Good morning, every bun. I recently paid for a subscription to a software platform that'll help me write a book, and it's taught me that I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing! In the past, I just started writing on a word doc and kept adding to it (or kept a blog), but that's led to dozens of pages of sh!t without any real substance or structure, so this time I decided to do it the write way.
From character sketches to summary outlines, and plots to subplots and research, it's overwhelming! I'm making minimal progress right now because I had a migraine for a week and a half and then I was totally fogged out for a few days. Hoping to lock myself indoors this weekend and get writing! Oh, who am I kidding? I'll end up running around DC in my rentals instead.
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 $52,973 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 six items by Hutch, Free People, OAK, Goat, Eliza J, and Yumi Kim arrived on time and in great condition. Each item was fresh from the dry cleaner and neatly folded.
THE GOODS
Hutch Robbie Tie-Front Blouse, Retail Value $158, Armoire $100, Free People Phoenix Coated Skinny Jeans, Retail Value $98, Armoire $54
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About Hutch: 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.
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.
About Free People: Free People, a specialty women’s clothing brand, is the destination for bohemian fashion that features the latest trends and vintage collections for women who live free through fashion, art, music, and travel. The brand offers a wide range of products, all reflecting a high level of quality, invoking attributes of femininity, spirit, and creativity in its design, while creating the perfect festival clothing. Known for its playful femininity, the brand is a destination for party dresses, black dresses, wrap dresses, minis, and maxis. More than a clothing brand, Free People aims to create a lifestyle that’s inclusive and sincere.
How I styled it: As you can see, I tried styling these two pieces together and they seem to work pretty well as a set. I added a B-Low the Belt belt, a pair of Sam Edelman Ankle boots, and earrings from Rocksbox.
Size and fit: The satin blouse is a medium and it's oversized. It features a colorful print, shirt collar, long sleeves with buttoned cuffs, front-button closure with front tie, and long shirt hem in the back. It's lightweight and comfy, but the cropped front makes me think it's best to wear with a high-waisted pair of pants or a skirt.
The pants are a 27 and the fit is totally off. While the inseam isn't quite long enough for me, the rise (which is the distance from the waistband to the crotch) is so long and annoying... I kept trying to pull them up, but they'd barely budge and slide back down. These coated, cotton-blend skinny pants feature a waistband with belt loops, a button fly, front slash pockets and back patch pockets, and a cropped hem.
Condition: Great.
Honest review: I really like the pants, but the fit is so weird on me. This is one of the reasons I don't normally rent pants—they're either too short, too big, or just too weird. The blouse is ok... I'm sure if I owned it, I'd get a lot of wear out of it, but I'm not buying it.
Oak Detailed Panel Wool Overcoat, Retail Value $620, Armoire $310
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About the Designer: OAK 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: Well, I never wore it so I didn't style it at all.
Size and fit: I got a medium and this heavy wool coat is boxy and oversized, but your winter coat should always be a little large so you can fit thick layers underneath. This overcoat features a notched collar, long sleeves, concealed front button placket, side slash pockets, and it's fully lined. It's definitely quite warm, but it's not my style at all.
Condition: Pretty good, but clearly worn a lot.
Honest review: The wool is scratchy and itchy; the coat is shapeless, and it smells like someone took multiple smoking breaks while wearing it. Yuck.
Goat Ruffle-Trimmed Cashmere Sweater, Retail Value $620, Armoire $186
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About the designer: Jane is a truly British brand, established (as Goat) by founder and designer Jane Lewis in 2001. The label now synonymous with understated luxury began life as a cashmere range for the fashion set and has since developed into a full ready-to-wear collection. Signature luxury knits have been complemented by equally recognizable separates, dresses, and outerwear.
After twenty successful years as one of Britain's most admired independent womenswear brands Goat rebranded as Jane in Autumn 2021. Rebranding as Jane signified the influence of Founder and Creative Director of 20 years Jane Lewis. The classic aesthetic, core DNA, and values of the brand have remained the same.
How I styled it: While the collar may look slightly clown-ish, the ruffles are so incredibly soft. While I wore this with Alice + Olivia Flares, a B-Low the Belt belt, Kat Maconie Sock boots, and a Balenciaga Graffiti Bag. I also wore it with a leather mini skirt.
