Happy Fri-YAY! We're back to Armoire, and I've come to the conclusion that their looks are more business casual than trendy and fun, and this week I rented a few looks that could go from day to night with a few little tweaks.
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 $51,101 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 five items by Alexia Admor, Boden, Nichola, Hutch, and Preen by Thornton Bregazzi arrived on time and in great condition. Each item was fresh from the dry cleaner and neatly folded.
THE GOODS
Alexia Admor Satin Wrap Midi 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: So, this is the dress version of the jumpsuit I rented two weeks ago, and the fabric is very thin. It came with a matching belt, but I replaced it with my own because it's too slick and flimsy. I also wore Wolford nylons, a Burberry Patent Leather jacket, Twinset Platform pumps, and carried a Louis Vuitton Mirabeau tote. This dress can easily take you from the office to a night on the town, but I'd suggest wearing black tights during the day because the slits are a little high.
Size and fit: I ordered the 6 and it fits true to size. This chic satin dress is elegant and eye-catching with its mock neck, wrap-detailed bodice, back keyhole button closure and zipper, long sleeves with gathered cuffs, and a midi-length skirt with side slits.
Condition: Great.
Honest review: This is where you get what you pay for. The skirt of the dress is so lightweight, it looks and feels really cheap, and it doesn't stay still. The top looks great, but the designer got lazy as they moved down.
Boden Lottie Print Midi Dress, Retail Value $190, Armoire $91
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About the Designer: Johnnie Boden launched Boden with a hand-drawn catalogue featuring eight menswear styles he wanted in his own wardrobe (and wanted to order from his armchair). That was 1991, and back then, catalogues for stylish people who like stylish clothes weren’t really a ‘thing’ in Britain. Today, after a wild, unpredictable and exciting 30 years, Boden is a global company, but it still has the same family vibes. It’s the opinion of the women in his life – his wife Sophie (who pushed him to follow his dream in the first place), his three discerning daughters, and Johnnie’s feisty female sidekick – Sprout the dog – that he values over anything.
How I styled it: A favorite of Kate Middleton, this Boden dress is giving me serious Mad Men vibes. This dress easily goes from day to night, pairing with black tights at the office and ankle boots, and then switching to nude fishnet tights and a pair of platform pumps at night. I also added a black hat with vintage vibes and a vintage Chanel Flap bag.
Size and fit: I got a 6 and since it's a British brand, I forgot it might be a little small. This chic dress features a fold-over mock neck, three-quarter puff sleeves, back keyhole button closure, concealed back zipper, self-waist with attached belt, and an A-line skirt with a back vent. It is fully lined, and the fabric is high quality.
Condition: Excellent, but the back zipper got caught in the lining and it tore.
Honest review: The material is thick, it's very well designed, and feels and looks like it should be a lot more expensive!
NICHOLAS Silk Leopard Print Jumpsuit, Retail Value $548, Armoire $192
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About the designer: In 2009 Irene Nicholas launched her label NICHOLAS. Based in Los Angeles, each NICHOLAS collection begins with this: a mood, a moment, a feeling. Design-led fashion underpinned by skillful construction follows, with the aim of always making the wearer look and feel like the best possible version of herself.
Building on Irene’s two decades of experience as a Retail CEO and Buying Director in her hometown Melbourne, NICHOLAS has grown into a modern brand with a global following. Bright, bold prints and confident yet feminine silhouettes define the look. Elegant and entrance-making dresses and separates become favored pieces in a woman’s wardrobe for her special occasions and vacations. Influenced by the coastal-meets-urban lifestyle inherent to both California and Australia, there’s an effortless joy in everything that NICHOLAS does. Clean lines, inclusive sizing, modern shapes, and vibrant prints are design signatures present in each collection, and every piece emulates the ease of style seen in women all over the world, from Melbourne to Malibu. These are clothes that make space for the vital ingredients that every woman brings to the table: her own unique strength and sense of self.
How I styled it: At first, I wrapped their belt around the waist and then decided to switch it out for one of my own... and I like their belt better. I also added Rocksbox jewelry, the Hermes Clic-Clac bracelet, a Gucci Studded Leather jacket, the Saint Laurent Sac de Jour tote for daytime, and the Chanel 19 for night. I also wore pointy-toed ankle boots to tame the wide flare of the hem.
