Happy New Year, every bunny! While I've never been one of those "New Year, New Me" types who set resolutions only to fall off the wagon two weeks later, my trademark deadline will be my motivation for the next six months.
As for the holidays, I spent 10 days with my family in Baltimore, and we kicked it off with two of my brother's Southwest flights being canceled. He was finally able to make it home on the 3rd try, but his luggage continued to tour the country for a few more days. Since we had no idea where his luggage was located (was it sunning on a beach in Miami or learning how to ski in Aspen?), he ended up spending an additional $230 on necessities, only for the suitcase to finally show up five days later. Hopefully, he's learned his lesson, travels lighter next time, and only uses carry-on luggage.
So, here's where rentals make sense! I brought my RTR with me and returned it to the UPS Store before I left so I didn't have to lug it back with me. Meanwhile, I ordered a new batch from Armoire to be delivered to my mom's, but due to the winter storm, it arrived almost a week later. I also changed the address for my Rockbox shipment and had that delivered to my mom's house too.
Despite the Armoire delay, I still had a few additional items to wear from RTR and they held me over in the meantime. And as for my own clothing and jewelry, I didn't really pack much because I didn't need to! I love rentals so much. 🙂
Oh hey, let's check out my Armoire year in review!
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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 $49,960 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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Sorry about the images, but I sent everything back before I took pics on the mannequin! All four items by Self-Portrait, Sandro, Ramy Brook, and Alexia Admor arrived on time and in great condition. Each item was fresh from the dry cleaner and neatly folded. I've been playing musical clothes with Armoire, and sometimes I'll send two or three items back, while I hold onto the others, which has made Armoire a lot more fun!
THE GOODS
Self Portrait Floral Lace Zip-Front Mini Dress, Retail Value $365, Armoire $131
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About the designer: Han Chong is the designer behind Self-Portrait, the contemporary luxury label which became super successful due to its impeccable lace designs, celebrity fans, and its accessible price point. Born and raised in Penang, Malaysia, Chong moved to London to study womenswear design at Central Saint Martins. After graduating, he co-founded the label Three Floor with Yvonne Hoang in 2011, but he wanted more creative control and left the brand in 2013 to focus on Self-Portrait.
In 2016, Self-Portrait was nominated by the British Fashion Council for the British Emerging Talent award. In November 2018, Chong announced the launch of a five-year scholarship fund supporting Central Saint Martin's MA Fashion students, granting each year's recipient a mentorship from Self-Portrait and key stakeholders.
How I styled it: I wore this dress on New Year's Eve to a horsey bar in the country called The Butler Cabin and I was soooo overdressed. In fact, my mom asked me to change before we left, and I said, "Mom, it's New Year's Eve! Everyone will be dressed up!" Well, most people were either in their sweats or cowboy attire, so I definitely stood out.
I attempted to wear it with nude Wolford nylons that I got for $13 (thanks to Capital One Shopping) and the Twinset Platform pumps, but since I looked like I was naked, I switched to flats and sheer black nylons. I also wore Mignonne Gavigan Rhinestone hoops.
Size and fit: Self-Portrait is a British brand that runs small, so when my only option was the UK 10/US 6, I was concerned it would be too tight around my shoulders and ribcage, but it was slightly large. This lace dress features a round neckline, long lace sleeves, back zip closure, front zip detail, lace hem, and a detachable slip.
Condition: Great.
Honest review: I love Self-Portrait and this dress is a stunner, but I felt like I looked naked underneath.
Sandro Ruffled Cocktail Dress, Retail Value $495, Armoire $124
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About the Designer: Inspired by the vivid and earthy colors of her childhood in Morocco, Evelyne Chetrite studied law in Paris, but her passion was in fashion. When she met her husband Didier Chetrite, he gave her the opportunity to call upon her talents as a stylist. The couple then embarked on their Sandro adventure together in 1984 and opened their first boutique on rue Vieille du Temple in the heart of the Marais, France.
Her vision of femininity is the basis for her designs where she focuses on the masculine-feminine equation and shares an indisputable Parisian elegance with those she dresses. Evelyne designs unambiguous clothes to be worn by an urban girl who hones a discreet look, only to be all the more visible for it. Her appeal is nurtured with an almost innate balance and gives her a naturally cool appearance.
How I styled it: This dress doesn't need much styling help at all! I wore it with a strapless adhesive bra, fishnet tights, rhinestone bow earrings from a boutique in DC, platform pumps, and a vintage mink jacket.
Size and fit: I got a medium and this chic cocktail dress features a round neckline with a sheer v-panel in the front and back, ruffled shoulders and bodice, back-zip closure, empire waist (well, on me anyway), and a flounced skirt.
Condition: Very good.
Honest review: I've had this dress on my wish list for a year, but whenever I was ready to commit, it would disappear! So, I was finally able to give it a try and while it looks bulky and heavy in the pictures, it's surprisingly lightweight and stretchy. I wish I had brought this dress to Baltimore instead of the Self-Portrait dress that I wore on New Year's Eve!
