Rent and Wear with Le Tote Fashion Subscription.

Confession time. I hate wearing the same dress twice.

I know it sounds like a bratty first-world-problem kind of thing, but it's true. When it comes to my day-to-day wardrobe, I wear a lot of the same kind of clothes (hello mom uniform, party of sweats), but when I have somewhere special to go, like on a date or to a wedding, I like the feeling of wearing something brand new. Which is why I was super intrigued by the idea of the Le Tote fashion subscription, which allows you to rent or buy the clothes in the monthly box.

Today I'm sharing about my experience using Le Tote and giving you an idea of the kinds of clothes you could find in your own monthly tote. I put together three looks using the items that came in my April tote. If you're interested in trying out this subscription service, there is a discount code at the bottom for you to get 20% off your first month's tote! If you're a budgeted babe and you love to shop, this is such an awesome way to wear new clothes all the time for a fraction of regular retail price. Read on!

The Le Tote Experience:
Le Tote is a fashion rental service that gives us ladies access to an infinite closet of designer garments & accessories. You can rent these items, and if you love them enough, have the option to purchase for up to 50% off the retail price. But the best part? NO LAUNDRY. I repeat, no laundry, friends! You can wear the clothes for as long as you want, 2 days or 3 weeks, and then you just send it back un-laundered in the prepaid (by Le Tote) garment bag. This garment service is probably going to be my new best friend.

How Le Tote Works:
Okay friends, here's how Le Tote works. When you sign up for a tote, you fill out your size profile and style profile, browse through a bevy of clothes and accessories on the site, click "add to closet" on the items that you would actually wear. Based on your selections, Le Tote curates what will come to you in your tote. You get to finalize the styles they send to you, so you know exactly what's coming your way. When you get your tote in the mail, it will contain 3 garments and 2 accessories, along with a return mailer for the items. You wear what you like for as long as you like, and when you're ready, send the whole tote back in the prepaid envelope and they'll send you a new tote immediately. If you loved something, you can keep it and purchase it at up to 50% off retail prices. Just hold on to what you love and send everything else back. This lets Le Tote know that you'd like to purchase the item you didn't return, and they will charge the card on file and send a new tote.

A little note on sizing: Once you get your tote in the mail, it's a good idea to rate your items for fit and how well they match your personal style. Le Tote uses this information to personalize your totes so that you get the best fitting garments possible.

The Le Tote Benefits:
Along with the free shipping (both ways), and the no-laundry situation (which counts for a LOT of bonus points in my book), Le Tote makes sense for someone who cares about fashion but is conscious of their budget. I also see this really working for someone who wants to eliminate most of their closet and operate with a capsule wardrobe, and then just add in rented pieces to mix it up and add personality. Each tote is valued at about $350 worth of clothes, and you rent those for $59/month. With Le Tote, you always have something cute to wear on date nights, to weddings, to work, anywhere! You can get as many totes as you like in a month, and if you want to keep an item, you purchase it at a discounted price. For someone like me, who always wants to wear a new dress to a wedding, this just makes a whole lot of economic sense.

Oh, and I forgot to mention the kinds of brands that you will receive in your tote: Vince Camuto, Sam Edelman, Kate Spade, French Connection, House of Harlow, BB Dakota, BCBGeneration, Max Studio, Levi's, Free People, Rebecca Minkoff and more. Gang's all here.

My April Tote:
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked everything in my tote. Usually with a subscription like this, I expect to have a few duds, but this wasn't the case! The pink blazer-cape (is that even a word?) is something that would normally be so far out of my comfort zone, but since it came in my tote, I tried it on immediately. I was surprised at how Beyonce it made me feel. Kind of like a feisty, feminine superhero. And the ruffle red top has the sweetest sleeves - I could wear that on any occasion and make it work with jeans, a skirt, even casual shorts. All of the clothes are constructed of quality material and really delicately tailored. With each outfit I put together, my husband kept saying, "I want to take you out on a date in that!", which is always a good reaction. My one qualm with this tote was the wrinkle factor - everything needed a good pressing before I wore it. But I think that's the price you pay with getting clothes in the mail. In my opinion, it's completely worth the extra effort!

In My Tote:
Long Sleeve Floral Top - LE LIS Sheer Floral Blouse
Short Sleeve Red Top - Philosophy Ruffle Scuba Top
Pink Blazer Cape - Jealous Tomato Coveted Cape
Clutch - Clement Blush Foldover
Pink Tank - UA Amanda Cross Front Tank
Bracelet - AVA Rope and Bar Bracelet

If you're interested in trying this service, Le Tote is offering 20% off the first month to you - make sure to use the code OYKRISTEN at checkout :)

Now I'm curious about what you think - in the world of subscriptions for everything (Netflix, Zipcar, Blue Apron, the list goes on), would you subscribe to a service that allows you to rent clothes? Would you like having access to new clothes all the time, but owning very few? Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts!

Many thanks to Le Tote, who provided free product in exchange for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

Girls Night at Fab'rik!

Last week I enjoyed the silliest, most wonderful girls night. My sis-in-law (and bff extraordinaire) won an exclusive party in a random drawing at a local retailer, Fab'rik, where we had the store to ourselves so we could basically shop, drink bubbly and LAUGH. Baby-free. Boy-free. Dinner time hours. It was the BEST. I love these ladies so much and it was a hilariously random joy to be able to try on some wild trends and then run out into the middle of the store in my bare feet and be all like, "So... what do you think? Go or no-go??" Because seriously, in my stage of life, shopping for cute clothes in a REAL STORE just isn't happening. In the random times that I do shop, it's usually asking my stylist sister to pick something up for me, or, it's simply clicking my size on the website of stores I already know. I never try new things. Because, Everett. Let me just tell you something: Everett and cute shopping stores do NOT mix. I wish I could say they did. If I brought Everett into this cute store, he would have screamed like a velociraptor for me to get him out of his stroller and then I would be wrestle-carrying around my broken-legged baby, trying to figure out how to wiggle out of the fancy jeans that I just HAD to try on. Um. No.

So, SHOPPING PARTY. And the Heavens parted. I had the chance to really engage with my friends and do some Christmas shopping and it was just all the most wonderful things smashed together into one jolly evening. And they gave us 20% off everything. I mean, the Christmas spirit was seriously alive and well. Oh, and did I mention we all rode there via golf cart? THE BEST. I love my community and I love our local Fab'rik. No, they did not pay me to say any of this. I truly love this store and the ladies there made us feel SO comfortable and welcome - thank you to Kelsey and the team! A few photos for your viewing pleasure.

Hi Amanda. You so fancy.

Hi Amanda. You so fancy.

I couldn't resist. I had to buy something red :)

I couldn't resist. I had to buy something red :)

I talk too much at the cash wrap. But it's because they are SO NICE.

I talk too much at the cash wrap. But it's because they are SO NICE.

BEER FRIDGE.

BEER FRIDGE.

Awwww you guys are the prettiest.

Awwww you guys are the prettiest.

I'll just take them all. Thanks.

I'll just take them all. Thanks.

I fell in love with these dainty little gold necklaces.

I fell in love with these dainty little gold necklaces.

So I might be ruined for shopping like a normal person after this wondrous experience. You mean other stores don't hand you glasses of champagne when you enter and take your bags and coats and help you in the fitting room and let you run around the premises and goof off like you're a tweenager? Man. Other stores are so behind the times.

Again, many thanks to Fab'rik for hosting this smashing event!