After cleaning out my closet, I realized all my favorite clothes came from personal styling services — here's why they're such a smart way to shop

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• Personal styling services such as Stitch Fix and Trunk Club combine the convenience of online shopping with the expert curation of a personal stylist.
• Many of my favorite, most-worn clothing pieces — outerwear, jeans, tops, and dresses — are from Stitch Fix and Trunk Club.
• Using these services has been one of my smartest shopping decisions because they save time, effort, and money.

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As I spent an afternoon cleaning out my closet recently, I noticed an emerging pattern: All the clothing I wanted to keep, the pieces I wore often and knew I would continue wearing, came from personal styling services. 

Personal styling services such as Stitch Fix and Trunk Club combine the convenience of online shopping with the expert curation of a personal stylist.

In 2017, I tested Stitch Fix for the first time, and continued paying for and using it for a few months thereafter. In 2018, I tried its Nordstrom-owned competitor, Trunk Club, and similarly, continued paying for and using it in my personal life. 

Being a Stitch Fix and Trunk Club member over the last couple years has proven to be one of the smartest shopping decisions I've made for my closet. Here's why:

1. It saves time and effort. 

Using a personal styling service initially requires some investment of time because you need to fill out a style profile and share your clothing sizes, style preferences, and other notes about what types of clothes you're looking for. From there, however, the process becomes quick and streamlined, especially as you become a more experienced user. 

Stitch Fix and Trunk Club ship you boxes of clothing that fit your profile. You can try on everything in the comfort of your own home and on your own time, so you don't have to deal with all the time-consuming parts of shopping in person.

Stitch Fix gives you three days to decide what you want to keep and return, while Trunk Club gives you five days. Both include a bag and prepaid shipping label for your returns. 

2. It saves money and is less wasteful. 

Though personalized services sounds like they could be expensive, they do take your budget into account. You're in control of how much you spend on each type of clothing and you won't spend any more money than you want to. 

While these services always require a styling fee (usually around $20-$30), they waive that fee if you buy any of the clothing items. They also offer referral bonuses and give you discounts if you buy all the pieces in your box. 

Unlike clothing pieces I've bought on my own in the past, I've worn everything I own from Stitch Fix and Trunk Club countless times. I'm excited to wear them every week because they reflect my personal style well, they're comfortable, and they've held up through multiple washes because they're made from high-quality materials. 

I think the services are particularly useful for stylish staple pieces such as jeans, a little black dress, or a leather jacket (if you want trend-driven pieces, we recommend Rent the Runway instead). Their versatility means you can wear them multiple ways and truly get your money's worth. I've spent more than I normally would on dresses and outerwear from Stitch Fix and Trunk Club, but they've also been worn much more often and lasted longer than clothes I've bought on my own.

Read more: I tried Dailylook, a personal-styling service that sends curated boxes of clothing to try on at home — the brands it carries are on the pricey side, but the selections were spot-on

3. It's flexible. 

You don't have to receive clothing every month from these services. They let you pause shipments and choose delivery dates that work for you. If I don't want new clothing, I just hit pause, and when I am looking for something new or have a specific occasion to shop for, I resume my membership. 

Ultimately, I'm really glad to be using personal styling services to buy my clothing. 

They're more efficient and convenient than shopping on my own, and I end up with clothing I love.

Get started with Trunk Club here.

Get started with Stitch Fix here.