Good morning, y'all. Well, last night was the gala, but since I wore an RTR dress, I will review the event next Friday. Update: I may have to skip next week.
Did you happen to see the earrings Kate Middleton wore to the BAFTAs last week? Since I'm one of her biggest fans, I immediately bought a pair of her now sold-out Zara metal cascading flower earrings for the gala, and they are amazing! Zara still has the necklace, belt, and bracelet... I've got my eye on those too.
I was shocked to discover people are reselling these earrings for up to $500 on eBay. Crazy, huh?
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 $56,031 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
1 of 6
All three items (I'm playing musical rentals again) by Reiss, Something Navy, and Black Halo arrived on time and in great condition. Each item was fresh from the dry cleaner and neatly folded.
THE GOODS
Reiss Cora 3/4 Sleeve Shift Dress, Retail Value $330, Armoire $201
1 of 8
About the Designer: Reiss is one of Kate Middleton's favorite brands! Launched in 1971, REISS opened in Bishopsgate, London selling men's tailoring. In 1997, they hired an in-house design team, and in 1998 they opened stores across the UK and Ireland. From there they launched womenswear, opened international stores, personal tailoring and shopping services, and a childrenswear division.
How I styled it: TBH, I didn't wear it aside for Zoom calls and around my building. It's just boring and I bit uncomfortable. I threw on black tights, the Etsy belt, Lele Sadoughi earrings from Rocksbox, Kat Maconie Sock Boots (I need to buy more of her shoes), and the Gucci Studded Leather Jacket.
Size and fit: I got the 6 and it was a little snug around the neck and bust. It's crafted in viscose with a high neckline with neck-tie detail, three-quarter bell sleeves, back zip closure, defined waist, and a slightly flared hem.
Condition: Great.
Honest review: A disappointment because it felt and looked cheap, and it's kind of boring. The only thing I liked was the color.
Something Navy Floral Ruffled Mini Dress, Retail Value $165, Armoire $87
1 of 9
About the designer: Arielle Charnas founded Something Navy in 2009. As one of the earliest bloggers and influencers in this space, Arielle became a trusted style authority as she evolved Something Navy into a fashion and lifestyle brand.
Arielle launched the first Something Navy clothing collection in the fall of 2018, and, following its success, her own standalone brand featuring wearable wardrobe staples and elevated basics.
How I styled it: When I held it up against my body, I started laughing. HOW is this a dress? I almost packed it up and sent it right back along with the next dress but then I had an idea. What if I wear it as a tunic and pair it with my Alice + Olivia Pleated Leather Mini Skirt? And that seemed to work.
Since the top (um, dress) is so oversized and poufy, I added the Obi Leather Belt from Etsy. Perfect? Not exactly, but I like this option so much better! I also wore my Tecovas Cowboy Boots... which reminds me that I need to get back to Nashville soon.
Size and fit: I got a medium and it's huge, boxy and short. It's crafted in crisp cotton with a banded neckline, ruffled shoulders, front button closure, three-quarter sleeves with button cuffs and shirt hem.
Condition: Great.
Honest review: Absolutely hated it at first, but after I messed around a bit, I ended up liking the look. In fact, I quickly sent back the other two pieces and kept this instead. I'm going to try it with leather leggings next.
Black Halo Twist-Front Wrap Dress, Retail Value $298, Armoire $134
About the designer: Black Halo Founder and Creative Director, Laurel Berman, has transformed the way women dress today with the iconic Jackie O dress; known for its versatility and ability to enhance a woman’s figure, it laid the foundation for the brand’s success as a leader in the contemporary dress market. Laurel's architectural designs summon a natural inner beauty and confidence that are both liberating and empowering.
In 2012, the brand debuted a cocktail and evening wear collection, Black Halo EVE by Laurel Berman, broadening its appeal to existing clientele while reaching a new audience. The brand has grown to include jumpsuits, two-piece dressing, and separates.
How I styled it: So, I got this dress to wear to a friend's Valentine's Day party and it was a serious failure. I used a safety pin to keep it together at the bottom, threw on a stick-on bra and then double side taped it to my body, and it still looked terrible. I gave up and threw it back in the bag.
Size and fit: Black Halo is notorious for running small, so when I ordered this size 6 dress, I expected it to be tiny and it was the total opposite. It was so huge and stretched out up top that it was completely unwearable.
Condition: Good, but clearly stretched out.
Honest review: I like Black Halo and their classic pieces, but this was a disaster. Felt like I was being filmed for Project Runway and had to quickly take some fabric and make it a dress. Auf wiedersehen!
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? Ugh, nothing.
- Did they meet or exceed expectations? This week was my fault, not Armoire's. The items I chose just didn't work!
- What’s the return process like? Place the items in the bag, seal it up and that's it!
FINAL THOUGHTS
A friend of mine asked me for help shopping for a Chanel Classic Flap bag. Since I haven't shopped for a bag in years, I dove right into the resale market and was completely taken aback by what I saw.
I used to be the BIGGEST proponent of the resale industry. I was in awe of the designer resale shops in NYC and loved the amazing deals I could score on Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Fendi, but nowadays, it's become a scam. They're charging $8,500 for a medium-sized Chanel Classic Flap from 1995 and almost $10,000 for the brand-new bag. This. Is. Robbery.
Then, she said she was also considering the Boy Bag and I had to inform her that the medium size hardly holds anything, and despite being leather, it's like carrying around a thick plastic box.
Since Prada is hot again, I suggested the gorgeous Prada Cahier or the Prada Quilted Nappa Shoulder Bag (which is almost a knockoff of the Chanel 19), but I know her heart has always been set on the Chanel Classic. It's just not worth it.
She asked what I'd get if I decided to spend money on a bag right now, and I said anything limited-edition that hasn't been hit by the frenzy and suggested older Louis Vuitton's collabs.
And while I really like the new Louis Vuitton x Kusama collection, to charge almost $3,000 for a bag that everyone and their grandmother has (ugh, the Neverfull) and dress it up with dots is absurd. I think the Capucines is gorgeous, but $9,000 is ridic.
In short, I told her to hold off on Chanel. I think the resale industry is less than a year away from imploding. I predict with the rise and accessibility of rentals, that's where people will turn to get their designer fix. The exclusivity factor of top designer brands is over, the prices of brand-new pieces will continue to rise, the fakes will become better than ever, and resale will soon be forced to drop their prices to pre-pandemic levels because it now makes more sense to buy something brand new or rent it.
Of course, I can't be so blunt and honest in the article I wrote for LePrix, but if you're in the market for a designer resale bag right now... don't do it. If I bought a bag right now, I'd consider the LV Murakami Eye Need You Bag (exclusive and very hard to find), the Gucci Dionysus (for resale and uniqueness reasons, and the quality is fab), or the LV Capucines.
Who watched the Worldwide Privacy Tour? I thought it was amazing! IYKYK.
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 $56,031!
What are your thoughts about Armoire and rentals in general? Let me know what you think down below!
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.