Say hello to the weekend! Ok, who watched Love Is Blind? When it comes to trashy TV, this reality show is one of my favorites. I also love 90-Day Fiancé, but since I no longer have TLC, I haven't watched it in over a year. Anyway, who's your favorite couple? What was the biggest wedding shocker for you? And who's your fave and least fave person on the show?
A little tea for you... I used to shoot pilots for reality TV dating shows, and I was supposed to be on the first season of Married at First Sight but dropped out once they told me I'd have to marry a total stranger three weeks later. My family would've disowned me!
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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Three items by Rhode, Ronny Kobo, and Ulla Johnson arrived fresh from the dry cleaner (they're clean!), on the hanger, and sealed in plastic bags. The fourth item by Simon Miller arrived on the hanger, not in a plastic bag.
THE GOODS
Rhode Fay Floral Dress, Retail Value $565, RTR $508.50
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About the designer: RHODE is a story of friendship that started on the corner of 6th Avenue and 18th Street in Manhattan. Purna and Phoebe became college roommates and met at Bed, Bath & Beyond to shop for their dorm room which led to a long-distance friendship spanning two decades. Even though Phoebe became a travel photographer and producer in NYC and Purna, a fashion buyer in Dubai, they’d meet up for trips all over the globe. During these visits, they'd discuss what was missing in their closets and eventually quit their jobs to combine a love of travel and style into their vision for Rhode: a line of timeless pieces that are ready for anything.
How I styled it: Is it a nightgown or a dress? Well, I wore it to a b-day brewery tour on a trolley through DC and we made stops at Aslin, Atlas, City-State, and Red Bear. Since it was a beautiful day and quite warm, I wore it with the Etsy leather belt, the Chanel 19, Rocksbox earrings, and Ferragamo Gavina Block-Heeled sandals. Afterward, we stumbled over to Union Market to drink wine and cry because we drank too much and hardly ate all day aside from two slices of Andy's Pizza. I'm surprised they didn't kick us out!
I also tried it on with an unbranded shearling vest and the Tecovas Cowboy boots.
Size and fit: I got the medium and this floral-printed crepe dress is a little oversized and boxy up top, so I cinched it with a belt. It features a mock neck, gathered shoulders, dolman sleeves with elasticized cuffs, back keyhole button closure, a high slit, and contrast piping.
Condition: Pristine.
Honest review: I love this dress. It's lightweight, colorful, and all-around wonderful. Whether you wear it with bare legs, or tights and boots, it's versatile and easy to wear. What a great choice!
Ronny Kobo Annika Puff Sleeve Dress, Retail Value $478, RTR $430
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About the designer: Originally from Tel Aviv and raised in Hong Kong, Ronny Kobo's interest in fine art, travel, and culture eventually led her to New York City, where she graduated with a master's degree from NYU. She speaks fluent English, Hebrew, and Spanish.
Ronny started off her career by founding her own line of accessories and ultimately launched the trendsetting apparel brand Torn by Ronny Kobo in 2009. Additionally, she held a seat on the board of Christie’s Auction House. Ronny Kobo's current collections are best known for standout prints, upscale versatility, and timeless silhouettes.
How I styled it: I wore this dress to one of my favorite restaurants in DC called Baan Siam and then to Bar Chinois afterward. Now, I lived in DC (DuPont Circle) for five years until the pandemic struck, and one of the main reasons I decided to move in with my ex was because crime was suddenly out of control, and I felt unsafe. I miss city living and I miss DC but sadly, it's gotten worse!
Anyway, I paired this dress with black Lele Sadoughi earrings, a pair of black tights, a Burberry Quilted Patent Leather jacket, Twinset Platform pumps, and a vintage Chanel bag.
Size and fit: I got the medium and this 80s-inspired, puff sleeve dress is made of blue jacquard with a mock neck, long sleeves with button-detailed cuffs, side-zip closure, and a ruched, asymmetric skirt. This dress definitely runs on the smaller side.
Condition: Great.
Honest review: Aside from being wayyyyy too short on me (I kept pulling it down every time I got up), I love this dress. It's sexy!
Simon Miller Azora Dress, Retail Value $295, RTR $295
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About the designer: I've never heard of Simon Miller and their site was kind of vague. Simon Miller is a playful world of luxury, where fashion meets lifestyle. Inspired by the mod world, bold graphics, classic cars, the cinema, and more, this retail brand is located in Los Angeles where they design a playful take on classic luxury. All about bold statements, colorful prints, and playful colors, they're all about having fun with fashion.
