Quince burst onto the scene in 2020 after a year of beta testing and quickly became a retail powerhouse thanks to deals like its viral $50 women’s cashmere sweater and other “affordable luxury” products due to its factory-direct-to-consumer model that streamlines the supply chain.
Over that time, our team has tested out an extensive range of the brand’s items, including 60 products you can find on our Quince Review. It will let you know where Quince does a great job (cashmere, organic cotton, Tencel) and where it can still improve (leather goods, jeans, linen).
As Quince continues to expand its range — it now sells everything from supplements to glassware, even caviar — its core product line remains on the women’s clothing and accessories side. Still, Quince is also building out its men’s line with a dedicated team for men’s apparel and a recent expansion into men’s footwear. We’ve tested out a variety of men’s apparel, including the Mongolian cashmere sweater, that’s $9.99 more than the women’s version, but is definitely worth getting, especially after a recent quality upgrade by Quince. It’s soft enough to wear without a shirt underneath and although it’s thinner than more expensive cashmere sweaters, it has a classic style, is breathable but warm, and runs true to size.
Although the brand doesn’t have the same scope of apparel for men as it does for women, there’s enough on the site to find some gems at Quince.
Cons to consider
In general, there are a lot of positives with Quince, I’ve found their clothing fits true to size, has pretty consistent quality, and high quality at a great price. But there are a few cons to consider with the brand.
Limited sizing: The men’s sizing is limited to Small to XXL, unlike brands like Bonobos, which offers an XS. For its men’s pants, the brand does offer a fairly wide selection, with waist sizes ranging from 30 to 44 and inseams from 30 to 34 inches.
Lack of transparency: Quince bills itself as sustainable and it does use sustainable materials, like organic cotton and recycled polyester, in a lot of its clothing. Likewise, some of its production is certified through third-party social compliance programs that audit supply chains (Business Social Compliance Initiative Code of Conduct – BSCI, and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production), but doesn’t provide any evidence Quince ensures workers in its supply chain a living wage, according to Good On You.
Unlike other brands such as Patagonia and Pact, Quince doesn’t provide much in the way of backing evidence to the consumer for its claims. Even Everlane (that had some previous greenwashing issues of its own), has a detailed list of the factories it uses and a comprehensive explanation of its auditing standards available on its website. Quince does not, which is one of the reasons Good On You, a website that rates apparel brands on their sustainability, lists Quince as “Not Good Enough.” If sustainability is important to you, we’d recommend sticking to the brand’s items that are made using these more sustainable materials.
The bottom line
In general, we found Quince to be a good place to find men’s apparel, even though it currently skews towards women’s clothing and accessories. The brand is making strides with its menswear. Although some customers and reviewers find there can be some inconsistent quality with its clothing, everything we tested was solid, especially for the money.
The brand may still have a way to go with its sustainability, or at least needs to be more transparent to consumers to back up its claims. The brand has made improvements in the last couple of years, and we hope it will continue to move in the right direction to become an even better site for elevated wardrobe staples.
Quince Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater
Andrew Amelinckx/Business Insider
The Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater is soft enough to wear without a shirt underneath, has a classic style, and over three months of testing has remained free of any pilling. The sweater I tested is what Quince is calling cashmere 2.0, which the brand says is softer and more durable than its original. I found it to be slightly thinner than other more expensive cashmere sweaters I own, but it is warm, breathable, fits true to size, and is easy to pair with a variety of looks. It’s become one of my go-to sweaters.
With cashmere, you don’t want to overwash it, so instead of my typical testing methodology of washing and drying a piece of clothing at least three times, I washed this sweater once in the three months I’ve had it following the brand’s instructions (wash by hand in cold water with mild detergent and lay flat to dry) without any negative effects.
To be clear, the brand sources its cashmere, which comes from goats, in Inner Mongolia, a Chinese autonomous region, rather than Mongolia, the country. It’s worth mentioning because some people feel Mongolian cashmere is superior to its Chinese counterpart. Still, at $59.99, Quince’s 100% Grade-A Mongolian sweater remains a great deal and worth the money, with its soft handfeel, timeless aesthetic, and choice of 12 colorways. With proper care, this sweater will likely last you years.
Quince Cashmere Turtleneck
Amir Ismael/Business Insider
Knit or cashmere sweaters are my favorite layers during the fall, winter, and even early spring, and the one nonnegotiable staple for me is a black turtleneck. It’s versatile enough to be worn on its own or layered under a nice jacket, as seen above. I’ve owned this particular Quince Cashmere Turtleneck for three years now, and it’s held up considerably well.
