I bought and reviewed 7 items from Quince for Women and Kids

One Quince is the brand promising affordable luxury for all, like $50 high-end cashmere sweaters. Too good to be true? I bought 7 items from One Quince to review the quality: 1 children’s cashmere sweater, 2 children’s organic cotton fisherman sweaters, a 100% silk slip dress, a baby alpaca wool oversized sweater, chunky gold hoops, and a gold earring cuff.

The order’s here. The quality of these goods is impeccable.

Backing up, a couple of months prior I researched the retailer and wrote a post about One Quince.

One Quince boasts high-end, ethically made goods that anyone can afford — without skimping on sustainability or quality. One Quince quality, in fact, has been compared to Club Monaco, Reformation, Frame, or Theory, – but at around 1/3 of the price or less.

Using a Manufacture-to-Consumer model, One Quince cuts out the middlemen. Garments and other goods ship directly from the factory floor to your home. There are fashion industry critics who believe that One Quince must be cutting corners when it comes to paying a living wage. They’re certain that a $50 ethically made Mongolian cashmere sweater isn’t possible. And that any claims of environmental sustainability are pure greenwashing.

Maybe.

Admittedly, that skepticism dimmed some of my enthusiasm. Luxury goods priced that cheaply made me raise an eyebrow.

As did the promise of “cheap luxury”. There’s so much excess fashion in circulation, it’s created a major environmental emergency. I’ve tried to adopt an approach of buying fewer clothing items that are extremely versatile and high-quality, rather than dozens of cheap, single-function items. One could argue fashion should be more expensive so we consume less of it. But curiosity got the better of me. Along with my thinnish pocketbook.

Maybe, there’s room for middle ground?

I definitely don’t believe you can buy a high-quality, fair-labor Mongolian cashmere sweater for $19.95. But charging $50 to $100 or more is different.

And so after months of eyeing the goods, I pulled the trigger. I’m now a One Quince customer. (Spoiler alert: I am probably going to be a repeat One Quince customer.)

I purchased several items from One Quince. I chose to purchase 7 items instead of 1 to get a broad perspective on their garment quality. I looked for items with timeless style and versatility, made from eco-friendly, sustainable, all-natural fabrics.

There is no discount code or coupon for One Quince toward your first purchase that I could find. (You can save $20 off your first purchase at Quince with this referral link. A unique promo code will get generated that you can leave at checkout.)

Shipping time took 10 days from the date I placed the order on their website until it showed up at my door. Already an impressive ship time, this was on top of winter snowstorms, ice storms, and other natural disasters halting mail everywhere.

In full disclosure, I was sent 2 items for free in addition to the 7 goods I paid for. I didn’t request any free or discounted products. One Quince sent me two of their best-sellers, a loose-fit (batwing style) grey cashmere sweater, and a black cardigan zipper-down hoodie. I’ll comment on these garments later in this post, but not offer a full One Quince clothing review since I didn’t solicit the product (the cuts are neither my style nor size).

And so, here are the details on the goods I purchased.

100% Organic Cotton Fisherman Sweater – 2 Pack in Silver Pink and Oatmeal for $44.95

I ordered the 2-pack of organic cotton fisherman sweaters in a 5T for my 4-year-old daughter Margot. She lives in leggings and cotton (or wool) dresses year-round (except for hotter days when she sheds the leggings). In winter, I look for warm layering pieces. I liked the classic (timeless, not preppy) look of these sweaters and ordered a size up so she could get an extra year of wear. Since they’re not gender-specific, my 2-year-old Henry can wear them after.

• 4 of 5 for Fit and Feel: Soft texture, slight stiffness for structure. Thick. Raised waffle texture.
• 5 of 5 Quality: Outstanding quality. Exceptionally well-constructed. Similar (if not identical) quality to a favorite cotton Mini Rodini sweater Margot has.
• 5 of 5 Description Match: The product is a perfect match of the online listing. The colors, quality, fit, and texture, align 100% with what I was expecting based on the description.
• 5 of 5 Affordability: At $22.50 per sweater, for a well-made organic cotton garment, it’s a great deal.