How I styled it: Since DC is all about politics, I wore this dress to an election night watch party and paired it with Twinset by Simona Barberi platform pumps, gold-tone hoops, a vintage Chanel bag, and my studded Gucci leather jacket.
Size and fit: This holiday-ready, layered, body-hugging mesh dress is crafted in polyester and features a gathered mock neck, an hourglass silhouette, long sleeves with flared, slit cuffs, and ruched side seams. I got the large (6-8) and after I got this red and green plaid dress over my head, it fit fine.
Condition: Pristine.
Honest review: Shh... when I tried to squeeze into this dress, I popped the stitch that attaches the slip to the dress and then tried to fix it myself. This dress has a very retro look and feel; while it's attractive and flattering, it runs quite small. I almost popped my shoulder out of the socket trying to pull it on. It definitely needs a zipper or a few buttons because it's too tight all over and good luck getting it over your head.
Ulla Johnson Nathalie Dress, Retail Value $695, RTR $695
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About the designer: Born and raised in Manhattan, the daughter of archaeologists, Ulla Johnson honed her signature style between the streets of New York and the far-flung destinations of their family travels. Her eponymous line, founded in 1998 just after graduating from college, immediately caught the attention of the fashion press.
Growing from a handful of directional boutiques and with an early endorsement from Barneys New York, Ulla Johnson’s collection has gained a dedicated following and the support of retailers across the US, Europe, Australia, and Asia. She has never wavered on her steadfast attention to the details of construction that have become her hallmark, basing each of her collections on a foundation of natural fibers, beautiful finishing, and ease of fit and form. Ulla lives in Brooklyn with her husband and three children.
How I styled it: I didn't do much at all! The same pumps I've worn the entire review, a vintage Chanel bag, bare legs, and the Yves Salomon Shearling jacket.
Size and fit: I got the medium and this colorful, cozy dress fit very well. Crafted in a slightly itchy wool and cotton blend, this pull-on knit shift features a mock neck, long sleeves with flared cuffs, and a flared midi hem.
Condition: Excellent.
Honest review: Of course, I ordered another warm dress and it's too warm outside to wear it! It's really pretty, love the pastel colors, and it's incredibly well made, but the temps need to drop just a few more degrees!
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? Due to the weather, I got the most wear out of the Ronny Kobo and Rhode dresses.
- Did they meet or exceed expectations? They almost met expectations this week and would've exceeded had the Simon Miller dress shown up in a plastic wrapping like it had been cleaned!
- 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
Since I mentioned reality tv, let's talk about my reality when it comes to dating. So, I went out on a few dates with a few guys via matchmakers who found me on Linkedin and Facebook, and now I'm totally convinced that there's something wrong with me that only therapy can resolve. In a previous post, I mentioned how love-bombers shower you with kind words, gifts, and compliments at the beginning to win you over and it has happened with these guys too. While I felt safer with the matchmaker because they do the background checks for you, that still didn't save me from attracting the same type of person and situation again.
Both of these guys started love-bombing me over text and in person and it was alarming. Had we known each other for weeks or months, I could understand, but when we've spent maybe 5 hours total together, we've got a problem. So, when I contacted the matchmakers to explain my fears and tell them how these guys reminded me of my exes and past trauma, they both said I should go out with them at least one more time to get to know them better. Ok, I understand that it takes more than two dates to get to know someone, but I started seeing repeat patterns of behavior that were alarming to me and I began to have panic attacks.
I agreed to see both guys again, but then the texts and calls got even more aggressive, so I contacted both matchmakers, and expressed my concerns and that was it. I'm happy I'm finally able to recognize these behavior patterns and red flags in advance and therefore I saved myself the time and pain of going through these types of relationships again. In the past, I would've thought... well, maybe they're really into me and I should give it a chance because I might not find anyone else. But these days I'd rather be single!
I've said it before and I'll say it again if someone is too hot and heavy, complimentary, future faking (we're going to go to Italy, you'll be such a great mom to our kids, etc.), too handsy, and attempting to move a relationship forward at the speed of light, you better watch out! Don't make the same mistakes I've made in the past. Trust your gut!
My little love-bunner
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 $86,789!
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