Shopping for affordable cashmere can be hit or miss, but Quince has been a hit. The affordable price lets me wear it without feeling like it should be reserved for special occasions. It’s made from 100% Grade A Mongolian Cashmere, so it’s soft enough to wear directly on your skin. Over the years, I haven’t experienced any worn spots or excessive piling. —Amir Ismael, men’s style editor, Insider Reviews
Quince Organic Cotton Stretch Twill Dress Shirt
Andrew Amelinckx/Business Insider
This is a well-crafted Twill Dress Shirt with a generous weight to it that drapes beautifully. There’s a lot of nice details, especially for the under $50 price tag, including mother-of-pearl buttons, a curved hem so the shirt stays tucked in, and metal collar stays. The shirt fit true to size (I’m 6-feet and weigh 170 and the medium fits me perfectly). It has 4% lycra, which gives it a bit of stretch.
I washed and dried the shirt three times following the brand’s instructions (wash on a gentle cycle and tumble dry on low), and it still looks crisp and retains its softness. While Quince says the twill fabric has a natural resistance to wrinkles, I found the shirt required ironing, especially after washing and drying. The dress shirt comes in seven colorways that offer a good choice in colors and patterns ( four solids and three patterns). The fact that it’s made using organic cotton also helps make it a worthy addition to your work clothing rotation.
Quince Organic Heavyweight Fleece Set
Amir Ismael/Business Insider
Do some online shopping for sweatsuits, and you’ll quickly find out how expensive they can be. As a set that’s intended for comfort and lounging, naturally, you won’t want to spend hundreds on a decent sweatshirt and sweatpants combo. Quince’s Organic Heavyweight Fleece is the answer to affordability without settling for a cheap option that’ll wear out quickly.
Both the top and bottom are made of 375g heavyweight organic cotton fleece, which makes them warmer and softer than most other options that are similarly priced.
I’ve had this set for a few years and have washed and dried it countless times, and it’s only gotten better with its age. This set runs a bit big, so order true to size, unless you’re looking for an oversized fit. I ordered a size medium, but I would go for a size small if I ordered another color. —Amir Ismael, men’s style editor, Insider Reviews
Quince Organic Stretch Chore Jacket
Andrew Amelinckx/Business Insider
Chore coats have become a menswear staple thanks to their effortless style that can lean either casual or more dressy depending on what you wear them with. There are generally two versions of the chore coat, unlined or lined. The Quince Chore Coat falls into the former category, which makes it great for transitional weather (spring and fall) and for layering in colder weather.
On first inspection, I found some stray threads on the inside of the jacket, but no snags or other imperfections, and the buttons are securely attached. The jacket has a soft handfeel, fits true to size, and has a nice bit of stretch. The cotton fabric gives the jacket a softer drape than some other chore coats I own, making it feel closer to an overshirt or shirt jacket. While chore coats are workwear, I was able to dress up the Quince jacket with a collared shirt, tie, tailored slacks, and tassel loafers. Besides the three traditional patch pockets, on the front
Quince adds some nice touches like two inseam pockets and an internal pocket at the chest. At $60, I feel this is a good value and less expensive than organic cotton chore coats from brands like Patagonia and Prana or even Carhartt, which isn’t made from organic cotton.
Quince Suede Bomber
Amir Ismael/Business Insider
The Suede Bomber Jacket was my first impression of Quince’s outerwear, and even after 3 years of owning it, it’s still one of my favorite pieces from the brand.
When I first reviewed the jacket, it retailed for $150, but even at $200 due to inflation, it’s impossible not to see the value. Any comparable bomber jacket would likely cost three times as much as Quince.
Pricing aside, the look and feel of this jacket is incredibly nice. It’s made from 100% top-grain goat suede leather, which has held up well over the years. The cognac color particularly pairs well with jeans and boots.
The jacket runs a bit small, so you can size up if you prefer a roomier fit. For reference, the models on site are listed as being 6’0″ – 6’3″ wearing a medium; I’m 5’5″, and the medium also fits me without being oversized. —Amir Ismael, men’s style editor, Insider Reviews
Quince Shearling Collar Leather Flight Jacket
Amir Ismael/Business Insider
Quince has become one of my favorite places for jackets because they’re so affordable. The classic leather flight jacket is a style that I’ve always wanted, but given the price of genuine leather options, it’s never been a priority purchase for me.
The Shearling Collar Leather Flight Jacket checks all the boxes for style and value. It features a genuine leather body, a genuine shearling collar, and really nice brass hardware. Yes, there are nicer, more premium leather flight jackets available, but you can expect to pay more than double the price of this Quince jacket. And for a jacket that I’ll strictly wear for style, rather than warmth or utility, it’s an amazing deal. I’m 5’5″, wearing a size medium, and got a true-to-size fit.
Read more in our full Quince Shearling Leather Flight Jacket review. —Amir Ismael, men’s style editor, Insider Reviews
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at [email protected].
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