New style services editors are using to refresh their spring outfits
Same sweatpants, same zoom tops, same stuff. ...... After a year marked by such repetition, the arrival of spring feels like a symbolic opportunity to put loungewear aside and adopt a fresh perspective on dressing: a new rental subscription service by LAUREN Ralph Lauren, The LAUREN Look (opens in a new tab (opens in new tab).
Download here: Check out the new arrivals each week and add styles that pique your interest to your "closet" (click on the hanger icon to add them). Once you have 10 or more items in your virtual closet, your first box is ready to go. The delivered box will contain a mix of the four items "hanging" in your closet, but if you don't have your eye on a particular item, you can take advantage of our "Need It Now" feature for an additional fee. Shipping, returns, and dry cleaning are all included, so you can refresh your wardrobe as often as you like in a month. And if you fall in love with a LAUREN Ralph Lauren item (which is highly likely), you can purchase it directly from your "closet" at a member-only discount.
Marie Claire editor-in-chief Sally Holmes and accessories director Julia Gall tried out the service by having The LAUREN Look (opens in new tab) boxes delivered to their respective homes in New York and Rhode Island The What they received were spring must-haves, including fresh tie-neck blouses, floral skirts, and lightweight separates. Read on to learn which pieces are our favorites, how we mixed each essential into our wardrobes, and how the "Lauren Look" (opens in new tab) revived our outlook on spring style.
Sally Holmes Editor in Chief
Laid-back but elegant. I'm drawn to elegant, unpretentious clothing because it's important to feel and look good. I like to wear slouchy sweaters with pants or an oversized blazer with straight leg jeans and heeled boots.
I live to retire, or at least give a rest to, the cozy sweaters I always wear during the changing seasons. The sweaters keep me warm and comfortable (yet still looking good) at work at WFH, but I'm really looking forward to livening up my daily wardrobe and getting dressed up again. I can already picture myself walking around the neighborhood in floral patterns and pops of color and making phone calls in the sunshine.
It always depends on the day's calendar. If I have a big meeting or an Instagram live, it determines what kind of mood I'll be in. Lately I've been focusing more on getting dressed, so I tend to start with the tops I want to wear that day, then accessories and the rest of my outfit. But mainly, I pick one item (whether it's a sweater, heels, or earrings) that I really want to wear that day and go from there.
I like to be able to try things on without buying them first. Renting from Lauren Look (opens in a new tab) allows me to pick something out of my comfort zone that I wouldn't normally buy, but that I might like. Lately, I've been trying to invest in basics - key items that I know are worth the money and will be worn for a long time - and using a rental service is a great way to add variety and a little fun to that wardrobe. Mixing statement pieces, or certain items that you know you won't wear super regularly, with your existing closet through a rental service is a dream come true in some ways.
The black pants fit seamlessly into my regular wardrobe and were the perfect entry point from leggings back to real clothes. They were comfortable yet pulled together, and with a blazer and loafers, I could wear them to the office.
I unexpectedly loved the tie-neck blouse. It was a little more ladylike than my usual outfit of choice, but when I put it on I didn't feel constricted at all. I paired it with some high-waisted jeans and it was cool and looked much more pulled together than most of my outfits this year.
I would say be adventurous and take risks. If you don't like it or it doesn't work out, you can send it right back. I really liked the black pants I got, but they actually look very similar to something I would wear all the time and want to buy. Instead, I think I would choose something a little more curious and challenging. Especially now that I'm thinking about getting back into work and normal life, I think getting dressed should be fun, so I think it's best to pick clothes that make me excited about getting dressed, especially ones that I've been looking at in my closet for the past year.
Julia Gall Accessories Director
Feminine and preppy. I like to mix prints and stripes with something unexpected, like cozy socks, vintage t-shirts, and silk scarves.
Sadly, I think the days of sweatpants every day have passed; in 2021, it's about fixing actual clothes in more comfortable ways. Wide leg jeans, blazers and t-shirts, leggings, and flat shoes are all ways I make this compromise.
I like to start with "closet challenge" items. There is always something in my closet that I look at and wonder why I haven't worn it. It's a fun way to flex my dressing abilities and evolve my style a bit more.
As an editor, I have a remarkably short attention span for fashion. I like to mix fresh items into my regular outfits, and the LAUREN look (opens in new tab) is like adding a little spice to your regular soup, a great way to get your wardrobe excited again.
Which item was easiest to style?
Estate jeans were an absolute no-brainer to add to my mix. I've been dying for a new pair of jeans, so being able to rent these jeans and try them out was a great way to play with something new. I loved the embroidery detail and the fact that I embellished the cuffs a bit to make the shoes stand out more. I will definitely be wearing these through the warmer months.
I was struck by how much I really love the Floral Tiered Peasant Skirt. I wouldn't describe my style as very bohemian, so this item was a bit of a challenge, but I loved the idea of a long skirt paired with an oversized tucked-in sweater or a cozy knit like cashmere socks and preppy loafers. They were comfortable enough to wear all day, and I would recommend them to anyone who can't break out of the leisure pants habit. Long skirts are the new sweatshirts.
Renting is a great way to try out a trend or try on something you wouldn't necessarily go out and buy. Start with basics like your favorite pair of slim black pants and a classic t-shirt, then add a jacket with interesting details, such as a printed pattern or military-style brass buttons. Find items that feel more "special," and you're bound to start thinking differently about how to dress in ways you might not have considered before.
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