This Dress Diary entry was brought to Rent the Runway by Monica Khan

My boyfriend's close friend was getting married in New York City and the invitation highlighted attire as "black tie."  I wasn't ready to shell out the cash to purchase fancy, expensive designer dresses so this was the perfect opportunity to try RTR.  I also was excited about using RTR for its simple delivery and return process.  I live in San Francisco and was both relieved and ecstatic about the idea of not having to lug expensive dresses aboard cross-country flights (with layovers)!

For the rehearsal dinner, I wanted something that was sexy and form-fitting, but also chic and fashion-forward in an understated way.  I decided to go with the espresso-colored Christian Cota Silk Sensation dress.  The dress ended up being a perfect choice to wear to the dinner, as its asymmetric draping gave the dress a unique flair and flattering fit that drew many compliments, and above all else, it made me feel hot (but not too hot!).  After the dinner, several of us decided go to a bar to cap off the evening.  I was so happy that the dress was versatile enough to transition from a semi-formal setting to a night out in the city.

For the ceremony and reception, I wanted to wear something safer on the more formal end of the spectrum.  Gown (not dress) was the word that came to mind, as I wanted something long, elegant, clean and classic.  I chose the navy jersey Yigal Azrouel Arcadia Gown.  After getting an up-do and putting on my make-up, I slipped on the dress and was immediately taken by how the flattering ruching, draped bodice and the one-shoulder top gave me a modern yet classic look.  I paired the dress with an edgy pair of silver earrings and studded cuff.  I also took a bold leap of faith and opted for bright red lipstick given the dark monotone color of my dress.Thanks to RTR, wearing this dress made me feel "Old Hollywood" glamorous and it goes without saying that I was showered with compliments for my look all night. 
 

With summer on the mind, there's little rhyme or reason to our thoughts. Here's 3 somewhat fashionable things for you to think about before you head off for the weekend. Happy Memorial Day!

DVF in Soho

Our forever favorite DVF has opened her second NYC store in Soho. We'll meet you there! [WWD]

Images provided by WWD

RTR Loves Lucy

We had the awesome privledge of working with Miss Lucy Sykes this week on a fabulous photo shoot and Racked stopped by for a sneak peek. Check out a preview pic below.  [Racked]

Thanks Ashley for the pic!

It's Not Strictly Fashion but...

The Cut just brought an awesome new beauty product to our attention. Oil free, easy to pack, and SPF 50? We'll definitely be packing it in our beach bag this weekend. [The Cut]

Thanks to The Cut for the pic

With summer almost here, it’s time to get a move on the dreaded swimsuit shopping! Not to worry- we’ve rounded up some of the hottest styles to get you started. Whether you’re looking for something ladylike, preppy, unconventional, or trendy, there is something this season for you. Once you pick your desired suit style, we’ll provide your chic beach outer-wear. Ready to get poolside?

Funky & Bright

Feminine & Earthy

Classic & Natural

Sexy & Subtle

Brought to Rent the Runway by Jada Belton

What girl doesn’t dream about how she’ll look on her wedding day?  At some time or another we’ve all envisioned that moment where we’ll walk down the aisle, all eyes on us. After financial difficulties led me to cancel and reschedule my wedding more than once, I began to believe that maybe it was never going to happen for me. Enter Rent the Runway and their team of fairy godmothers.

My fiancé and I finally decided on a this-is-it, once and for all, wedding date of February 12th, 2011, to take place at his parents’ home. One problem: That was two weeks away! WHAT WOULD I WEAR? I immediately called the RTR styling team and told them of my woes. Justine answered and quickly put me at ease. I could not get over how sweet and genuine she was, like I just happened to have a best friend who was a stylist, helping me choose my dress.

Together we combed through the site, narrowing down exactly what color (Pink!) and style (slightly edgy, but still girly) I was looking for, until we settled on the Temperley London Romantic Rose Grecian Gown. I had scoped this dress before and dismissed it as being too plain and not sexy enough. Boy was I wrong! When the dress arrived 2 days before my wedding, I cried tears of joy. Thanks to Justine and RTR, I had my wedding dress!