Size and fit: Since the 6 was unavailable, I ordered the 8 and while it fits up top, it's quite boxy on the bottom. This soft and stylish cashmere sweater features a ruffle-trimmed neckline and cuffs, and a banded hem. It's super versatile and can be paired with a skirt, jeans or worn under a pair of overalls.
Condition: Great, but a little worn.
Honest review: I love this sweater. While I'm not sure I'll make a purchase, I may hold onto it for another few weeks. The designer has really beautiful and timeless pieces. Check it out!
Eliza J Lace Knit Fit & Flare Dress, Retail Value $138, Armoire $90
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About the designer: Created in NYC and inspired by real women everywhere, Eliza J strives to offer customers the confidence to be their best selves. Since its founding in 2006, Eliza J has designed each collection with colorful, custom vintage prints and easy, classic silhouettes to create a modern feminine spirit that effortlessly spans the seasons.
How I styled it: I didn't go too crazy with this dress and just paired it with Kendra Scott hoops, Wolford nude tights, a vintage gold-tone belt, Nicholas Kirkwood flats and a vintage Chanel bag.
Size and fit: I got a medium and it's a perfect fit. Crafted in a rayon, polyester blend with a hint of stretch, this flirty frock features a round neckline with lace inset, 3/4-length sleeves, exposed back zip closure, defined waist, and flared skirt with lace detailing.
Condition: Very good, but a little worn.
Honest review: Classy and simplistic, this knit dress is a great day-to-night look that's perfect for the office, and beyond. However, that belt didn't work well!
Yumi Kim Ruffled Floral Print Mini Dress, Retail Value $238, Armoire $150
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About the designer: Surrounded by extraordinary women her entire life, including her mother who wore exotic prints and bold florals and proudly donned the classic Ao Dai (a traditional Vietnamese dress), Kim Phan was inspired by these bold women who gave her strength. When she moved to New York in 2004 and adopted a loving Yorkshire Terrier named Yumi, YUMI KIM was born.
Every piece has a story to tell. Coveted for its sunny color combinations and array of florals, the brand reflects the unique experiences that have shaped her life.
How I styled it: At first, I tried it with a belt, and that didn't work so I left the waist alone. I also wore the Sheertex Tights (the jury is still out there on them), Lele Sadoughi Pearl Snake earrings, Charlotte Olympia Suded Slingbacks, and a vintage mink jacket.
Size and fit: Whoa, the 6 is small and there's no stretch either. I was worried I wouldn't be able to zip it up, and it's really short too. This floral print, breezy dress features a round neckline, long puffed sleeves with button cuffs, back zip closure, fitted bodice, dropped waist, and ruffled hem. I would strongly suggest you size up and if you're tall like me, invest in some thick tights to cover your legs.
Condition: Excellent!
Honest review: I'm not sure if the lining is supposed to stick out on the bottom, but that lining saved me from a total wardrobe malfunction when I went to brunch.
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 got the most wear out of the Goat cashmere sweater and I'm going to hold on to it for a little longer.
- Did they meet or exceed expectations? Armoire is slowly but surely adding more pieces to their site, so that's exciting and must be why they're trying to get rid of stale inventory. Maybe one day they'll totally exceed my expectations.
- What’s the return process like? Place the items in the bag, seal it up and that's it!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Hey, did you know Armoire is having a huge sale right now? If you're looking for a cozy sweater, they've got you covered here and if you're looking for everything else at a steep discount, shop their clearance rack.
In other news, I wanted to create a PSA post on behalf of Mr. HGL because the stories about bunnies dying and getting attacked in the wild are heartbreaking. If you are curious about bunnies and considering an adoption, please read all about them beforehand (especially if you're looking at a fuzzy bunny like Mr. HGL). Every day I see posts about rabbits being abandoned and let out into the wild. Domestic rabbits are not the same as wild rabbits and they cannot survive. If you adopt a rabbit and discover you can no longer take care of it, please take the rabbit to your local animal shelter and do not let it run free.
Also, despite what Bugs Bunny might say, too many carrots can kill a rabbit—along with so many other types of food. Please do your research before you adopt a rabbit. Their lives depend on it.
I wish I could adopt all the bunnies, but it's simply not possible. If I can find the time, I will volunteer at the local shelter instead.
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 $52,973!
What are your thoughts about Armoire and rentals in general? Let me know what you think down below!
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