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. 
 

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.

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 weekend, a few of us were lucky enough to attend a very special RTR wedding. On Saturday at 5:30pm, Brooke, our Sr. Director of Social Marketing and one of the very first Rent the Runway employees, walked down the aisle at The Church Around the Corner in NYC and became Mrs. Derek Brown.

The joyous celebration was made even more beautiful by the absolutely stunning bride, radiant in Lela Rose and a Miriam Haskell necklace. Also adding a nice touch were the modern bridesmaids, clad in various metallic hues, many from RTR’s collection.

Between Derek, Brooke, their friends, family and the RTR gang, there was a ton of love in the room. Check out our pics below of the spectacularly styled bride, the Mexicue-catered menu, and more. Congrats B + D!  -- Lara

                    Jenn, Brooke & Jenny

Brooke’s Wedding Gallery

Dancing as Mrs. Derek Brown and her serious bridal bling

Delicious cake and Mexicue Menu!

Bridesmaids in full-on RTR

The RTR Gang

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.

This Dress Diary was brought to Rent the Runway by Abby Bales

I have been loving the dresses I've rented from Rent the Runway in the past and wanted to share the fabulously fashionable experience with one of my best friends for her 30th birthday.  For a while RTR was my little secret, but friends who care will definitely share!

Monica and I met attending college in Colorado together and have been friends for over 10 years. It’s no surprise that when we both moved to NY we would be sharing all of New York experiences together. When it was time to answer the big birthday question- What am I going to wear? - I had to get her to use RTR.

I chose both of our dresses (and Monica's request) for dinner and drinks to celebrate the festive occasion.  I wore the Gryphon Metal Chain Striped Dress and paired it with nude python heels and gold bangles and earrings for a laid-back yet stylish look for a night on the town.  I loved my dress and received compliments all night.

For the birthday girl, I thought something a little more sparkly and fun that said "Hey, it's my birthday!" would be appropriate.  I chose the Badgley Mischka Fifth Avenue Showstopper Dress and she wore her favorite white kitten heels and her always gorgeous smile.  Monica looked amazing and felt special in her fabulous dress as we hit up all our favorite places in Tribeca with the girls into the wee hours of the morning.  It was a great night and super-fun way to celebrate such a big birthday.

Now I can say that we can't wait for the next excuse to Rent the Runway!

This Dress Diary was brought to Rent the Runway by DJ Kiss

Rent the Runway is my fashion lifesaver! I’ve Rented the Runway for everything from bridesmaid dresses at my wedding to television appearances and red carpet events to photo shoots. I love investing money in classic shoes, bags and accessories but I just can’t justify spending a ton of money on a dress I’ll be photographed in and only wear once, so for me Rent the Runway is the only way to go.

As I DJ, I’m constantly out and about spinning or attending events and I always need to look great. Hey, you never know when you’ll be photographed! Some of my favorite rentals have been the Temperley London Mini Corry dress for a Tiffany’s event, the Camila and Marc Rock Candy dress for The Blonds fashion week after party, and most recently the Halston Heritage Be Mine dress for a WeTV red carpet event in LA two weeks ago!

I’ve even taken my love for RTR internationally, wearing the Catherine Malandrino Modern Queen Elizabeth dress for my headlining DJ set at VIP Room in Paris along with the Frank Tell Silver Cut-Out Bodycon dress for the following night out in Paris.

Earlier this year, I worked with MTV on their new TV show “The Seven” as their music expert. The viewers of the show are fashion savvy music lovers and my first thought was “RTR to the rescue!” I wanted my on-camera look to memorable to the viewers but not my bank account. I wore the Tracy Reese Lacy WrappedSheath, Nicole Miller Electric Slide Dress, and a cute sequined dress by Theory for the three tapings of the show and was beyond happy with the result on camera.

After having so much success with RTR, I started thinking bigger picture. When my fiancé and I were planning our engagement photo shoot I knew I wanted my look to be classic, timeless, and romantic. I also knew that this outfit was one I would definitely only wear once. After agonizing between dresses, I chose the stunning Milly Almond Rosette dress which worked perfectly next to his tuxedo! This is one of my favorite shots of us and I realized that RTR was about more than just red carpets and nights out... I think it gave me good luck!

Shortly after the engagement shoot, Ebony Magazine asked my fiancé and I to be on their list of 2011 hottest couples. I obviously could not break the lucky strike and headed right back to the computer to choose another rental. This time, I chose an edgier gold lame dress by Robert Rodriguez.

After loving my dress from RTR for my engagement shoot, I wanted to make RTR a part of my wedding too. I didn’t want my bridesmaids to be stressed about buying and trying on dresses. I used RTR’s new bridal division, which was the perfect set-up for me. The ladies at RTR helped me pick out a dress that would be flattering on different body types. I chose the beautiful Robert Rodriguez Heavenly Hayley dress in a deep purple. My friends were so impressed with the outcome of their bridesmaid dresses, they were actually excited about their dress! A month before the wedding, the dresses were shipped to each girl in their size along with a backup size. My bridesmaids were able to try the dresses on in the comfort of their own homes and return them in the RTR pre-paid envelope… easy breezy! A few days before the wedding all of the dresses were shipped to my wedding location where we would all get dressed. The girls looked amazing in the dresses and the day went off without a hitch!

I’ve made Rent the Runway my go-to for every occasion that comes into my life. Instead of thinking about where and when I will need to shop for my next look, I literally log into my virtual dream closet at any time of the day and shop. Rent the Runway has become more than a dress for a night, they’ve become part of my favorite memories.