The day of my wedding, my bridesmaids gasped when I showed them the dress, my father cried, and my husband said I took his breath away. Me? I felt, exactly, like a princess.

Thank you Rent the Runway for making the fairytale come true.

Shoes by Rachel Roy and pro-surfer Karina Petroni, Prabal at J.Crew and Moschino for your pup… this was a week of unexpected collaborations.

Prabal x J.Crew

Prabal Gurung has teamed up with J.Crew to create a collection you’ll be lining up for. The three winners of the CFDA /Vogue Fashion Fund- Billy Reid, Eddie Bargo and of course, Prabal- will showcase their J.Crew line online and in select stores. Prabal and Billy Reid’s are up, Eddie’s will debut next month. Browse the collection here. [TheCut]

Images provided by TheCut

Moschino for Your Pup

Moschino is responsible for the adorable dog accessories below. They’re available on YOOX and all proceeds go to support the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation. The collection was released just in time for the NYC Pet Show. Maybe we’ll see some designer puppies in Moschino! [Racked]

Thanks YOOX for the merch pics!

Rachel Roy X Surfer Shoes

Rachel Roy is on a roll with her collaborations this year. She’s designed a shoe line with pro-surfer Karina Petroni and produced some summer shoes you’ll want to own. There are only three, but there’s one for each of us. Click here to see them all and tell us which is your favorite. [MissMeanShoe]

Thanks Rachel for the pics

Since we’re so obsessed with this, it is now offered on the site. We welcome Commando to the Rent the Runway family!  Now you can add the classic nude or black anti-panty line staple to your next order and feel confident in that Herve Leger. Go Commando here!

Talk about a fashion comeback. Ginnifer has been killing it at each event looking more amazing than the one before. That’s why we shine our Style Spotlight on her this week. Ever since her new ‘do we’ve seen a different side of Ginnifer. These are some of our favorite looks and how to wear them to your next event. Which is your fave?

White Now

This is the white dress we want to wear white now. We love that she paired it with a pair of edgy black shoes. We suggest the same with these Azarra earrings and Lela Rose dress.

Short & Sweet

This look is playful and sophisticated. Keep it short and sweet like Ginnifer’s hair in this BCBG dress and Badgley Mischka earrings.

Tiered & Textured

This soft look is something we will be wearing soon- hello spring weddings! Our take on it? The Nina Ricci Pink Clouds Dress and Craving Crystal bracelet. It photographs well, you can wear a bra with straps and it’s super comfortable for dancing all night.

This Dress Diary was brought to you by Candince and Stephanie from The Finishing Touch

Recently our company, The Finishing Touch, held our annual client party, ‘Cocktails & Couture’. As Wedding and Event Planners, we wanted to be able to share information about RTR with our clients- and what better way to do so then to wear it! The entire team wore dresses from RTR and we all felt ultra fabulous and fashionable. Check out what our team had to say about the dresses we selected!

Candice - I love the concept behind Rent the Runway. Having access to dresses and accessories from top designers is a girl's dream and RTR has made it a reality. Wanting to feel classy and elegant for our Cocktails & Couture event, I chose the Draped Vera from Doo.Ri. I was able to pair it with some fabulous heels and accessories to glam it up and complete the look. With our whole team in RTR, all of our clients were eager to learn more so they could rent dresses for their engagement parties, bridal showers and more. And now with the RTR Wedding line, our clients will be able to find dresses for their bridesmaids as well! 

Stephanie- As a fashion lover, I am always looking for the latest cutting edge styles and trends but am guilty of the 'wear it once' rule...which leads to a very full closet! Then I was introduced to RTR and it was love at first click. For this event, I wanted a red carpet look that was bold and a bit daring- so right away I turned to Herve Leger. The Deep-Zipped Bandage Dress was stunning and I received tons of compliments throughout the evening. Can’t wait to rock RTR again at another fab event!

