The brand “Quince” is popping up on social media as the new name for “affordable luxury.” But does it live up to the hype? That’s what I, Cassandra Sethi, professional stylist and Next Level Wardrobe founder, wanted to know.
So welcome to my Quince Review: stylist’s edition.
I’ve worked in the fashion industry for over 20 years. I started in the buying world, eventually creating SoulCycle and Equinox’s retail businesses, before striking out on my own. Now, it’s my job to help professionals at any life stage figure out how to dress for success.
I work with clients of all shapes and sizes, so understanding how clothing should fit is my bread and butter. Plus, with my experience in the fashion industry, I know the ins and outs of quality fabrication and retail tricks.
That’s the lens through which I conducted my 100% honest, non-sponsored review of Quince.
I’m not just giving you my first impressions, either.
I’m trying on, washing, and wearing each piece I purchased from Quince to give you the full rundown. Many people don’t go the extra mile to do a wash-and-wear test, but in my work, it’s so important to launder items to see how they’ll realistically be worn in daily life.
In this Quince review, I try out five products and discuss their style, quality, and fit. Watch the full review above or read my highlights below!
What is Quince?
Quince is a direct-to-consumer clothing and accessory brand that claims to offer “affordable luxury” products. The brand does this by cutting out the middleman and delivering products directly to the consumer.
They work directly with factories and focus on sustainable, luxe basics such as silk blouses, cashmere sweaters, and leather accessories. They claim to use ethical production practices, such as fair wages and eco-friendly materials.
Looking at other Quince reviews online, I saw that many buyers felt the pieces were more affordable than true luxury items. But I didn’t see industry experts weighing in on how high quality the items actually were.
So, let’s see if the products are as high quality as they advertise.
What Did I Try From Quince?
Quince emphasizes classic, well-made basics, which I frequently recommend to my clients. For my Quince clothing review, I decided to try out a variety of pieces from their collection, including their:
- 100% Organic Cotton Fisherman Crew Sweater
- 100% European Linen Button Front Dress
- Cotton Modal Muscle Tank
- 100% European Linen Pants
- Washable Stretch Silk Notch Collar Blouse
What Did I Think of Quince’s Style?
Let’s talk about first impressions.
Overall, Quince had some solid style points. They’re good staple pieces that feel up-to-date. Their pieces are NOT show-stopping by any means. This is not the brand to turn to for “wow” items.
But that’s not what they claim to be.
They’re good basics that get the job done with staple designs. I agree with other Quince.com reviews on this point.
Another point I’ll give them is that they did keep comfort in mind, at least from an initial look at the clothing labels. Most of their designs have elastic or spandex to add some stretch and comfortability.
Are Quince’s Clothing High Quality?
No, I wouldn’t call Quince high-quality.
For a company that bills itself as offering affordable luxury, I was missing the luxury part. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying they’re Shein-level or even bad quality. They just felt sort of cheap.
If you watch the full review, you’ll see that some pieces were a bit see-through. The piece that gave me the biggest issue was the linen pants. Initially, I reacted positively when trying them on, but the cut corners became apparent after a couple of hours of wear. The fabric loosened up and started to itch.
European Linen Pant Navy- Small
When shopping for workwear, I need items that feel good throughout the day. I don’t want to be distracted by scratchy fabric or worrying about my undergarments showing through.
How Do Items From Quince Fit?
Fit was a mixed bag for me.
A few items fit okay, like the linen button-front dress. I liked the tie-waist, which defined my figure; the length was great for my height (5’6”).
Light Cargo Dress- Olive- Medium (small if it runs big)
However, I had issues with items like the blouse and tank. Some sleeves were tighter than normal, and the tank tops puckered around my armpits. If you see puckering like I experienced in the video, that’s a sign of excess fabrics.
Silk Blouse in Chocolate- Small
Generally, I’d say that Quince has a sizing consistency problem. This means that even though I ordered multiple items of the same size (Small), they all fit differently. This makes it difficult to get your perfect fit, which isn’t ideal for any retailer, let alone an online-only seller.
Quince Review: How Does It Wash?
When I’m testing out new brands for my clients, I must see how they wash. It’s not enough to have a piece that looks nice while wearing it in the store; you want to know how it’ll hold up in the wash.
Proper garment care is essential to me, so I followed the instructions on each item’s tag. Surprisingly, all the pieces I ordered were labeled “machine wash” and “dry safe.” I had some hesitations, especially around the sweater. Usually, knits don’t do that well on a regular wash and dry cycle. But, for consistency’s sake, I followed their instructions exactly.
The result?
The fabrics became softer, a plus on the comfort side, but the pieces shrank slightly. Not a huge surprise, but definitely not ideal. If you do purchase items from Quince, I recommend skipping the dryer.
Would I Recommend Quince?
The short answer is no.
As a personal stylist with extensive experience across various styles and brands, I have a set of standards I need my clothing to meet. I’ve seen the best of the best, the worst of the worst, and everything in between.
In my opinion, Quince is no different from H&M and Zara. It’s fast fashion billing itself as more elevated than it is. I’d even venture to say that you can get better quality items for this price point elsewhere.
To be fair, I can’t say I was shocked. The brand says it’s bringing products at an affordable price to its consumers. So, I expected they’d find ways to cut the garment’s makeup and production costs. This means thinner fabrics, lining inconsistencies, button designs, etc.
That said, there’s one exception to my “Not recommended” stance: if you’re going through body changes or transitions. If you’re gaining or losing weight and going through that “in-between” phase, this could be a good way to fill the gaps in your wardrobe until you’re at a more stable size.
Don’t forget to watch my full Quince review for my in-depth thoughts as a Stylist on each piece. Leave a comment on which brand you want me to review next!
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