Fergie wore a figure hugging Herve Leger dress to her 36th birthday party in Las Vegas.  Her peach colored bandaged dress showcased a fit and tanned body.  The length was short, and it had fringes along the hip-line that extended beyond the hemline on both sides.  She accessorized with a turquoise pair of Brian Atwood peeped-toe pumps, a small multi-colored clutch and a turquoise cocktail ring.  Her jewelry was kept to a minimum.  Fergie’s hair had that fresh beachy look and so did her makeup.

Herve Leger gave us the  form-fitted and architectural in its Spring 2011 ad campaign.  We appreciate the juxtaposition of her garment laced with beautiful geometric cut-out designs against the Victorian era furnishings; modern meets with the traditional.  The dress is, however, reminiscent of a corset which was a staple in a lady’s wardrobe back then.  Subtle and classic colors like champagne, aqua and gold were used to give the structural elements of the dress center stage.

So you have that special event to attend, but choose to splurge on rent instead of a new designer dress.  What are your options?  Well, you could go to Rent the Runway, a new online site that rents high-end dresses at a fraction of the cost of retail.  Do I have your attention now?

Their selection range from Diane Von Furstenberg, Proenza Schouler, Badgley Mischka, Giambattista Valli, to Herve Leger, and the rentals will cost between $50 to $200.  They are shipped to your home, and returned in a pre-paid envelope.  The dress is essentially yours for four nights, but don’t take that too literally because it could cost you.  Handle the merchandise with care because if you destroy it, congratulations, you’ve bought it. 

It sounds simple enough, if you don’t count the waitlist of 20,000 women who’ve already signed up for the service.  The concept is definitely recession friendly; Rent the Runway has the ability to capture the market of women who merely want to borrow instead of own. 

A Netflix Model for Haute Couture [NYT/Tech]