FollowLola’s got your answer right here!
as i wrote about last week in my STYLE Special Edition, Lola has a distinct travel style. i like to think i’m a bit of a fashionista when not wearing costumes! 😉 BUT being a fashionable traveler isn’t always easy. especially when i don’t have limitless funds or even time to really shop. that can’t be an acceptable excuse, however, not to look great when i’m out on the town checking out FAB restaurants and bar scenes. that just won’t cut it when i’m staying in HIP & LUXE hotels. NOPE.
so what’s a girl to do?! well…i think i may have found my solution! it’s called Rent The Runway. yeah, you’ve probably heard of it. maybe even considered renting from them yourself for some big event or something. that’s certainly the way the company positions itself.
BUT wouldn’t you say for most, a trip IS a BIG event? i know it is for me. i pack things i might not wear all that often because i’m doing different things when away. i go out more…restaurants, bars, clubs. and a lot of the places i travel are pretty much on the posh pulse. SO i want to be in good style. this is not to say i’m a hermit when i’m at home but it’s not quite the same. the other thing i like about the Rent The Runway solution is that you can actually pack less. you just need your undergarments, shoes, jewels & a handbag & VOILA you are ready to rock it.
on my last visit to NYC a couple of weeks ago i decided to give Rent The Runway a shot. the hotel i was staying with was doing a little promotion with them and i thought what the hell. PLUS it meant that i could pack less as i just described which was a bonus because i was going from Florida directly to NYC. here’s how the process works…
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you preorder your frocks. there are fit guides & customer reviews on the site as well as stylists to assist you in any questions.
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the rental terms are for 4 days but you can pay extra & extend to 8 days.
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you pay shipping but the return is free and the rental comes with the packing/postage included and all the instructions.
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you wear your items and return them. RTR handles the cleaning of the garments.
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FYI you can also rent handbags & jewelry accessories to accompany your dresses.
i needed 2 dresses for Friday and Saturday night. when i rented, it was rent one at the full rental fee, get the second one for $25. not too shabby. also, one free second size included in your rental in case you’re not sure about your correct size. i took them up on this!
not only were my garments there at the hotel upon check-in, there were little gifties inside from Rent The Runway. FUN!
i loved both of the dresses i rented. one fit better than the other but both were super fun & perfect for my dinners and drinks out in the big apple.
the only glitch i ran into was with the return. because the hotel was partnering with Rent The Runway, i asked them to facilitate the return of the dresses. everything was included – so no big thing. well, for some reason, it didn’t go completely smoothly and boy was Rent The Runway on me to get their dresses back. really, the fault is with the hotel, not RTR, but i was annoyed since i had to be involved when these two businesses were partners.
BUT not annoyed enough to not repeat this same process for my upcoming Miami trip. i go to Miami so often and see some of the same people. AGAIN, not cool to always be wearing the same dresses over & over. Rent The Runway made this an easy decision, offering me $20 off my next rental if i reviewed the dresses i rented in NYC. ok, sure. no problem. so, i’ve preordered and will turn up in Miami to my hotel with my 2 fun dress rentals waiting for me. hopefully i love them as much as the ones from NYC.
BONUS i got an email from Rent The Runway yesterday saying for an additional $15 would i consider allowing the RTR stylists to throw in ‘mystery bling’ for one of my outfits? i’ll be bringing my own jewels & handbags, you can be sure, but i thought that this sounds fun – so why not?! we’ll see what they come up and if it’s ‘Lola Approved’.
what do you think of my choices? would you rent fun dresses for your fashionista travelista moments on the road? tell me why or why not.
XO – Lola
PS – sadly, Rent The Runway doesn’t ship internationally 🙁
