Outfit of the Day: It's a Rental, Part II

Hello! I have a few new items from Rent the Runway that I thought I'd show y'all, though keep in mind I took most of these pics just to show Marianne, so I'm even more disheveled than normal but also too lazy to retake them with makeup on. I suspect you guys are used to my, um, lackadaisical approach so here we go:

This top is Nanette Lepore and I LOVE IT SO MUCH. I'm wearing it with my Madewell Cali bootcut jeans and Birkenstock Gizeh sandals. Unfortunately I fell victim to what blog reader Wahlsl had warned me about - lingering B.O. Ugh. They immediately let me pick something else and sent it out the same day, which was nice, but I was disappointed. I love this top and hated to send it back. Look how cute:

So pretty, such a shame. Up next:

Ohhhh, damn. This is an Ulla Johnson Anika dress and it's gorgeous, simply gorgeous. I love the cut, the print, the color, everything. Well, almost everything:

It is really low cut and there's no good way to pin it without wrecking the fabric. I will probably have to wear a cami under it which I hate to do because it just visually ruins the pretty neckline but I can't have half my braw hanging out. I'll definitely rent another Ulla again, but maybe not one with a plunging neckline. Up next:

This is a Sea New York dress and, while I love a loose sack dress, it's way too short. Just, way, way too short. It's well-made and the print is really pretty but it's just not something I see myself wearing. The side view is hilarious:

Am I overreacting? It just feels like if I raised my arms you'd see my underwear. I might wear it anyway, who knows. Finally:

This is what I'm wearing right this second. The top is an Anna Sui Sheer Floral Reef blouse and it was my replacement for the Nanette Lepore top. It's gorgeous and perfect and I love it so much. It even looks good untucked:

Eee! I know. It's so pretty. I'm wearing it with my Everlane flats and my Perfect Vintage jeans from Madewell. Here's a closeup because why not:

I would love to own this top but it's maddeningly expensive so I will just have to settle for wearing it as much as I can while I have it. I don't have a referral code for Rent the Runway but I used the Bad on Paper Podcast code BOP for 40% off 2 months, which is a pretty good deal. It's a great way to try designer brands and a fun way to refresh your post-pandemic wardrobe! 

Outfit of the Day: It's a Rental

Marianne recently signed up for Rent the Runway and she was having so much fun wearing fun designer rental dresses that I was influenced and signed up too (using the Bad on Paper code BOP for 40% off 2 months.) I'm still working remotely I don't really need much in the way of nice clothing but I thought it would be a fun way to challenge myself and try some new styles. This is definitely not going to backfire with me falling in love with things I can't afford. Nope, no way. Here's what I rented for my first go-round:

This is the Manzanilla top from Apiece Apart and when I first tried it on I was like, I don't know about this. It's smocked and ruffled which isn't usually my thing but it fit so nicely that I ended up wearing it three times. You can purchase items from RTR at a discount but this must be newer because they're only offering 10% off, which makes it still too expensive and fuck you, RTR. I am taking this personally. It's nearly sold out in the world (a few sizes here) but this other Apiece Apart top is lovely and has a similar vibe. For something similar, I love this Loft top and this one is cute too, with the smocked neck. For a cheap-and-cheerful option I love this deeply discounted little top from Ann Taylor.

The jeans are AG Jodi Crop in a light wash and they were fun (I wore them a couple of times) but I sized up and definitely shouldn't have. These jeans have a lot of stretch and I easily could've worn my usual size. These are still available here and also come in some other good washes. Super comfy and I am very into the cropped bootcut thing right now! I also love a lighter wash for summer. 

Oh yeah, this is my favorite rental and I haven't sent it back yet. I just LOVE a red bag and this one is so good! It's Rebecca Minkoff and I might just end up buying it down the road. It's a good size - big enough for the stuff I carry daily but not so big that it's hard to carry. I love the different leather textures and the turnlock! Also, it's just a really good red. It's sold out and only available via Poshmark and the like but for something similar, this red Minkoff bag is so good and it's on sale! I also love this one. For something similar under $60, check out this red bag at Yoox. I now have, like, ten red bags that I want. This rental thing is totally saving me money, right? Ha.