Size and fit: So, I got the 6 and it fits like a 10. This leopard-printed silk jumpsuit features a shirt collar, long sleeves with button cuffs, button-front closure, front flap pockets, front slant pockets, back slit pockets, and wide pants. It's silky, smooth, and comfy... kind of like adult pajamas.
Condition: Very good, but it's stretched out a bit in the butt.
Honest review: Another day, another jumpsuit and they rarely look good on me! What is up with the seat? I know I have a flat butt and could probably benefit from a BBL (don't worry, I won't), but why is it so droopy and stretched out back there?
Hutch Balloon Sleeve Cropped Blouse, Retail Value $158, Armoire $120
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About the designer: Launched in 2010 by New York native Daniel Saponaro, Hutch is a women's contemporary line designed in NYC and recognized for easy, feminine pieces that are bold yet flattering and versatile.
Opting for timelessness over trendy, as a rule, every style shows Daniel's vision and love for bright colors, conceptual prints, and a toned-down sexy sophistication. Now carried in over 220 boutiques nationwide, Hutch has been profiled by WWD and seen in magazines like InStyle and People Stylewatch.
For ten years, before launching Hutch, Daniel resided at luxury evening and contemporary companies alike, designing for Heidi Weisel, Samantha Treacy, Isaac Mizrahi, and Thread Social, among others. Brooklyn born and a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC and the Instituto Polimoda in Florence, Italy. Daniel lives in Brooklyn with his husband Kyle and their long-haired Dachshunds, Rusty and Moxley.
How I styled it: I paired this billowy blouse with a pair of Alice + Olivia bell bottoms, but it can also be worn with leggings or a high-waisted mini skirt and tights.
Size and fit: I got a medium and this pretty blouse features a sweetheart neckline, elasticized shoulders, billowy balloon sleeves with elasticized cuffs, elasticized and smocked back with a full-zip closure, and a cropped hem.
Condition: Very good, but the zipper is bent and won't unzip all the way.
Honest review: It's cute, but I think it's a little young for me and it didn't fit in the bust area correctly!
Preen Nico Beaded Fringe Trim Sweatshirt, Retail Value $245, Armoire $171
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About the designer: Preen by Thornton Bregazzi was founded in 1996 by Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi, built on an aesthetic of darkly romantic and effortlessly modern, juxtaposing the masculine with the feminine and mixing hard and soft. Their debut collection at London Fashion Week for Spring Summer 2001 established the brand’s essence of punkish sensibilities with vintage elements and hand-crafted details. The collection debuted to rave reviews with critics responding to the subverting of traditional motifs and the British sense of tongue-in-cheek chic. The label has since become synonymous with deconstructed London cool and developed a cult status amongst fashion heavyweights.
How I styled it: I wore this with a pair of leggings to lounge around the house during the holidays and I also wore it with these gold metallic leather skinny pants by Skaist-Taylor (fun fact: Connie Britton wore this pair of pants in Nashville), a pair of Giuseppe Zanotti Studded Combat boots, a cozy vintage coat, and newsboy cap.
Size and fit: I got the medium and it's definitely an oversized and boxy fit. Crafted in cotton, this heavy sweatshirt features a crewneck with a v-inset, dropped shoulders with epaulets, long sleeves with ribbed cuffs, and fringe-trimmed hem.
Condition: Excellent!
Honest review: It's a really cool twist on the traditional sweatshirt, but the beaded fringe is very delicate and kept breaking and getting stuck in my waist. I was worried Mr. HGL would eat the beads.
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? I wore the sweatshirt a bunch and also got some wear out of the Boden dress and the jumpsuit despite looking like I was auditioning for a part in the 90s music video, Jump! in the back.
- Did they meet or exceed expectations? They met expectations. I'm going to be more serious and selective with my next round of items!
- What’s the return process like? Place the items in the bag, seal it up and that's it!
FINAL THOUGHTS
The circus has left the building. I'm going to start ordering clothes that are more practical and less clown-y. As long as that's what's available... sometimes I get stuck with things simply because everything else is gone.
Who am I kidding? I'll still order some unusual pieces... after all, something that I consider "basic" may be Halloween-ish to others. I guess you can't please everyone!
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 $51,101!
What are your thoughts about Armoire and rentals in general? Let me know what you think down below!
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