Quince Plus Size Clothing Review

After sharing my review of Quince Clothing on a size 14/16 woman, many of you in the Wardrobe Oxygen Community wanted a Quince plus size clothing review. Quince, a sustainable fashion brand that prides itself on reasonable prices for luxury, recently came out with extended sizing (1X-3X or US 16-24).

I reached out to Quince, to see if they would be game for having one of the members of the Wardrobe Oxygen community receive some pieces from the extended size collection to provide an unbiased Quince plus size clothing review. Many applied, and I finally chose Kathryn, who is 5'6″ and wears a 22/24.

I paid Kathryn a fair rate, and Quince offered Kathryn a few pieces of her choice from their extended-size collection to try, review honestly, and keep. Quince did not review this post before publishing, and my only edits were for structure and layout. Below is Kathryn's honest review of Quince's extended-size collection:

Quince Plus Size Clothing Review

The first time I heard the phrase “elevated basics,” I knew I’d found a way to describe my favorite kind of clothing. I’ve always been drawn to the simplicity and versatility of classic silhouettes and neutral shades – the kind of clothes I can easily mix and match at 6 a.m. without worrying about whether it’s okay to mix an avant-garde sweater with a sweet vintage polka dot skirt.

Even though I love basics, I just can’t do boring. There has to be something – like luxurious fabric, thoughtful tailoring, an interesting detail, a rich color – that makes me excited to pull a piece from my closet in the morning.

Unfortunately, finding elevated basics in plus sizes can be a tall order, and it’s even trickier when you – like me – are shopping with a relatively modest budget. That’s why I was so excited when I heard that Quince was offering some styles in extended sizes up to 3X.

As a size 22/24, people my size are often left out of the hip, sustainable, “affordable luxury” brands that have started sprouting up, and it’s always a bummer to click through a social media ad for a gorgeous piece of clothing that I can actually afford only to find out that it doesn’t come in my size.

When Alison asked for a Wardrobe Oxygen reader to try and review some pieces from Quince’s new extended size range, I nearly jumped out of my seat to volunteer. I had already placed my first order (for Quince’s super-soft Mongolian Cashmere V-Neck Sweater in Navy). I had sent my husband a link to the Italian Leather Quilted Convertible Shoulder Bag (with the email header: “Buy me this for Christmas, please and thank you”), but I was eager to try even more.

Quince Washable Silk Skirt

My first review selection was the 100% Washable Silk Skirt in Champagne. I have two small children, so I don’t usually wear very light colors – sticky fingers are an ever-present concern – but I couldn’t resist the Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy wedding gown vibes. I instantly saw myself striding through the office wearing this skirt with a camel-colored sweater and simple gold hoop earrings, the personification of Quiet Luxury.

Naturally, the skirt was the first piece I tried on when my Quince package arrived just a few days after I’d given Alison my selections. It came out of the bag quite wrinkled, but just a few minutes of steaming with a handheld steamer had it looking fresh.

I worried that the fabric might be too thin or too sheer, but it was actually perfect – light enough to feel breezy but substantial enough to drape beautifully. I really liked the bias cut and elastic waistband, too. The skirt skims over my hips and stomach in a way that I think is really flattering, and the thick elastic fold-over waistband makes it comfortable and easy to wear.

Of course, this silk skirt is not completely perfect. (Nothing ever is, right?) I didn’t love the length – I’m 5’6”, and while it hits just below the knee in the website model photo, it falls to mid-calf on me. (The simple waistband makes it easy enough to roll up at the waist, though; if I get tired of doing that, I think it would be worth the cost of hemming it.)

Also, the fact that it’s unlined makes it difficult to tuck a shirt in, because you can clearly see the outline of your shirttail under the fabric. Fine with me, though – I’m happy to pair it with some of my more cropped tops. Finally, the fabric does wrinkle quite easily. I still looked fresh walking into the office after my morning commute, but eight hours at a desk did leave me with some creases towards the skirt's hemline. Honestly, though, I think that’s just the cost of doing business with silk.

Quince Tencel Jersey Midi Wrap Dress

Actually, I take back what I said above about nothing being perfect. The Tencel Jersey Midi Wrap Dress in Dark Olive is perfect.

