Like many teens, I had an off and on relationship with my dad. He was a stern (and I thought) unreasonable disciplinarian. Looking back a few decades later, that was probably not true … but he sure seemed tough!
He had strong Germanic genes and brooked little nonsense. He had a limited sense of humor, but he taught me to live so that my children can hopefully be as proud of their dad as I am of mine. I have seen him anonymously give bags of mens' clothing from his store to victims of house fires. He helped many families get over the floods common to Marietta back then.
The closest to a sense of humor was his attitude about my political stance. He was a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat who, I am sure, voted a straight ticket. By the time I was old enough to register, I was doing as much different from my dad as possible. Therefore, I signed up to be a Republican … just showing some independence. I couldn't wait to get home and announce my decision. To my dismay, he said not a word, but on the day of every election he would call me to announce, "I just cancelled your vote!"
I worked in his men's store in Marietta all through my school years and after. He was a tough boss, too. I was pretty sure I had done little right as an employee. In 1963, he surprised me by saying he wanted to open a new store in Cambridge … and he wanted me to manage it! It was the most overwhelming moment of my life. I was 22 years old and hardly felt eligible. I asked him if he was sure.
"You've learned the business better than any of our employees, in fact, better than any I've ever had." He walked away. I am sure it was an emotional moment for him, too.
After he retired, I often went to him for advice about many aspects of the business. His answer was usually, "You're in charge. I feel sure you'll make the right decision."
Dad stayed active in many ways. He lived in a condo on the Ohio River and took charge of lawn maintenance for all nine units. He did the maintenance at the Marietta Boat Club for many years, even after selling his last boat. He lived until age 95. He had a good life.
NEW YORK, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Peerless Clothing International will donate $1M worth of new tailored clothing this June from their portfolio of renowned brands to help men prepare to get back to work. Now more than ever, with tens of millions unemployed due to the coronavirus pandemic, men are looking for ways to stand out as they seek to re-enter the workforce. Peerless Chairman and CEO, Alvin Segal, believes wearing tailored clothing will help them look and feel their best at this critical time.
Partnering with the nonprofits Career Gear and Delivering Good, Peerless will distribute the clothing to men and youth in need. "We want to give men a renewed sense of confidence when they walk into job interviews, either in person or via video calls," says Peerless president, John Tighe.
Career Gear, which serves approximately 2,000 men annually, will initially focus on Bronx Community College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY). According to Paul Kim, Co-Chair of Career Gear's board, "The communities that we serve, particularly men of color, are facing unprecedented socio-economic challenges. We are grateful that Peerless is partnering with us to make a positive impact during this time."
Lisa Gurwitch, President and CEO of Delivering Good, notes, "Many people are facing the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, especially people already in vulnerable circumstances in urban communities. We are working diligently to help individuals recover from the economic impact of COVID-19 through our community partners. A new suit, coat, or even a pair of socks, can mean so much."
Peerless Clothing International is the largest producer of men's and boy's tailored clothing in North America, supplying most major department and specialty stores in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Visit PeerlessClothing for details.
By supporting the national charity Delivering Good, you are helping families and individuals around the US impacted by COVID-19, including those facing poverty, homelessness, and job loss. Learn more at www.Delivering-Good.org
Career Gear empowers men of all ages to look and feel their best in their journey to improve their lives, families, and communities. Career Gear
Shopping for clothes has never been easier thanks to the convenience of online styling and subscription services. Especially when you can't go into stores, clothing subscription boxes are entirely virtual and everything gets sent directly to your home. Whether you want to save time, save money, or try out new styles, there's truly something for everyone. The problem is there are so many options to choose from, so it's hard to know which clothing subscription box is best for you.
The Good Housekeeping Textiles Lab, along with our Style Director, reviewed dozens of clothing subscription boxes, from monthly rentals to personal styling services where you buy the clothing. Our staffers tried them out and we surveyed our consumer tester panel to get in-depth feedback from real users. The subscription boxes ahead have top ratings from reviewers and offer unique options to get the most out of the services.
A little FYI on how clothing subscription boxes work:
There are two main types of clothing subscription boxes to choose from:
Rentals: You pay a monthly fee and get to borrow clothing. With some services you'll pick exactly which items to get with each shipment, while with others you create a virtual closet of styles you like and they'll send you what's available. The clothes are cleaned between users (you don't have to do it at home!), and you have the option to buy your rented items at a discounted price.
Purchase: A personal stylist puts together a shipment for you based on a survey you fill out, then you try everything on at home and decide what to buy. There's usually a styling fee around $20, but that money goes towards anything you purchase from that box.
