Trunk Club is a clothing styling service for both women and men. Similar to Stitchfix, subscribers fill out a detailed style profile which, in turn, your assigned stylist uses to hand-pick clothes, shoes, and accessories. There is a $25 styling fee which is credited towards whatever you decide to keep.
The clothes arrive in a cardboard box that looks like a suitcase trunk and is made of thick cardboard. If you choose to return anything, you'll do so using this same box and the two strips of packing tape they include. It's nice that it seems rugged enough to handle two trips through the mail!
Trunk Club is a Nordstrom company, and they send similar brands that range in the $75-300 range. In the style profile, you can choose your preferred price range for each category (ie. $50-100, $100-200, or $200+). I chose the lowest price range for everything—to be honest, it's still on the higher end of what I pay for clothing typically, but if I really love a really high-quality item (in other words, one I'll get lots of value and use out of), I'll spring for it.
The items in this box are reflective of my style and price preferences, so note that your Trunk Club may be completely different!
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: Trunk Club
The Cost: $25 styling fee, credited towards any items you choose to keep, plus the cost of whatever you keep. Shipping and returns are free.
The Products: Clothing, shoes, and accessories hand-selected by your stylist for you to try on at home
Ships to: Contiguous 48 states for free. Alaska and Hawaii (shipping and return fees apply)
Good to Know: Trunk Club carries sizes XS - 3X. Check our plus size reviews here!
Also good to know: Trunk Club price matches "within 14 days of purchase exclusively to Nordstrom."
Check out all of our Trunk Club reviews and the Women's Clothing Subscription Box Directory!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
Inside the box, there's a crisp envelope of information I'll need to get the most out of my shipment, including tape to reseal the box, a free return shipping label, alterations info, an invoice for everything inside the box, and a note from my personal stylist.
When I signed up for my subscription last month, I was matched up with a stylist named Melissa. In our initial conversations, Melissa and I chatted online (via the simple, clean chat widget in my Trunk Club account page) about what I was looking for, what my likes and dislikes were, and any upcoming occasions that might warrant some new pieces. I loved what Melissa picked for me the first time around, and I was excited to see what she might style for my upcoming birthday weekend.
From what I can tell, there are a few ways to schedule a new trunk. This time around, I started by hitting the "Schedule next trunk" button that's under the "Me" tab of my account. From there, I was able to note when I wanted my trunk to arrive and check off what I wanted to receive (like dresses, tops, shoes, etc.).
And just to cover my bases, I also messaged Melissa via the chat widget on my account, articulating the things I was looking for and why. The chat feature is so handy, and more importantly, Melissa was super responsive. You'll get an email letting you know when your stylist chats you, so in case you're not into checking your account every day, you're still set.
As I mentioned, my focus this time around was looking for casual-cool picks for my upcoming birthday weekend. I'm going on a little weekend road trip with the boyfriend to North Carolina, so I was looking for things I could wear wandering around small towns or to cute dinners. In general, I've got a pretty laid-back, simple style, but since this birthday is a big one (30! Woohoo!), I asked Melissa to look for bright, playful, statement-making pieces that were still comfortable and wearable.
Trunk Club sends you a visual list of everything coming in your trunk before it arrives, so that you can decide to approve or swap out items you're not wild about. Passing on an item? They give you a chance to give feedback on whatever it is so that your stylist can learn more about what you do and don't like.
The last thing I'll note before we get to the products is that I'm about 5' 3" tall, a size 10 in jeans, 8 in dresses, and usually somewhere between a medium and a large in letter-sized clothing. Hopefully that gives you an idea of how these things might fit you!
Here's the first look I put together with pieces from the box. The shoes are mine (Lucky Brand boots found for a steal at a consignment shop!), but everything else, Melissa picked. They don't give you any instructions on which pieces to wear together, but I noticed that both boxes I've gotten contain pieces that are easy to mix and match.
Topshop Tye Dye Shirt Jacket, Size US 8 - Cost to Keep $85.00
Okay. So. This is the jacket that Melissa mentioned in the note on the invoice. Things I like about this jacket: It's made of super soft woven fabric that feels like vintage denim. I love pockets, and this jacket has two big ones. I love that the sleeves are easy to roll up—the casual-cool, retro look of cuffed sleeves is very much my vibe. And the weight of it is perfect for a summer night or crisp, dewy morning.