This week we were anxiously waiting for Oprah’s final makeover show, Christian Siriano’s latest collaboration with Payless to hit stores and Nina Ricci’s perfume campaign photos to leak. Each release made us happier than the one before! TGIF!

Oprah’s Last Makeover Show

Oprah had her final makeover show this week and it featured a group of policewomen, styled by Michael Kors, a pair of bff’s styled by Diane Von Furstenberg and a “Mountain Mom” styled by Tory Burch. The group of fashion all-stars and the queen of talk definitely gave those women a life changing experience… the pictures below are before and after. See a video of the makeovers here, courteous of TheCut.  [Oprah]

Nina Ricci Campaign

Ryan McGinley shot the campaign for Nina Ricci’s fragrance we put you onto a couple weeks ago. What do you think about the ad? Does that make you want to smell like Ricci? [DesignScene]

Christian Siriano X Payless

We can’t get enough of Christian Siriano’s line for Payless that was out this week. We even spotted our print on some of the styles! Which ones do you covet? [Payless]

It’s military ball time and Amy Esselman has everyone at attention. You chose her as this week’s Style Awards winner- congrats Amy! She wore the Badgley Mischka New York Wonder dress to the 2011 Task Force Dragon Military Ball in Philadelphia and got more compliments than you can do pushups. After sharing RTR with everyone there Amy is expecting that you rent for your next event… or you’ll have to drop and give her 20.

If you have a picture of yourself wearing Rent the Runway, send it to ShareRTR@renttherunway.com. Don’t be surprised if you see it featured on our blog or facebook page!

Last night Rent the Runway hosted a shopping and cocktails event at the Yigal Azrouel store in NYC's trendy Meatpacking district.  Hundreds of Rent the Runway members joined us to shop both the Yigal Azrouel and Cut25 Spring Collections. For those of you who don’t know, Cut25 is his super cute contemporary line- check it out here!

While there we all enjoyed great music, champagne, delicious macaroons (too amazing to resist!), and style advice from Yigal himself.  Being an RTR member definitely has its perks. These were some of our favorite moments from last night… hope to see you at the next!  --Derek

           Yigal with singer Kristine Elezaj

Delicious snacks and champagne (he could not resist either!) and our gorgeous RTR members

Anushka from our fashion team with Yigal Azrouel Sales Director Michele Molochkovsky Cohen

This week the news that Rachel McAdams was on the cover of Elle’s June issue hit our inbox (click here for the shot). The Morning Glory actress and hair-changing vixen is who we shine our Style Spotlight this week! Whether she has red, blonde or brown hair we love how experimental Rachel is. These are by far our favorite looks from the many we covet. Which is yours?

Ruching Du Jour

When it doubt, ruche it out. We suggest this Nicole Miller dress and Arabian Nights Bangle Set to channel the Rachel within.

Bold Blue

Rachel looks stunning in this bright blue ensemble and ombre hair. This just goes to show that a bright color on a simply cut dress can go a long way.  To get this look we suggest the Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent Coy Cowl Neck Dress and Diamond Disco earrings. 

Beige Babe

She knows which shade of beige is best suited for her. We bet the shade of the Camel Chiffon Dress will suit you too! Pair it with this eccentric Erickson Beamon ring to edge it up.

Speckled Spectacular

Not all of us can rock a plunging v-neck like that one, but we are all over the rest of the look. Try it out in the Missoni Speckled Mini Dress and Silver Moon Drop earrings. Disclaimer: If you can wear a v-neck like that kudos to you! We’ll settle for finding the purple shoes.

After finalizing Easter looks, dressing Mom for Mother’s Day, the Royal Wedding and derby season we’re feeling pretty ladylike. Feminine cuts and details, florals, ruffles and dainty jewels are what we are in the mood for now. Leave the motorcycle chic behind for your next event and join the ladylike luxe club.

Deluxe Dinner Date

For the dinner date, show some shoulder. It’s one of the most flattering parts to flaunt so do it right in the Milly Almond Rosette Dress or Christian Siriano number with draping to die for. The Palace earrings can go with either dress and will make the entrance you long for.

