Road Test: I paid an online styling service to send me a mystery box of clothes worth $1400

“As a seasoned shopper, I was sceptical that the style I spent decades cultivating could be captured so quickly.”

I will be the first to admit that I don’t usually need help in the clothes department. It would, in fact, not be a stretch to call me a sartorial obsessive, a fashion tragic of the first order who finds it nigh impossible to walk past any sort of beautiful… anything, really. 

Many of my friends, however, struggle to define their style, to find time to shop or even to part with their hard-earned money (I know, right). So when one of my close mates told me she’d recently used the online stylist service Threadicated to help her find some new items for the upcoming season, I was intrigued.

For more fashion news, shoots, articles and features, head to our Fashion section.

Who were these people, and could they really pick the perfect five items of clothing based on a few pages of questionnaires? As a seasoned shopper, I was sceptical that the style I spent decades cultivating could be captured so quickly. But, in the interest of fashion science, I decided to give it a go.

The process

Threadicated is a pretty simple process. You sign up normally, and then you’re asked to complete the style quiz, which includes questions like ‘Is this your style?’ featuring a few pages of images of women dressed in different ways and followed by even more looks for you to choose from. 

You’re then taken to the budget section, which asks you how much on average you spend on each piece (I will not answer this publicly lest this article finds its way to my boyfriend). Next is the size chart, which asks for your shirt and blouse size, bottoms, bra strap, cup size and shoe size. You can also include your social media accounts to give the stylist a better sense of your aesthetic.

As a new(ish) mum, I’ve undergone a bit of metamorphosis when it comes to sizes, fits and styles (and practicalities – sadly, my closet has fewer silks in it these days) over the last 18 months, suffering particularly in the jeans department. 

It doesn’t help that I’m short and full length for me means way too long, so I thought it would be helpful for the stylist to know this. I’m also already confident in what I like. I suspect knowing all this, the additional comments I left on my questionnaire were more guided than usual and I opted to include links to my Instagram account, which chronicles my outfits over the week. 

Finally, once you have completed the quiz, you’re asked to select the maximum amount you want to pay for five pieces. At this point, you place your order and only pay the $79 styling fee. The stylist will then pick five items of clothing priced according to the budget you selected (ranging from $400 to $1900) and send them out after you’ve paid. From then it usually takes a week or so for the parcel to arrive, with all clothes refundable and exchangeable. 

The results

After some technical issues (my login wouldn’t work, but I was told that was unusual), my quiz was evaluated and a stylist, Victoria, was tasked with selecting my five pieces to suit a budget of $1400. I received my package earlier than anticipated and let me tell you, the rush of seeing that big square box upon my arrival from work was the most exciting thing to happen to me in ages. 

To be honest, my expectations were low: how can someone get a measure of a person’s style without ever seeing them or speaking to them? But when I ripped open the box, I was very pleasantly surprised. 

The first item was a pair of high-waisted, stripey Luna Jeans by Lover, something I would never have picked out but which fit perfectly and looked great. The second item, the stunning cream Rainham Top by Acler, was resplendent in all of its square-necked, puffy-sleeved, corseted glory. 

Then came the Bassike Drapey Rip Off-Shoulder Longsleeve Top, a black, cotton-elastane number with an in-built belt, a pair of leather-look Coated Straight Jeans in black from Witchery and, finally, a cobalt blue, silky long dress from Bul, the Heden Midi Dress. The clothes were accompanied by a helpful two-page letter describing each item and offering suggestions about how to style them. 

The next day, I commandeered my boyfriend into taking photos of me, dressed in different clothing combinations. Aside from being terrified I would stain them, I thoroughly enjoyed playing with the combos and thought there was a fair bit of variety.  

The only issue was sizing. I am in between sizes and without trying clothes on, it is difficult to figure out which size suits what. The sizing variation between the brands didn’t help. Although both pants were a size 10 the Witchery jeans were far too big, while the Lover jeans were perfect – not too small, not too big. 

The tops, both size eights, were either too big or too small, and the dress was a little too large. I ended up keeping both pairs of pants (albeit I will be exchanging the Witchery ones for a smaller size). My biggest surprise was how much I liked that pair. I’d forgotten about Witchery and have often dismissed it as too corporate, so the stylist’s choice served as a nice reminder to not write off any brand just yet. 

The verdict

Overall, I was thoroughly impressed by the choices and would have happily kept most of the clothes if it weren’t for the fact that I already have a similar white top to the Acler number and that a blue silky dress just doesn’t quite mix with a dirty little baby.

To find out more about Threadicated, head here.