Be The Best Dressed Guest

Weddings are one of my favorite events to get invited to, and these are the two thoughts that instantly crosses my mind when I receive an invitation; the first is happiness for the bride and groom (obviously;), The second is what am I going to wear?!

I’m sure I’m not alone here because let’s face it, most of us rarely get the chance to dress up. I for one spend most of my time in joggers and a t-shirt chasing after the girls.

So whenever an occasion to dress up is presented I’m all over it, it also feels natural for me to dress up. Like my friend Bruno Mars said, “If I Show Up, I’m Gon’ Show Out.”

I love making a statement, but I also don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a piece I would wear just once.

Which is how I stumbled upon Rent the Runway back in November of 2012 when looking for a statement birthday dress pictured below.

My choice was a beautiful Dolce & Gabanna dress that I became obsessed with. Since then, Rent The Runway has become one of the first places I search for a dress when going to an event.

Most of us spend anywhere from $50-$200 on a dress that we only wear once anyway so renting a designer gown that costs anywhere from $250 to $1000 is a no-brainer for me.

About The Company

For those of you not familiar with Rent The Runway, the company’s concept is simple: It amasses designer dresses, then allows women to rent those dresses for a fraction of the original retail cost.

Since its inception in 2009, Rent the Runway—founded by Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss—has revolutionized the rental wear-and-return corner of the retail industry.

Their model of bringing designer clothes to everyday women clicked with consumers, and they have continued to grow and expand now with maternity selections and a variety of plans.

For example, if you have more than one event a year they have a plan called ‘The Pro’ for $29.95 which would be a great deal for you since you save on shipping and insurance.

Rent The Runways NYC Flagship Store

 The store located at 30 W. 15th Street New York, NY features a rotating selection of pieces to choose from for casual wear or your next event.

There is an iPad where you sign in to reserve a fitting room; I started to browse and pull dresses that I wanted to try on, the stylist assisting me also wanted to pick some pieces for me which btw made me feel so special.

I tried on a few dresses, and it was getting hard to choose until I tried on the ‘Award Winner Gown’ by Badgley Mischka.

Hesitant at first because we all know how uncomfortable sequin can be, but as soon as I tried it on I was in love and ended my search.

The dress looks regal and compliments my figure perfectly, and the best part is that is so comfortable. My only recommendation is to order the long size if you are over 5’5 and wearing heels.

Everything about this dress is perfect, and very much worth the $70 rental fee, but I was glad that I tried it on in the store because I would have never ordered it otherwise.

I reserved my dress and went about my day; I would recommend that you go into one of their store locations if there’s one near you.

While they don’t have everything they have online, it will still give you a better idea of how certain brands fit on your body and help you make a more educated decision.

The stores also offers one-on-one styling advise, your stylist will consult with you before your appointment and will curate a selection of styles for you to try-on based on your style & fit preferences.

Choosing A Dress Online

The website is easy to navigate and has so many great options to choose from to wear to your next event.

My first tip is to start by entering your event date, that way you are only looking at options that are available for you to rent. It is best to have your items shipped two days before your event starts.

For example, if my event is on Saturday, I set my items to ship on a Thursday. If for some reason your piece doesn’t fit or if you don’t love what you picked out,  you’ll have enough time to call RTR customer service and swap out the item and have another piece overnighted in time for your event.

My second tip is to order a backup size which is offered at no extra charge. You can also add on a second style for $35 if you’re unsure about a certain item.

Always read the reviews section of pieces you are interested in renting. Most people that review also upload photos of themselves wearing the piece. You can get an idea if an item runs large, small or true to size and pick out a backup size up or down based on recommendations.

Deciding on a dress from so many excellent options is the hardest part, and trust me you’ll be wishing you had more events to wear these dress.

After your event, all renters need to do is drop off or ship the dress back by the designated date, in the pre-labeled bag the items arrive in.

Rent The Runways Fine Print

It is important to know that if a dress goes missing for any reason, by your fault or the fault of UPS, the company’s sole carrier, the renter becomes liable for the dress, and in addition to a $50-a-day late fee, Rent the Runway can, charge “up to 200%” of the full retail cost of the dress—each dress—rented.

Of course, the last part is in the fine print, which most of us don’t read.

Apart from the rental fee of your dress, there is a $5 insurance fee that only covers minor tears or stains, anything beyond repair the company will charge you an extra fee.

My advice is to return the dress as soon as possible and always drop off inside the UPS store and ask for a receipt.

My Final Thoughts

Overall, I’d recommend the service with confidence for anyone who wants to try it.

Whenever given the option, I would much rather wear a designer dress, and with hundreds of dresses to choose from and a vast size option, you are guaranteed to find a dress to wear for your next event.

Just make sure to read reviews, always pick out a backup size and second style and to schedule the dress to arrive two days before the event to guarantee you have backup options.

Have you ever rented anything from Rent The Runway?

Save $30 on your first order by ordering HERE

Wearring:

Bagley Mischka ‘Award Winner Gown’ HERE

Shoes: Christian Louboutin Sold Out Similar HERE