4 online brands that match you up with personal stylists to get you your perfect wardrobe
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One of the common complaints of buying clothes online — despite its unparalleled convenience — is that you can never really tell how something is going to look in person, and more importantly, how it’s going to look on you.
There are also tons of options out there, and it’s easy to buy as you see something you like rather than to fill an actual wardrobe need or follow any basic plan of what colors, shapes, and cuts work well together. As a result, we end up with overcrowded closets that don’t follow any cohesive plan, meaning we wear fewer of the things we buy compulsively online.
How many of us have wished we could do a simple overhaul, throw out everything but the best (so whatever we really can’t part with), and enlist the help of a professional to show us at our best and make the leaner, better closet that means we’ll actually wear the good clothes we own?
Well, services that enlist the help of in-house personal stylists are finding a way to marry the convenience of online shopping, the reassurance of trying on at home before committing to buying, and the uniquely affordable and rare opportunity to have personal stylists chat with us about what we should or shouldn’t be buying.
For your convenience, I’ve rounded up four services that will do exactly that for you. With each one, you’ll be paired up with a stylist that will work with your preferences to handpick outfits for your life, your office, or your free time. Some of them have deposit fees, but every one applies that deposit to your purchase or refunds it to you if you don’t buy anything.
Below, you'll find more details on how MM.LaFleur, Trunk Club, Stitch Fix, and ModaBox will enlist a personal stylist to help you get the most out of your wardrobe.
Trunk Club
For: Men and Women
Trunk Club pairs you with a personal stylist who will ask questions about fit, style, and budget to get a sense of your personal style, but you can work with them as much or as little as you like. When your personalized "trunk" is ready, you'll get a digital preview of the items in it. You have 48 hours to approve or amend the contents. Once you give the go-ahead, the trunk will be delivered by UPS within four to six business days with free shipping.
Take five days to try things on and then return what you don't want to keep.
Returns are free with the included shipping label, and you can drop it at a UPS store or arrange a pick-up with UPS. There is a $25 styling fee, but because Trunk Club is owned by Nordstrom, that fee is waived for any Nordstrom card holder.
What sets Trunk Club apart from a clothing subscription service is that there's no monthly, quarterly, or annual fee. You only get trunks when you request them. If you love it, you can arrange a delivery schedule with your stylist.
If you want more information, you can read one reporter's personal experience here.
Try Trunk Club here >>
MM.LaFleur
For: Women
MM.LaFleur was born as a way for powerful, professional women to outsource their workwear concerns to professionals who get it. You can read our full review on the Bento Box here, but suffice to say we loved it.
Which is how the Bento Box was born. It's a box filled with workwear staples handpicked for each customer by a discerning MM stylist (based on a short quiz of workwear preferences, prices, and office atmosphere) and mailed to your door. Customers have four days to try everything on free of charge.
Women can try on their selections at home, keep what they like, and text a number to get UPS to pick up and return what they don't. They're only charged for what they keep but since 70% of MM.LaFleur's customers are repeat clients, you might be keeping quite a few.
Also, it's not a subscription service, so there's no commitment.
Try the MM. LaFleur Bento Box here >>
Stitch Fix
For: Men and Women
Fill out your Style Profile on Stitch Fix and a personal stylist will handpick pieces to fit your tastes, needs, and budget. Then they'll fill a box with five items of clothing, shoes, and accessories for you to try on at home and mail it to your door. Once there, you'll have three days to try on everything and pick what you want to keep. Return whatever you don't want to keep for free thanks to a prepaid USPS envelope.
At the same time you're asked to pick a delivery date you'll also be charged a $20 styling fee. If you buy anything, that $20 will be applied as credit to your purchase. If you keep all five items in your box, you'll receive 25% off, too.
If you want to learn more, you can read one reporter's personal experience here. He thought Stitch Fix might have been the best men's clothing subscription service that he's tried.
Try Stitch Fix here >>
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