I was hesitant about buying this wrap dress because jersey can be such a finicky fabric, but the gamble paid off – the fabric is silky and light but not clingy, and it has a beautiful drape. I love that the waist tie is long enough to fully loop around my waist with plenty of room for a knot or bow at my side.

I’m also really pleased with the dark olive color of this dress – it’s one of those “I’m not a regular neutral, I’m a cool neutral” colors that’s versatile but not boring. I love this dress so much that I plan to order another in navy.

I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve had to have an outfit go from “day to night” (shout out to all the women’s magazines that had me keeping clutch bags and statement necklaces in my desk drawer for a decade). Still, if that occasion comes up again, I’ll definitely wear this dress. It’s just as cute with big sparkly earrings and the one pair of high heels that live in the back of my closet as it is with sensible boots and a cute work bag.

Quince Italian Leather Quilted Convertible Shoulder Bag

Speaking of cute work bags, I am a little bit obsessed with the Italian Leather Quilted Convertible Shoulder Bag. (Thanks to my husband’s well-timed Christmas gift!)

This bag just checks so many boxes on my wish list: it’s big enough for my necessities without being “ludicrously capacious”, it has a crossbody strap that’s long enough for my plus-size body.

It’s luxurious without being so expensive that I’m afraid actually to use it. The quilted leather is super soft, and the convertible chain strap has a really nice, satisfying weight that makes the whole bag feel high-end.

I also love the interior zippered pouch – perfect for my card holder and lipstick – and the large pocket in the back, which has a hidden magnetic clasp to keep my secret lollipop stash from spilling out at an inconvenient time. Overall, it really satisfies my high-end designer bag dreams without being so expensive that I have palpitations every time I take it out of the house.

Quince Organic Cotton Knit Blazer

My next selection was the 100% Organic Cotton Knit Blazer in Camel. This one is so close to being perfect! The knit fabric is thick and comfortable – when I wear a blazer to the office, I usually wind up taking it off at some point because it starts to feel too restrictive, but this was so comfy that I wore it all day with no problem.

I adore the bracelet-length sleeves of this blazer, too. (Why, oh why, are blazer sleeves always way too long on me?) The only thing I didn’t love was the fit.

I usually wear a size 22/24, so I ordered this in 3X, and it felt slightly oversized. At first, I thought maybe I should have sized down, but I looked at the model picture on the website, and it seems a bit slouchy on her, too. It was also a little bit longer than I prefer – I’m 5’6”, and it falls mid-thigh on me. If it were just a little bit more fitted and shorter, I would be completely obsessed with this blazer. As it stands, though, I’ll still reach for it on days that I want to go for a “casual but still pulled together” vibe.

Quince Mongolian Cashmere Oversized Boyfriend Cardigan

My final pick was the Mongolian Cashmere Oversized Boyfriend Cardigan Sweater in Heather Gray. The website reviews seemed to agree that this piece runs large, so I sized down to a 2X and found it to be a perfect slouchy, oversized fit.

The cashmere fisherman rib knit is absolutely incredible – thick, stretchy, and as soft as a kitten’s fur. I’ve never been drawn to this style of cardigan before, but after a couple of weeks with this one, I’m pretty sure I can’t live without it.

This cardigan works with straight-leg pants at the office, it works with a t-shirt and jeans while running errands, and it works especially well for snuggling up on the couch after the kids are in bed with pajama pants, a gigantic mug of herbal tea and your book of choice. This is hygge-core at its finest, and I am absolutely here for it.

Final Review of Quince Extended Size Collection

Overall, I was really happy with everything I tried from Quince! I’d love to see them expand their extended-size selection to include more pieces from their straight-size collection (Italian Wool Cocoon Coat, I’m talking to you!) but I know these “elevated basics” will stay in heavy rotation in my closet for a long time.

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Thank you so much, Kathryn, for this balanced review of pieces from Quince's extended-size collection. I am so glad you found great pieces for your wardrobe! And if you're reading this and have tried Quince plus size clothing, please share your thoughts and reviews of pieces in the comments. Your feedback may be just what another needs to determine whether to buy or pass on a piece from Quince!