Subscription Clothes Services

The new clothing subscription I tried out after I put a hold on Stitch Fix has interested many of you and you've asked what I thought.  Here's my honest review.

I joined this group after seeing Katie's order and she told me about it.  It's a Texas based company female owned business called Nadine West.  I was interested when I saw what Katie received. I didn't see the receipt to know what prices were like.  

I felt I'd received all I'd want from Stitch Fix and was ready to try something new.

Here's what I've discovered over the past month with two deliveries.  

Styling Fee:  At Stitch Fix the styling Fee is $20.  At Nadine West the styling fee is $9.98

That styling fee is refundable if you buy an item from Stitch Fix.  I don't believe it is with Nadine West.

For both companies, you can request a different stylist if you're not liking the selections being sent to you.  I adored one stylist I had at Stitch Fix and requested that I be allowed to keep her (that was an option) but she apparently no longer was working with Stitch Fix for the last two shipments.  

Not every stylist is going to 'get' your style profile, nor will their taste be similar enough to yours for it to work.  I highly recommend trying two or three stylists before quitting with any company.

How often you receive a shipment: Stitch Fix options for deliveries are anywhere from every two weeks to once every three months.   At Nadine West you are offered the option of two weeks or one month.  Note h that a Styling Fee is charged as frequently as you receive a shipment.  

Nadine West also charges a $25 replacement insurance fee for each shipment.  Somehow this slipped my radar as I was researching the cost effectiveness of Nadine West compared to Stitch Fix.  I've never had Stitch Fix charge me for anything but the clothing I purchased and the Styling Fee.  

Pricing: from both companies is about similar, though Stitch Fix allows you to choose a price range you'd like to be within.   Most items will fall into that slot with a few extras that don't.  

Number of items per shipment: Stitch Fix usually limits to 5 selections per shipment.  Of course, you can do add ins and such, but they will only send you 5 items that the stylist has chosen for you based on your parameters of style, size, etc.  I chose the lower end of their pricing.  I'm comfortable paying $29-$40 for a top or jeans.  If you buy all the items in a selection, you'll receive an extra 25% off your order plus the styling fee is returned.  That's a substantial little discount and often it's tempting to keep the items you don't want because the discount more than covers their cost.  I could never make myself do that, because I hate the idea of having things I won't wear in my closet (been there), but it was tempting all the same.

Nadine West packs considerably more.  There are usually 4 outfits consisting of a top and bottom or dress or cardigan, plus three pieces of jewelry.  I honestly can't recall if there was a discount for purchasing a full shipment.

Quality:  I want to be tactful here.  I haven't minded paying Stitch Fix prices. If I shopped at most any quality retail store, I'd pay the same price.  I bought my most expensive pair of jeans to date from Stitch Fix, but I'll wear them for years upon years.  Worth every penny.

Nadine West charges about the same price for items as Stitch Fix.  The quality is hit and miss.  Some items, like the pants sent in shipments were really well made and had some quality looking stitching, not to mention some darned cute details.  Tops were the hit and miss part.  Some were not as good quality as I might buy at Walmart. Others felt like they were a higher quality.

The jewelry/accessories offered are not nearly the quality of pieces I'm accustomed to buying.  You know I love my costume jewelry and I often buy it at clearance prices both online and in store.  I wear those pieces for years upon years.  The jewelry was not quality.  It looked and felt cheap.  The cost of it however was high, averaging $30 -$40 per piece.  

Stitch Fix does have accessories as well, but they are generally add-on items that the customer chooses.  I've never held any item so can't tell you the quality, but their pricing is equal to Nadine West.

Sizing:  I wear a 2x bottom and range from a 18-20 to 2x top, depending on how the manufacturer's sizing runs.  I've had one item from Stitch Fix that was just plain too big.  I really liked that top, too but I ended up passing it to Katie who has broader shoulders and a bigger bustline than I do.  It looked better on her.

I've never returned anything because it didn't fit at Stitch Fix.

With Nadine West, the 2X definitely is NOT a 2X.  My first order was mistakenly sent as all size small items.  This second order all was clearly marked a 2X, but I doubt the pants would fit anyone over a size 12.  I tried on the items I thought I would wear and only 1 item fit fairly well.  The rest were too small.  When I mentioned this to Katie yesterday afternoon, she reported to me that the 3X were not 3X either. 

Wearability: By this I mean how the product holds up for washing, wear, etc.  The items I've purchased from Stitch Fix have not shrunk despite the fact that for months my washing machine would only wash in the hottest of hot water.  That's since been fixed, but again, no shrinking occurred.  I haven't noticed tops or sweaters pilling.  

I don't honestly know how Nadine West selections hold up.  I've kept nothing from two shipments though I did come close to keeping one top.  

Return Shipping:  Both companies offer free return shipping.  Stitch Fix includes an addressed postage paid envelope in each package.

Nadine West has a pink packaging that is recyclable.  Your items arrive in that bag.  There is a label attached to the pricing information and stylist's notes to you in each package.  You attach it to that same pink envelope and then reseal and return. 

Customer service:  I have never dealt with customer service at Stitch Fix.  The site is easily navigated.  You use the site to leave messages for your stylists, set your style profile etc.

At Nadine West you also use the site to set up the style profile, frequency of deliveries etc, but you do have an email option to contact the company.  They always respond within 24 hours and often within a couple of hours (not including holidays).  This company has worked to try and resolve issues and I was impressed by that.

Final thoughts:  I didn't cancel my subscription from Stitch Fix, but I did put a hold on the shipments until further notice.  I pay no charges while the account is on hold.

But after a break, I think I'm going back and will increase the frequency of shipments during these warm months because I need something more for summer.  I hate shopping. I love having someone send me items and I pick or return.  I'm less overwhelmed and less likely to buy what's cheap because it's cheap even if what I LOVE costs more.  I am getting more mileage from my wardrobe because I like what I keep.

The other advantage with Stitch Fix is the styling suggestions for each piece often corresponds with something I've received or have already to complete an outfit.  I like that, too, about Stitch Fix.  

I cancelled my subscription to Nadine West this week.  My reasons were simple. This service was going to cost me something each month, whether I bought or not. Given that I have no clue if I could even wear a 3X from this company, I hate to pay somebody just so I can pack everything up and return it.  I've got better things to do with my money. 

If I do buy, then I've got an increased cost for the item.  I liked the one blouse in that second shipment and it more or less fit.  It was $39 but adding in $10 for a styling fee and $25 for insurance recovery fee...No.  That blouse would end costing me $74.  It wasn't worth that price.   

I think Nadine West is worth a try if you are aware of all the information I've just given and wear smaller sizes.  You can't beat the customer service and attention this company pays their customers.  I've received phone calls and emails keeping me updated, telling me how much they appreciated my being a customer, etc.  When I cancelled, I was asked if I wanted to try a new stylist or just put the account on hold for two months.  I appreciated being given those options but due to the sizing issues I had I didn't think either approach was going to work for me and asked they cancel.  And before 24 hours were up, it was.  I received an email telling me the account was cancelled.  

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