What I’m Wearing This Week: Armoire

Happy Friday! I'm prepping for the move and listed many items on my eBay account. If there's anything that interests you, let me know and we can make a deal! You'll even recognize some of the items from the reviews.

I'm selling things I don't wear very often to lighten my load and I'll continue to add new pieces every few days.

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 $98,167 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 

All four items by Yumi Kim, Pinko and Sachin & Babi arrived fresh from the dry cleaner, neatly folded, and sealed in a shipping bag.

Yumi Kim Frida Balloon Sleeve Maxi Dress Retail Value $268 Armoire $174

About this 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.

Why I rented: It looked soooo pretty in the pics, I just had to give it a try.

How I styled it: I wore this dress to the office on a cold and rainy day and paired it with the Vince Leather Jacket, Lele Sadoughi Spin Skater Earrings and Pearl Station Necklace, a Louis Vuitton Cherry Blossoms Bag, a Louis Vuitton Graffiti Speedy, and a pair of strappy Karl Lagerfeld Pumps.

Size and fit: I got a medium and it was a perfect fit! Crafted from Viscose Georgette with polyester lining, this floral-print maxi dress will put a spring in your step with a deep v-neckline, long puffed sleeves with smocked cuffs, gently gathered bodice, smocked waist with ruffle trim, and a tiered peasant skirt.

Condition: Brand new with tags.

Honest review: I loved it, but it didn't seem like anyone else did. Since it's a little on the heavier side with lots of fabric, it's the perfect spring dress for when it's not quite warm enough to show your legs, but you're sick of wearing tights or nylons.

Pinko Open Front Lace-Up Paneled Jacket Retail Value $564, Armoire $169

About the Designer: PINKO, the brainchild of its current Chairman and CEO Pietro Negra and his wife Cristina Rubini, was founded in the late 80s. Over the years, their daughters Cecilia and Caterina also joined the company, working in the Communication and Creative Department respectively.

PINKO is a response to the fashion needs of an independent, strong and sexy woman, aware of her femininity and determined to express it in different ways, but first and foremost through her choice of style. The collections stand out for their unique, eclectic, original and contemporary style, of great appeal to women worldwide. Year after year, these women have contributed to the brand's global development and success.

Why I rented it: Needed something a little more professional than a leather jacket.

How I styled it: Where to begin? I was able to throw it on top of so many different looks because it's just so versatile!

Size and fit: Crafted in a polyester blend with velvet paneling, this structured blazer features mandarin collar, lace-up shoulders, long sleeves with velvet cuffs, front hook-and-eye closure, buttoned flap pockets, and velvet-trimmed hem.

Condition: Great.

Honest review: I've gotten so much wear out of this military-inspired jacket; I'm debating whether to buy it!

Sachin & Babi Lexi Back Zip Crop Top Retail $225, Armoire $180, Sachin & Babi Leighton Pleated A-Line Skirt, Retail $295, Armoire $215

About this Designer: Sachin and Babi met as students at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), where they were instant friends. The two were cut from the same cloth, bonding over their common interests, ambitions, and upbringing in India. Friendship grew into love, and soon after, a company. Together, Sachin and Babi built a design and embroidery business, working for top houses including Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Jean-Paul Gaultier, and Manolo Blahnik, among others. Sachin and Babi were one of fashion’s best-kept secrets behind-the-scenes until they set out on their own.

Driven by a commitment to incredible craftsmanship and a desire to connect with customers, Sachin and Babi launched our brand. By owning a family-run factory in Mumbai, we are able to control the design and production process from start to finish, cutting out the middlemen. The result: extraordinary clothing and accessories with tremendous value.

Why I rented it: The set was finally available!

How I styled it: I wore the set with Lele Sadoughi Crystal Lily Earrings, a Helmut Lang Mixed Media Jacket, Alexander Birman Suede Knotted Wedges, and the Louis Vuitton Graffiti Speedy. Separately, I wore the top with the Veronica Beard jeans, Nicholas Kirkwood sandals, the Pinko blazer. And paired the skirt with a Splendid by Ella Moss off-the-shoulder top.

