Quince Clothing Review 2021

I love good basics, and I especially love good basics done well. Even better if its at a price that doesn’t break the bank, so I’m always on the lookout for new brands which will give my old favourites a run for their money. And when I stumbled across Quince, I *knew* it wouldn’t be long before I ended up with some of their basics in my closet. To get a good measure of the brand, I purchased a few items across their silk, knitwear and accessories collections. And I’ve got some thoughts. So today’s going to be a full on Quince clothing review.

For size reference, I’m 172cm tall, am a small size AU8/US4, and wear a size 26 in jeans.

SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

First thing I wanted to touch on was the shopping experience. As a customer and also a small business owner, this is your first touch point with a new (to you) brand. The website, the ease of purchase, delivery, the works – all these things will factor into whether you’ll be a repeat customer (assuming you like the product). 

Nothing with my orders were awry, and I found the website easy enough to navigate. Though a bugbear of mine was finding many of the items I liked were sold out in all sizes bar one. And from what I’ve read online, this is a common theme. Sizes sell quick so if you see something you like, best to snap it up. They do offer free returns too which is convenient.

With both orders I placed, items shipped out separately. As an international customer, I had to use mail-forwarding to actually get my hands on any Quince items, so this did cause some delays and also add to consolidation fees. No big deal, but something to be mindful of. Shipping is relatively quick, and aside from one late arrival, I received all items within 1 week of purchase.

Overall, no complaints with the shopping experience, though I do wish their website was easier to navigate. With brands that have a more “limited” inventory of items, I like the option to “see all”, rather than browse by category. Now just patiently waiting for them to offer shipping outside of the US so it’s easier to get my hands on.

---

KNITWEAR

---

Quince $50 Mongolian Cashmere Crew | $50.00

Let’s kick off this Quince clothing review by running through one of their most popular staples; the $50 Mongolian Cashmere Crew. This is a staple basic in many wardrobes, and tends to come with a bit of a luxury price tag. Safe to say I was curious to see how this stacked up to my other cashmere knits.

First impressions? It’s soft, but not quite as soft as cashmere crews I have from Everlane, Uniqlo, Mott & Bow, Naadam or J.Crew. The fit is quite nice. As someone with a longer torso, I really appreciate the longer length through the body. The sleeves are on the longer end of the spectrum. You might be able to see in the photo’s that there’s excess fabric bunched around my wrists. I don’t mind this, but it may be a deciding factor if you’re petite. The thickness is pretty standard and on par with my other cashmere sweaters. I’m wearing the size S and it’s a standard relaxed fit.

Overall, it’s a great buy. While it’s not as soft as my other cashmere knits, I think the $50 (USD) price tag more than makes up for it. The more you wear knitwear, the more it softens up too, so over time I don’t even think this would be a consideration. Still floored by how they’ve managed to price it. One worth snapping up if you’re on the hunt for a staple cashmere crew.

Quince Australian Merino Oversized Cardigan | $59.90

My favourite purchase of the lot was this oversized cardigan. I love anything slouchy and cosy, and this is one of those great transitional or layering pieces to have in your closet. It’s a blend of Australian merino wool and cotton, so it feels thick and hefty, and not too delicate. But warm. 

My favourite detail is the cinched in cuff at the wrist. This creates a beautiful bell/balloon shape which makes an otherwise simple staple feel more fun. There’s also two large pockets on either side at the front. Great for slipping your phone/lip balm into, or your hands if you’re a little cold. 

I’m wearing this in the size S and will say it’s a very relaxed fit. If you wanted something a little less oversized you could easily size down one. Quality is great and far exceeded my expectations. 

---

SILK

---

Quince Premium Washable Silk Tank | $39.90

Silk tanks make a great workwear basic – assuming they fit your work’s dress code – so this was one of the first items I added to cart. In black, of course. And I think it’s a nice tank. It’s simple, does what it says on the tin, and isn’t eye-waveringly expensive, either. 

I’m wearing the size S above and would say it’s true to size for a relaxed fit. It’s not double lined, but being black, doesn’t need to be. This has more of a dull sheen compared to the washable stretch silk (see below), which looks more expensive than its $39.90 price tag. It’s not quite as nice as the ones I used to own from Everlane, but the upside is that this silk has been engineered to be hand-washed, so no dry-cleaning involved.

Quince Washable Stretch Silk Cami | $39.90 

Pre-pregnancy, a silk cami was one of my go-to summer staples. I’ve had less excuse to reach for them of late, unless I feel like playing Russian roulette with grubby little fingers. So makes sense that a washable silk cami would appeal to me. The other notable mention? It’s made from a stretch silk. And thing I thought was quite interesting. 

My initial impressions were that it really didn’t hold a candle to my favourite silk camisoles from Grana. Those are double lined and made from a plush washed silk, whereas the Quince version isn’t lined at all and has a slightly shiny appearance. I have to admit, it’s not my favourite. Based on the on-site reviews it looks like the lighter colours may have two layers; great as they’d be needed for modesty!

I went with my usual size S, and it’s a good, relaxed fit. No pulling across the chest, though I tested and there’s a little bit of stretch if needed. The straps are adjustable too, and while the fastening feels a little flimsy, I do appreciate being able to shorten the straps at a pinch if needed.

Quince Washable Stretch Silk Dress | $74.90

Quince’s washable stretch silk dress is made from the same silk fabric as the cami. But for some reason – and I’m wondering if it’s the colour – it just feels more luxurious. Unlike the cami, the dress is double lined at the bust, and there’s a zip closure down the back. It also has the same adjustable straps. Final design detail are the slits at the side. Love this as it makes such a simple piece feel a little more slinky. Again, it also has a slight sheen to the silk.

Overall I’m really pleased with the silk slip dress as a replacement for an older style I’d long parted ways with. I’m wearing the size S here and it’s a relaxed fit, and doesn’t cling to the body anywhere. While there’s some room at the chest, I like that it’s not too boxy there. Means I can comfortably layer a thin knit underneath for the cooler months. 

---

ACCESSORIES

---

Quince Italian Leather Crossbody Bag | $89.90

The final item I added to cart was Quince’s Italian leather crossbody bag. I tend to wear a lot of crossbody’s now, and tend to favour compact styles which will fit all my essentials. This looked to be about right, and I was blown away by the affordable price tag. Also love a good “stamped” mock croc leather; perfect for adding texture to basic outfits. 

I’ve used this bag solidly the past two weeks, and have some serious opinions on it. First, I think that the quality you receive far outweighs the actual price of the bag. The interior is cotton canvas and feels durable, substantial; and the mock croc leather is almost on par with an old Cuyana bag I used to own. The pale gold hardware is probably the only element that brings it down. It feels light and a little cheap, but it’s such a small element that it’s not something I’m bothered by. The zip closure is smooth and easy to open and close. And my gosh is it functional. 

The one thing I don’t like? The strap. It’s only semi-adjustable. Two poppers allow you to add or remove a small amount of length. One thing to keep in mind here is that I’m 172cm – reasonably tall – and I find the strap too long. It hangs around the lower part of my bum/hip, when I’d prefer for it to sit slightly higher on my hip bone. Given it’s a black bag, and the strap is smooth leather, it’d be easy enough to switch with a shorter option already in your closet. 

But otherwise, it’s excellent value for money, and along with their $50 Cashmere Crew, is another piece I’d recommend taking a second look at. Especially as I’ve also heard good things about the pebbled leather version, too.

---

And that wraps up my very first Quince clothing review for 2021. I hope you found this helpful, especially if you’re planning on placing your first order. Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments below!