Welp, here we are in December and we're in the swing of the holiday season. My next two rentals will hopefully consist of many fun and frilly party looks. Oh, and I decided to skip Art Basel because I'm too old and tired to party like a 25-year-old again. And everyone I know has that three-day stomach bug and I'd like to avoid it.
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 $44,741 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 Hunter Bell, Alexa Admor, Cynthia Rowley, and Marc by Marc Jacobs arrived on time and in great condition. Each item was fresh from the dry cleaner and neatly folded. I kept the Cynthia Rowley and Halston dresses so that's why I only got four items.
THE GOODS
Hunter Bell Lovett Balloon Sleeve Blouse, Retail Value $495, Armoire $178
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About the designer: Hunter Bell is an American fashion designer based in New York City and the owner of Hunter Dixon. Bell was the season two winner of Fashion Star. She attended the University of Alabama and graduated in 2003 with a degree in fashion design and studio art.
How I styled it: I wore this look to see a Parade of Lighted Boats with my parents and stepmom at a tiki bar called Crazy Tuna. We kicked back, had a snack and a few beers, and enjoyed the lights display. I paired this blouse with the Alice + Olivia Bell Bottom jeans, a vintage belt, River Island Newsboy cap, Kat Maconie Sock boots, and the Yves Soloman Shearling jacket. Afterward, we went to Valley Inn for a nightcap (we reallyyyyy didn't need that extra bottle of wine).
Size and fit: I got the medium and this breezy blouse features a mock neck, long puffed sleeves with elasticized cuffs, back button closure, rounded hem, and an artful and colorful speckled pattern with gold flecks. It's a roomy top with sleeves that are a little short on me. The closure features covered buttons that run from the top to the bottom.
Condition: Great.
Honest review: Love it, but the fabric feels cheap so it's definitely not worth the retail or resale price.
Marc by Marc Jacobs Tiered Ruffle Metallic Mini Skirt, Retail Value $475, Armoire $257
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About the Designer: Born in NYC in 1963, Marc Jacobs is a graduate of the Parsons School of Design where he was the youngest designer ever to receive the CFDA's Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent. Then, he showed a grunge collection for Perry Ellis in 1992, and in 1994 he launched his namesake brand along with his diffusion line called Marc by Marc Jacobs. In 1997, he was appointed Creative Director of Louis Vuitton from where he created the company's first ready-to-wear clothing line. He also collaborated with many popular artists for his Louis Vuitton collections, including Stephen Sprouse, Takashi Murakami, Richard Prince, and Kanye West.
How I styled it: This was a tricky skirt to style because it's so short and the waist is large! At first, I paired it with an Alexis Cold Shoulder Blouse, Kendra Scott's Maya necklace, tights, and Twinset Platform pumps. Then I added the Etsy gold-tone belt, the Alice + Olivia Cropped Leather tank, and a leather jacket by L'Ecole des Femmes.
Size and fit: I got a 6 and this metallic mini skirt is definitely designed for someone a bit shorter than me (or maybe it's meant for the teen department). It features a banded waist, exposed back zip closure, and tiered ruffles.
Condition: Very good.
Honest review: It's cute and festive, but it's like wearing a pair of Daisy Dukes!
Cynthia Rowley Holly Long Sleeve Smocked Waist Ruffle Mini Dress, Retail Value $450, Armoire $270
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About the designer: Cynthia Rowley began her career in fashion while studying at the Art Institute of Chicago (where she had every intention of becoming a painter). After graduation, she took what little seed money she had and moved to NYC to start her fashion brand. Whether she’s exploring on a far-flung getaway, surfing secret spots in exotic destinations, or scuba-diving in an arctic glacier, it’s safe to say the designer is known to take risks. It’s this unparalleled sense of adventure that effortlessly translates into the spirit of the brand through a playful assortment of pretty dresses, beachy separates, and swim/surf.
Cynthia Rowley has gone on to win numerous accolades including a CFDA Award and Designer of the Year at the American Image Awards. She is also a best-selling author and has appeared on numerous television shows.
How I styled it: I wore this baby doll dress on Black Friday and paired it with the leather Etsy belt, Calzedonia tights, the Kat Maconie Sock boots, the Chanel 19, and an unbranded shearling vest from eBay.
Size and fit: I might be a little tall for this medium-sized dress, so I added a belt to disguise the smocked empire waist. This pull-on design also features an elasticized, square neckline, three-quarter length sleeves with ruffled trim and smocked cuffs, a tiered ruffle skirt and it's lined.
Condition: Excellent.
Honest review: It's a comfy, feminine dress that features a playful print and while it's not something I would purchase (it might be a little young for me) it's a fantastic rental!
Alexia Admor Brooklyn Midi Fit Dress, Retail Value $245, Armoire $196
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About the designer: Alexia Admor is a family lifestyle and fashion business spanning three generations. Launched in 1989 by Joseph Gurfinkel, Alexia Admor is a brand focused on creating unique social occasion dresses for day and night, work and play, and dedicated to quality, beauty, and effortless design.
How I styled it: I paired this dress with Mignonne Gavigan earrings, a B-low The Belt belt, a Burberry Quilted Patent Leather Bomber jacket, the Prada x James Jean Bunny Clutch, and Charlotte Olympia Slingback pumps.
Size and fit: This stunning dress looks so much more expensive than it is! I got the 6 (it fits true to size) and it features a mock neck with pleated tie detail, three-button shoulder, long sleeves, banded waist, and back zipper. It's lightweight, very soft, and quite elegant, and if you go through their site, you'll find this dress in over a dozen different colors and prints too.
Condition: Excellent.
Honest review: I love the dress and the color was my Irish grandmother's favorite. It's a bit sheer so if I bought it, I'd wear a slip too. But here's the catch... Armoire's retail price is more than double what I found on this designer's site and it's now on sale, so that takes the price down to $58. I don't understand this at all!
Anyway, this dress is fantastic, and it would be perfect for a date, Sunday brunch, the holidays, and even a wedding! I strongly suggest you check out their site and start shopping before they raise prices.
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? Oh, I love all of it!
- Did they meet or exceed expectations? Armoire exceeded expectations this week.
- What’s the return process like? Place the items in the bag, seal it up and that's it!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Cute story for you. Of course, I follow lots of bunny Instagram accounts and Facebook groups and they always suggest toys and products that bunnies LOVE. I listen to them, trust their reviews, and sometimes buy the items for Mr. HGL, but he HATES everything. Toys? Nope, he pushes them out of his way. Toilet paper rolls are pushed under the couch and comfy, cushy beds are completely avoided and ignored.
Right now, he has five beds, and he only uses one of them. Since he's always cold right after a haircut, I cover him up with a blanket whenever I can, but he squiggles his way out. So, on Black Friday I saw this adorable bed with an attached blanket, and I decided to buy it for his birthday (which was yesterday) and he absolutely refuses to use it. He has no problem sleeping next to it, squishing his head between it and a pillow, or just staring at it, but there's no way in fluff-ing hell he'll get on it!
Where did I find this prissy bunny? He's offended by everything!
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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 $44,741!
What are your thoughts about Armoire and rentals in general? Let me know what you think down below!
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