I've been feeling holographic for days now, if it's possible to feel holographic, that is. The cause of my lament? The Proenza Schouler PS11 mini holographic bag.
An iteration of last season's bolder silver holographic, this more muted version has beckoned me since I spotted it in Intermix last weekend. As I've already begun to bleed money for fall (see recent acquisitions: the J Brand Nicola Leather Moto Pant and the Isabel Marant Dicker bootie in cognac leather), I'm exercising some self-restraint. Helping the cause is essie's new For the Twill of It Nail Polish.
Part of a six lacquer seasonal collection, this gloriously undefinable holographic reads anywhere from charcoal to olive, with flashes of green and pink. While I've yet to dress my own fingers in it, it's hot on my list as soon as the weather cools down a bit.
Proenza Schouler PS11 mini holographic bag, $1,990
essie For the Twill of It Nail Polish, $8
Holographic Magic: Proenza Schouler vs. essie
Birthday Wishlist: High to Low
I've got a big birthday coming up later this month (YES, I'm a LEO), and as per us, I'm planning a little indulgence - after all, if I can't buy myself a fabulous gift, who will? Here's what's on my birthday wishlist, from high to low. Let's see where I land at the end of the month!
- Nessa by Vanessa Mimran 18k gold and diamond Tiger Ring, $3747.41
- Proenza Schouler PS1 Medium in Purple Rain, $1695.00
- Iwona Ludyga Tiny Skully Ring, $190.00
- MR Dannijo Eyelien Bracelet, $128
- Nest Jason Wu Orchid Rain Candle, $48
- Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion by Elizabeth L. Cline, $15.82
Rent the Runway, Reviewed
When Rent the Runway launched late last year, I was intrigued. Unlike Avelle (a bag rental service, formerly known as Bag, Borrow or Steal), renting special occasion dresses actually makes SENSE to me. While bags are investment purchases and I'll carry the right one for years (hey there, trusty Louis Vuitton Speedy 30!), I have to attend many events on a monthly basis and frankly, I don't want to be seen in the same special occasion dress over and over again. So, Rent the Runway seemed like a godsend.
Despite my enthusiasm, it took a few months for me to come back around to the site and actually place an order. Last week's Women In Need Gala, honoring Brendan Hoffman, CEO of Lord & Taylor & Cindi Leive, Editor-in-Chief of Glamour Magazine, was the perfect occasion for a test drive as if ANYTHING warrants a new dress, it's a room full of rich men (and, uh, a worthy cause?)
Choosing a dress was relatively easy. Rent the Runway has a fantastic mix of young and established designers (think Robert Rodriguez, Proenza Schouler, Tibi + more) and rental fees are affordable - from $50 to $250. While a few of my choices were unavailable for my chosen date and/or size (understandable, as I doubt if they're able to keep a deep stock), I WAS able to reserve a gorgeous goddess-y Yigal Azrouel frock ($100 rental fee), above.
And I was really looking forward to wearing it until about 2 days before the event, when Rent the Runway called me to communicate two issues with my order:
- My alternate size was out of stock
- The first choice size was in "less than pristine" condition
While I appreciated the call, I was admittedly non-plussed by the situation and they agreed to cancel the order and credit my card.
Imagine my surprise when a messenger delivery from Rent the Runway arrived just a few hours later.
Despite the effort (which deserves an A+!), the dress arrived in the wrong color and in questionable condition (the fabric is quite delicate and there were several visible pulls.) In addition, the "fit kit," a selling point of the Rent the Runway experience, was not included.
As I was in dire sartorial straits, I wore the Yigal dress anyway and it admittedly garnered a myriad of compliments, even one from Purple Lab creatrix Karen Robinovitz (also known as one of the most stylish women that I know.)
Aside from some flaws in the system and a less-than-stellar experience this go-around, Rent the Runway is a clever solution to that age-old problem, "But what will I wear?"
To become a member, leave a comment below with your email address enabled and I'll shoot you an invite!
Shop This: Rent the Runway
I'm not a big proponent of the bag rental services that have popped up in recent years, the Avelles and Bag, Borrow & Steals of the world. As far as I'm concerned, if you're going to spend up to $200 a month for a bag rental, you may as well save your money for a while and invest in a bag that you own and can love for years to come. That said, there's a new fashion rental service in town and this one, I must admit, has some merit.
Meet Rent the Runway. This clever new site specializes in gorgeous special occasion dress rentals, from designers like Diane von Furstenberg (above), Robert Rodriguez, Christian Siriano, Proenza Schouler and so many more.
Unlike a designer bag that you can carry everyday, a cocktail dress might hang in your closet for months without being worn. So for me, it makes sense to rent a dress for that special occasion - especially when Rent the Runway makes it so easy. Prices are affordable (rentals start at $50) and you can shop by occasion - think Girls' Night Out, New Year's Eve, or Birthday.
Best of all, you're shipped an alternate size dress at no cost, along with a clever Fit Kit that includes double sided tape, braza (changes your bra to a racer back), deodorant, stain removal sponges and breath mints. Shipments arrive within 3-4 days throughout most of the US, while same day delivery is available in Manhattan.
Once you've knocked them dead, returns are just as simple. Simply pop the dresses in the prepaid envelope included in your package, no dry cleaning required. Easy-peasy!
If you'd like an invitation to join Rent the Runway, visit www.renttherunway.com/bh.
Happy renting!