Sorry about the creepy giant pic but I wanted to show you the details of this cute-ass top that I'm still bitter about. Ugh, I love it. I'm also wearing my favorite jewelry from Three Flames Silverworks and My Precious Studio.

For my next round of rentals I'm getting a truly insane Ulla Johnson dress (eeee!), a Nanette Lepore top and a Sea New York dress. Do y'all want to see them when they arrive? 

We Discuss: Hunger Pangs and Overalls.

A: God, the rain. THE RAIN.

M: God save us all

A: I am real over it

M: It is truly my most hated kind of weather

M: HOW can people possibly like winter?

A: I think they have some romantic notion of winter where it’s always pretty and snowing but they don’t have to clean their car off or drive anywhere.

M: right

M: Like a hallmark movie

A: Yep

A: They forget about the endless, bleak rain

M: It’s truly relentless

M: Your drive is going to be so miserable, I’m sorry

A: Eh, what can you do

A: Might get barbecue for lunch, IDK

M: Ugh I literally read that and my stomach was like OH RIGHT

A: I am so hungry. Some jerk left a stack of McDonald’s apple pies in the break room.

M: HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT!

A: THANK YOU RIGHT

A: I hissed at them like Gollum

M: Rude as hell

A: They are calling me, like greasy little sirens.

M: They are only good when hot and fresh and even then they are only okay

M: (I would crush one)

A: Agree

A: (Same)

***

A: Your Current/Elliott overalls are apparently the same pair that Frankie wears on Grace & Frankie!

A: Hers are a light wash though:

M: DAMMIT

A: I love Frankie!

M: Me toooo

A: Oh, okay. I thought you were mad

A: This just makes you want them more

M: Yes that is what’s happening

M: I’m feel like I’m slowly breaking you down on overalls. Like you’ll never wear them yourself but you’ll find yourself liking them somehow

A: I will never wear them but I'll admit they’re really cute on you

A: And also on Frankie

M: Haha thank you

M: I mean it makes sense because I feel like her aesthetic is basically mine in 20 years

M: Or mine now

A: Yes, you are definitely more Fashion though

M: I think over time I will fully embrace my inner pottery teacher

A: Are you going to buy a pair?

M: I will rent them again, stalk Poshmark, and continue my search for a cheaper pair

A: Good thought process

M: Skinny jeans 😒:

M: I like how rigid they are, the length is fine, but that’s not a skinny leg

A: Are those Everlane?

M: Yeah. No good. For me at least.

A: Bad Boyfriend

M: It is really hard to find skinny jeans that fit a big butt and skinny calves

M: I want those Target green pants in jean form

A: Madewell tencel jeans, girl

M: I am skeptical but maybe while you’re here we can try

M: It’s hard to have a size 14 ass and size 6 calves (recs welcome, y'all!)

A: Yeah, that is tough

***

M: My Madewell tiger stripe skirt from RTR:

M: Wearing today with tights but I think it’s cuter with bare legs

A: Love it! That is SO cute on you.

M: $68 on sale. I may just have to buy it.

M: I mean I just got an eBay check for the exact amount of the skirt on sale...it’s a sign right

A: eBay check?

A: But yes! It's a sign.

M: It’s still in stores, I don’t see it on posh yet

A: What is an eBay check

M: Ebates sorry

A: OH. Okay.

A: I was like, are you my mother

M: 😂

Review: Marianne Tries Rent The Runway Unlimited.

Hey guys, it's Marianne. I’m trying Rent the Runway Unlimited, who wants reviews?

I am hoping that this will help curb my shopping, and I have to say that browsing and hearting things on the app is very fun and satisfies a lot of my shopping urges. That said, the system is not without its flaws, mostly you have no way of knowing how things will fit. I am hoping that as I get further along, I’ll get a better ideal of fit, but for this first round 3 of the four things I picked were sent back.