Here are some things to keep in mind, regardless of the type of clothing subscription box you get:
There's typically free shipping both ways, so you don't have to worry about any added costs.
Shipping speeds vary by service. Some rentals can take a week to make an exchange, so make sure to check before you sign up if you're worried about timing.
You'll fill out a style profile with some of the services. Make sure you limit your selections to what you'll actually wear. Some of these systems are automated and by being choosy, you can avoid unwanted surprises.
Here are the best clothing subscription boxes to order online:
Best Overall Clothing Subscription Box: Rent the Runway Unlimited
Cost: $159/month Who it's for: Mostly women, but there are some styles for girls What you get: 4 items at a time that you can swap
If you think Rent the Runway is just for special occasions, think again. The Unlimited membership for women is the most popular clothing subscription box among our panel of reviewers, and it's the one we think has the best bang for your buck. In addition to dresses, the service has a large assortment of high-end athleisure garments that are perfect for workouts and lounging.
You start off choosing four items, then send back pieces to pick something new when you're finished wearing any of them. Every one on our panel said Rent the Runway Unlimited was easy to use, had quick delivery, and was worth the cost. Reviewers specifically highlighted the variety of options to choose from and being able to wear expensive clothing that they couldn't otherwise afford. (Though if you do want to purchase the items you rent, you can snag them at a discount.)
A few noted experiencing delays or getting items that were either damaged or smelled bad; however, they said that customer service quickly resolved the issue and let them pick something new. The bottom line: If you're looking for a clothing subscription box that lets you wear more while buying less, this is the one for you.
Cost: $59/month Who it's for: Women What you get: 3 items at a time that you can swap
Haverdash is another women's clothing rental subscription, but it works differently than Rent the Runway. You create a virtual "closet" with items that you like on the site, and they'll mail you three of those items based on availability. When it's time to swap, you return all three items at once to get three more.
This one stands out for its low cost that lets users try new trends and rotate their closet without having to spend a fortune. The garments you rent aren't as expensive as ones you can find on sites like Rent the Runway, and there isn't as much to choose from, but the value can't be beat and a reviewer told us the clothes were in great condition.
Best Personal Styling Clothing Subscription Box: Trunk Club
Cost: $25 styling fee that's credited toward your purchase Who it's for: Men and women What you get: 10-12 items ranging from $40-$300 to try on at home
This clothing subscription box from Nordstrom lets you work directly with a personal stylist that you chat with through phone, email, or instant messaging. You fill out a style quiz, talk with your stylist about things you might want to try, then get to preview your trunk and make any changes before it ships. And because it's from Nordstrom, there's a wide variety of options from comfortable clothes to more professional attire.
This service is unique because most other clothing subscription boxes don't give you a say in picking out the garments and don't have you chatting directly with the person making your selections. We got feedback from both men and women on our panel, and they unanimously thought it was easy to use and liked the items their stylists picked out.
Once you get your trunk, you have five days to try on and pick which items to buy and which to return. Trunk Club lets you get the clothing boxes on demand, or you can sign up for a set schedule to make it more like a subscription service.
Best Clothing Subscription Box for Families: Stitch Fix
Cost: $20 styling fee that's credited toward your purchase Who it's for: Men, women, and kids What you get: 5 items for adults ranging from $20-$400, or 8-12 items for kids starting at $10 to try on at home
Unlike most styling services, Stitch Fix has options for the entire family, with kids sizes 2T and up. It's one of the most popular clothing subscriptions on the market and has flexibility in allowing you to choose a specific date to have your "fix" delivered, and whether you want them scheduled regularly or on demand.
You don't work directly with a stylist and you can't see which garments you'll get before they ship, though some users on our panel said they liked the element of surprise. Another plus: If you keep all of the items, you get a 25% discount off your purchase.
Overall it got mixed ratings from reviewers. Complaints ranged from the clothing being low quality to items being too expensive. On the flip side, several people said this service helped them try pieces they normally wouldn't have picked out on their own.
Cost: $88/month Who it's for: Women What you get: 6 items/month
If you're looking to spice up your wardrobe, Nuuly has fun prints and unique styles that are more fashion forward than other clothing subscriptions. It's owned by Urban Outfitter's parent company so you get that one-of-a-kind feel from many of the items.
It's less expensive than other high-end rental services at under $100, but you don't get to swap out the items during the month. Instead, you pick six items that you get all at once then swap them for the following month.
