Since I’ve posted reviews of Men’s Style Lab and Trunk Club, the most frequent question I’ve gotten is which service should I try first?Â
The services are more alike than they are different. Which is right for you? It depends on your needs and your price point.
Both services use the same model: customers fill out a style survey and specify their needs. 5-10 days later a shipment of custom-selected clothing arrives on their doorstep. Customers keep what they like and return what they don’t. Shipping is free both ways.
Both services feature the following:
• Your stylist uses your completed style survey to provide a highly customized experience.
• You set your own price guidelines.
• Trunk Club is not a subscription service: you can request a trunk at any time. Men’s Style Lab now offers subscription options. You can order a box anytime you want, but they also 30/60/90 day options so you don’t have to think about it anymore. (“Your style on autopilot.”)
• You pay only for what you keep; there are no minimum purchase requirements.
Trunk Club and Men’s Style Lab have a similar feel. The key difference between the two services is pricing.
Trunk Club pricing
Trunk Club offers investment-level clothing at investment-level prices (comparable to Neiman Marcus or the high-end brands at Nordstrom). At this time, Trunk Club carries over 70 brands, such as A.G., Rag & Bone, Theory, Ferragamo, and Eton. Jeans are $170-$250 a pair, casual shirts are $100-$200 each, and sweaters are $100-$300 each.
Men’s Style Lab pricing
Men’s Style Lab has called itself “Trunk Club for everyone else.” They carry everything but suits (including shoes and accessories) at prices comparable to J. Crew or Banana Republic. Brands include Ben Sherman, Fossil, Original Penguin, 7 Diamonds, JACHS, Scotch & Soda, and Florsheim. Casual shirts are $55-$99 each, sweaters are $70-$130 each, and slacks are $68-$128 each. Men’s Style Lab is also known for their stylish socks, which run about $12 a pair.
Men’s Style Lab offers a 25% discount if you keep everything in your shipment. They also offer periodic promotions and special offers.
(Note: at this time, Ben Sherman is the only brand carried by both services.)
The bottom line
If you need top-of-the-line clothing and don’t mind paying top-of-the-line prices, start with Trunk Club. They carry beautifully made, expertly tailored items that are out of MSL’s league (and price range).
If you need business casual or casual attire at Banana Republic prices, go with Men’s Style Lab. Sign up here, and use the code MRSDARCY25 to get $25 off your first style upgrade.
If you enjoy the experience, it can’t hurt to try both. My husband (who is definitely an “everyday guy,” wardrobe-wise) owns and loves items from both companies.
