July Trunk Club Review

After receiving an all-denim shipment from Trunk Club a few months ago, I was eager to use the service in a more traditional way. I messaged my stylist Makenzie and requested my second trunk. I didn’t have any particular clothing needs in mind. Instead, I asked for casual summer pieces and a few nicer pieces. This was a mixed experience with a lot of highs and just as many lows. I even ditched my entire trunk at one point. The flexibility and access to my stylist is one of the things I love about Trunk Club. I’ll fill you in on all of the details for my July Trunk Club review.

This post contains affiliate links as well as my Trunk Club referral link. I receive a small commission for any items purchased through one of our affiliate links, which helps to support the blog. I also receive Trunk Club credit for anyone who signs up for the service using my link. If you become Trunk Club member, you will also receive a personal referral link that you can share with your friends to earn credit too.

 

How Trunk Club Works

You can read more about the Trunk Club experience in my all-denim Trunk Club blog post. But here are the basics of how this service works.

1. It’s free to create a Trunk Club account. Once you create an account, you will be prompted to enter your sizes and answer a few questions about your personal style.
2. Whenever you are ready, you can set up your first trunk. You’ll be matched with a stylist who will email you a preview of your trunk. This is the really helpful part. You can message your stylist at any point along the way. You can even call her on the phone!
3. If there are any items included in the list that you don’t like, you can choose to have those items removed from your trunk. Just give feedback about why you don’t like those pieces and your stylist will add other items instead. If you dislike all of the items in your trunk, you can choose to decline the trunk.
4. Your stylist will ship the trunk free of charge (more on that in a minute). Once the items arrive, you have 10 days to try them on at home. Keep the items you love, check out online and return anything else via UPS. You can drop the items off at UPS or schedule a pickup from your house. Returns are free!
5. Trunk Club has a partnership with Nordstrom. All items you receive in your trunk are from Nordstrom and if anything from your trunk is on sale at the time of checkout, the savings are passed on to you.
6. A note about fees: Your stylist will arrange and send a trunk free of charge, but you will be charged a one-time $100 fee at the time of your first trunk shipment. The $100 becomes Trunk Club credit that will be put toward anything you purchase from your current or future trunks. The money is essentially yours to spend within Trunk Club and you only have to pay that fee at the time of your very first trunk. There are no other fees associated with Trunk Club. It’s completely free to message your stylist or receive trunks. Shipping and returns are also free.

 

Previewing My Trunk

For me, this was the trunk that almost wasn’t. My stylist Makenzie sent a preview of my trunk and there were very few items that appealed to me. I found myself clicking the “don’t send” button on so many items, I decided to just decline the entire trunk.

Makenzie saw that I had canceled my Trunk Club shipment and emailed me later that day. She wanted to know what was wrong and how she could understand my style a little better. We spoke on the phone and she had a lot of very specific questions about styles I like, colors I love, and what type of items I absolutely do not like.

She set up a new trunk and we decided to take it from there. I declined a few pieces that didn’t fit my style and was curious to see how Makenzie’s selections would work out.

I was shocked by the giant cardboard trunk that finally arrived at my door with 15 items inside. Feeling slightly overwhelmed by it all, I did what any millennial blogger would do and aired a video on Facebook live. I shared all of my first impressions and thoughts on each item in my trunk. You can check out that Facebook video here. Thanks so much to everyone who watched and commented on that video. I decided to blog about this trunk because of all your sweet and helpful comments!

 

July Trunk Club Review

You probably figured this out from the video, but I wasn’t too sure how many of these items would suit my personal style. There was only one way to find out, so I picked up the camera, grabbed the pile of clothes, and stepped in front of the mirror. I’ll show you how it all turned out.

 

V-Neck Camisole from Topshop

I grabbed the olive Topshop tank and the 7 for all Mankind boyfriend jeans and tried them on. I’ll admit that I was very skeptical of the olive tank top. The fabric was a little too see-through for my taste and the straps felt a little skimpy on top. (It is a camisole, after all). Despite my hesitation, I kind of fell in love with the simple tank. It fit well and had the most flattering drape for my figure. Suddenly, I had all the right kind of curves.

I styled the camisole with a basic gold necklace (similar) and pair of coordinating earrings (similar). I also added a few gold bracelets (similar).

 

The blouse was very affordable and certainly looked great on, but it wasn’t quite me. It wasn’t quite conservative enough for my taste, but I had a blast trying it on.

“Josefina” Boyfriend Jeans from 7 for All Mankind

The “Josefina” boyfriend jeans were another excellent item that arrived in my trunk. I have tried on boyfriend jeans in the past to discover that they were too baggy on me. The feminine cut of this particular pair were a great spin on the traditional boyfriend style with a much better fit. They were more casual than my other cropped pants, but looked great with a pair of heels.

I adored these jeans and was pretty sure that I would be keeping them. Then, after working on this post and gathering all of the information about each piece, I noticed the price tag: $189. Admittedly, I earned a little Trunk Club credit from my previous blog post, but spending $200 on a pair of jeans isn’t exactly my style. I begrudgingly decided to send these back, but I sure did have a lot of fun wearing them while I took these photos.

