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What I’m Wearing This Week: Rent the Runway

Mary Zubritsky
ByMary ZubritskySep 27, 2024 | 5 comments

Happy Friday, every bun! I have a surprise at the end of this review, so let's hop to it!

WHAT I'M WEARING THIS WEEK: Rent the Runway 

Welcome back to What I'm Wearing This Week Rent the Runway where you can rent and wear designer items by names you know and love, and up-and-coming designers too! 

For the newbies to WIWTW, every Friday 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. Well, that's if the price is right!

For sizing reference, I am 5'11", weigh 140 pounds, and have a 33" inseam.

Rent the Runway is a clothing rental company, but it was the first clothing subscription platform that provided the everyday woman with access to authentic, luxury fashion. Since its launch in 2009, RTR has gone through many iterations, some of which were the result of the pandemic, and now it's also a sustainable resale platform where shoppers can rent, buy, or subscribe to secondhand clothing. 

This is a review of the Most Loved 10 Items Per Month plan. 

 

This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)

WHAT I RECEIVED

All four items by PatBo, Paris Georgia, Ronny Kobo, and Rhode arrived fresh from the dry cleaner, on the hanger, and sealed in plastic bags.

THE GOODS 

PatBo Laelia Mini Dress, Retail Value $650, RTR $455

About the Designer: Patricia Bonaldi, PatBO's Founder and Creative Director began designing and making clothes as a child. While growing up in Uberlândia, Brazil, buying new clothing was not accessible to Bonaldi and her family, so her mother taught her to sew and soon she was making her own dresses. Bonaldi fell in love with the process of creating and felt pride in bringing beauty and craftsmanship to a family necessity.

After a few detours, including a period of studying law, Bonaldi created her eponymous label of couture, evening wear in São Paulo, Brazil. Tapping into her passion and talent since childhood, Bonaldi first established herself as a designer by creating one-of-a-kind gowns for clients and sewing everything by hand.

Why I rented it: I wanted a summery, clubby dress to close the summer.

How I styled it: I paired this going-out dress with a vintage Chanel bag, Saks Fifth Avenue Sammy Kitten Heels, and a pair of Lele Sadoughi Wallflower Studs.

Size and fit: I ordered an 8 because I've heard that PatBo runs a little small, and it was a smart move! This summery frock is crafted in a sheath silhouette with a hibiscus floral print. This mini dress can be worn off the shoulder and features a square neckline, puffed short sleeves with elastic trim, back tie and zip closure, and tiered details.

Condition: Great.

Honest review:  It was a bit young and frilly, but it was the look I wanted to wear to see one of my favorite 80s cover bands.

Paris Georgia Heart Dress, Retail Value $585, RTR $690

About the Designer: Launched in 2015 by friends Paris Mitchell Temple and Georgia Cherrie, Paris Georgia is both a reflection of its founders and a reaction to the discerning women who form its community.

Designed in New Zealand. Luxurious fabrics meet silhouettes that stand as an ode to the female form and favour subtle design over seasonal trends. This, combined with the brand’s focus on high-quality textiles and construction has seen Paris Georgia take on a timeless, transcendent quality.

Paris Georgia produces womenswear that is inspired by the women who wear it. Women they admire, like their mothers, friends and collaborators. Women who value strength and culture, and who require these ideals within the brands they represent.

At Paris Georgia they celebrate women and create to empower modern women of our time.

Why I rented it: It was new and caught my eye!

How I styled it: I wore this dress out for dinner and drinks at Fiola Mare and paired it with a chain-link earring and a necklace set from Etsy, Nicholas Kirkwood Block-Heeled Sandals, the Chanel 19, and a Gucci Studded Leather Jacket.

Size and fit: Crafted in thick recycled polyester, this minimalist sheath dress features contrast piping, a sweetheart neckline, shoulder straps, a back zipper, and a back vent. I ordered a large, and it was the perfect length and fit.

Condition: Excellent.

Honest review: It is an incredibly well-made, luxurious-feeling fabric with a timeless silhouette. I debated buying it from a resale site but then remembered I'd never wear it!

Ronny Kobo Collective Retro Slip Dress, Retail Value $375, RTR $265

About the Designer: Originally from Tel Aviv and raised in Hong Kong, Ronny Kobo's interest in fine art, travel, and culture eventually led her to New York City, where she graduated with a master's degree from NYU. She speaks fluent English, Hebrew, and Spanish.

Ronny started off her career by founding her own line of accessories and ultimately launched the trendsetting apparel brand Torn by Ronny Kobo in 2009. Additionally, she held a seat on the board of Christie’s Auction House. Ronny Kobo's current collections are best known for standout prints, upscale versatility, and timeless silhouettes.

Why I rented it: I liked the design and the 60s vibe.

How I styled it: You can easily dress it up or down! I wore it out to a beach bar at night and out to dinner when I got back to DC. I wore it with flats during the day and slipped into my Robert Clergerie slides at night. I also paired it with the Kendra Scott Maya Necklace and the Chanel 19.