Users on our panel rave about this service. They gave it high scores across the board, with several calling it "fun" and saying they loved getting to wear expensive clothes that they wouldn't normally buy.
Best Clothing Subscription Box for Basics: Le Tote
Cost: $89/month Who it's for: Women What you get: 4 items at a time that you can swap
Le Tote has a wide assortment of rental clothing and accessories for women, but we've found the majority of items to be everyday basics ranging from jeans to solid color sweaters to black dresses. On top of that, there is an entire service for maternity clothing to rent.
The Unlimited plan lets you pick four clothing items based on what's available, then you can swap out all four for new pieces at your convenience. There are other plans where you get one "tote" shipment per month, ranging from $59 for five clothing items, up to $119 for 10 clothing items and 5 accessories.
Cost: $40 styling fee that's credited toward your purchase Who it's for: Women What you get: Up to 12 pieces starting at $60 to try on at home
Dailylook is pricier than other personal styling services, but there's a wide range of both high-end designer brands and under $100 pieces to choose from. There's also a good assortment of everyday basics and fun pieces for a night out. We found the unboxing experience to be particularly exciting for this one since there were so many different pieces to try. The one callout is that despite the higher cost, there were still some complaints of lower quality garments being sent.
It's similar to Stitch Fix because you fill out a style profile then get pieces picked for you, but with Dailylook you're able to see the pieces ahead of time and you can swap out up to three pieces if there are things you don't like. It's a true subscription with monthly, every other month, or quarterly plans, though you can pause or cancel at any point.
Best Clothing Subscription Box for Work: Infinite Style by Ann Taylor
Cost: $95/month Who it's for: Women What you get: 3 items at a time that you can swap
If your job requires you to wear business or business casual attire, Infinite Style by Ann Taylor lets you rent and swap out items so you don't feel like you're always wearing the same thing. There are lots of dresses, skirts, blouses, and blazers to pick from in a range of colors and patterns so you can look professional without feeling like your outfit is boring.
The plan is similar to Haverdash because you fill a virtual closet with items that you like, then you get three items sent to you at a time. When you want to swap, you send back all three items and get new pieces from your closet. The feedback on our panel was that there are lots of items available, the pieces arrived in good condition, and there are great deals if you want to purchase the items to keep.
Best Designer Clothing Subscription Box: Rebecca Taylor RNTD
Cost: $159/month Who it's for: Women What you get: 4 items at a time that you can swap
Rebecca Taylor's clothing can cost hundreds of dollars a piece, making it unaffordable for most people. This rental service gives you unlimited access to the high fashion and high quality garments for a monthly rate that has great value for what you get. There's everything from casual weekend clothing to business attire to cocktail dresses and more.
It works just like some of the previous clothing subscription services where you fill a closet and get sent items instead of picking out specific pieces to ship each time. You also need to return all items at once to get something new. This service costs more than others, but you get four pieces at a time and the cost of the items you're renting is much higher.
Best Department Store Rental Subscription: My List at Bloomingdale's
Cost: $149/month Who it's for: Women What you get: 4 items at a time that you can swap
Bloomingdale's lets you rent clothing from some of its top brands, like Aqua, Joie, The Kooples, and many others. The pieces are more trendy than basic, but there's certainly a mix and lots of styles to choose from. The only downside is that it's a newer service, so there were some concerns from users about availability, though it has continued to grow.
It works just like the others with a virtual closet: put everything you like in one place and you'll get four items that are available when you're due for new pieces. You also exchange all four at once.
Best Plus-Size Clothing Subscription Box: Gwynnie Bee
Cost: $49-$199/month Who it's for: Women What you get: 1-10 items at a time that you can swap
Most clothing subscription boxes are available in a range of sizes, but this women's rental service goes up to size 32. There's a good mix of everyday casual pieces and dressier items from popular brands that you can find at department stores.
This subscription also stands out for its flexible plan. You can rent anywhere from one to 10 items at a time with unlimited swapping. Like most rental services, you keep a closet of items you like and the pieces you receive are pulled from that closet.
Cost: $49.95/month Who it's for: Men and women What you get: 1 outfit per month
Unlike the others that are personal styling services or clothing rentals, Fabletics is an activewear subscription. By becoming a member, you get discounted pricing each month on workout outfits that start at $49.95. You don't pay for the membership itself, but if you don't buy something with your membership or skip them month then you'll get charged $49.95 (which goes towards your credit to use on the site).
Fabletics styles include workout pants, tops, bras, and more, most of which come in a variety of styles from basic colors to fun prints. There's also a plus-size shop and accessories like hair ties and bags. Although both men and women styles are available, there's a bigger assortment for women.