“Drea” Peep Toe Leather Sandal from Hinge

Now that we’ve got the expensive jeans out of the way, let’s talk for a minute about the “Drea” leather sandals that Makenzie included in my trunk. I’ve been eager to try on a strappy sandal with a stacked heel. They are sort of the warm weather version of the bootie trend that I finally embraced this winter. Much like the booties, these shoes aren’t in my comfort zone, but I have been wanting to give it a try.

Unfortunately, this particular pair of shoes didn’t suit my taste at all. They were a little bit too bulky and not particularly feminine. They were definitely getting returned.

The “Drea” peep toe sandals may not have worked for me, but they were unbelievably comfortable. The leather straps were really, really supple and I can’t imagine that they would ever create a blister. And the sole of the shoe had a really great cushion that truly felt as though I were walking on air. If they had fit my personal style, I would have bought them in an instant.

 

Short Sleeve Lace Top from Hinge

Not gonna lie, I was curious about the short sleeve lace top Makenzie sent in my trunk from the moment I laid eyes on it. I love, love, love anything soft and feminine right now, so I played up the girlie details with a rose quartz Kendra Scott Rayne necklace and an irridescent drusy Elisa necklace. I also wore a pretty gold cuff from Charming Charlie (similar).

The lace detail on the top was absolutely stunning and just my style.

It also happened to look great with those pricey boyfriend jeans.

 

“Sandria” Peep Toe Ghillie Sandal from Vince Camuto

I also had a little fun with my footwear and tried on the “Sandria” peep toe Ghillie sandal from Vince Camuto that Makenzie included in my trunk. I knew right away that these shoes were a little too fancy for my taste. The heels were high and they had so many straps. Even though I knew I probably wouldn’t be keeping these shoes, I was excited to try them on.

The “Sandra” peep toe Ghillie sandals looked beautiful on their own and were especially perfect with the jeans and lace top. They were also very tight and uncomfortable. I felt like Cinderella’s step-sister trying to squeeze my feet into those shoes. Wearing them for a few minutes while I snapped a few photos was one thing, but my poor feet could never stand to wear them out in the world. But I could keep them on for a few more minutes while I tried on a poncho …

Cross Stitch Geo Print Poncho from Hinge

I don’t really wear Aztec anything and ponchos aren’t huge pieces in my wardrobe either. Which is why I hesitated when I saw that Makenzie sent an Aztec-print poncho my way. It wasn’t exactly my jam. My small-ish frame tends to get lost and overpowered in baggy clothes. Even though the poncho wasn’t really my style, I enjoyed trying it on and can see why it would make someone very happy to add to their closet. The poncho looked great with the boyfriend jeans and the Vince Camuto heeled sandals. And my slate gray Kendra Scott Rayne necklace was the perfect accessory to complete the look.

 

Nordstrom Brand Sheer Cover Up

Makenzie also included a teal “sheer cover up” in my trunk that was intended to be worn as a swimsuit cover up. The cut and style of the cover up were so similar to the kimonos that everyone seems to own these days so I mixed things up and tried it on as a kimono. It wasn’t bad, but again … too baggy for my taste. I just can’t seem to bring myself to embrace the kimono trend either.

The sheer cover up also looked great with my slate gray Kendra Scott Rayne necklace and silver Kate Spade watch. I also tried them on with a pair of Dream Pairs v-strap gladiator sandals.

More on those in a minute …

 

“Sutton” Slingback Mule from Caslon

A pair of white slingback mules was also in my trunk this month. Admittedly, I’ve been hunting for a new pair of white sandals. But these did not fit the bill. They were a little too clunky for my taste. In case you’re wondering, they were very comfortable. I know many other women could totally rock the “Sutton” slingback mule. I am not one of those women.

 

Three Quarter Sleeve Cardigan from Halogen

I wear cardigans often (even in the summer months) and I’m always searching for a great cardigan to add to my closet. Makenzie knew this from our phone conversation, so she included a blue geometric print cardigan in my July Trunk Club box. At first glance, I wasn’t really a fan of the sweater. The geometric print didn’t quite fit my style and the sweater was a little more fitted than what I usually go for. But I tried it on and hoped for the best!

I styled the sweater with the boyfriend jeans, my gray Kendra Scott Rayne necklace and my white mother of pearl Elisa necklace from Kendra Scott. I also wore my silver Kate Spade watch.

 

I must admit, the outfit was pretty on-point. It was casual enough to wear on the weekends, yet it still looked like I put a little extra thought into my appearance.

I tried on the white Dream Pairs sandals I had purchased from Amazon. I was intrigued because they were Dream Pairs brand (which also made the gray booties I fell in love with earlier this year) and this pair of $20 sandals was very similar to the much more expensive Dolce Vita sandals I had been eyeing at Nordstrom. I ultimately decided to return the shoes because they were a little too big around my ankles, but they were a great bargain. 

 

“Perforated Leo” Leather Clutch from Rebecca Minkoff

Makenzie also included a Rebecca Minkoff clutch in my trunk.  I kind of fell in love with it. The light blue color also happens to perfectly match the Kaleia Maxi Dress from Stitch Fix that I received last month.