This Dress Diary was brought to Rent the Runway by Allie Gradinger

As an intern at RTR, I see every aspect of Rent the Runway. From the witty banter that flies across the office, sneak peaks at what the buyers are thinking for next season, to Jenn and Jenny’s inspirational speeches. The all-encompassing experience has also given me the privilege of spending countless hours admiring the fabulous frocks in the upstairs warehouse all under careful watch of the fabulous operations team.

When I received the news I would have to pack my bags and attend my cousin David’s Bar Mitzvah in Jackson, Mississippi I knew exactly what I was going to wear. Forget my spring wish list- I had my eye on some RTR frocks!

For Friday night Shabbat, I wore the Milly Doll Lace Dress and paired it with ballet flats. This dress was the perfect length and segued from temple to dinner party seamlessly.

The Bar Mitzvah ceremony took place on Saturday morning, where I sported the Tibi High Tea Dress and black pumps. The dress was comfortable and easy to move around in, which is essential for this specific religious service as the congregation is frequently asked to rise and be seated.  With the luncheon following, I again was able to transition from morning to afternoon without a hitch.

Saturday Night was the big reception, where my cousin David was able to celebrate the completion of his Bar Mitzvah with 250 of his closest friends and relatives. Knowing full well I would be rocking out to oldies on the dance floor with my aunts (Electric Slide anyone?), joining in on the Hora (an Israeli circle dance), and experiencing southern cuisine (they really do fry everything!), I knew the only dress that would be able to keep up with me would be the Halston Be Mine Mini Dress paired with nude heels. The color is fun, the fit was great, and the tiered ruffles had me swishing across the dance floor.

Rent the Runway was the perfect go-to for my jam-packed weekend. For the first time I was simultaneously able to dress appropriately and fashionably to these types of events- a concept I thought was unachievable. My first trip to the South was unforgettable and just when I thought RTR couldn’t be any greater I was reminded on my flight home not once but twice (thanks to Glamour and Teen Vogue) just how special this company is! Mazel Tov!

Typical days at Rent the Runway bring many opportunities for Cinderella experiences with fashion. One of my favorite rituals of the week is 5pm on a Friday when many an RTR lady can be found upstairs in our warehouse modeling dresses for her parties that weekend and getting the often too-honest feedback of the RTR family! So, I'm just a bit spoiled when it comes to dressing up! That said, last week I had my very own Cinderella moment with fashion. I was invited to the opening night of the de Young Museum’s “Balenciaga and Spain” exhibition in San Francisco and I knew I needed to wow with my fashion choice as Anna Wintour was hosting.

Before the event, Derek Guillemette, our head buyer, called some of my favorite designers and asked for special couture gowns - Bibhu Mohapatra, Prabal Gurung, Narciso Rodriguez and of course, Alberta Ferretti. About a dozen gowns floated into our office a moment's notice and I had a veritable fashion show in one of our conference rooms to determine which dress was "the one." I decided on a Grecian-inspired, slate-grey Alberta Ferretti gown - a go-to brand for special events.

Fast-forward to the exhibition - there were 120 breathtaking pieces, and the crowd was packed with fashion world elite and some of my favorite techie friends from Yelp, Google and Facebook. Attendees were dressed in gowns from Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, Rodarte, and of course Balenciaga. At my table was Gela Nash-Taylor and Pamela Skaist-Levy, the founders of Juicy Couture who were dripping in Lanvin’s runway collection. They were tons of fun and we talked about the new line they have coming out in July, which we at Rent the Runway are eagerly awaiting. I also had a great time chatting with Cameron, owner of Decades, the amazing vintage boutique.

Among the crowd was also Anna Wintour, Hamish Bowles, Gywneth Paltrow, and the Rodarte sisters – it was truly a special evening and I felt like fashion royalty. I hope that every time a Rent the Runway customer receives her dress in the mail she feels the same way.

Below are some of my favorite shots from the event - if you’re in the San Francisco area, make sure you make time to stop by and see the amazing exhibition.

The Exhibition, curated by Vogue Magazine's European Editor-at-Large Hamish Bowles and Fine Arts Museum Curator Jill D'Alessandro, will be open until July 4^th, 2011.

Fashionably Yours,
Jenn

This Dress Diary was brought to Rent the Runway by Donna Kim

Birthdays are a special celebration. It’s the only day that’s all about you and you aren’t walking down the aisle. It’s also a time that can be celebrated with all of your friends, no matter what walk in life. For my 23^rd birthday, I wanted to change my scene.

A San Fran native, everything after 18 had out done the year before it. From shutting down a trendy club in the Lower East Side to fancy lounges in the Meatpacking District, I felt like I lived it up in New York City. This year I really wanted to focus on the friends that had seen me grow and have an intimate celebration just with them. It was also the time I thought I would give Rent the Runway a shot.

I called a stylist while placing my order to make sure the Catherine Malandrino Smoking Shoulder Dress was going to fit perfectly. Working in the fashion industry, I wanted to wear something great that I already didn’t own and that would be new to my friends. You only ever really wear birthday outfits once, so it was a no brainer. I got my dress and was THRILLED. It fit perfectly, with the size recommendation that Ashley had given me. I also rented the Chamak Monte Carlo Bangle Set and Kenneth Jay lane Emerald City Ring to add some color to the LBD. I was so happy that one of my friends leaned over and said “you haven’t stopped smiling the entire night- looks like Rent the Runway is a keeper!” She hit the nail on the head and I’ve been renting ever since.