My love for this jacket... ends there. When I saw this jacket in the preview of my trunk, I said yes to it since it's so different from anything I would've picked for myself and I wanted to give it a try. But putting it on, oh boy. It's a US 8, but the fit is very oversized, which kind of overwhelms my body. I think the hem hits at a less-than-ideal spot, and the fact that it's gathered and elasticized on the sides doesn't help. I'm the type of person who likes playing with unique silhouettes that might not be considered traditionally "flattering", but which are a bit adventurous or interesting—my last trunk featured some boxier silhouettes that I actually thought were super cute. But this piece lacks the structure that I like, and the lines of the jacket just don't work with my body (in flattering nor creative ways).
And last but not least, the color scheme. It's sort of like a weird Ghostbusters/Ninja Turtles milkshake. That's too harsh... I've seen this kind of jacket (in precisely this color palette) look amazing on grungey, neo-90s gals in festival photos and fashion spreads. But on me? Le sigh. I guess it's just not meant to be.
PST Tie Back T-Shirt Dress, Size M - Cost to Keep $49.00
On the flip side, this black knit dress could not be more me! This dress is made of lyocell and cotton, so it's extremely soft—it has the feeling of a favorite cotton piece that's been washed once or twice so that it feels smooth and almost velvety to the touch. It's a lovely weight for summer (it's not sheer, but I won't be wearing any patterns under it just in case), and I really like the raw-edged trim on the sleeves and open back.
And can we talk about the open back? Obviously, I tried this piece on with a bra, but if I wore it out and about, I'd probably opt for one of those sticky bras. You could also style it with a pretty bralette that's meant to be shown off, or pop it over a cami if that's just not your thing. I love the way the back gives this very everyday dress a bit of elegance. I feel like it's begging for a long, statement-making pendant necklace to make the front as visually interesting as the back. Cute, comfy... I'm all in.
PST Mesh Inset Dress in Olive, Size M - Cost to Keep $42.00
I decided to try this guy on by itself, but it could easily be paired with any of the jackets that came in the trunk! This easy breezy dress is also from PST, but it's made with a blend of rayon and spandex. Eeeeek! That's not a great combo for me. The material is really thin, and though I really really love the color and the lightweight feeling of it, I do not love the way it clings to literally every bump, curve, and angle of my body. This is the kind of thing that would probably work with the right shapewear, but in the middle of a very humid midwestern summer, the last thing I want to do is add more tight, layers to my look. Overall, really cute idea. In execution, though? It's unfortunately not for me.
Next look! I've got a few qualms, but so far, I'm feeling this.
Treasure&Bond Relaxed Denim Jacket, Size M - Cost to Keep $79.00
Wow, do I ever love a good jean jacket! This light-wash look has a good amount of structure to it given how delightfully soft and comfy it is. There's a smidge of spandex in this cotton jacket, which gives it just enough stretch to be effortless to wear but not so much that it feels like it's going to lose its shape or hug any part too tightly. Again, I can give the sleeves a little cuff if they start pestering me, and I dig the pockets. The only thing standing between me and this jacket is that it feels a good bit too long. I like boxy looks, as I mentioned, but only when they hit me closer to my natural waist. Because this jacket is longer and lands closer to my hips, it ends up looking too big for me, like I'm a little kid trying on my parent's jean jacket, hehe.
Topshop Corset Front Flippy Tunic Dress, Size US 10 - Cost to Keep $52.00
I've been totally out of the corseted loop, I guess, because I hadn't even seen this trend happening until I started getting trunks! Last month, I got a tee with a corset detail, and this month, we have this dress! I love that this cotton-blend dress is cut in such a way that it flutters away from my hips like a fit-and-flare design. It definitely takes the concept of a t-shirt dress (which is basically my summer uniform) to the next level. The corset detail is adjustable, so you can tighten or loosen it to fit your body. Be careful to make sure the sides are even, though, or else the way the dress lays can get kind of wonky. I feel like this dress might be one size too big for me, since the bust of this dress feels like it's fitting just the slightest bit lower and looser on me than I'd like. It's super cute, though, and definitely one of my favorites in the trunk. With the right shoes and jewelry, I think this could pass as a fancier look, even though it's an uncomplicated jersey dress.
This face happened when my lovely photographer suggested I do some rock-n-roll devil fingers to match my leather jacket and jean skirt. It's hard to feel very punk rock when you're wearing clothes from Nordstrom, but I do definitely feel cool in these edgy pieces!