Size and fit: Since the last set ran a little small, I ordered a size 8 top and a size 6 skirt. The sleeveless top and skirt feature a baby blue and white striped pattern, round neckline, and exposed back zip closure. The skirt has a banded waist, back zip closure, side slit pockets, and box pleats.

Condition: Excellent.

Honest review: Love, love, love! This 1950s-style skirt set is everything to me!

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 Pinko Jacket, and I'm still not sending it back.
• Did they meet or exceed expectations? Exceeded expectations.
• What’s the return process like? Place the items in the bag, seal it up and that's it!

FINAL THOUGHTS

Are you ready for a crazy story? I was seeing a guy for about four months, and despite living a little bit of a distance apart, we managed to spend time together most weekends and even went on a few trips. Well, he's not the most affectionate or intimate person, but I never made a big deal out of it despite thinking the entire situation was odd. I'd never dealt with someone like that before.

Aside from that time a guy I barely knew needed me to go to Boston during a blizzard to take care of him before, during, and after heart surgery. We were also dating for four months (I suddenly became his emergency contact) and ended up playing nurse for another six months! No friends, no family, just me. I monitored INR numbers, dealt with blood clots, doctor's appointments, and emergency trips to the ER in the middle of the night. I almost got fired from Saks Fifth Avenue because of the stress and time off to care for a pseudo stranger. Sigh, no wonder I've never been married.

Anyway, when we were in Key West a few weeks ago, this guy told me he didn't like the Farm Rio maxi dress and insisted on taking me shopping. So, we ended up at some touristy shop and got a cheap beachy mini dress that's designed for his teen daughter—not me. After that, I got lectured on how women fall into a few different categories: cute, sexy, beautiful, elegant, exotic, and smoking. He proceeded to tell me that no guy wants to get with Kate Middleton because she's too perfect, and guys are only turned on by the sexy, smoking women. He went on and on for a good 10 minutes (hello, word salad), and I felt like he was making the comparison because of how much I like Kate Middleton.

The convo went in one ear and out the other, until he brought up the topic again a few days ago. I recently met his kids, and despite not totally feeling it, I didn't want to bail (I'm trying to be more open and trusting), so I went along with it. But I really wanted to have a discussion about the intimacy first—there just never seemed to be the right time.

So, I finally brought it up the other night because I can't continue like this. He again went on and on about Kate Middleton being an untouchable porcelain doll and how it doesn't do it for him. He told me the reason nothing is happening is because of the way I dress and said the long drapey dresses I wear cover my body and they're not sexy. I dress too conservatively! Has he seen the way people dress in the DC area?

Um, that's a lie. I've worn many dresses that are way too short and tight! Am I supposed to dress like a 20-something NYC club girl again when I'm nearing 50? Do I really look like I just stepped off the set of Little House on the Prairie?

He said he knows I'm reviewing these clothes, but he doesn't like my “cosmopolitan sense of style" and suggested I dress more “youthful and sexier”. Now, this is not the first time a guy has told me how to dress (both my rebound and the criminal told me how to dress), but this is the first time it was done in such a condescending manner! Instead of addressing the elephant in the room (his lack of anything), he spun it back on me and basically said if I dress like a Kardashian, maybe something will happen! Deflection and gaslighting at its finest.

Call me crazy, but if I started dressing like a Kardashian, got tons of work, and even introduced him to Kim herself, the guy would still probably have the same issues. I know too much about his past to believe this is about how I dress.

He's great on paper, but I've seen a few red flags, and this conversation did it for me. Either he's controlling, insecure, or both... or something else. I seriously cannot believe a guy who basically wears glorified pajamas out on dates has the nerve to tell me how to dress.

Ok, what are your thoughts? I'm still pi$$ed and don't think I'll be able to move past it.

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 $98,536.15!

What are your thoughts about Armoire and rentals in general? Let me know what you think down below!