The best fashion subscription boxes for every style
Published 6:58 am Tuesday, July 18, 2017
- Endless e-commerce options are ideal for those disinclined — or just too damn busy — to shop. (Dreamstime)
Two of our hands-down favorite things about living in 2017 are subscription services (Netflix, how did we survive without you?) and the ability to get just about anything delivered to our doorsteps with a few taps: tacos, transportation or a new outfit for the weekend. Combine the two, and you get the brilliance of fashion subscription boxes: scheduled deliveries of clothing, shoes and accessories that make it easy to refresh your wardrobe without too much commitment or time spent browsing seemingly endless e-commerce options (ideal for those disinclined — or just too damn busy — to shop).
With the imminent, and probably game-changing, entry of Amazon Prime Wardrobe into the already-crowded space, we thought it was about time we took a look at some of the most successful offerings on the market, catering to women of all ages, sizes and styles.
Below, compare five subscription services (some of which offer one-off boxes, others monthly), and see which one is the right fit for you.
Rent The Runway Unlimited
How it works: Choose from thousands of designer pieces — dresses, daywear, handbags, jewelry, sunglasses and more — with Rent the Runway’s monthly subscription service. Take out three items at a time, keep them as long as you want, and exchange them as often as you want (individually or all at once). Dry cleaning is taken care of, and the wealth of reviews from fellow RTRers makes it easy to get a better idea of how each piece might fit.
Brands: Tanya Taylor, Proenza Schouler, Elizabeth and James, and Vince.
Price: $139 per month.
Sizes: 0 to 22.
Stitch Fix
How it works: Fill out Stitch Fix’s Style Quiz with info about your size, price preferences and style (you can even send along links to your social media or a Pinterest board), and get a box of clothing, shoes and accessories curated just for you by a personal stylist. Each Fix box contains five items, and you only pay for what you keep. Feedback cards allow you to tell your stylist what you did and didn’t like, with the goal of improving your selection each time.
Brands: Exclusive styles, plus brands like Nine West, Citizens of Humanity, Sam Edelman and Parker.
Price: Pieces range from $25 to $400 per item (plus, take 25 percent off if you keep all five). A $20 styling fee, charged when you schedule your Fix, is credited toward your purchase. Regular deliveries can be scheduled for every two to three weeks, every month, every other month, or every three months, or you can opt to get a single box.
Sizes: 0 to 24W, XS to 3X, plus petites.
Le Tote
How it works: Each Le Tote delivery contains five items — three pieces of clothing and two accessories — which you can wear as long as you want. Return the whole box when you want a fresh five, or keep any of the items and your card will be charged with the purchase price (at a discount from the retail value). Fill out a quiz to get stylist recommendations tailored to your style.
Brands: An exclusive collab with Olivia Culpo, plus brands like Three Dots, Vince Camuto, Rebecca Minkoff and Kate Spade New York.
Price: $59 per box, plus optional $5 insurance to cover damages.
Sizes: XS to XXL, 2 to 16, plus maternity.
Amazon Prime Wardrobe
How it works: The e-commerce giant’s latest push into the fashion category, Prime Wardrobe (still in beta), will allow Amazon Prime members to get a box of up to 15 pieces delivered before purchasing, with free returns for anything you don’t want to keep. There are incentives for buying more, too: 10 percent off for three or four items, or 20 percent off for five items or more. Unlike other subscription services, however, you have to make your selections yourself.
Brands: TBD, but there are over a million eligible items, so needless to say, the selection will be extensive.
Price: Free for Prime members (a sub is $99 per year).
Sizes: Also TBD.
Gwynnie Bee
How it works: Shopping for plus-size clothing is notoriously hard, but Gwynnie Bee makes things a little easier, allowing you to rent or buy on-trend pieces from a variety of brands. You can get up to three items at a time delivered, and you can wear them as long as you want or send them back to exchange. Shipping is free, and you don’t have to worry about dry cleaning.
Brands: BB Dakota, Kiyonna, Karen Kane and City Chic.
Price: $49, $69 or $95/month for one, two, or three items out, respectively (plus, until Aug. 6, get your first month free).
Sizes: 10 to 32.