This May 2018 Trunk Club review features items for Spring and Summer style!
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I’ve been ordering from Stitch Fix for awhile now. While I’ve been pretty happy with that service, I kept hearing great things about Trunk Club, as well! After doing a little research, I decided to give them a try!
What is Trunk Club?
Trunk Club is a clothing subscription by Nordstrom. They do things a bit differently than Stitch Fix.
First off, you don’t have to subscribe to regular “trunks.” Just like Stitch Fix, you can set up a regular interval, or you can order a trunk whenever you want.
There is a $25 styling fee, which is credited towards anything you purchase. This is pretty standard for clothing subscriptions like this.
When you sign up. you’ll fill out a style profile that includes questions about what you like and don’t like. You can also set a price range. Because this is Nordstrom, the price range is moderate to high. You won’t really find budget clothing here. Everything is of good to excellent quality and the same items you will find in-store or online.
So why order from Trunk Club if you can just go in-store or shop for yourself online? The main reason is that it saves you time. Personally, I don’t have a Nordstrom store close by and sorting through thousands of items online is super time consuming.
The other reason? You will be paired up with a personal stylist. Trunk Club has a messenger system so that you can actually communicate with your stylist about what types of items you’re looking for. He or she will ask specific questions before choosing items that fit your style and requests. They also give you outfit recommendations for those items.
Trunk Club sends around 10 items per trunk. You get to preview the chosen items before the trunk ships. If there are items you really don’t like, you can remove them. You can then request new items be added before shipping, or just having what’s left shipped.
Once your trunk arrives, you try everything on. Keep what you love and return what you don’t. You can also exchange items for different colors and/or sizes!
They supply you with the return label and tape so that you can return everything in the same box you received it in.
Be sure to leave feedback on why you love or dislike each item when you’re checking out. They will charge you for the items you keep once they receive the trunk back.
There is no discount for keeping a certain amount of items like with Stitch Fix, but if an item goes on sale before you check out, they do give you the reduced price.
Another unique feature of Trunk Club is that you can request not only clothing and accessories, but intimates, pajamas, and swim suits as well!
Now that we have all that down let’s get to the items I received!
May 2018 Trunk Club Review
For my first trunk, I requested items that I would be able to wear while I’m in Florida for a month. I wanted stylish outfits that I would still be comfortable in while trying to keep up with my two boys all day.
My stylist, Natalie, asked a lot of questions to really try to nail down what I would like. Overall, I think she did a great job and I expect that each trunk really will get better with such personalized attention!
I removed a couple items because they just weren’t styles that I’d like. I requested new items be added in their place.
My items arrived in a huge box that looks like a suitcase! Inside everything was packaged in bags and shoe boxes with ribbons tied around the stacks.
There was also a personal note from my stylist as well as a list of all of the items in my trunk and their prices. My items range in price from $49.95 to $138.00.
Michael Kors Ramona Wedge Sandal
These sandals were a replacement item for something I removed. I mentioned to Natalie that I prefer flats or low heels, but these particular shoes just aren’t for me. I don’t care for the style, nor the “MK” embellishment on the front.
You don’t have the option to remove replacement items, so I kept an open mind but even after trying one on, I didn’t love them.
Verdict: RETURNED.
Free People Havana Muscle Tank
Natalie had asked me about brands that I like and colors. I do love Free People’s more conservative styles and am currently obsessed with mustard-y yellow colors.
This top is exactly what I was looking for. Loose and casual. It is shorter in the front, but has elastic to keep it in place.
Verdict: KEPT.
ASTR Lila Midi Dress
Natalie included this dress as an option for if I had to go somewhere a little nicer. It’s a really pretty wrap dress, but unfortunately it didn’t fit me at all. Once again, the sizing of different brands is drastically different!
You can exchange items for different sizes and colors, but there wasn’t a larger size available.
Verdict: RETURNED.
J.O.A. Tie Front Romper
From the picture, I didn’t think I’d like this romper. Once I saw it in person, I thought it was really pretty! Unfortunately, again, it was too small. I could barely get it on/off.
I’m also not sure that rompers are for me. I’ve tried 3 on recently and all of them look awkward.
Verdict: RETURNED.
Caslon Knit Maxi Dress
This is a pretty basic dress, but I could definitely see myself wearing it often. It’s perfect for casual days, as well as days you want or need to dress up a little!
The material is heavier and you can tell it’s really well made.
Natalie sent this to me in a petite size which I though was odd at first because I have never bought petite, but it fits perfectly!
Verdict: KEPT.
Halogen Lace & Crepe Top
I wasn’t really looking for dressier tops, such as this one, but I couldn’t say no. Once I tried it on, I loved it! I especially like that I can wear this in the summer with a pair of jean shorts, or in the cooler seasons under a cardigan.
Verdict: KEPT.
Billabong Romp Stomp Stripe Surplice Romper
I really, really wanted this romper to work. It was the least expensive item in my box and would have been perfect for Florida!
And, as usual, the romper thing just isn’t working for me. I was going to try to exchange this for a size up to see if that would work out better, but there wasn’t an exchange available.
Verdict: RETURNED.
BLANKNYC Boyfriend Denim Shorts
I love denim shorts, but only own one pair so I was happy to see these in my trunk! They fit perfectly and are so comfortable. Even though I sometimes think I’m too old for distressed denim, I love them and again, couldn’t say no!
Verdict: KEPT.
KUT from the Kloth Gidget Raw Hem Shorts
I went back and forth on these shorts for awhile. They fit great and I could use white shorts, but overall, I decided that the style isn’t for me. They fit tighter in the thigh area and look more like I took a pair of scissors and cut the legs off of a pair of jeans. I think this is a trendy look right now, but just not for me.
Verdict: RETURNED.
Sanctuary Tie Shoulder Floral Shell
This was another item that was added after I removed a few from my original trunk. I loved this on. It’s really pretty and looked good with a few different bottoms, but it was just a tad too small across the chest area. There are buttons there and they were just popping open a bit.
Sadly, there was no exchange available with this item either.
Verdict: RETURNED.
Sanctuary Peace Released Hem Cargo Pants
These were the last fill-in item. I’m not sure why, but Natalie send a pair 2 sizes bigger than my usual size. The waist was ok, but the rest was huge and baggy and made me look shapeless. The pants hit right at my ankles, so they managed to look too big and too short all at the same time. I also didn’t like the raw hem on this particular pair of pants.
I would love a pair of casual summer pants, but these just weren’t it for me.
Verdict: RETURNED.
TOMS Camilla Sandal
My first impression was that I wasn’t going to like these, but I wanted to try them on before making up my mind.
The fit great and are super comfortable. I love the two-tone strap across the toe area, but don’t like the wide strap and buckle around the ankle.
I tried these with a few outfits and just didn’t think I’d wear them often enough to justify the cost.
Verdict: RETURNED.
Final Thoughts
Overall this was a really fun experience. I loved the quality of the clothing and trying some items that I definitely would not have picked for myself.
I know that leaving thorough feedback will help future trunks fit me and my style even better, but there are also a few other things you can do to help your stylist out.
You can create a Pinterest board and try to keep it up to date. You can also make a Nordstrom wish list! Just let your stylist know if you have either of these before they create your trunk.
You can try Trunk Club by visiting their website and filling out your style survey!
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