BLANKNYC Faux Leather Jacket in Black, Size M - Cost to Keep $98.00
This black jacket looks great, fits great, and for not being real leather, it's surprisingly soft and supple. Where the other jackets in this trunk were waist-less or hit my body in odd places, this jacket nips in at my natural waist and trumpets out again so that it lays over my hips really nicely. It didn't have that weird plastic or gasoline-like smell that many faux-leather products come with, and the light lining makes it feel slightly higher quality. I will say that this jacket has a lot of bells and whistles that are purely for form, not function. There are zippers that make the bottom few inches of the jacket seem detachable, except the zippers don't go all the way around the back of the jacket. The lapel on my left sort of folds over, and the zipper follows the edge of the fold, but it's not like there's anything for it to zip to, aside from the opposite lapel, which is a normal length.
Maybe the weirdest part is that the right lapel pops up like a popped collar, but the left side of the collar... doesn't. So essentially half the collar pops, then wraps around the back of your neck into a kind of roll shape that just sort of tucks down into nothingness. But hey, if you don't try to pop the collar, it does look pretty cool. Oh fashion, you're so wacky...
Topshop Stripe Amour Body Suit, Size US 8 - Cost to Keep $28.00
Here's another item that I decided to try as sort of a fashion experiment. This is my first step into the world of bodysuits, which I've seen more and more friends of mine wearing around. I'm big into tucking tops into my skirts and high-waisted jeans, but that inevitably causes some pesky bunching, if the top doesn't just come untucked as I go about my day. Bodysuits eliminate that concern—this navy-striped one was super smooth against my torso and my hips. Unfortunately, it was not the most comfortable thing on my booty. I think one size larger would've been a little less suffocating and more forgiving. I do love the cute little "amour" embroidery, and the snaps at the bottom of it make this way easier to shimmy on and off than a jumpsuit or romper.
Topshop Denim Miniskirt, Size US 10 - Cost to Keep $55.00
So much Topshop this month! I'm digging this 100% cotton skirt. It's a perfect basic piece for summer (and fall—it'd look really cute with black tights and an oversized turtleneck), and I love the raw-edged, laid-back vibe it has. On me, the cut isn't quite a pencil skirt, but it's a bit more form-fitting than a typical straight-cut skirt. The pockets are nice, though the tightness of the skirt doesn't leave them with much space. Surprisingly enough, I don't have a classic denim skirt like this one in my wardrobe yet, so I was really happy to find this great one via this trunk.
The next look features more lace-up details!
Trouve Lace-Up Sleeve Top in Olive, Size M - Cost to Keep $49.00
I'm inspired by the olive pieces in this trunk—it's a color I rarely wear but really enjoy when I try it. The lace-up details on this top aren't quite my thing, though. There's something about the dangling laces that I find kind of pesky. The top itself is a ribbed rayon/spandex blend, which isn't the most flattering thing on me. It's just a bit too clingy. I like that this isn't just an ordinary top, and it certainly seems very versatile, but I don't think it's something I'd reach for in my closet.
1.State L/S Patch Pocket High Low Blouse in Pink, Size M - Cost to Keep $79.00
This top might not be the most flattering piece in the box, but it wound up being one of my favorites. I like the fact that it's so big and effortless. It's made of woven rayon fabric, which is soft, smooth, and delightfully lightweight. It drifts so nicely around my body, thanks to the big slit up the back. And the warm blush pink stripes make this somewhat masculine top feel feminine and pretty. I could see myself wearing this over skirts like this one, skinny jeans, or leggings on a lazy day. It's a little edgy and playful, super laid back, and perfect for my personality.
Verdict: There were a few great basics in this month's Trunk Club, such as the black t-shirt dress and the denim skirt. And I did really love the big striped blouse. But I felt like a lot of the pieces would've been way better on someone with a slightly longer, straighter body type. My more petite hourglass shape didn't warrant itself to the longer jackets or unforgiving fabrics. I think my biggest "hmm" moment was realizing that the tie-dyed jacket was picked specifically to be my funky, fun, playful item. I can totally see the thought process that led Melissa to pick the pieces she did, but I feel like my appetite for big, bright colors and adventurous pieces has yet to be satisfied. Looking at the Pinterest boards I passed along to Melissa, I think my love of pastels and metallics and quirky patterns is on full display, so I'm a little bummed those things didn't manifest in my birthday trunk. If anything, I think I'm learning what this subscription is good for, which is foundational pieces, wardrobe staples, and versatile items. I just haven't seen the fun, statement-making side of Trunk Club yet. I did get to try over $600 of high-quality products from the comfort of home for just $25.00. If they fit your sense of fashion, they're a super helpful service!
What do you think of Trunk Club? What have you received lately?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.