Mixing and Matching Your Way to Spring

Spring may have sprung but not long enough to forget that SF marine layer. Lately we've been having fun incorporating lighter colors as we transition into spring. This in-between time has allowed us to play with mixing and matching weights, textures and layering pieces that can be added or removed without sacrificing style.

Megan:

My favorite spring piece is my flowy skirt from Zara. I'm not ready to pack away my coveted leather Theory jacket, so I combined the two for a hi-low look that has softness and a bit of edge. Underneath is a L.A.M.B. sweater that is lightweight and breathable. This piece will absolutely stay in my closet as a spring staple!

Kimberly:

I naturally run a little on the cool side, so layering is the core of my spring wardrobe. This season I'm playing more with textures and layering with unexpected pieces. I love the way a lace crop top can be paired with an oxford for a modern take on office wear. Color is another big shift in my seasonal wardrobe--most of my winter black pieces have been replaced with a softer navy. 

---

Here are a few additional tips for transitioning your winter wardrobe to spring:

• Use jewelry and accessories to add in trend colors, such as a chunky necklace or bright bag.
• Master the art of layering. Focus on fiber content and what pairs well together and still stays breathable. Denim jacket + Cashmere Sweater= Softness with Structure
• Keep your leather jackets and transition in your cropped pants or skirts to wear with them.
• Swap out heavier knee-high boots for lighter-colored spring boots or booties in suede. They look great with long dresses and skirts.

Marie Claire Reviews Rent The Runway - And We're On the Same Page

It looks like we aren't the only fashionistas to take Rent the Runway for a spin and review our experience. Marie Claire's April magazine has an article featuring their fashion editor's experience with the subscription-based clothing service.

With our Technology + Fashion series is wrapping up this month, we loved reading what Marie Claire's editor Brittany Kozerski thought. It turns out her experience was more or less in line with ours.

Her conclusion: "Besides money, it saved me time and closet space by refreshing my wardrobe without having to shop. ...here I could test drive accessories without having to commit."

Pick up the April edition of Marie Claire to read the article in full.

Stay Stylish,
K&M

Tech + Fashion Update: Are We Loving Style Delivery Services?

Megan's Update:
After canceling my Le Tote subscription, I decided to try out Stitch Fix. To get started, you fill out a style profile to give them a better idea of your preferences. I've heard that it can take a few deliveries to get into the groove and I agree.

A screenshot of the style profile survey.

Stitch Fix is different from Le Tote in that 5 items are selected for you by a Stitch Fix Stylist and you decide what you want to keep and what you want to send back. I am disappointed that they don't send you complete outfits, so while some of the 5 pieces may be great you aren't getting all of the elements to create a cohesive look. Plus, the quality wasn't what I'd expect given the price of the items.

My conclusion: It's fun it you don't have time to shop and want to add one-off pieces to your closet. But buyer beware- you may end up with a closet full of pieces that don't match, which will require you to shop more.

Kimberly's Update:

I've continued to use Rent The Runway Unlimited and have had a good overall experience. The premise I still love--having access to on trend designer pieces without having to shell out thousands. The last delivery was positive and I ended up keeping several pieces and wearing them to different events.

My pain point however, continues--it takes too long to sort through their filters and there are bugs in selecting Unlimited items from the site. There is also limited opportunity to give feedback on specific items without calling customer care. For example two of the items from my last order should have been taken out of rotation due to wear and tear and over dry cleaning. There were set in stains and the pilling was so intense on one sweater that I actually had to pullout my sweater shaver before wearing it. 

If you are looking to change up our wardrobe frequently with new pieces it is going to take a lot of time and planning to get what you want when you want it. Returning items takes about 3 days in the mail before you can order a new item and then 2-3 days to ship out a new item. 

This service is perfect if you have a few special events on your calendar or want enjoy a few new staples for a season.

