Give me a power dress any day, even if only for a well-deserved lunch in very high style.

My first stop back in Boston was Best Dressed, a party dress rental boutique with two outposts in town - Charlestown and Southie. (UPDATE: The Charlestown location is closing; a bigger location will be opening at an as-yet-unannounced location next year.) The Best Dressed concept is, for now, strictly brick-and-mortar, so it blends dress rental with an actual, physical shopping experience -  perfect for the "but what if it doesn't fit" set, or anyone that just loves to shop. You can go to either location, actually try on dresses, chat with the Lirantonakis sisters Vicky and Nikoleta, who founded the company in 2016, and leave with a gown - or put one on hold for up to three months. (If you're big into planning way ahead, which I, admittedly, am not.)

It took me a minute to get my head around it, but I actually love the idea of renting a dress. (PS: check out my post from February, rocking an Eliza J. gown from Best Dressed at The Breakers in Palm Beach.) It's just way more practical; I mean, really - how many times are you actually going to wear that formal gown you just dropped $300 + on? And, frankly, sometimes you can have too many dresses - I'm constantly moving things from my closet to storage just so I can have some room to breathe in there! Renting a frock costs on average a third of the price, and you're not stuck with something that you've likely been photographed in before, and even more likely, won't wear again to the next formal event.

Alright, so gorgeous dresses: Check. 

My next stop? Obviously somewhere with perfect natural lighting, nom-worthy food, and French-accented staff. Uber to Frenchie, please.

In the words of Chandler Bing from Friends: Could this place be more Pinterest-worthy? (Ok, so maybe I'm paraphrasing a bit.) 

But seriously, Frenchie is the chicest spot in Boston's South End, and arguable the entire city. From the big, bright windows to the Parisian bar to the "In Vino Veritas" neon in the main dining room, there's no bad angle, which, along with the delicious fare (you guessed it - French!) makes this place the ideal spot for a girls' lunch.

I'll be posting a full review of Frenchie, including a beautiful brunch spread, here on the blog later this month, but for now, whet your appetite with some shots of the bistro's très magnifique interior, très glamour dresses from Best Dressed, and maybe a sneak peek at the world's greatest salad, accompanied by a plate of fries.

LOOK # 1: KEEPSAKE THE LABEL DRESS

Rental: $65; Buy: Around $205

The Outfit: Keepsake the Label Dress via Best Dressed Boston; Sterling Silver Honey Comb Necklace with 14k Gold Filled Chain, $78. (Beyonce has the same one, just saying...); B.P. Blue Suede Shoes via Nordstrom.

LOOK #2: HAYDEN GOWN

Rental: $65; Buy: Around $345

Hayden Gown via Best Dressed; BP Shoes via Nordstrom; Jacques Marie Mage Glasses, $575 via Lunette Optic, Sterling Silver Honey Comb Necklace with 14k Gold Filled Chain, $78.

LUNCH:

FRENCHIE, 560 TREMONT STREET / BOSTON, MA

BABY KALE SALAD WITH DELICATA SQUASH AND MAPLE DIJON DRESSING ($13); FALL VEGGIE TARTINE WITH FRIES ($12) AT FRENCHIE

(Psst: Best Dressed was actually having a sale on dresses at the Southie location; dresses from Ted Baker, Ralph Lauren and more were $30-$50.)