No More Ugly Sweaters: How to Gift a Clothing Subscription Box

Think about this: how often have you been given a clothing item that wasn’t really your style? If finding the right piece sometimes takes us days, imagine how difficult it is for someone else to find it. But gifting clothing during the holidays doesn’t have to turn into another ugly sweater story. Read on to learn a few tricks to help you use a clothing subscription box to meet all your gift needs this season. 

1. Gift a Clothing Subscription Box

Clothing subscriptions make it so convenient to get the latest trends customized for your recipient. Instead of visiting every store in town trying to find the perfect gift, let these subscription boxes do the work for you. 

Subscription boxes have come a long way since their humble beginnings. Today, you can send a loved one or friend a gift card for one of the best clothing subscription boxes out there. With this gift card, they’ll get access to a style quiz that curates pieces that fit their style, fit, and preferences. All without ever having to leave their home. All in all, it’s easy, fun, and convenient. 

With most clothing subscription services, you’ll be able to send a gift card for a designated value. Starting with $20 so they can finally try that clothing subscription box they’ve been hesitant about, to well over $1,000 so they can keep this new subscription addiction for months to come. Think about it as the gift that keeps on giving. 

To help you get started, I’ve rounded up some of the best fashion subscription boxes that are definitely worth trying and gifting (!). 

For Women:

• Fabletics, $49.95/month
• Stitch Fix, $20/styling Fee
• CURATEUR, $99.99/quarter
• Wantable Style Edit, $20/styling Fee
• JustFab, $39.95/month

Explore more of the best women’s fashion subscription boxes.

For Men: 

• Stitch Fix Men, $20/styling fee
• Gentleman’s Box, $35/month
• Trunk Club, $25/styling fee
• Basic Man, $19.99/month
• Menlo Club, $60/month

Explore more of the best men’s clothing subscription boxes. 

For Kids:

• kidpik, $13.50/per piece
• FabKids, $29.95/month
• Stitch Fix Kids, $20/styling fee
• KIDBOX, only pay for what you keep
• Rockets of Awesome, $20/styling fee 

Explore more of the best kids’ clothing subscription boxes. 

2. Share the Gift of Having an Online Personal Stylist

Years ago, the thought of having a personal stylist was something only celebrities could afford. Fortunately, thanks to some of these new subscription boxes, that’s no longer the case. Using a styling quiz, online stylists help people discover new styles and find the clothes that fit them best. 

This is the perfect gift for anyone who wants to try new trends but doesn’t know where to start. Someone who has recently gone through a bodyweight transformation. And basically, anyone who enjoys shopping, clothes, and fashion. With an online personal styling box, you give the gift of a stylist and the opportunity to try different clothes IRL. And, don’t worry, they only keep what they really like, so you don’t have to think about gift receipts or tracking down the purchase on your credit card. 

Here are some of the best online personal stylist subscriptions according to MSA readers:

• Armoire, $49/month
• Dia & Co, $20/styling fee
• Nadine West, $9.78/styling fee
• Trendsend by EVEREVE, $20/styling fee
• Le Tote, $69/month

3. Think About Rental Subscription Boxes

Now, there’s a downfall with clothing subscription boxes that you might want to avoid. With most personal styling services, you have to pay for the items you want to keep. Instead of adding that pressure to someone, consider giving them a rental subscription box instead. 

With these boxes, you get to try new clothes every month and wear them throughout the month, and then return them. It’s like having an ever-changing closet without having to deal with the commitment of purchasing each piece. 

Clothing rental services are the perfect gift for anyone on your list who loves to experiment with different looks. They’re an easy way to keep a fresh wardrobe without spending a fortune. Plus, since most services are personalized, you can bet they’re going to love the pieces they’ll receive each month. 

Here are some of the best clothing rental subscriptions according to MSA readers:

• Rent the Runway, $69/month
• Vince Unfold, $160/month
• Express Style Trial, $69.95/month
• The Mr. Collection, $59/month
• Haverdash, $59/month

Tips When Gifting Subscription Boxes

When you sign up for a subscription box yourself, usually go through a style quiz to help them figure out your style and preferences. Ideally, you want the person receiving the gift to go through this process. For this, you want to get them a gift card of the subscription box you want to give them. Most subscription boxes will have the option to either print, mail, or send a beautiful gift card via mail. 

If you want to give them the gift in person, consider ordering the gift card ahead of time and get it shipped to your house instead. This will give you plenty of time to repackage it or rebag it with your personal touch. 

Also, take the time to explain how the subscription box will work. The last thing you want is for your friend or family member to overspend by keeping additional items or not returning the items. If possible, include a printout of how the subscription works and volunteer to go over the process of setting up their subscription, at least for the first month or so. While most subscriptions have a step-by-step guide of how they work, it might be helpful to cover the details of your gift to make sure they understand what it entails. 

All in all, subscription boxes can be a stress-free way to give clothes this holiday season. Whether you’re looking for a gift for your spouse, your best friend, or your mother-in-law, you can rest assured there’s a subscription for that. According to our readers, check out some of the best clothing subscription boxes of 2021 if you need more inspiration.