Stay stylish, 

K&M

Tech+Fash Update: Our Second Deliveries from Rent the Runway & Le Tote

Here is a round up of Megan and my second deliveries from our online shopping services.  We'll be extending the review through the month of March to give you a full recap of our experiences.

Kimberly-Rent the Runway Unlimited, Take Two!

Following my ho-hum initial experience --I returned two of three items unworn to RTR's Manhattan pop up location --I was skeptical about the Unlimited service.  It felt, well, limited. 

The verdict of round two? I AM IN LOVE (insert smilie heart here).  The Rent the Runway Unlimited service has some bugs to work through in user interface/product selection offering, but I LOVE the concept. When it works, it is magic.  Who wouldn't like to try beautiful brands without the commitment of a full purchase?

For my second order I received a Milly Jacket that fits perfectly which I DO NOT want to say goodbye to.  As a perk they offer a 30% discount if you want to purchase one of your rentals.  However the price of this jacket is still too steep to me.  I also received a Tibi Navy Dress with tie sleeves that again fits well and is a great weight for the current season.  I wore it over the weekend with tall boots and tights and will be wearing it again tomorrow for a client meeting.  

(Full disclosure: Kimberly was not in a photo mood in the second picture, but she was a trooper and obliged me.)

Want to TRY RTR Unlimited too?! They are offering a temporary $20 credit off your Unlimited order with the code: FFUNL1CAADB 

What made my second order a success?

1.  I did my homework...I heavily filtered through all the items offered on Unlimited. I read the customer product reviews and carefully looked at photos to guess my size/fit accurately.
2. I was lucky...inventory is still fairly limited and if you see something you like your size may not be available. This week I was able to get what I wanted.

Megan Says Buh-Bye to Le Tote

I wanted to love Le Tote, I really did. But after my second delivery we had to officially break up. As I mentioned before, I wasn't thrilled with the quality of the items. Many of the purses they offer aren't real leather, the majority of the tops are synthetic and the fits felt off to me. But the clincher was when Kimberly and I were at our morning meeting on Monday and this happened...

I lifted my arm to enthusiastically made a point and Kimberly spotted a hole in my sweater! Thank goodness she noticed it before I went about my day and headed to a few meetings.

Final thoughts:

1. Le Tote is geared towards a younger demographic that wants to swap out items often.
2. Check your clothing! There may be holes
3. While the quality isn't great, their customer service is wonderful. Deliveries arrived 2 days after I ordered them.

Now on to test out Stitch Fix!

Stay Stylish,
K&M

Update: Our First Deliveries From Rent The Runway & Le Tote

Since it's mid-week and we are almost through the second week of February, we thought it'd be a good time to give you a quick update on how our experiences with online shopping services have been going. (As you may remember, we are focusing on technology and fashion for the month of February.)

Kimberly joined Rent the Runway Unlimited and I joined Le Tote. They are both subscription-based clothing rental services that allow you clothing and accessories delivered to your door unlimited times a month. All of the items are gently worn and when you are finished you send them back for new items. Rent the Runway has more high-end brands and you get 3 pieces in each delivery. Le Tote is mid-range brands and you get 5 items in a package. 

After getting our first packages, we are both feeling a little disappointed. Kimberly had a tough time finding items that she wanted in her first delivery. Let's correct that -- she found items, but they were all out of stock in her size. The dress she received wasn't the right fit and she didn't love the top, which wasn't seasonal. On the plus side, the bracelet she picked out is a hit and she is currently in New York for Fashion Week and rocking it!

As for me, my 5 pieces felt random and didn't create a cohesive outfit (which is often a complaint we hear from clients who use services like this). The skirt was cute, but I didn't have a top to match it. The blouse they sent felt like poor quality and it felt weird to be wearing earrings that someone else had already worn. That said, I loved the black Sanctuary pants that I received and plan to purchase them from Le Tote.

We are both excited to see what our second packages bring. Stay tuned...

Happy Wednesday,
K&M