Overall Score: 4.75 of 5

>>> Shop the 2-Pack of Organic Cotton Sweaters on One Quince

Organic Grey Crewneck Sweater for $39.90

While Mongolian cashmere for a toddler seems over-the-top, my son Henry wears a lot of layers. In the winter, it’s generally a long or short-sleeve tee, then a sweatshirt or sweater. So, I went for the washable cashmere crewneck sweater in 4T.

As a natural fiber, wool wears much more comfortably than acrylic or polyester. Wool resists stains, dirt, and odor and needs minimal laundering. And after completing the 100-day dress challenge (I wore the same wool dress every day for 100 days in a row), I’m extremely comfortable hand-washing wool. Dry-clean-only tags don’t phase me anymore.

And wool doesn’t have to be itchy. I mean, yeah, you can find itchy wool. But when descaled or treated, wool can feel just like cotton. (But wool lasts much longer.)

This sweater, however, feels like a soft baby alpaca or mohair. It’s luxuriously soft to the touch and has an almost cool silky feel. It feels light, not bulky or heavy. The kind of fabric you want to never stop wearing.

• 5 of 5 for Fit and Feel: Super high-quality, thick, soft cashmere – superior to quality from J. Crew, Banana Republic, and other brands of similar or higher quality.
• 5 of 5 Quality: No flaws. Exceptionally well made.
• 5 of 5 Description Match: The sweater perfectly matches the online product listing in terms of color, construction, and quality. (It’s better quality than anticipated.)
• 5 of 5 Affordability: The price tag is high for a toddler garment, but for the quality and durability, it’s a fantastic deal. I sized up so I could get 2 years of wear, which is like $19.95 per sweater per year. That’s affordable prices by almost anyone’s budget. It even beats fast-fashion brand H&M’s price tag of $49.90 for a kid’s cashmere crewneck. One Quince is a lower price at exponentially better quality.

Overall Score: 5 of 5

>>> Shop Washable Cashmere Crewneck

100% Silk Slip Dress for $79.90

For over a year, I’ve been lusting after a floor-length, emerald green silk slip dress I found at Banana Republic for $200. I thought eventually that dress would wind its way to the clearance racks, but that dress was one of those rare gems that sold out at full price.

And I wasn’t quite sure where I’d wear it. Banana Republic had styled the model in the dress on a sunny, stone piazza, or sipping tea on a terrace. But, before I purchased the green silk slip dress with adjustable straps from One Quince I spent a lot of time thinking about how I could wear it: as a skirt, as a basic silk cami tucked into jeans, with a blazer, with a tee and braided sandals, or with an oversized sweater. There’s so much versatility.

And while I haven’t owned many silk pieces before, machine-washable silk seems manageable. And yeah, a machine-wash version of anything sounds like it must be “lesser than”. But, this silk fabric feels luxuriant.

True to the reviews, this dress has got to be the most flattering dress ever. Since there’s no lycra, spandex, or padded structure, I was concerned about how a thin, unlined dress would look. Whether it’s the amazing cut or the magic of silk (it drapes like a dream), this hits your body in the most flattering ways and you don’t see any bulge at the waist or hips.

• 5 of 5 for Fit and Feel: Perfect score. While unlined, it drapes your body perfectly and hits all the right places.
• 5 of 5 Quality: Outstanding. This washable silk dress is higher quality and silkier to the touch than a couple of dry-clean only silk garments I own (a Banana Republic dress and a Tory Burch blouse).
• 5 of 5 Description Match: Perfect match of the description. Exactly what I expected based on the listing and on all of the reviews.
• 5 of 5 Affordability: At $79.90, it’s a bargain. It’s not a $29.99 dress on the clearance racks at The Loft or White House Market. But for an all-silk, luxury garment that goes with anything, it’s a stellar deal.

