My First Foray Into Rent The Runway

Have you guys tried Rent the Runway yet? I haven't, but I know some girls who have and who loved it. I'm sort of torn on the whole concept though, because - if you couldn't tell - I'm sort of a clothing pack rat. I really regret giving away the Behnaz Sarafpour for Target silver skirt I bought years ago. I think about it a lot.

So why would I want to pay the price of two Forever 21 dresses to rent designer for 4 nights?  (Or, if we're being perfectly honest, what I'd really do is take the $50 right down to Neiman Marcus and buy the real thing.)

Well, smart people over Rent the Runway sent me a $50 birthday credit, and I'm aiming to find out how I like the service while also looking AMAZING on my 25th birthday


But what should I pick?

Sweet and sleek in Tibi

Sexy in sequins from Robert Rodriguez Black Label

Pretty Peacock from Nicole Miller

Which dress do you think I should wear to ring in my new year? Let me know in the comments or at the poll to the right or tweet at me!

Sign up for Rent the Runway for access to renting these fabulous dresses today.

Sunday Lust List: Cool Cuffs and Darling Dresses

1. Maison Martin Margiela 22-karat gold-plated arm cuffs: $1310
2. Miriam Haskell pearl cuff, available at J. Crew: $650
3. Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Mesh cuff: $900
4. Yves Saint Laurent satin jersey dress: $2190
5. Lela Rose jacquard-effect silk-blend dress: $1295
6. Diane von Furstenberg Della taffeta dress: $325

All available at net-a-porter unless otherwise noted.

From the back of Grandma's couch to your closet

Crochet and macrame - it sounds more like crafts at summer camp than something you'd want to buy at Bergdorfs.

But, of course, designers have found a way to bring this look from the back of Grandma's couch to the closets of fashionistas everywhere.

The idea of wear something more kitschy than silk or jersey first appealed to me when I saw Olivia Palermo in this DVF number at Fashion's Night Out last September. The dress was actually available - and on discount - when OP wore it (which I love... We can't all get pieces right off the runway).

Credit: Celebrity Fashion

Even though the dress was old, the look was very fresh. Olivia was wearing what had just been seen all over the New York runways for Spring 2011. Just look at the wide range of designers that featured the knit look:

Jen Kao, Christian Dior, Catherine Malandrino, Gucci

And now that it's actually Spring 2011, crochet and macrame looks are available to the masses.

For instance, I really adore this dress from lulus.com - proving you can wear the style and still look edgy and modern. (The dress is sadly sold out).

From lookbook.nu

So can you wear crochet without looking like a blanket?

I think yes. Here are some great starter pieces.

Edun dress, $238; Sass & Bide vest, $117

Ecote Belt, $38; Vasia by Ulla Johnson sweater, $79

Perfection

I cannot get over the sheer perfection of this Jason Wu bridal dress, designed exclusively for Net-A-Porter. The classic 50s glamour updated for a modern setting, the conservative neckline with the sexier dipped back.... I die. It's got me thinking... Can I wear white to the rehearsal? Should I change into a second dress for the reception? Can someone lend me $2,600 so I can buy this thing of beauty? Can I diet my way into a size 0 so I can buy the only remaining size?

Sunday Lust List: All dressed up

It's gala season in DC. And while I have a couple full-length gowns hanging in my closet, waiting for a good reason to be worn, I can't help but look around. When my friend Danielle sent me this BCBG dress, I was hooked.

Issa silk-jersey gown, available at Net-A-Porter: $885

Azzaro Carmen evening gown, available at the Outnet: $2,458

3.1 Phillip Lim sequined silk dress, available at Net-A-Porter: $1,100

BCBG one-shouldered belted gown, available at Bloomingdales: $298

We like to party

The other day, I was headed out for a night on the town when I realized I had nothing to wear. I mean, sure, I have my go-to going out dresses, but I've worn them many times now. They no longer feel special or fun.

I've been so focused on revamping my work wardrobe and buying professional pieces that I'd neglected my after-work wardrobe. What I needed was a fun Saturday night dress - pronto. It's hard to find a good balance between cocktail, casual and conservative - I wanted something fun and bright but not so amazing that it was a "special occasion only" dress.

That said, I could not justify spending a ton on a dress that is made to risk getting spilled on at Cafe St. Ex or messed up in a crowded Georgetown bar. So I spent a while poring over some less expensive websites like ASOS, Modcloth and Lulu's - which I'd never really shopped at before! They have some cute stuff.

Here's what I came up with as potential party dresses:

1. Nasty Gal Serious Flare dress: $48
2. ASOS chiffon and mesh drape dress: $77.58
3. Lulu's Own It woven blue dress: $43
4. Modcloth Fevered Rays dress: $74.99
5. Modcloth Glamourous Garnish dress: $74.99
6. Nasty Gal Poppy drape dress: $78
7. Lipsy bandeau dress with draped glitter finish, available at ASOS: $78.44
8. ASOS oversized sequin shift dress: $146.54
9. ASOS plain drape crop top dress: $68.96
10. ASOS woven hem t-shirt dress: $60.34

Can you guess which one I bought already? (Hint: It's got color...)

