I rented this gown for a black-tie optional wedding in July - my husband was wearing a tux as a groomsman, so I figured I might as well take the opportunity to get dressed up! I am 5'9" and found that with 2 1/2" heels, the dress was just a bit longer than I would have preferred, but thanks to the slit, it didn't trip me up on the dance floor or anywhere else. The color is a beautiful dark navy, and as others have pointed out, the shiny lining looks nice when the slit moves. I am a 34D and went braless because my strapless bra showed at the top of the cutout, but felt very comfortable because of the thick fabric. Speaking of the cutout, I got multiple compliments on how fashion-forward it was! When I first tried the dress on, it wasn't as flattering on my belly as I had expected it to be, so I wore a pair of brief-cut Spanx and felt much better... I later found out that I was pregnant, so I'm not going to hold this against the dress, but something to consider if you expect to be eating a lot :) Overall, this was a wonderful rental and I highly recommend it if you want a sophisticated yet bold look for your next event!

Fearless Midnight Gown

Jay Godfrey

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Size Worn: 8L

I selected this dress for a college friend's fall wedding, and it was exactly what I hoped it would be. It's like a mullet: business in the front; party in the back. The medium fit me like a glove, and the large was significantly larger - I'm not sure if that was how it was cut or if it had just gotten stretched out over time. I did find that the dress hiked up a bit as I walked, but it was manageable. I think that if I was any taller, it probably would have been a bigger issue. Others have mentioned that the fabric is really itchy. Maybe it's because I grew up wearing a lot of sequined dance costumes, but the minor scratchiness of the fabric didn't bother me. I have pretty sensitive skin and I didn't end up with any irritation afterward, either. Obviously, the back of this dress is the big draw. I covered up with a black blazer for the ceremony and then added a little fashion tape so that I could move freely at the reception. The tape definitely helped the edges lay nicely, but it wasn't essential to keeping the dress up. I never felt like it was going to slide off my shoulders, even after the tape lost its stickiness. The only issue I had while dancing was that the sleeves limited my ability to lift my arms the whole way. The fabric is thick, so I felt totally comfortable going braless, and it made the whole dress very flattering. The blue underlay didn't show through much except when we were outside, but I loved that it added a little more dimension to the color. Overall, this was a great first experience with RTR - they sent me back-ups when it looked like this dress wouldn't arrive in time, but I'm so glad that it did. I got a lot of compliments and felt confident that I looked great all night. Definitely give it a try if you're looking for a bold cocktail dress that will impress! P.S.: I also rented the Lilliana Earrings that you see in the photo. I was really pleased with these and thought they added just the right amount of sparkle.

New Derek Dress

Slate & Willow

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Size Worn: M

Usual Size: 8

Height: 5' 9"

Weight: 150lbs

Bust: 34D

I rented these earrings along with the Slate & Willow New Derek Dress for a fall wedding. As you can see in the photo, they're oversized compared with the typical sparkly stud, but that was exactly what I was looking for with this event. They feel a little heavy when you first put them in, but then you'll forget about them until people start asking you where you got your beautiful earrings! I would recommend these to anyone looking for a little extra sparkle to go with a cocktail dress or gown. These can easily be matched to your own necklace or bracelet, too.

Silver Lilliana Earrings

Juliet & Company

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Usual Size: 8

Height: 5' 9"

I selected this dress as a back-up when I learned that my original selection might not arrive in time. I wouldn't normally have gravitated toward this design, but it looked amazing in reviewers' photos, so I gave it a shot. The color is really gorgeous in person, and though it's bright, it would have been great with black shoes and a black blazer for the fall wedding I was attending. The 8 fit me in some places (length was good, comfortable in the hips), but was very baggy in the belly area and up top near the cut-out. This made the contrast between the two types of fabric stand out in a weird way. I had only focused on the front when I selected this dress, so I think it's worth mentioning that the cut and seams on the back were very flattering. The 10 was far too big and I suspect that if I'd tried the 6, it would have been too snug at the bottom (I often run into that because while I am listing my body type as athletic, I'm also somewhat pear-shaped). So, in the end, not the right dress for me - and fortunately my original selection arrived on time so it all worked out. I'd definitely encourage prospective renters to look at the other reviews to see if this dress worked for people with similar measurements.

Guava Sheath

Theia

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Size Worn: None

Usual Size: 8

Height: 5' 9"

Weight: 150lbs

Bust: 34D

I received this dress as a back-up when my original selection's arrival was delayed. It was very comfortable, despite the allover sequins, and really would have been perfect for the fall wedding I was attending. The biggest problem that I had with it was that the waist hit too high on my torso (it's something I often run into) - the overall length was great, but I would have preferred to have it accentuate my true waist. Also, one of the cap sleeves seemed a little stretched out and stuck out oddly from my arm - perhaps it was hung up incorrectly on the hanger at some point. This wasn't a deal breaker; just something that bugged me a little bit. In the end, my original selection (Slate & Willow's New Derek Dress) did arrive on time, so I wore that. I'd recommend this dress for just about anyone, as long is your torso isn't freakishly long like mine. I listed my body type here as athletic, but I'm definitely a little pear-shaped, too, and this is a great silhouette for that shape. And, if you do rent it, you may need to go braless or use an extending strap to make your bra sit a little lower on your back.

Blue Botany Dress

Badgley Mischka

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Size Worn: None

Usual Size: 8

Height: 5' 9"

Weight: 150lbs

Bust: 34D