Chicest Cocktail Hour

If you’re attending a cocktail party or just getting cocktails, you never know who you are going to meet. A little mystery and a lot of sophistication is necessary. Be cocktail chic this spring in the Gold Linen Draped Dress or satin Byzantine dress. Don’t forget to add these Dannijo earrings. After all, there are few things that will look better holding a glass of champagne.

Day Time Drama

Brunch, graduation and big birthday breakfasts all await. Florals and ruffles are at the top of our ladylike luxe list. In a pitch or planned in advance, the Stepford Wife dress and Nina Ricci Time Goes By dress never fail. The Tom Binns White Anna Necklace will fulfill the Wintour requirement for either look.

1 Narciso Rodriguez

Going Behind the Seams with Narciso Rodriguez is a treat you won't want to miss. We invite you to find out about what inspires him, how his brand is growing and more here!

2 RTR Wedding

Stay tuned for more to come later, but what a wonderful RTR wedding - congratulations to beautiful Brooke and her husband Derek! Brooke was one of the first RTR employees and she most definitely celebrated in style.

3 Jalapeno Margaritas

An extra perk from our trendsetting bride, Brooke- jalapeno margaritas. She got her wedding started in style!  Make your own by combining 2 parts Tanteo jalapeno tequila, 2 parts lime juice, 1-2 tablespoons agave nectar and in the words of Chondita and Andre 3000, "shake it like a Polaroid picture." Serve chilled.

4 McQueen at the Met

After the amazing Met gala last week, we had to take a trip to see the McQueen exhibit. These were Abby's favorite pieces in the collection, but it's safe to say that absolutely everything was breathtaking. If you're in town, make sure to stop by, here.

5 The Voice

The Voice is the best new show on television. The blind auditions, the judges in competition with each other, Cee-Lo, Christina, Adam Levine and Lara's personal favorite, Blake Shelton... this show is epic!! Chondita invites all of you to watch.

6 Festival of Ideas

Jaime headed over to the Festival of Ideas this weekend and it inspired her to, well... think! Besides the home decor, prints and art projects that she wants to get involved in, this was her favorite work. You can see it in the courtyard on Mott Street.

7 RTR Bachelorette

This past weekend, Ashley F.'s best friend Lauren surprised her college friend and bride-to-be with the Square Neck Metallic Sheath by Nicole Miller for her bachelorette party in Miami! While the bridesmaids wore black, the bride-to-be stole the show in her metallic number.

8 Geek, Dweeb, Dork or Nerd?

Vijay shared this chart with us during our Cinco de Mayo celebration. Where do you fall on the chart, and more importantly to do you agree with the options available? A big debate ensued. 

9 Urban Capture the Flag  

Tim played urban capture the flag in the Financial District on Saturday night and had a grand ol' time. There are talks of another one soon...will you be joining him?

10 Crawfish for Cancer  

A day of sun, crawfish, live music, and cocktails to raise money for charity - what better way to spend a Saturday afternoon? The Crawfish for Cancer's 3rd Annual Crawfish Boil to benefit multiple myeloma cancer research is something we'll be supporting next year too!

This week Target released the information on their latest designer collaboration, Nanette Lepore impresses with swimwear, Australia Fashion Week has us gushing and the Proenza Schouler boys are up to another big project. Read on!

Missoni for Target

Yes. You read it correctly. Target’s next designer collaboration is with Missoni! The fashion house will create women’s, men’s and kid’s clothing, bedding and kitchenware and will hit stores on September 13^th, smack in the middle of New York Fashion Week. This will be Target’s biggest collection yet, with more than 400 pieces for the Missoni lover in you. Now the question is- stand in line outside the nearest Target or sit at the tents on the morning of the 13^th?! [Vogue]

Images can be found here, here and here!

