There's a special occasion on the horizon and you've got nothing to wear. So you search and search (and search some more) for the perfect dress. Except you never find it, and you end up settling on a dress that's event appropriate and looks halfway decent because you've run out of time and going naked isn't an option. So once you've donned the so-so dress, it gets banished to the back of your closet - never to be worn again because, frankly, you were never truly in love with it to begin with.
Story of my life. Maybe my problem is that I'm a celebrity - in my own head - who hates to wear the same special outfit twice. Or perhaps it's that getting all dolled up in a fresh frock is so damn fun.
So a few weeks ago as I planned a blog business trip to NYC, I was literally trippin' about my lack of wardrobe options. After an exhaustive search for the perfect ensemble, I was almost ready to settle on this sad sundress hanging in my closet...until I remembered Rent The Runway, a website were you can rent designer dresses and accessories.
Here's how it works: Search the dresses and accessories you love from over 100 of the top designers in the world. Schedule a delivery date. Select a FREE backup dress size for the perfect fit. The dresses and accessories are yours for 4 or 8 days! When you’re done looking cute, put your order in the pre-paid package and drop it in the nearest USPS mailbox. They take care of the dry cleaning.
Since I'm petite with an hourglass figure, finding a dress that fits is the proverbial needle in a haystack. So as I perused Rent The Runway's selection, I opted for the India Paisley Dress from Tibi (left)- thanks to the short length and adjustable straps. The dress also has hidden boy shorts underneath, which was an added bonus. And if you rent a second dress, it's only $25. So I also chose this By The Lily Pond Dress by Yumi Kim (right) - just in case the Tibi dress was a bust. If you're particularly concerned about fit, there are great user reviews - or you can chat with a "fit specialist."
To complete my outfit, I rented these gorge Kendra Scott Danielle earrings in Turquoise. It pained me so much to return them that, this weekend, I broke down and bought them at the designer's website (and scored 20% off with promo code PSW20 - expires 7/5).
Oh...and I forgot to mention that Rent The Runway just announced that they have Lancôme products available for purchase!
The Tibi dress (in the smaller size) ended up fitting great - and, as you can see, I paired it (and my Kendra Scott earrings) with a Talbots cardigan, Aldo sandals and Banana Republic fedora.
I had such a great rental experience that I want to give Spoiled Pretty readers the opportunity to try it too. So I'm partnering with Rent The Runway on a fash-tastic giveaway, and one lucky lady will win a $100 gift card!!!
To enter, visit Rent The Runway and sign up for membership (it's free!). Browse the dress selection, pick your favorite and tell me (in the comments) what you picked and where/how you'd rock it. Be sure to post your email, Twitter handle (make sure you're following @spoiledpretty so I can DM you) or some other way for me to get in touch if you win. To be eligible, you must reside in the Continental U.S.
Contest ends on Friday at 5pm ET. I'll announce the winner then. Good luck!
*A gift card was provided for review and this giveaway is sponsored by Rent The Runway.