Best Ethical Clothing Subscription Box: Style Plan by Frank And Oak
Cost: $25 styling fee that's credited toward your purchase Who it's for: Men and women What you get: 3-5 items ranging from $29 to $149 per item try on at home
Frank And Oak is a men's and women's clothing brand with a focus on sustainability. The brand's efforts include sourcing recycled or organic materials, using production processes with less water and toxic chemicals, and making garments with easier laundering methods. It's also certified as a B Corportation, which evaluates a company's social and environmental performance.
Subscribers get three to five items each month. You have two days to review the items in your box before it ships, with the option to replace items or cancel the shipment altogether. There's a wide variety of clothing and accessories, though most of the pieces are basics that you can wear for a long time, which is expected for a sustainable fashion brand.
Best Clothing Subscription Box for Picky Shoppers: Wantable Style Edit
Cost: $2o styling fee that's credited toward you purchase Who it's for: Women What you get: 7 items typically between $50 to $100 each to try on at home
Wantable is similar to Stitch Fix, but you get more input to help your stylist curate your pieces. The style quiz you take at the beginning is in-depth, then you can scroll through images to request or decline specific items and give your stylist a better idea of what you like.
If you buy at least five of the seven items, you get 20% off everything. You can pick the frequency of how often you get the subscription and you can cancel at any time. There are also fitness subscriptions for workout clothing for men and women.
Cost: $10 styling fee that's credited toward your purchase Who it's for: Women What you'll get: 10 items to try on at home
ThredUp is a popular site that buys and sells used clothing in like-new condition. Its Goody Box service gives you the best of both the secondhand and subscription clothing industries. You fill out a style profile and pick the type of box you want, which ranges from work clothes to vacation outfits to activewear and more. There's also the option to pick out items yourself instead of having a stylist choose.
If you're unsure about buying secondhand clothes, keep in mind that ThredUp thoroughly inspects each piece, and with all of the clothing rental subscriptions you get clothing that is preworn. One thing to note is that the site says it could take two weeks to get your box.
Best Budget Clothing Subscription Box: NY&C Closet
Cost: $50/month Who it's for: Women What you'll get: 3 items at a time that you can swap
New York & Company's clothing subscription is the cheapest rental, but it still gives incredible value because you get three items at a time with unlimited swapping throughout the month. There are lots of styles to choose from with options for work and weekend outfits, and it ranges in sizes XS to XXL.
The rental works just like the other clothing brands with rental services: you add items to your closet, get a shipment based on what's available, and when it's time to return you send back all three items to get a new box.
Cost: $99/quarter Who it's for: Women What you'll get: 5 items from the fashion, lifestyle, beauty and skincare industries
It's not clothing, but Rachel Zoe's subscription box comes with fashion accessories and beauty products that are valued at over $400. Unlike other fashion subscription boxes where you pick and choose which items to buy, the idea here is that you pay a flat rate of $99 to keep every item in the box.
You can opt to pay $349 for a year upfront and save $50. Sometimes there's the option to make selections in your box (like picking a pair of sunglasses from a choice of two), and as an added perk you get member-only discounts towards Rachel Zoe's website.
Cost: Free to try Who it's for: Kids What you'll get: 7 items to try on at home
This kids-only subscription box has styles for boys and girls sizes 4-16. Unlike other services, Kidpik has no styling fee, so there's no cost to you if you decide to return everything. Like the others, you fill out a style profile and a package gets sent to your home. With this one you can't see the selected items before you receive it.
A box consists of clothing, shoes, and accessories that you can mix and match to create at least three outfits. The entire box typically costs around $95 for all seven items, but you get 30% off if you decide to buy everything in the box.
Best Trendy Clothing Subscription Box for Kids: Rockets of Awesome
Cost: $20 styling fee that's credited toward your purchase Who it's for: Kids What you'll get: 8 items to try on at home
Rockets of Awesome's clothing brings in the cool factor with sequins, bright colors, fun graphics, and more. The clothing is for boys and girls sizes 2T to 14, and we love that it's all machine washable despite the embellishments.
You can buy items directly from the website, but the subscription box gives you eight hand-picked styles and you get 30% off if you keep everything. The box comes four times a year and you can see everything before it ships with the option to make changes.
Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping InstituteTextiles DirectorLexie Sachs earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Fiber Science from Cornell University, and she researches, tests and reports on fabric-based products ranging from sheets, mattresses and towels to bras, fitness apparel and other clothing.
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