Nanette Dives into Swimwear

Nanette Lepore had her first swimwear presentation in Beverly Hills this week, pulling all of her favorite prints from the archives to create her retro-chic suits. We love that we can wear Nanette in the water but are torn between which one to get! Check out her swimwear collection here. [LATimes]

camilla and marc: Spring 2012

camilla and marc showed their latest collection at Australian Fashion Week on Tuesday. They’re known for their tailoring and feminine cuts, which was still very apparent in the show. We loved the use of bright colors and alternative vibe they added to this collection. Which is your favorite look? [Fashionista]

Proenza, Proenza

Design duo Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler are on the expansion boat. We told you two weeks ago that they were looking into the fragrance industry (click here for a refresher) and now got word that they are launching a jewelry collection. They hope that the line will be ready for their next pre-collection season and will be comprised of season-less, classic pieces that will be “reprised each season in different colors and materials.” We’re excited to see it! [WWD]

Images from here and here!

It’s Cinco de Mayo! No excuses, we are drinking tequila and eating tacos. Our stylists can’t wait until the sun comes down to embark on their Cinco de Mayo festivities. What are you doing to celebrate?

Ashley

I'll be celebrating Cinco de Mayo on a friend’s rooftop tonight looking CALIENTE in this new Tibi dress and AV MAX bangles.

Neil

Show some shoulder and enjoy some mango margs in this Halston Heritage dress and fiesta-feel Dannijo Omala necklace.

Justine

I can't wait to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Mimz and a habanero infused margarita at Rosa Mexicano dressed up in this Tie Dye Draped Back Mini and Ciner Over-Sized Necklace!

Emily

You'll find me celebrating Cinco de Mayo at Rosa Mexicano in the Halston Heritage Mimz It Romper and Chamak Rainbow Bangle Set. The only thing I'll need is a sombrero and some salt! 

Rachel

I’ll be sure to look just as fresh as the margarita I'll be sipping in the Lemon Print Ruffle Dress and Dannijo cuff.

Amy

I will be spicing things up for Cinco de Mayo when I hit the dance floor at Los Feliz in the Lower East Side in the Shoulder Peep Dress by Parker and the Gwen Lilly Earrings by Kendra Scott.

 

Alissa

Going to a loft party in this little BCBG number and Picasso Crystal Cuff drinking LOTS of spicy margs.

 

No matter what happens in your day-to-day, a little piece of chocolate has the power to lift you up. Dark, milk, white, whatever you fancy- it’s all at The Chocolate Library. We are obsessed with this new place in the East Village. The draw? Free chocolate tastings from open to close and if you’re lucky you’ll even get to sample the MarieBelle hot chocolate. Check it out here and score a chocolate basket for Mom here.

Images via Gilt City

This content was brought to Rent the Runway by Brooke Parkhurst and her chef husband, James Briscione, authors of the fabulous cookbook, Just Married and Cooking, which includes over 200 recipes and tips for delicious dishes and easy entertaining.  It's full of ideas worthy of stealing for a Mother's Day meal made by yours truly!

Mother’s Day is right around the corner which means the perfect time to remind your Mom of how much she means to you.  This Mother’s Day, show Mom how much you care by pampering her with a lunch you’ve prepared yourself! Something light, fresh, and a little bit sweet will tell her what a great Mom she is.

“The trick for making an easy Mother’s Day lunch,” says Brooke, “is planning ahead.” Don’t run to the grocery store on Sunday morning expecting to find what you need, instead try shopping at the farmer’s market on Saturday. There you’ll find the freshest, most flavorful produce. For the dessert, prepare the dough the night before and then freeze it until you’re ready to bake. Mom will be doubly impressed by your organization and thoughtfulness!”

The Perfect Spring Salad

This bright, crisp and tangy salad will make mom’s taste buds sing. The fresh, peppery arugula combines with delectable, sweet peaches in a salad that is good enough to be the star of the meal. Plus, the gorgeous colors make it a beautiful addition to your brunch table.

Click here for the Arugula, Peach and Feta Salad with Shaved Corn Vinaigrette recipe

Now for the Sweet Stuff

Finish off your meal with a dessert so delicious mom will lick her fingers to pluck every last crumb off the plate!  This Hungarian Shortbread with Raspberry Jam is colorful, sophisticated and deceptively easy to prepare.

