In the world of personal styling services, there are two heavy hitters—Stitch Fix and Trunk Club. Both companies make shopping for clothes easy and convenient. Both let you try before you buy. And both keep your unique sizing and preferences in mind, so that what you get matches your lifestyle. But is one better than the other? Which one is right for you?
My Subscription Addiction has been reviewing both services for years, meaning we've experienced the highs, lows, similarities, and differences between the two. If you're thinking of trying one of these popular styling services, check out our helpful breakdown before you dive in!
Table of Contents
- How do they work?
- Do I have to get clothes every month?
- How much does it cost?
- What kinds of clothes do you get?
- What sizes do they offer?
- What's it like to work with a stylist?
- How long do I have to try on the clothes?
- What if I like something, but it's not the right size?
Let's start with the basics. How do these services work?
On paper, Trunk Club and Stitch Fix work in similar ways:
Trunk Club is Nordstrom's personal styling service for women and men. When you sign up, you'll be paired with a stylist who'll get a feel for what you like to wear, what you're looking for, your price point, and of course, your sizing. Then, they'll curate a box of 6-12 pieces, which can include dresses, separates, shoes, and more, that you can try on in the comfort of your home. Keep what you like, and return the rest. (Shipping and returns are free!) Each "trunk" costs $25 to style, but that fee will go towards anything you decide to keep.
Woman-owned styling service Stitch Fix also serves women and men, as well as kids. Start by filling out a style profile, in which you'll share your tastes, budget, and sizing information with a Stitch Fix stylist. From there, your stylist will curate a collection of pieces to suit your needs. Try them on at home, keep what you love, and return the pieces that don't work out. (Shipping and returns are free!) Each "Fix" costs $20, but that fee will go towards anything you decide to keep.
Do I have to get clothes every month?
Fun fact, both of these companies offer boxes as one-offs, or on a recurring basis if you prefer! That means you can get a single Fix or Trunk of styled clothes anytime you need one, like for an upcoming job interview or a special event. Or, you can choose a recurring styling schedule that fits your needs and lifestyle so that you're always keeping up with the latest seasonal trends.
How much does it cost?
Both services charge a styling fee for each order, but shipping and returns are free. You can also set preferences around what you'd like to spend on the pieces you receive.
Trunk Club costs $25 per "trunk" of clothing you request (and that fee goes towards anything you choose to keep). The clothes inside vary in price based on the preferences you set with your stylist, but pricing tends to start around $40 per item. Because Trunk Club is associated with Nordstrom, we've found that the clothes generally live up to their price point. (Think brands like Madewell, Theory, Original Penguin, and Vince.)
Our Tip:
Use your Nordstrom credit or debit card to waive the $25 styling fee!
Stitch Fix costs $20 per Fix you request (and that fee goes towards the pieces you choose to keep). Stitch Fix uses your budget preferences to determine which department-store-quality items are included in each Fix—their men's and women's clothes range from $25 per item, and their kids' pieces start at $10 per item.
Our Tip:
Keep everything in your Fix, and you'll get 25% off! (Remember, the $20 styling fee you already paid goes towards that purchase, too!)
What sizes do they offer?
Stitch Fix offers women's sizes XXS-3X, men's sizes XS-3XL, and kids sizes 2T-14. They also offer petite and maternity options for women.
Trunk Club offers women's sizes XXS-4X and men's sizes XS-3XL. They also offer a service called Trunk Club custom, which offers bespoke options at Trunk Club Clubhouses (their brick and mortar locations). And because Trunk Club is a Nordstrom company, you can pop into a Clubhouse or a Nordstrom store to have your pieces tailored!
Our Tip:
Because number/letter sizing can vary slightly between different clothing brands, we recommend being as precise about your sizing as possible when talking to your stylist. It never hurts to mention your measurements!
What kind of clothes can you get? What's the style?
With both of these services, the style of the clothes you get is ultimately determined by you! Whether you're looking for something sophisticated, bold, tailored, or comfy-casual, Trunk Club and Stitch Fix both offer plenty of options.
