Quince washable silk review: Testing how it holds up

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At Insider Reviews, we've tested plenty of essentials for our full Quince review over the years, from workwear basics to leather totes, so we were especially curious to see whether the brand's silk pieces lived up to the hype. For this Quince silk review, we wore and washed a range of items from the brand's washable silk collection — including dresses, separates, and pajamas — to find out whether they're actually worth buying.

Quince's 100% mulberry silk clothing is notably less expensive than similar styles from many other retailers, and the promise of machine-washable silk makes the line even more appealing. If the brand's claims hold up, these pieces could offer an easier, more affordable way to add silk to your wardrobe without the usual dry-cleaning hassle.

After over two years of testing, we found that Quince's silk clothing feels soft, looks polished, and delivers strong value for the price, but durability was inconsistent. Some pieces held up well with repeated wear and washing, while others developed tears at the seams. Overall, we think Quince silk is best for occasional wear, not everyday heavy rotation.

Washable Stretch Silk Tiered Maxi Dress

This dress has become my most-reached-for item of clothing this summer. While elegant enough to dress up with some heels and a clutch for dinner, I mostly pair it with sneakers for an elevated and comfortable daytime look. (The sneaker look works for me because, at 5-foot-7, the dress hits me right above the ankles, but if you're shorter, it may fall closer to the floor.)

I particularly love the tiered A-line silhouette, which is very flattering, and the forgiving elastic high waist. The v-neckline is fairly deep (which I like, because it adds a feminine touch to balance out the baggier silhouette), but I was still able to wear it with a bra. It's not see-through at all. 

On particularly hot days, I did sweat in this dress (usually I pick sleeveless items when I think I may sweat), and the sweat was fairly visible through the silk fabric. That's the only downside I found to this dress. I washed it cold on the delicates cycle and hung it to dry. I steamed it to remove wrinkles (ironing silk is not recommended). Each time I wore the dress after washing, I found it as soft and shiny as before.

100% Washable Silk Slip Dress

This midi length, bias cut slip dress is crafted from mulberry silk with a satin finish. It has adjustable spaghetti straps, and the brand claims the fabric is naturally thermoregulating to help maintain body temperature. It comes in nine colors in sizes XS through XL.

"Trust me, nothing feels better than coming home from a long day of wearing restrictive clothing and putting on this buttery-soft slip. In the summer, this is the ultimate at-home outfit. And it's so incredibly chic to lounge around in a silk slip," says Samantha Crozier, style and beauty editor at Insider Reviews.

Sam's update after a year of wear: Even though it's a flattering, classic style that I washed and wore for about 9 months, the dress finally tore at a corner seam. You're likely to get a lot of use from this dress before you experience the same disappointment. However, its shelf life puts it in the fast-fashion category, so we can't call it a sustainable option.

Sam's update after two years of wear: After getting another silk slip dress to replace the torn one (it's just so dang comfy!), I continued to wear it as a lounge piece and a casual throw-on garment. This kind of frequent wear (with cycles through the washing machine as often as twice a month) isn't what I would recommend anymore. The second slip dress tore in the same spot as the first within a similar timeframe.

I would only recommend buying this dress if you're planning on wearing it to formal occasions or taking it out of the closet a few times a year. Otherwise, I'd recommend getting a similar dress from a brand that specializes in silk or sticking with Quince's cotton or linen dress options.

"I love a gorgeous slip dress, perfect for dressing up or down, depending on my mood. Make it washable, and I'm in love. This silk dress has a nice bias cut down the side seam with extra room in the hips, showing that it was designed with curvier bodies in mind. It hits right below the knee. Adjustable straps helped me position the dress comfortably across my chest. Being in between sizes, I preferred the slightly roomier fit of the 2X to the 1X. The 1X felt too tight and pulled in the back, while the 2X was a little large under the armpits but nothing too noticeable. I'm not wearing shapewear in either of the photos," says Jaclyn Turner, senior home editor, Insider Reviews.

Read more in our full Quince plus size clothing review.

Washable Silk Skirt

A silk skirt is such a versatile wardrobe staple. It pairs well with sneakers and a t-shirt or slouchy sweater for a casual ensemble or can be worn with heels and a matching silky camisole for a dressy evening look. I was super excited to try Quince's version, which comes in an impressive range of nine colors.

