, Retail Value $325, Armoire $244, Oak Velvet Cami, Retail Value $165, Armoire $102

 

About the designer: Since I covered Reiss above, let's focus on OAK, which was founded by a mother, daughter, and son trio whose purpose is to provide quality products that are “sturdy like an oak tree”. Kimberly, Lauren, and Noah have always had a love for natural textures and earthy colors. Their idea is that each piece is chosen with texture, color, and quality in mind because the oak tree is a living legend representing all that is true, wholesome, stable, and noble.

How I styled it: I wore the pants and velvet cami together and paired the set with a Maje Studded Leather jacket, a grommet belt from & Other Stories, a Balenciaga Motorcycle clutch, and the Charlotte Olympia Suede pumps.

Size and fit: The pants are a 6 and they fit incredibly well... even the length is good! These relaxed, high-waisted trousers are crafted in a shimmery striped fabric with a bow-tie waistband, front pleats, and side slash pockets and they're tapered at the ankle. Like the reviews said, the OAK velvet cami is a bit boxy and short on me. It features a cowl neck and adjustable shoulder straps.

Condition: The pants were brand new with tags and the cami was great, although it smelled a little like perfume.

Honest review: While this outfit isn't something I'd normally wear; I like the combo. I'm not wild about shiny, metallic items, but this is a nice look for date night or a holiday party.

Helmut Lang Cutout Mock Neck Dress, Retail Value $398, Armoire $183

 

About the Designer: Helmut Lang is an Austrian-born label now based in NYC that stands at the intersection of fashion, art, and design. Established in 1986, Helmut Lang is based on three pillars: utility, civility, and deviance. Each collection explores the possibilities of utilitarian clothing through ready-to-wear signatures such as denim, shirting, blazers, trousers, and t-shirts.

How I styled it: "In the real world, Halloween is when kids dress up in costumes and beg for candy. In Girl World, Halloween is the one day a year when a girl can dress up like a total slut and no other girls can say anything else about it." - Cady Heron, Mean Girls

Well, since it was Halloween weekend, I decided to follow the rules of Mean Girls and wore it to a costume party where I dressed up as a sexy vampire/devil. Since no one could say anything about the length of the tunic (it is supposed to be a dress), I paired it with a cheap vampire (or devil?) cape and necklace off Amazon, the Chanel 19 bag, and the Kat Maconie Ankle boots because they're cozy (BUT by 1am my feet were bleeding).

Size and fit: I got the 6 and it's a little snug around the shoulders and so very short. This bodycon design is crafted of a virgin wool blend with a mock neck, long sleeves with cutout slits, and back-zip closure. The material is very form-fitting, and it sucks you in.

Condition: Very good, but a little worn.

Honest review: Wow, is it short on me! Every time I raised my arms, I flashed someone. Thank god for tights and a vampire cape. Side note: I love scary movies (mostly ghost stories), but when Michael Myers rolled up to Cantina Bambina, I was immediately apprehensive because there are so many real-life horror stories these days, you just don't know what's real and what's fake.

Equipment Belted Shirt Dress, Retail Value $450, Armoire $225

 

About the designer: Founded in 1976 in Paris, Equipment has fused unparalleled French sophistication with an air of chic nonchalance. Equipment today calls upon the classic minimalism of the original collections through the use of noble fibers in its pure design yet signifies modernity with its discreet sexiness and androgynous silhouettes.

How I styled it: I finally got to wear my Plein Sud over-the-knee boots (that never stay up!) and I wore the Yves Salomon Fur jacket, the Chanel 19 and I overwrapped the attached belt, and threw the Etsy belt on top.

Size and fit: I got the 6 and it's a good fit. This collared shirtdress is crafted in rayon with a spread collar, front button and zip closure, long sleeves with buttoned cuffs, front flap pockets, self-tie waist, and side slit pockets.

Condition: Great.

Honest review: It's a cute work dress, but the belt needs to be replaced since it doesn't stay tied. It's attached to the dress backward and I would've cut it off to restyle, but I didn't want to get in trouble, so I left 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? Since I wore the too-small Helmut Lang dress as a Halloween costume, I got the most wear out of it, but I also wore the long Reiss dress quite a bit too!
  • Did they meet or exceed expectations? Armoire met expectations this week. 
  • What’s the return process like? Place the items in the bag, seal it up and that's it!

FINAL THOUGHTS

While Armoire has definitely upped their style game a bit since I began reviewing them last year, there are still some areas that are in need of improvement.

  • The resale price: If I can find the item online and brand new for the same price (or less), that's dishonest. Why would I pay full price for something that's been worn by 20 other people? I've also noticed this with designer resale sites and shops where they try to convince you that the item is no longer in production, so they charge you the full price. Meanwhile, if you go to Dior's site, you'll find a brand-new Saddle Bag for less!
  • The customer: I'm still not sure they've pinpointed their customer. Are they targeting the suburban mom? The day-to-night office chick? The weekend warrior? The city slicker? And what are the age ranges? RTR has a target audience (it's like a trendy-cool, corporate chick who may also want to be an influencer) and they do it really well, but when I go to Armorie, I can't figure out who their customer is because their styles are all over the place. There's no consistency.
  • Size ranges: I'm not sure if they're buying one-offs from the warehouse or if they're picking pieces from random sample sales, but it's not fair to buy one item in only one size. The odds are absolutely against you if you've got it on your wish list and so do 500 other women.
  • The user experience: When I log on, I don't want suggestions, nor do I want to play a style game, shop other members' looks, chat with a stylist, or rent what I just returned. I want to go to the top navigation bar and filter through their entire closet by price, size, season, designer, style, color, and occasion. This is UX/UI 101. Seriously, searching for the perfect piece on Armoire is like "searching for meaning in a Pauly Shore movie." Name that quote!

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 $41,198!

What are your thoughts about Armoire and rentals in general? Let me know what you think down below!

Starting at $89.00
Active Deal
Get $30 OFF 1 month of the 7-item plan OR 50% OFF 1 month of the unlimited plan.
Use Coupon Code 7MSA89 or MSAUNLIMITED50
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With an Armoire membership, you get exclusive access to an endless wardrobe of high-end brands (think Paige, Yumi Kim, Joie, DVF, etc) delivered to your door to wear and return when you want. No shipping fees, no dry cleaning costs, no late charges. The clothes fit all aspects of your life - from... read more.

Mary Zubritsky
Mary Zubritsky

If shopping were an Olympic sport, I’d be a gold medalist. And while my bank account often feels the crunch, I just can’t stop buying secondhand clothing and accessories, under-the-radar designer goods, stuffed animal unicorns (I have about 75), and toys for my pet bunny rabbit. After 20 years of city slicking in NYC and DC, I now have a car and love to tour the Virginia countryside looking for vintage shops, undiscovered wineries and breweries, historic sites, and Thai restaurants—I’m addicted to Thai food. I never leave home without a spare phone charger because I love horror movies and therefore have an irrational fear of being stranded somewhere with a dead battery. 


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5 comments

CarrieL

I know it’s not a rented piece from the review, but that watch necklace is amazing.

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Mary Zubritsky

Many years ago I researched the brand to see if it’s worth anything and it doesn’t look like it is, but it’s an awesome statement piece that has held up so well for decades now.

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Emily McDaniel

Clueless!!!

Loved the way you styled the Equipment dress

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Mary Zubritsky

Thanks, Emily. About those boots… if they actually stayed up they’d be perfect. I have to double-side tape them every time and they still gather and sag.

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Emily McDaniel

May be a cobbler could alter them to where they would stay up. Worth checking out, I’ve had boots made smaller in the calf for me before