Rent the Runway

It was one of Kitty's best days. . . .  Her eyes sparkled, and her rosy lips could not keep from smiling from the consciousness of her own attractiveness. She had scarcely entered the ballroom . . . before she was asked to dance. 

Ever dream of entering a room like Kitty in Anna Karenina, attracting eyes like a magnetic pull? In that passage, Kitty felt confident in her young, radiant looks--a feeling you can almost taste. Luckily, you don't have to be part of the gentility anymore to feel glamourous. Introducing: Rent the Runway.

Rent the Runway is a women's clothing and accessories shop based in NYC that rents out designer swag to people like you and me at very high discounts. Those outside the city can rent a complete outfit online and get it delivered to their door. To return the item, you keep it for about a week, put it in an envelope, and send it back. Simple.

Yearning to look like Sofia Vergara wearing a Lela Rose dress (retail US$1,295)? All you have to do, besides getting a breast augmentation and personal trainer, is pay $150 and it's yours for that big night out! Stylists can be reached online or by telephone and no dry cleaning is required.

Sofia Vergara wearing a Lela Rose Python Matelasse Dress

The screenshot below is of the layout of the rental page. You can see how nonintimidating the process is, especially if the photos of satisfied customers look good, too. Shipping within the city is reasonable ($9.99) and the insurance is great ($5).

But the innovative site isn't a stand-in for Cinderella's fairy godmother. For the Calvin Klein Ramon dress, I'd have to be a size small or extra small for it to fit--there aren't any plus-size dresses at all. They also want you to order 1 to 2 days in advance, which is hard to do if the dress in question is in high demand. (Or else you'll pay more.)

And please don't get me started on the selection of dresses: not impressive. They're mostly skin tight and pretty boring, with the odd exception. You would almost think these are the "safe" dresses that designers put on the runway in order to guarantee some income.

Rent the Runway is a mixed Judith Leiber handbag. Sure, the existence of this type of store means that you don't have to be rich to be cool. But it does mean that you have to be an average- or below-size female and have a certain club-happy taste in clothes to make the site really work for you.

The Sartorialist: Closer

Today's topic is a little review of the fashion of The Sartorialist: Closer, by Scott Schuman (see the accompanying website here). I'm a regular visitor to his blog and have been eager to flip through his newest book for awhile.

Schuman's goal in Closer is to get "closer to the type of character diversity [he] originally dreamed of when [he] created The Sartorialist" (4).  And, indeed, a variety of locales and subjects are photographed, from nomads in the desert to models in the streets of New York City.

What I really enjoy about Schuman's book's images is his willingness to capture people who eschew mainstream aesthetics, like in his compelling portrait of an androgynous-looking person (below).

Schumann's refreshingly flexible definition of beauty is also showcased in his image of a young Mennonite girl and her family (right). "Style" is not limited to the latest trend at H&M: confidence is key.

In fact, the photos that make my eyes linger also exude the most confidence. The image of the group of young Asian women (below) is so playful, so carefree, that you do not doubt their style choices; you realize that their style suits them, defines them.

 The best photo is of a woman with a shaved head and off-the-shoulder sequin dress (below). She would look beautiful with or without hair, a fact that makes her shabby-chic style all the bolder.

Of course, Schuman's subjects aren't always compelling. There are too many dresses worn with sneakers, full beards, and excessive layers, which appear again and again in his book (see below).

 

Perhaps it's these sort of choices that remind me that style is so very personal. Closer says more about the tastes of the man behind the lens than the subjects whom he portrays. Through our personal tastes we define who we are, what we think is beautiful, not who others are.

THE ROW

Presenting THE ROW. The jacket on the left, from Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's Pre-Fall 2013 collection, is my current obsession.

I can imagine wearing the coat on my way to a chic New York office, holding a steaming-hot Americano. 

What really captures my eye is the bold, boxy silhouette. It's minimalist yet still interesting to look at, with its soft, supple fabric and slits running partway up the sides. Structure and simplicity exist in perfect harmony here.

Want to know more about THE ROW? Here's a description of the brand, as found on the designers' website:

"THE ROW was established in 2006 by Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen. Since its launch, the brand has expanded to include a range of ready-to-wear, eyewear, and handbags. THE ROW reflects a sense of relaxed and timeless elegance, focusing on fine fabrics and the perfect fit. In 2012, The Council of Fashion Designers of America named Ashley and Mary-Kate as Womenswear Designers of The Year. Part of THE ROW’s mission is to support high-end fashion manufacturing in the US."

Take a moment and flip through THE ROW's collections in the link provided. Can I say "Full Closet" without sounding cheesy? Yeah, I didn't think so either.