This skirt, which hits just below the knees, did not disappoint. I'm currently between a medium and a large in bottoms, and sizing up to a large ended up being the right call. The elastic waistband falls loosely at my hips and the skirt is plenty flowy, so it doesn't show any panty lines.

100% Washable Silk Halter Top

I absolutely love this halter top as a comfortable and breezy option for an evening out. My favorite way to wear it is tucked into ripped jeans and paired with heels. It looks elegant and dressy. I think it would look equally good tucked into a pencil skirt and topped with a cardigan for days in the office. 

Just like the tiered maxi dress, the halter top washed well (in the delicates cycle and hung dry) and remained soft and shiny. The black version isn't see-through at all, although I'm not sure if the lighter champagne color would be (there's also a navy option).

Washable Stretch Silk Notch Collar Blouse

"I'm forever on the hunt for a good button down and I wanted to love the Washable Stretch Silk Blouse. I typically size up in button-down blouses because I have a large chest. Sadly, the silk blouse in a 2X pulled at my chest and around my middle, making me feel a little too self-conscious. The ivory color was also quite sheer, and the slight stretch of the fabric only accentuated the parts that I didn't want to show off more. Ironically, the model in the product photo wears the bottom half of the shirt unbuttoned, as a foreshadowing of my experience, while another model wearing the blouse in wine appears to be swimming in it. If the shirt would fit me right, I think it looks very classy and sophisticated and a great workwear, or day-to-night piece; just the sizing is off, in my opinion," according to Jaclyn Turner, senior home editor, Insider Reviews.

100% Washable Silk Pajama Tee and Pants

With a super roomy silhouette, this cooling pajama set is comfy and elegant for both sleeping and lounging around. You could totally get away with wearing the T-shirt out with a pair of jeans as well. 

One huge benefit of this combo (both pieces available in sizes XS through XL) is the mix and matchability since the top and bottom are sold separately. You can pick different sizes, but you can also interchange the styles (there are also a button up shirts, a tank, or shorts available). The pants, shorts, tee, and tank are available in seven colors (sizes XS through XL), while the button up top only comes in five colors. 

I picked a medium in my top, which fit perfectly. For the bottoms, I picked a large since I often wear large bottoms from other brands and have previously tried other Quince medium sweats, which were snug. The large was very big on me, and I wished I had sized down to a medium. I would recommend sizing down in the bottoms, if you're between sizes. 

I washed these in the gentle cycle and hung them to dry. The smoothness and softness of the fabric did not change due to laundering.

How do you wash washable silk?

As per the instructions on Quince's website, we washed the garments in cold water in the delicates cycle and hung them to dry. We steamed the garments because they wrinkled easily, but this caused no damage.

Is Quince silk real silk?

Yes. Quince's silk clothing is made from 100% mulberry silk, which gives it the smooth, soft feel and glossy finish you'd expect from genuine silk pieces.

Does Quince silk hold up over time?

Our experience was mixed. Some Quince silk pieces stayed soft, shiny, and in good shape after repeated washes, but others eventually tore at the seams after months of regular wear. Based on our testing, durability was not consistent across the line.

Is Quince silk worth it?

Quince silk can be worth it if you want the look and feel of real silk at a more affordable price. We think it makes the most sense for occasional wear or lower-rotation pieces, but we wouldn't count on every style holding up to frequent washing and everyday use.

Cons to consider

If you wear and wash your silk casually, your Quince washable silk may not last you very long. We also found the sizing to be a little inconsistent with this line. While sizing up was a good choice in the halter top and tiered dress, it led us astray for the pajama pants, where sizing down would have fit better. Thankfully, though, Quince has a generous return policy with a full refund on unworn items with the tags on available for 365 days from the purchase date. So, you can feel comfortable to take your best guess at a size and return it if the fit isn't perfect.

The bottom line

We found that Quince's washable silk line looks great, but one piece only lasted nine months before tearing, so we don't qualify it as high-quality. We also found some flaws in the fit of its extended size silk collection.

Quince's silk products are much more affordable than traditional retailers, and you earn extra savings by avoiding dry cleaning. It may be worth a try if you intend to wear it for special events, but everyday wear proved too much for its weak seams.