As mentioned earlier, Trunk Club pieces tend to mirror the quality of clothes you'd find at Nordstrom. The quality is really nice, even towards the less-expensive end of the pricing spectrum. They feature brands like RACHEL by Rachel Roy, TopShop, Kate Spade, and Free People. We love how fashion-forward the pieces are—get a better idea of the types of looks Trunk Club sends by checking out some of our recent reviews!
Stitch Fix also offers a broad array of brands that promise to match a wide variety of styles, from traditional to edgy. The department-store quality brands they include don't always have the same name recognition as the ones featured in Trunk Club (some recent brand names include Evolution by Cyrus, Emory Park, DM Collection, and Papermoon), but they're just as trend savvy! If you're in need of undies, Stitch Fix also offers something called Stitch Fix Extras—bras, panties, and other undergarments from top brands. Check out the Stitch Fix pieces our reviewers have received recently!
Our Tip:
Don't be afraid of over-explaining what you want to your stylist! Both Trunk Club and Stitch Fix give you lots of visual and written ways to communicate just the kinds of looks you're interested in. Be honest, and be thorough!
What's it like to work with a stylist?
The first step in signing up for Stitch Fix or Trunk Club is taking a fun quiz about your sizing, style, likes, and dislikes. Then, the company will match you with a stylist who will curate your box for you.
With Stitch Fix, you can leave a note for your stylist with any particulars you have about your Fix. You won't automatically be matched with the same stylist each time you place an order, but you can request them if you'd like. Your stylist will include a note about what they chose for you and why in each order, plus styling tips for making the most out of each piece.
With Trunk Club, you can call, chat, or email your stylist in addition to sharing your preferences in your quiz. The Trunk Club app makes communicating with your stylist super simple, but it's up to you how thorough you want to be. You can send them links to products or outfit ideas you're interested in, chat them with questions, and even send photos of yourself for fit and styling feedback. One of our favorite parts about Trunk Club is that your stylist will always give you the chance to preview what you're set to get before it ships. You have the chance to edit the box and remove items you know won't work for you, noting things you'd like your stylist to swap with something else. Or you can decline the entire trunk if you're really not feeling it, and you won't be charged the styling fee!
Our Tip:
With Stitch Fix, if you get a stylist you like, we highly recommend requesting them for future Fixes. (We have found that Trunk Club stylists typically stay consistent from trunk to trunk unless you request a change.) That way, your stylist can get to know your personal style, and get you better and better picks in each order! Leaving feedback on what you got also helps your stylists make better choices in the future.
How long do I have to try on the clothes?
Once you get your personalized box of clothes, you'll have a few days to try them on and decide which looks you want to keep.
Trunk Club gives members five calendar days to try on their pieces and send back anything they don't want. On the day you receive your trunk, you'll also get an email with handy tips for setting up a free UPS pickup. (You can also drop your trunk off at a Nordstrom or Trunk Club Clubhouse location to make your return.) Trunk Club has you use the same cardboard box your trunk picks arrives in for your return. You'll get a free return shipping label with your package, as well as super-sturdy tape strips that you can use to reseal your box.
Stitch Fix gives you three days to make your decision. Use their app or your online account to "check out", selecting which pieces you're keeping and which you're returning. Then, just pack anything you're not keeping in the pre-paid shipping envelope included with your fix and drop the USPS package at your mailbox or post office.
Our tip:
We like to set a calendar reminder for the day our returns are due in the mail as soon as our package shows up, just in case. Be sure to let customer care know ASAP if you think you'll need more time!
What if I like something, but it's not the right size?
This one's easy—both Trunk Club and Stitch Fix allow for size exchanges! Stitch Fix users can note what they need to exchange during the checkout process, and Trunk Club users can note what they'd like to exchange online or by letting their stylist know. (Just be sure to communicate your exchange within your try-on period.) Trunk Club also allows for color exchanges as well as size exchanges!
What other questions do you have about online personal styling services?
Let us know your burning questions! Have you tried Trunk Club or Stitch Fix?
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