I’m not going to lie... I like clothes. I enjoy following the latest trends, discovering emerging brands, and generally being in the know. It’s part of the reason I’ve spent the past decade working in marketing with national and local retail accounts, selling everything from everyday wear to high-fashion, high-ticket items. Having said all that, I’m no good at shopping. I don’t like picking through clothing racks, and I hate trying on apparel.

While I've dipped my toes into the personal styling service and other clothing subscription boxes, I have grown exhausted from all the choices. Can Menlo Club's simplified approach be the key?

Read on to find out.

My Subscription Addiction paid for the styling fee of this product. (Check out the review process post to learn more.

Quick Facts

Menlo Club Brand Overview

• Menlo Club is an online men's membership delivering curated items on a monthly basis.
• Packages are based on each customer's personal style preferences.
• Membership also includes exclusive access to content and discounts at the Menlo House e-commerce site.

How It Works

• Upon sign-up, customers complete a profile with their size and fit choices.
• Over the course of a year, members receive an assortment of New Republic footwear, Grand Running Club athleisure wear, Five Four contemporary wear, and Melrose Place knitwear.
• Each package typically includes 2-3 items.

Cost

• Club members are charged $60.00 per month + taxes/surcharges based on their location.
• There is no commitment beyond the first month.

Subscription Frequency

• Menlo Club offers a monthly and quarterly subscription service.
• Members can pause their membership for up to three months at a time.

Cancellation Policy

• Menlo Club allows customers to cancel at any time but must occur prior to the 14th of each month to avoid being charged.
• Cancellation can be handled online via live chat or on the phone.

Creating a Menlo Club Profile

Style Quiz

The sign-up process for Menlo Club's style quiz is rather brief and to the point. As opposed to other menswear subscription box companies like Nordstrom Trunk Club or StitchFix, Menlo Club's quiz consists of four straightforward size-related questions: top (shirt) size, bottom (pant) size, bottom fit (slim, straight or relaxed) and shoe size. Upon submission, you can expect to receive an apparel and footwear assortment in those exact sizes. Rather than request a litany of questions better understanding your styles, brand preferences, etc., Menlo Club appears to be confident in their style choices regardless of customer.

What Did I Get in My Menlo Club Box?

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How Many Items Did I Receive?

While subscribers can typically expect to receive a total of 2-3 pieces, my first package from Menlo Club boasted five items and a full top-to-bottom kit. While I was unfamiliar with these brands, I enjoyed receiving an assortment including henley t-shirts, shorts, socks, shoes and a suede shoe brush.

• Stanton Recycled Suede Sneaker, Graphite, Size 10.5 – Cost $78.00
• Genesee Slub Tee, Mint, Size S – Cost $42.00
• Genesee Slub Tee, Asphalt, Size S – Cost $42.00
• Five Four Cheshire Shorts, Navy, Size 30
• Vista Sneaker Socks, Graphite, Size S – Cost $9.00
• Logo Suede Brush, Wood, Size OSFA – Cost $12.00

How did Menlo Club do?

I'll preface by building upon my final comment regarding the quiz section. Menlo Club is not like many of the other popular men's fashion subscription boxes. They don't purport to curate a collection according to each individual consumer's preferred aesthetic, brand preference, sizing issues, etc. Menlo Club CEO Dee Murthy stands by his service and selections to provide products applauded by the fashion community. I felt that was important to note heading into my review, as I'm not sure I'd necessarily consider myself Menlo Club's target consumer. Having said that... I was pleasantly surprised once I put everything on. And, most importantly, my wife loved every piece.

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It's hard to go wrong with a simple, suede slip-on. These Stanton recycled suede sneakers didn't miss the mark. Created using recycled suede and cotton canvas with hand-sewn signature stitching, they helped modernize a classic. They're non-descript, comfortable, and easy to wear. I own a lot of shoes yet shockingly, a slip-on isn't one of them. Considering the number of emergency stroller trips I take on a weekly basis (at all times of the day), these may immediately start sitting right next to our front door.

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I'm not much of a henley or slub tee fan. So my immediate reaction upon opening what was actually pretty cool, sleeved packaging was not positive. But my wife is. So I had no choice but to put them on for her. And I have to say... these Genesee slub tees (in mint and asphalt) fit and felt great. They're soft, comfortable and non-descript which, similar to the shoes, makes for a great addition to most men's closets. Another cool element is they're made using an artisanal dyeing process that ensures every piece is unique. I'm not going to pretend and say these will become part of my weekly rotation, but they may make for a great base layer under an open button-down shirt.

These navy shorts from Five Four could not have arrived at a better time. I've talked to myself at length about the need to update and upgrade my shorts drawer. While the majority of recent purchases have been of a more athletic variety, you cannot go wrong with a classic navy short for more of a "dressed-up" look. The color pops. They're comfortable. And they sit exactly where I want them above the knee.

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There's no such thing as having too many socks. I probably lost an individual sock while writing this. So I was happy to see an addition to my sock drawer with the Vista sneaker sock. I should warn you - the "sneaker" product title may be misleading pending your sneaker choice. As shown here, way too much sock shows when wearing the slip-ons - for my taste, at least.

Finally, I appreciated the inclusion of New Republic's wooden suede brush. I've never actually used one before. But I have to imagine it will come in useful at some point - you never know when or where dirt will hit your suede shoes when you least want to.

My Verdict

This is my third menswear subscription service, and it's the most differentiated in its approach from the other options. Rather than require you to fill out a 20+ questionnaire to curate the most curated stylist package ever, Menlo Club makes its selections for you based on their expert fashion opinion and with a specific set of brands they partner with - Five Four, New Republic, Melrose Place, and Grand Running Club. The sign-up process couldn't be simpler. Which, for the right consumer, is perfect.

All of which is to say - do your homework and review past Menlo Club offerings. If you like their stylings, test the subscription and expect to become a monthly subscriber. And for those this applies to, there's another great benefit - it's extremely affordable. Granted, I received more items than the average monthly subscription box. My box values for over $200.00. Given the value of their footwear and apparel, any box consisting of 2-3 items will value well over their $60.00 monthly membership fee. If anything, I wish I could have received a piece from their athleisure line.

If Menlo Club's fashion sense matches your own, then I look at this subscription box opportunity as a no-brainer. And guess what? If it's not, you can easily end your monthly subscription and cancel anytime.

Give Menlo Club a Try!

Have you ordered Menlo Club? What did you think? Let us know below!

Curious about other Menlo Club packages? Check out all our Menlo Club reviews.