Between recent wrist surgery (misery) and my Sunday move (almost as miserable as the surgery), it's been tough to focus on the impending July 4 holiday. SO, there's no official travel for me in the books, though I am feeling the need to explore the glorious roof deck of my new building and also to slate in some serious (localized) beach time. Tucked in my tote will be the new Birchbox-exclusive pouch created in collaboration with Tibi.
Launched today, the pouch boasts the sleek and graphic "Empire" print seen in Tibi's Pre-Fall 2013 collection, which was an ode to New York City and the urban denizen. I love the modern neon pops of color in particular!
The Tibi pouch retails for $28, or subscribers can receive it as a very generous GWP with any order over $65. Shake a leg over to Birchbox to snag your own!
A Travel Ready Pouch from Birchbox and Tibi
OOTD: Feeling Kick-y
This morning, I woke up determined to show my legs to the world (I've got them. Really. I swear. I just wear pants everyday like a man.). On went a lovely navy Rachel Pally dress, and a sky high wedge (but of course) but when I stepped outside, I felt compelled to turn right back around and put on something that felt a little less committal for a Friday (and a dreary, rainy Friday at that). Off went the Rachel Pally (it was abandoned like a jersey carcass on my bedroom floor, if we're being honest), and on went my go-to during Spring/Summer months, the classic white jean.
I also reached into the depths of my closet and pulled out the lovely Alexander Wang Rocco bag, which I haven't worn in about a year. While it's a bit of a bear to carry (handheld or crook of elbow only, and quite heavy), it's a lovely light-medium gray and the perfect neutral to tone down a bright top like the silk chiffon Tibi tunic seen above.
Head to toe, here's what I've got on:
- Ray-Ban Wayfarers
- Tibi Embellished Tunic via Beacon's Closet
- Yummie Tummie Strappy Tank
- Seven for All Mankind Second Skin Legging Jean in Clean White
- Aldo for Julian Louie Sobeslava Wedge
- Lia Sophia Cuff & Swarovski Intervale Jet Bangle
- Alexander Wang Rocco Mini Duffle Bag (Black available here)
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?"
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