Overall Score: 5 of 5

>>> Shop Washable Silk Slip Dress

Baby Alpaca Wool Turtleneck for $69.90

I wish I had ordered this alpaca wool sweater before the holiday season, but I can tell it will see a lot of year-round wear. With its relaxed fit, I can wear it as a sweater with jeans or trousers, as a tunic with leggings, or with a skirt and tights and boots. It could even be cozy for summer wear, as a beach cover-up, or wearing it with cut-off shorts. While it is sweater-thick, it’s thin enough to easily tuck into a pair of jeans.

It’s a timeless piece that looks like it could have been worn 50 years ago, 20 years ago, or again in another 20 years and 50 years out.

• 4 of 5 for Fit and Feel: I am quite happy with the fit and feel, but I do find the neck to be a little scratchy. It doesn’t bother me really unless I think about it, and it could be due to how dry my skin is in the winter. I wish I had paid $10 more and gone for the cashmere version of this sweater.
• 4.5 of 5 Quality: The construction and wool material are quite good, but it did come with some bits of white lint (or white textile debris) attached to it. It was well packaged in a plastic bag, but those white specks were quite noticeable. I don’t know if that is indicative of garment quality, but it seemed worth mentioning.
• 5 of 5 Description Match: Matches the listing perfectly; no discrepancies.
• 5 of 5 Affordability: At $69.90 for an all-wool alpaca turtleneck sweater, it is a bargain.

Overall Score: 4.63 of 5

>>> Shop Alpaca Wool Turtlenecks

Gold Earring Cuff for $29.90 and Gold Hoops for $44.90

I rarely wear earrings. I admire them – on other people. Especially the large, statement ones that pull together a vibe. Yet, I never really wear them. Anything with nickel irritates my ears. I lose earring backs easily. And I am worried about my 2-year-old Henry yank-ripping one out of my lobes.

But, these chunky gold hoop earrings on One Quince fit the bill for me. Small enough to be sturdy, yet large enough to be noticeable and add a special touch to an outfit. While I did rate them (it makes sense for a review), I have very little experience with jewelry. It’s possible a more experienced reviewer would give them a less than a great review, but I am pretty stoked.

I’ve worn these earrings and earring cuff for half a day now. The earrings are comfortable. Unless I’m shaking my head sideways, I don’t really feel them. They’re large enough for me to see and enjoy them. It’s safe to say the metal isn’t irritating my sensitive ears.

The cuff has fallen out once, but possibly I didn’t have it on securely enough. I kind of regret getting the cuff, TBH, because I tend to wear my hair down and I don’t think that the cuff will ever be visible. Maybe it will motivate me to change up my ‘do.

• 4 of 5 for Fit and Feel: It’s a 5 of 5 for the earrings, but a 3 of 5 for the cuff because it’s already fallen off once and I’m not sure I’ll keep it.
• 5 of 5 Quality: The quality is good, just what I anticipated. The earrings are well-constructed and I can’t see the backs getting bent or warped.
• 5 of 5 Description Match: Perfect match of the listing on the website.
• 3 of 5 Affordability: I see similar options for 20% to 30% less at other retailers so I’m not sure about affordability. If you’re familiar with jewelry and One Quince offers a piece you’re interested in, I would say go for it. But if you’re a rare customer as am I, I would recommend doing more research first.

Overall Score: 4.25 of 5

>>> Shop Gold Earring Cuff

>>> Shop Gold Chunky Hoop Earrings

Hoodie and Batwing Sweater

The black cashmere zipper-down hoodie is ultra-soft. It’s warm and cozy without being “hot”. It hits a little below the waist. I don’t wear zipper hoodies, so I don’t think I’ll wear this one. I opt more for cardigans and blazers, so it might be something that I gift or give away. The cashmere hoodie is a bestseller, so it deserves a good home.

I do love the grey cashmere batwing sweater. It’s cut almost poncho-like but fits and wears like an oversize sweater.

I tried it on earlier this evening and was pleasantly delighted. It feels soft and supple, I just enjoy petting it. (Try it on before you label me as weird.) And the oversize cut gives it a comfortable, breezy fit. If I hadn’t been sent this sweater, I would never have purchased it. But I can see myself wearing it just about anywhere.

