Outfit Formula: RTR Wedding
In my day, I have been lucky enough to go a wedding or two. Or thirty. Regardless of how much you believe in love or how deep your relationship is with bride/groom/random date who invited you, it can sometimes feel like a chore to be your best guest. As someone who for better or worse derives confidence from the clothing I am wearing, the desire to look fly and feel great at weddings can be a major drain on the ol' bank account.
Enter Rent the Runway. Which brings the fun back to every single wedding. I promise.
For a fraction of the cost of buying a new fabulous outfit, I can rent a frock for the day, dazzle everyone, and ship it back without a second thought. While the designers featured on the website aren't necessarily ethical or sustainable producers, the entire premise of renting a dress instead of buying one is like totally green. Instead of buying a dress for a day that sits in the back of my closet (since I don't really have a regular cocktail party rotation...to my horror), I can gladly be a dress's owner for the weekend and then pass her along for someone else to enjoy. With a healthy dose of dry cleaning in between, of course.
During all my times of renting (first one was back in 2011 for a major birthday milestone of my mother), I have come up with a few Swoop approved tips when renting:
- Figure out your shoes first. The point of this is minimizing the need to buy anything. Do a quick inventory of your current shoe choices and make your dress selection around that. The same goes for accessories. While I love renting earrings, if you want to keep the cost down, just think through what you have to wear with a dress and make a decision from there.
- Always read the reviews. It can be a little "ew!" to see a different version of you wearing the dress or earrings you are considering, but it adds great perspective. The community of reviewers can also be super helpful about things you can't see in a picture: very high hemlines, fitted busts, etc. Plus, if I see a dress that has a very high number of reviews, I know it is an item that has been a bit more well loved than others and might consider renting a "fresher" option instead.
- Start with designers you already know. If you are new to the game, renting from a designer that you are comfortable with is a great start. That way, you know what the expect from the fit and sizing. Sometimes, if I am considering a new-to-me designer, I'll even try to hunt down a frock still in stores to try it on before I rent it.
- Feel free to be a bit more creative than normal. When you are renting instead of buying, you don't have to be so reasonable. It can be fun to go a bit more out on a limb. I have really explored by passion and limits for statement earrings... I subsequently learned (to no one's surprise) it's strong and the bigger the better.
- Do you have multiple events? Consider their Unlimited Service. I had some back to back events this summer so to cut costs, I signed up for RTR's Unlimited Service. You can get three pieces at a time, as many times as you want a month. While not all items are available for their Unlimited service, I have found its a great way to get accessories plus some fun things in between the events. TBD on whether or not I'll continue being a member after wedding season is over, although I do think it has helped curb some of my shopping addiction.
Here are some options I pulled together to get your rental juices flowing. Happy Browsing!
Option One: The great thing about mixing metallics is the versatility it gives in the shoe department. I love the floral pattern of this dress and the slightly more daring neckline than I would normally choose to wear.
Option Two: I need someone to invite me to a wedding that is slightly nautical so I can wear this outfit. I am obsessed. I would get to mix stripes, wear jewelry from fav designer Lulu Frost, and carry an adorable box clutch that I can never justify buying but can also not curtail my desire to own.
Option Three: I wore a red dress to a wedding once. When another attendee complimented me, I cleverly said "Don't worryl, I'm not a Hester Pyrnne." Which elicited a blank stare that only grew horrified as I retold the plot of the Scarlet Letter to her. Wear this stunner dress to a wedding with a beautiful necklace and clutch... just try your best to not talk about adultery.
Option Four: I can't even imagine the dance moves I would be able to execute if I donned this jumpsuit. Paired with fun festive earrings and a gold clutch (guess it's fair to say after this post that that I really love a gold clutch...) this outfit exudes both sophistication and fun.