My jaw dropped when I saw that the clutch was priced at $128, but I own very few small handbags and it’s a rare moment when one comes my way that I absolutely love. I decided to splurge and buy the Perforated Leo clutch because I know I’ll get a lot of use out of it. I’m pretty sure it will become my go-to bag for a night on the town.

 

Drawstring Waist Maxi Dress from Caslon

I’ve been looking to build my collection of comfortable and versatile maxi dresses so I was really excited to see a basic black Drawstring Waist Maxi Dress from Caslon in my July Trunk Club shipment. The thicker straps fit my conservative style and the dress could easily be dressed up or down with a change of shoes and accessories.

This dress also happened to be a perfect fit. There was just one problem. It was a few inches shorter than I like my maxi dresses. I’ve been spoiled by Stitch Fix because most of their dresses are too long and I get them hemmed to a length that just barely grazes the floor.

 

With a price tag of $78, I couldn’t help but compare it to the $30 gray maxi dress I picked up at TJMaxx a few weeks ago. That dress had pockets and more draping than this basic black dress. There wasn’t anything wrong with the black dress, but I realized I didn’t love it as much as I should. So, off it went, back to Trunk Club.

Belted Print Chiffon Maxi Dress from ElizaJ

Makenzie also included the most beautiful blue floral print chiffon dress in my trunk. I have zero formal events on my calendar this summer, so I already was pretty certain this dress wouldn’t be a keeper, but oh my word was it beautiful!

The chiffon pleats gave the dress so much movement and body. It was really quite stunning. I styled the dress with the Nadri necklace, earrings, and bracelet I wore to my wedding. I am always happy to have an excuse to wear anything from my wedding day.

 

Needless to say, I returned the chiffon dress. If you are lucky enough to have a special event this summer that you need a new dress for, consider this dress. It really was gorgeous and was quite comfortable too.

Distressed Cuffed Crop Jeans from Caslon

The very last item I tried on was the pair of Distressed Cuffed Crop Jeans from Caslon. I had tried on a few other strange items Makenzie had sent my way in the middle of of this little photo shoot (both of which looked pretty terrible on me). Begrudgingly, I decided to embrace the spirit of the hand-picked styled clothes and put on the distressed jeans.The cuffed jeans were the 15th item and I had no desire to put them on. I thought they looked huge and would be ridiculous on me.

Which is why I couldn’t believe it when I fell in love with them.

I loved the lace top so much, I put it on with the jeans and the combination of the ultra-feminine lace and edgy distressed denim just kind of worked. And the flared leg, ultra wide cuff just worked to rock the look a little more. I added a bargain statement necklace and nude patent leather pair of heels (similar) to complete the look.

I adored the pants and loved the entire outfit, but the cuffed jeans were just a little too big on me. Trunk Club does try to accommodate size exchanges, but I wasn’t certain how much to size down with the jeans. I sent them back with a note that I loved them but they were too big so I would love to see a smaller size included in my next trunk.

 

What I Kept and Returned from my July Trunk

And there you have it! All fifteen items that arrived in my July Trunk Club box. I realize it was a pretty long list, so here is the condensed version of what I decide to keep and return from my trunk.

Topshop V-Neck Camisole, $28: return
7 for All Mankind “Josefina” Boyfriend Jeans, $198: return
Hinge “Drea” Peep Toe Leather Sandal, $89.95: return
Hinge Short Sleeve Lace Tee, $78: KEEP
Vince Camuto “Sandria” Peep Toe Ghillie Sandal, $128.95: return
Hinge Cross Stitch Geo Print Poncho, $48: return
Nordstrom Sheer Cover-Up, $28: return
Caslon “Sutton” Slingback Mule, $89.95: return
Halogen Three Quarter Sleeve Cardigan, $46: return
Rebecca Minkoff “Perforated Leo” Leather Clutch, $125: KEEP
Caslon Drawstring Waist Maxi Dress, $68: return
Eliza J Belted Print Chiffon Maxi Dress, $158: return
Caslon Distressed Cuffed Crop Jeans, $79: return
Splendid V-Neck High/Low Tee, $84: return
BLANKNYC “Reasonable Doubt” Sleeveless Woven Shirt, $88: return

 

My Final Thoughts about this Trunk

This wasn’t exactly a perfect trunk to suit my taste. Some items were too expensive, others weren’t quite my style and a few were just plain strange. But the Trunk Club experience wasn’t a waste. I kept a beautiful lace blouse and envelope clutch that I intend to get a lot of use of in the coming months.

My stylist Makenzie is still learning my style and that’s ok. I don’t hold any of this against her and I probably will schedule another trunk in the coming months. Next time around, I will be sure to ask for lower priced items and I’ll also request fewer pieces to be sent my way – 15 items was really overwhelming to try on!

If you’re too busy to buy clothes at the store and you want to try a new personal shopping service, give Trunk Club a try. The Nordstrom Anniversary sale starts on Friday and Trunk Club passes any Nordstrom sale prices along to you. It’s the perfect time to give Trunk Club a try!