What's your favorite thing to wear out for a night on the town?

And the Golden Globe for best dressed goes to...

The 2011 Golden Globes were somewhat anti-climatic to me. Maybe it was because I wasn't really pulling for any particular film, but between the ho-hum hosting, blah award-winners and relatively lackluster fashion, I wasn't blown away. But here's my round-up of the best of the night - and the worst.

Best dress

Anne Hathaway is so consistently stunning on the red carpet, and this Armani dress took the cake last night. The column-esque, fitted, long-sleeved dress (with basically no back) was an unexpected, unconventional look, which is why she stood out to me as the best dressed of the 2011 Golden Globes. And her hair and makeup suited the look to a T.

Runner up

Emma Stone looks amazing in Calvin Klein. (Actually, so did all the ladies in the designer. Claire Danes' pink dress was so fab!) I know people compared her to Lindsay Lohan, but the blonde hair is for her roll in Spiderman, and I sort of love that she's owning it. Also, can I have her body? 

Best black

Black is always popular on the runway, but I thought there were a lot of particularly interesting black dresses this year. My favorite, though, was definitely Eva Longoria, who said "Eat your heart out, Tony Parker" in this elegant Zac Posen. Runners up in this category go to: Glee's Jayma Mays, who was almost recognizable with long hair, smoky eyes and a vintage-esque black gown; and Julianne Hough's black sheath with a highly embellished neckline.

Best green

Emerald green was all over the red carpet. And who can blame our stars? The green stands out on the red carpet and is completely eye-catching. But to be honest, none of these dresses really had me green with envy (sorry, I couldn't resist). Angelina Jolie looked sort of rough in the hair and make-up department, and the rest of the dresses were a little same-dress-different-color. My favorite goes to Mila Kunis, who might have been the best dressed Black Swan cast member, though I thought the dress looked a little long on her.

Best red

Another red carpet trend was on the other end of the color spectrum - red. My vote for best red dress was  January Jones, though I know this will be contentious. A lot of people thought the Versace showed too much skin, but I thought it was daring, sexy and stunning. I loved the unique fringe skirt. Even though the lovely Ms. Jones probably didn't eat for a week before the awards, she looked amazing.

Most Underrated

Lots of big stars made their turns down the red carpet, but some people get more attention than others. These ladies looked knock-out in their dresses, even if they didn't win any awards or garner lots of media spotlight. I also call this category "The best of the rest."

Mandy Moore's bright blue, which fits her perfectly. I'm sort of almost over the one-shouldered trend, but I like the simple sheerness of it here.

Julie Bowen, who is another star who has always been getting it right on the red carpet, subtly stuns a dove gray Tadashi Shoji.

Finally, Amber Riley wowed in this sequined number. She shows bigger girls can rock the sparkly look, and I love the way the black belt edges it all out.

Worst dressed

I actually had a hard time choosing just one. So I didn't!

This dress makes me understand why people think J.Love Hewitt is so desperate. She looks puffy in an unflattering ice-queen bridal gown.

OK, Halle Berry, we get it - you're hot. Leave it in the bedroom.

Christina Aguilera, if you don't want people making pregnancy rumors, don't wear a dress a size too small. Also, don't wear a dress that looks like you are only wearing sheer lace with flowers growing from your lady parts. Also, why is your  face so puffy? Ugh, I just don't like her at all.

And a couple of closing-out comments...

I know a lot of people loved Olivia Wilde's Marchesa, but I just thought it was a lot of dress for a relatively undeserving actress. She's stunning, but that gorgeous dress screams "Best Actress nominee" - not supporting actress on a TV show. And her hair was meh. Secondly, I did not like Lea Michele's ODLR. She usually looks stunning in the designer's gowns, but this gown looked like a weird knockoff of last year's Valentino ruffled gowns. Finally, I feel like Carrie Underwood barely got noticed in this pretty golden dress - it's nothing original or non-obvious, but very nice nonetheless.

Did you watch the Globes? What were your favorite gowns? Were you happy with the winners? 

(All photos credit FabSugar, except where noted).

Designer crush: Bibhu Mohapatra

I have a new designer crush. Bibhu Mohapatra makes beautiful dresses - the kind with the perfect balance of embellishment and pure tailoring.

Although the writers at Style.com weren't enamored with his decision to scale back the day wear and showcase cocktails and evening dresses, I, on the other hand, adore his exquisitely cut pieces. I will find parties to go to if I can wear these forever! Isn't the adage "dress for the job you want"? I want my job to be wearing these dresses.

Here are some of my favorites:

   

See the full collection here.