A few days ago, I had the opportunity to try out Trunk Club’s newest offering, their women’s styling service. I was already familiar with the company which has a brick and mortar location in Chicago (and also currently in New York, D.C., Los Angeles, and Dallas). Fun fact, years ago I actually interviewed for a job there as a stylist, but since I had a little one, the retail working hours didn’t really fit my schedule so I couldn’t move forward past my preliminary interview. But I left the facility thoroughly impressed with both the company and the people I met with. I knew it was inevitable they would open a women’s service, since women are just as busy as men, and even more so if you think of all the working moms out there. The trunk service idea is great because it isn’t always feasible to spend an afternoon out shopping, but trying on clothes on your own time in the comfort of your home is totally doable.
If you do go in though, expect a relaxing and fun experience. The cool open loft space in Chicago includes a bar along one wall the size of a city block, where you can order a cool beverage while checking out the pieces your stylist has pulled for you.
I was swamped with both work and mommy duties this week and I didn’t have time to go in to visit with my stylist Elena. So instead, we had a quick phone conversation about my style preference, sizing, and what I was interested in receiving in my first trunk. It was really fun to let someone else pick out things for me, since I am always doing that for myself and others. I told Elena I was really into 70’s inspired styles, classic pieces, and I really wanted to update my accessories with shoes and sunglasses. I was able to preview my trunk online before it was shipped, so that I could remove any items I knew I wouldn’t want. Elena advised me to keep an open mind though, because I may actually like something after trying it on.
When I received my trunk, I was surprised just how much was packed in it! 17 pieces to be exact, including clothing, shoes, and accessories. I pulled everything out and hung it on my clothing rack in my home office and had a little dress up session.
There were some classic pieces like a beautiful silk blouse by Helmut Lang, and a really great leather jacket by Vince which had a really interesting shape when I tried it on. I was also happily surprised by some of the denim pieces Elena packed for me, like Frame denim flare jeans and an oversized denim jacket by Current/Elliott that I wouldn’t have thought I would love so much.
I mentioned I was in the market for a new platform sandal, and the Stuart Weitzman pair were my favorite, though the DVF clog sandal was a really fun pick too. The two sandals pretty much worked with all of the pieces in the trunk, a testament to the skill of my Stylist no doubt.
Here are some of my favorite full looks:
After I selected the pieces I wished to keep, I put the rest of the items back in the trunk, attached the return label, and scheduled a UPS pickup from my home. It was a really easy and fun experience overall. The biggest advantage of using this service is really to save time and reduce the stress that is involved with figuring out what to wear. For those who aren’t sartorially inclined themselves, having an expert on hand selecting items for you (free of charge) is invaluable. Even for someone like me who could be considered fashion savvy, it was really cool to see what a professional Stylist would recommend for me.
The price point is on par with what you may find at Nordstrom for labels like Rag & Bone, Vince, and Joie, which makes sense as they are now actually a part of Nordstrom. I didn’t feel any pressure to buy anything, but full disclosure, I did end up buying things I probably wouldn’t have, after trying them on and falling in love. If you are looking to do a complete closet refresh, update your wardrobe seasonally, or just get a perfect outfit for a special event, I’d suggest giving Trunk Club a try. And while you are at it, ask for my girl Elena!
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