What I’m keeping/wearing:

This very cute Minkpink striped sweater (here on RTR). This is the exact kind of thing that’s perfect for renting, because I wouldn’t pay full price for it and I would probably only wear once or twice before being tired of it. I love the balloon sleeves and the colors.

What I would keep in a different season: the DL1961 Morgana Florence jeans (here on RTR) I'm wearing with the sweater. They fit well and are flattering, but I missed that they are crops and it’s just too cold to expose that much ankle. I wish the rise was a touch higher, so I’m going to try a different style from this brand.

What didn’t work: a MSGM sweatshirt that was literally child sized, and this Louna Teddy coat:

It wasn’t available in my size, and I was impatient and ordered a size up. It’s super cozy and cute but just too big. I tried to make it work this morning and then gave up and put it back in the bag.

I added another item because I have been tempted to buy these Universal Standard overalls (here on RTR) more than once in the past, so I was excited to see them on RTR. Welp, they are a big fat zero:

They look okay here, but I couldn’t even look at myself without the cardigan covering up the worst of it. The bib part is weirdly tiny and literally cut my boobs in half. But! I didn’t have to buy them for full price and deal with returning, and now I know they are Not For Marianne. And also I definitely want some overalls, so the hunt continues.

What did I love about my first RTR order? I love that almost everything came in a reusable garment bag. The coat shipped separately in a plastic reusable bag because it came from a different warehouse. Everything goes back in the bag and I dropped it in a UPS Dropbox on my way in to work. Within 2 days it will be back at RTR and I’ll get to select 3 new items.

I am hopeful that this is a great sustainable way to keep my closet fresh and try some new styles and designers for less money.  Want to try it out for less than the cost of a Madewell top? You can use my link to get $100 off a month of RTR unlimited--making it just $59! You can try and return as many times as you can cram into a month and then cancel if it doesn’t work for you. (Full disclosure--I get credits if you use my code, which will mean more outfit inspiration to share with you!)

Outfit of the Day: RTR, Part II

I'm pretty amazed that my first four items from Rent the Runway were hits! I didn't go very far out of my comfort zone, though, so maybe that had something to do with it. I mean, this is an Adrien Dress:

It's also a Diane Von Furstenberg dress and reads purple, but the print is actually red and blue. I love the intensity of the color and it was really comfortable! Beautifully made, heavy knit but not itchy or saggy. I'm wearing a medium and it fit pretty well. I'd never tried a DVF knit dress before and I wish I could keep it. When I was searching for it I also found this black knit DVF which looks really good and this striped number that's kind of amazing. 

I knoooowww, right? Just my kind of thing. It's hard to find a similar flared sweater dress but this one at Boden looks pretty good and this one at Target has all the stripes. This cute dress has a similar colorway and I also like this one with the zig zag print because I'm a weirdo about prints. 

Oh yeah, I still have the VEDA Jayne jacket. I'll send it back once I get my next leather jacket to try. In the meantime, if you have the Madewell ultimate or washed leather jacket, will you let me know if you love it or hate it or have a better suggestion? I'm still in my research phase for my Forever Jacket.

Not so much with it fastened up - it's definitely too small for this nonsense is what my face is saying. Details: 

Woof, I love the saturated color! So good. I'm keeping things simple with my two My Precious Studio necklaces. Go get some silver wings, you guys! They're great. 

Surprise, I still haven't switched out my bag. I used to switch out my bag multiple times per week and now I'm just like, "Grey goes with everything." I'M THE WORST STYLE BLOGGER. WHAT AM I EVEN DOING HERE. It's a good bag, though. This one is too, I'm guessing. My boots are Madewell Lucien and they're pretty similar to the current Alicia style boot.

 That's it! I'll try to incorporate more of my rental fanciness in upcoming outfits.