Ramy Brook Sadie Faux Leather Ruched Mini Dress, Retail Value $445, Armoire $263
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About the designer: In 2010, Ramy Brook Sharp was looking for the perfect, sexy top to pair with her vast collection of jeans. In her many attempts to find what she was looking for, Ramy quickly recognized a gap in the fashion space and decided to design her own and the Ramy Brook brand was born. Within six months, she started hosting trunk shows around town and her designs were picked up at Bergdorf Goodman.
Through Ramy’s signature use of silk fabrics, lively colors, and sophisticated silhouettes, her collection is a day-to-night solution for a woman’s wardrobe. Inspired by the beautiful, strong women she has admired throughout her life who demand a timeless, elegant, and versatile wardrobe, her clothing evokes an uplifting, happy, and playful attitude, all while highlighting the sexiness and confidence of the woman who wears it.
How I styled it: I wore this dress with earrings from Rocksbox, a necklace and belt from Etsy, the Sheertex tights (which are going strong, but suddenly there are weird lines), and a pair of vintage Coach Over-the-Knee boots.
Size and fit: I got a 6 and this faux leather dress was a little stretched out up top which is disappointing because real leather stretches out too and that's one of the only things I don't like about it! This polyester dress features a shirt collar, front button closure, long sleeves with buttoned cuffs, side snaps and zip closure, defined waist, and ruched skirt with wrap detail. It's also fully lined in what feels like microfiber so it's quite warm!
Condition: It's a little stretched out, but otherwise in great shape.
Honest review: While I'm all about saving animals, faux leather isn't my favorite thing. It just feels like I'm wearing expensive plastic! Otherwise, I love this dress and especially the color, but it's not worth $263.
Alexia Admor Ruched Wide-Leg Jumpsuit, Retail Value $245, Armoire $171
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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 threw on a pair of Lele Sadoughi Pearl hoops, Kendra Scott's Maya necklace, a vintage belt from Etsy, Charlotte Olympia Buckle Suede Pumps, Gucci Studded Leather jacket, and the Chanel 19.
Size and fit: I didn't end up wearing this medium-sized jumpsuit because it's too short. This one-piece has serious Lady in Red vibes, and it features a draped crewneck, long slim-fitted sleeves, back-zip closure, defined waist, and wide legs. It isn't lined and I could've benefitted from some Spanx!
Condition: Excellent!
Honest review: I love it, but I wish it were a little longer, so it fit me better. And as I said in the past, Alexia Admor is a great value, but you can find these designer pieces for much cheaper on their website. This brand-new jumpsuit is $90 on their site, but $171 on Armoire. I don't get 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? The faux leather dress was a winner! I wore it at least 5 times.
- Did they meet or exceed expectations? They met expectations. I just wish items weren't so short on me.
- What’s the return process like? Place the items in the bag, seal it up and that's it!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Mr. HGL getting all cozy for the cold ride to Baltimore.
On New Year's Eve, I was texting with a friend about my ex and his fellow scammers, so I Googled the name of the guy my ex suggested help with my designer resale shop (hello, Ozark) and I got quite a surprise... looks like he's going to jail!
You all know I escaped a dangerous relationship with a guy who was involved with fake companies, fraudulent activities and criminals. At first, I thought he was just a victim and not very smart (who wire transfers hundreds of thousands to people they've never met?), but after uncovering ties to shady individuals, large overseas wire transfers, and questionable global "startups", I became suspicious and filed a report to the FTC. At the time, we were in the height of COVID, and I never heard back because the FTC, FBI, and federal government were very busy with more pressing matters, so I submitted a second complaint—just in case it got lost in the shuffle.
A few months later, I discovered my ex was connected to yet ANOTHER fake company, and after a deep dive into the CEO (a known white-collar criminal who already served jail time), the C Suiters (fake profiles stolen from Linkedin!), their website and social media pages, I realized this was a cover for money laundering and a Ponzi scheme and wasn't a case of me being "a writer with an active imagination". So, I packed up Mr. HGL and we moved out in May 2021.
After I escaped, I contacted local authorities who then submitted my story directly to the FBI office in Northern Virginia. Since then, it's been crickets so about a month ago I checked on my cases and they were marked as closed. I felt sick to my stomach because I assumed that meant they had been overlooked or disregarded.
And then I found this article. On one hand, I feel vindicated (and happy they can't scam anyone else) but on the other, I'm really angry because I was correct, and everything was a lie. For two years, I lived in a constant state of anxiety, fear, uncertainty and depression, but I powered through because I wanted to make sure the authorities were aware of these Strategic Innovations "startups". And while the outcome will never cure my PTSD, severe trust issues, or the abuse, at least justice will be served for this case.
Now, I need to write that book because... wow, do I have stories to tell. It'll be contemporary fiction based on some of my crazy life experiences. And maybe one day I'll even get to open that shop in Middleburg—or wherever I decide to move. And yes, rentals will be a huge focus!
Don't worry, my guard bunny will save me!
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 $46,201!
What are your thoughts about Armoire and rentals in general? Let me know what you think down below!
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