Pros of Shopping One Quince

• Garments are well-constructed and of comparable quality to Theory, Frame, Cuyuna, Club Monaco, and Jenni Kane.
• Most textiles are eco-friendly (all-natural silk, wool, linen) and cotton garments are organic.
• Easy care luxe fabrics: you can buy garments made of washable cashmere and washable silk.
• Limited range of high-end, versatile staples including midi and tea length dresses, skirts, tees, and a full range of separates in cashmere, linen, alpaca, organic cotton, and washable silk. For some, “limited” may be a con. But I like that it’s a line-up of quality goods that have a classy, sexy, timeless appeal. It’s not a different fashion drop every week or every month. They offer carefully curated goods that are carried for months.
• Affordably priced, but not cheaply priced, luxury. Top-end cashmere sweaters starting at $50 are a phenomenon, although many of their cashmere pieces are priced around $100.
• Shipping is relatively quick. Only 10 business days is quite good, considering goods are shipped directly from the manufacturer to the consumer.
• Product listings. The product listings are very transparent in terms of cost breakdown, fabrics, countries of origin, fit, and a variety of photos to see how the product looks on.
• Selection of other high-end, eco-friendly textiles: duvets, tablecloths, bedding, and other home goods.

Cons of Shopping One Quince

• Kids’ selection is very limited. I wish they had T-shirts, leggings, dresses, and trousers for kids. They do have cashmere leggings for infants, but sizes don’t extend past 18-24M.
• Garments can sell out quickly in the size or style you want. Each month, the brand places its order directly with the manufacturer and there is an emphasis on not over-ordering. If an item you’re interested in is not in stock, you can get notified via email when it’s available again. Or you can just check back early the following month.
• Limited size range. Quince carries a traditional range of women’s sizes, with most tops ranging from XS to XL and bottoms ranging from size 0 to 16. Similarly, most of the models look like they are nearly 6 ft tall and a size 2.
• There’s still a question mark that’s haunting me in terms of transparency: How are the prices so low if they’re paying a “living wage” to their production workers? When pressed, brand owners have spoken of proprietary, insider business secrets. Still, it’s unjust to label them guilty based on the “hunch” of some fashion industry journalists.
• Wool’s sustainability is up for debate – in my mind. I don’t know how Quince’s wool is sourced, and the potential mistreatment of goats is a point of concern. as is the frequent overgrazing of goats. This leads to desertification and soil erosion, which in turn contributes to global warming.

Is There a One Quince Promo Code?

Yes, you can save $20 off your first purchase with this House of Henmar referral link. The link will generate a unique code for you to use.

Otherwise, there is no One Quince coupon or promo code for your first purchase. Or at least there was not at the time I placed my order a couple of weeks ago.

There is a loyalty program. You can earn points for making purchases, leaving reviews, submitting photos, and following Quince on social media. Redeem points for $1 to $500 off your purchase.

What is the Quince Return Policy?

According to the website, One Quince offers a 365-day return window, but items must be in original packaging with all tags attached. Any return fees (shipping) are not clear. Customized orders and final sale items are non-returnable. I have not personally tried to make a return or exchange, but customers seem generally happy with the return policy based on reviews.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to One Quince, the quality is definitely there. If you’re eyeing a Mongolian cashmere tee or hoodie, you won’t be disappointed by the fit or feel.

And beyond the wool and silk items I bought and reviewed, there are other apparel and home products like bed linen, Italian leather handbags, rugs, shower curtains, and hard-sided suitcases.

If you’re curious, Quince is probably worth a go. I tried 7 items from the retailer, and I’m keeping all 7. (Yah. I decided I want that earring cuff after all.)

August 13, 2023 Update

I have made an additional purchase from Quince, purchasing a small leather belt bag, earnings, and oversize grandpa cashmere sweater cardigan (rockin’ it likes it’s 2008), and orange maxi dress.

I wrote the orange maxi dress last May for brand identify photos for my content writing business, Henmar Creative. I thought the bright orange matched my company slogan We Write Freaky Good Things. And really. The dress is so fierce it made an actual tiger pale in comparison.