OOTD- Working the Runway

Okay, I'm not working a real runway because I am not a model (I only pretend to be on this here blog ), but I am rocking Rent the Runway. You've guys heard of them right? Have an event you need to go to, but don't want to fork over the money for a really nice dress, well you can just rent one from Rent the Runway. I've used them twice before and had great experiences so I was pleasantly surprised when they offered to send me a free rental recently. Free and a nice dress to wear, no need to twist my arm. So armed with this lovely Shoshanna dress I was ready to tackle the day while feeling sassy and pretty. And thinking that I need more dresses in my closet. A girl should always feel that good. The best part is I don't have to spend a ton of money with RTR just a click away.

Have you used RTR before? Do you usually have something in your closet ready for a fun occasion or are you one to usually run out and buy something new?

This post was not sponsored by RTR. They just sent me a complimentary dress to wear and I love them enough to share.

Outfit Details:

Dress (via Rent the Runway)- Shoshanna (available here, alternative plus size version here)

Leopard belt- J.Crew outlet

Twisted sandals (from last year)- Loeffler Randall "Lila" (same color, different style available here, similar style here, alternative here)

Brown quilted bag- Rebecca Minkoff "Studded Affair" (same style, different color here and here, cute budget alternative here)

Ring necklace, leopard bracelet and white studded bracelet- Forever 21 (necklace available here, similar leopard bracelet here, similar cuff bracelet here and a really cute alternative here)

OOTD- Tardy for the Party (But Looking Good)

Did you all have a great weekend? I got the weekend started at my company's holiday party on Friday. A fancy-schmancy affair at one of the area's museums; a fun time was had by all (and some more than others, judging by the dancing going on the dance floor).

Getting dressed for formal affairs is always a bit nerve-wracking for me. The selection of dresses in my closet is severely lacking. To keep the stress at a minimum this year, I decided to Rent the Runway again (see this post for first experience). It took forever to decide on a dress, but I went with a black number from Shoshanna. I love Shoshanna, she knows how to make a lovely dress and this was no exception. I picked my dress, told them when I wanted it to arrive, it came right on time in its garment bag and I had my dress for the party. If you ever decide to try Rent the Runway keep in mind that they charge shipping and a $5 insurance fee and you should take advantage of the offer to send a second size for free. One thing is for sure, the selection can't be beat. I was so close to going all out with a gold mini from Halston Heritage or a gorgeous Rachel Roy dress, but with Christmas gifts to still left to buy, my money had other plans.

A little lace, my pearls, some shimmering heels and I was out the door!! Okay, I was at least 30 minutes behind schedule, but I was fashionably late.

Me and my dapper looking honey!!

My ankle boots had a gold trim and a studded looking heel.

My new JewelMint bracelets!!! Love them!!!

Outfit Details:

Lace dress- Shoshanna (available here or you can rent it here)

Black suede booties (on sale in size 9 here)

Pearls- Marc by Marc Jacobs

Gold mesh and crystal bracelets- JewelMint (available here)

SatC- We're Going to Get Carried Away this Weekend

The Sex and the City 2 movie debuted this weekend and my friend and I headed out for a night of a cocktail, dessert and a late show. I felt extremely girly in my outfit so that gets an A- (the minus goes to wearing fussy undergarments and wobbly shoes) and the movie gets a C. I loved the series on HBO and even the first movie, but this movie felt like a very special episode, aka The Girls Go on Vacation or something. And I was a little disappointed in the fashion this time around. I couldn't get over a ridiculous tin foil looking hat worn by Carrie on the airplane. I read a scathing review on Friday and it stated that the girls haven't grown up and I agree to a certain extent, particularly for Samantha. I still love them though!
Outfit Details:

Flower dress- Rebecca Taylor

Woven belt- secondhand

Bag- Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Clutch in Royal/Brown Basketweave

Shoes- Cynthia Vincent for Target

I do have a confession, this is not my dress!! I love Rebecca Taylor, but spending at least $300 on a dress is just not in my budget. So to get my fix, I "borrowed" this from the site Rent the Runway. I am just not much of a dress wearer. I spent years concerned about how skinny my legs were and how banged up my knees looked that I was so self-conscious about putting a skirt or dress on for the world to see my legs. As I've gotten older, my thoughts about body image have changed a bit. Although it is still weird for me to wear skirt/dress/shorts, I realize that these are the only legs I have, there isn't much I can do to change it (besides calf implants and that would be too darn weird), and there are too many cute things out there that I'm not wearing because I'm concerned about what other people think. Pretty much all woman have some hang up about their body and I think life would be a lot simpler if we accept our flaws because we are all different and nobody is 100% perfect. So that is my new motto, embrace and accept!

That is all to say, I don't have an extensive dress selection and I love Rebecca Taylor, so I decided to try out Rent the Runway to have something cute for girl's night. Although I'm sure some would find it weird to rent a dress, it works well for someone like me who wants a special occasion dress, but doesn't want to spend tons of money on it or have it sit in my closet collecting dust. The process was great. I selected my dress, the date I wanted it delivered and checked out. I received a confirmation e-mail and shipping details within an hour and my dress arrived right on time inside a garment bag all ready for me to put on. They include return postage, so all you have to do is put the dress in plastic, stick it in the envelope and put it in the mail. I will definitely try it again, especially when Christmas party time arrives.

Check it out: http://www.renttherunway.com/rtr_home

If you want to start dress shopping, sign up here: http://www.renttherunway.com/referral/fshnonmymind