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Summer is absolutely the most fun season – and I love the flexibility my office gave me to work from anywhere for a few months – but it also feels great to get back into my routine as fall rolls around. The only problem is that after a summer spent frolicking in sundresses and loungewear sets, my work wardrobe was looking a little bleak for my liking. That’s why I opted to spruce things up with Armoire.
Not only have I found chic office-appropriate picks that I’m genuinely excited about, but I can also rotate them monthly, or even weekly, for fresh picks. It’s a great solution for the back to work blues, and I’d recommend it wholeheartedly. Here’s why…
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No due dates. Keep pieces for as long as you have a membership
Fall in love with something? Buy it at a discounted price!
Place holds for future pieces so your size doesn’t go out of stock
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Everything arrives folded in the package so anything that should be crisp (like a button-down) may require an iron/steam
Unless you’re offered a backup size (based on availability), you have to play Size Roulette with brands you don’t know well
Featured Product
Rent From Brands You’ve Always Dreamed Of Owning
To get a sense of how you prefer to dress, Armoire kicks off your experience with a style quiz. I rated different looks (Bohemian, Classic, Avant-Garde, Preppy, Glam) on a scale of how often I like to wear them (Never/Sometimes/Often).
I was floored by the range of brands offered, which included personal favorites like Anine Bing, Diane von Furstenberg, and Anna Sui. Given that this was a workwear experiment, I was pleased to see EQUIPMENT and Vince as well. There were also designers I had heard of but never tried (ASTR the label, KAHINDO, Hutch), and renting was the perfect way to feel them out. Each listing shares the retail value of the item: It feels like you’re getting away with something to rent a dress that would typically cost more than $500 for less than a quarter of the price.
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For my first order, I went with this adorable Badgley Mischka balloon sleeve dress, an ASTR the Label Pauline Oversized Wool Blend Blazer and Turtleneck Sweater, these Current Elliott Slight Straight Leg Jeans, a pair of Jay Godfrey High-Waisted Wide Leg Pants, and this Sequin Midi Slip Dress just for fun.
Choose from 3 Plans
Each Armoire plan includes a monthly “case” that arrives with dry cleaned pieces you (or an Armoire stylist) select. You can choose from coats, gowns, sweaters, jumpsuits, scarves, jeans, and more, including maternity options. The cheapest plan is $89/month and includes 4 pieces in each case. The mid-tier option includes 7 pieces for $129/month. If you expect to rotate items frequently, go with the Unlimited Plan which allows you to rent six items at a time and exchange them as often as you want ($249/month). All of the plans have free shipping, free cleaning, and free personal styling, if you want some extra help.
Fill Your Case
It might seem overwhelming to browse the entire inventory, but Armoire’s recommendations by occasion made it much easier than expected to find what I was looking for. While I was tempted to search by favorite brands and ogle cute weekend dresses, I kept myself on track by immediately winnowing down to Work Formal and Work Casual options. Armoire’s recommendations weren’t nearly as office-dull as I expected, and it was fun to sift through funky pant silhouettes and midi-skirts.
What helped me make necessary cuts were user photos and reviews. What would we do without the selfless women who share their body types and stats and describe where a garment hugged them perfectly and where it didn’t fall right? I’m 5’3” so pants and jumpsuits are tricky if I can’t count on getting alterations. I read reviews with an eye toward inseam and steered clear of anything that sounded like it would drag.
Speedy Delivery
After confirming my selections, my case arrived two days later in a reusable canvas mailer.
I checked through all my picks and noted the condition they arrived in. The white button-down was a little rumpled (if I were wearing it into the office I’d give it a quick iron) but everything else was in ready-to-wear condition. There were no stains, discoloration, or odors.
Armoire has plenty of modest dresses and tailored pants for offices that keep it old school. In this exercise, I cosplayed as someone with a fashionable job where color is absolutely permitted and an above-the-knee hemline is also A-OK.
Outfits For Every Office
‘Office-appropriate’ is such a subjective term. Do you work at a hedge fund? A nonprofit? Are you a consultant? A magazine editor? What one woman wears to work may be too loud for a different industry, but perfectly appropriate for her own. Armoire has something for every office vibe and you’ll find plenty of pieces that can transition into your non-work life.
Use code 1TQEUNLIMITED for 44% off your first month of the unlimited plan or 1TQE7 for 25% off your first month of the 7 item plan.
Build your work wardrobe with Armoire.