Click here for the Hungarian Shortbread with Raspberry Jam recipe

Brooke Parkhurst is a Southern transplant of whom the New York Daily News says, “Think Scarlett O’Hara and…a hint of Rachael Ray.” A columnist for the Daily News, Brooke lives in New York City with her daughter and husband, James Briscione. Together they teach couples cooking classes at The Institute of Culinary Education and The Culinary Cooperative.

This Dress Diary was brought to Rent the Runway by Illana P.

I’ve used RTR once before for my company holiday party and was thoroughly impressed.  That’s why when my friend from LA invited me to his movie premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, there was no question where I’d find the right look.  The bigger question though, what to wear?  

I had little detail about what we’d actually be doing that night so I needed to choose something versatile that could be dressed down or red carpet worthy.  I looked through every dress on the site that was for my size, shape, and date and found the solution, the perfect LBD, Herve Leger Wild Blackberry Dress. Putting on this dress made me feel like a million bucks! I paired it with a leather jacket to feel more casual for the theater.  

The adventure started on my way in the cab when my cabbie immediately insisted on taking my picture for “the most beautiful lady.”  After the screening of the movie, we decided to make a pit stop at Chipotle for a quick bite to eat before hitting the swanky after party at Studio 21.  Taxi to theater to fast food to after party, this dress earned its place in my mind as MVP, most versatile player.

1 Gowns Galore

It's gown season and RTR is stocking up! These are some of our favorite new styles. What are yours?

2 Greetings From Puerto Rico

Jenn sends her hellos from partly sunny Puerto Rico and the take your breathe away St. Regis beach hotel! Packing was so incredibly easy because each night she knew she'd be slipping into an easy breezy RTR outfit.

Suitcase contents? All Tied Up Dress for that first night when you're just starting to get some color, Parker Pop Rock Dress for a super sexy way to show off a sun kissed shoulder, plenty of Chan Luu wrap bracelets and the Haute Hippie Dirty Martini Dress (sequins!) for a night of dancing in San Juan.

Okay, okay, that dress is more if an ode to NYC but hey, you can't take NYC out of the girl!

3 Dinosaur BBQ

There is no way that you can't be a fan of Dinosaur BBQ up on 125th Street- even those who can do without BBQ are fanatics! Lara made it up this weekend and had zero regrets. 

4 Purple Rain

Abby grooved to Prince in Cali this weekend for his Welcome 2 America Tour- so jealous! With summer around the corner we smell Prince, The Fugees, Nas, Diana Ross, The Roots and a little disco on an iPod near you.

5 DVF Home

DVF is an RTR fave and we're all over her new home collection sold at Bloomingdale's. There are so many fun fabrics, textures and colors to choose from it's hard not to justify getting multiple styles! Check it out here.

6 Bike Tours

Brett enjoyed spectacular views of the city on the TD Bank Five Boro Bike Tour this weekend. Cyclists pedaled on the FDR enjoying the city and the weather on 42 miles of car-less street. But Brett wasn't the only one on a bike high this weekend- Lauren and Blaire were excited about...

7 Vintage Bikes!

Blaire and Lauren traveled to Brooklyn by train this weekend and got back to the city in their brand new vintage bikes! Bike club at RTR coming soon?

8 Hunt Cup

Ashley was super excited about the Hunt Cup in Baltimore, Maryland this weekend and made an appearance to cheer on Twill Do! This 119 year old steeplechase brings out crowds of 7,000+ dressed in the preppiest outfits, brightest lily dresses, and fancy hats who wash down their crab cakes with Southsides, the traditional Hunt Cup drink.

9 More Movies 

We were out on Tribeca Film Festival circuit this weekend, but Chris can't wait to see Fast Five, the Fast & Furious' fifth edition to the sequel. Who else can't wait to see this?

10 Pippa Middleton...

Ass Appreciation Society. 'Nuff said. With all the royal wedding talk, there is no way you could have missed this. Click here curious kitty.