Size and fit: I got a size 6 and it's a curve-hugging design with a retro floral print. Crafted in lightweight chiffon, this pull-over sheath dress features adjustable spaghetti strap, a round neckline, and maxi hem. It's lightly lined and flowy!

Condition: Great!

Honest review: Retro, lightweight and easy to wear... over and over again!

Rhode Casey Dress, Retail Value $410, RTR $80

About the Designer: RHODE is a story of friendship that started on the corner of 6th Avenue and 18th Street in Manhattan. Purna and Phoebe became college roommates and met at Bed, Bath & Beyond to shop for their dorm room which led to a long-distance friendship spanning two decades. Even though Phoebe became a travel photographer and producer in NYC and Purna, a fashion buyer in Dubai, they’d meet up for trips all over the globe. During these visits, they'd discuss what was missing in their closets and eventually quit their jobs to combine a love of travel and style into their vision for Rhode: a line of timeless pieces that are ready for anything.

Why I rented it: It looked like the perfect beach getaway dress.

How I styled it: This dress was on repeat for the 15 days I had it. I wore it all over Dewey Beach and Ocean City, and when I got back to DC too. It can easily be dressed up or down and I mostly paired it with leather slides, a straw hat, Gucci sunnies, and my Givenchy Nightingale bag that I used to tote around lots of my essentials.

Size and fit: This nautical (but nice) cotton dress features tasseled ties, inverted pleats, a v-neckline, adjustable shoulder straps, and a fun tropical print.

I got a medium (6-8) and it was quite roomy, and a bit short.

Condition: Very good.

Honest review: Aside from being a little oversized, the dress was just beachy!

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 Rhode and Ronny Kobo dresses but loved the others as well! Just didn't have enough places to wear them.
  • Did they meet or exceed expectations? They met expectations!
  • What’s the return process like? Simple! Just place your items in the pre-paid garment bag, slip in the return label, and send it back via UPS. You can also drop it off at one of their exclusive drop-off points in some of the major cities. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Well, I went to the bunny rescue event and came home with a fluffy little guy. He's another fuzzy Angora just like Mr. HGL, but my groomer said he's a Tricolor Satin Angora.

Animal Control rescued him from a hoarding situation over the summer. They're unsure of his age but say he's somewhere between 1 and 4, and I get the feeling he was abused and experienced trauma because he's super timid, skittish, and unsure. He's been living with me for 5 days and wants nothing to do with me! He'll come out from underneath the couch to eat and use the litter box, but once he sees me move, he'll spin around and sprint underneath the sofa.

He's scheduled for a haircut on Sunday, so he'll finally be able to see. But I don't know what to do about calming his fears. How long does this last?

VALUE BREAKDOWN: The 10 Items a Month membership costs $104/month and goes up to $152/month after the first 3 months) and so far, I've received styles with a retail value of $187,989.

Do you subscribe to Rent the Runway? Let us know what you think down below!

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Choose from thousands of designer clothes and accessories. Try new styles and trends for any occasion. Mail everything back for free via UPS. We handle the dry cleaning. RTR offers both one-time, on-demand rentals as well as an unlimited rental that charges a monthly fee.

Mary Zubritsky
Mary Zubritsky

If shopping were an Olympic sport, I’d be a gold medalist. And while my bank account often feels the crunch, I just can’t stop buying secondhand clothing and accessories, under-the-radar designer goods, stuffed animal unicorns (I have about 75), and toys for my pet bunny rabbit. After 20 years of city slicking in NYC and DC, I now have a car and love to tour the Virginia countryside looking for vintage shops, undiscovered wineries and breweries, historic sites, and Thai restaurants—I’m addicted to Thai food. I never leave home without a spare phone charger because I love horror movies and therefore have an irrational fear of being stranded somewhere with a dead battery. 


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5 comments

Suzanne

My cat wasn’t a rescue, he actually came from a reputable breeder. He was scared from the time we got him, but got worse and worse to the point that he was basically hiding under my bed all day. Finally, I put him on prozac. About a month later, he started improving so much. He hasn’t slept under the bed since then, will lay in the middle of the floor and make us step over him, etc. He’s like a different cat. My point is – I’d highly recommend looking into medication sooner rather than later. People frequently have to take medication for anxiety or trauma, why wouldn’t animals?

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Amber )-(

A booktuber I follow adopted a cat that just started warming up to her and they’ve had her for a year. There’s no telling how long it will take for your new bunny, but just remember his trust issues aren’t because of you they are because of past trauma and healing trauma doesn’t happen on a timeline.

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Gina

Congratulations Mary!
He’s adorable. What’s his name? Or are you waiting for that name feeling?
Love the Paris Georgia heart dress and the Ronny 60’s vibe dress!

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Barbara

Ah. Poor timid little bunny!
It can be weeks to months. Unfortunately you just can’t tell. But just give him a safe place and let him figure it out over time.
We had a cat we rescued that we took to calling roach because he just lived under the sofa and would scurry under it every time we walked into the room. But he ended up being a lap cat but it took about 6 months. Seemed a long time at the time but now it doesn’t. Hang in there with him.

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Deb

Congratulations on your new addition!

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