Why Dappad online clothing delivery service is a genuinely impressive style tool
We ordered a hamper from online clothing delivery service Dappad and this is what happened…
What? Dappad is one of a host of online clothing delivery companies that sends a hamper full of designer and high-street threads to your home or office: keep what you like and send the rest back (for free).
How does it work? After a brief sign-up process, you will be called by one of Dappad’s stylists – in my case Erika – who will give you a 10-15 minute questionnaire on your style choices and measurements. During this conversation they will find out what clothes you like to wear, what holes in your wardrobe you’re hoping to fill and how flexible you are with your fashion choices. The prices are on a level with the high street.
What’s that like? I didn’t realise how ill defined my “style” was until I was asked to define it. I knew I was in the market for casual clothes instead of work-wear, and I asked for things in neutral or earthy tones; burgundy, grey, navy, olive. I asked for a selection of pieces, including jeans, trainers, jumpers coats and t-shirts.
What sort of clothes do they have? Dappad’s casual clothes feature lots of Scandinavian-style brands, with a hint of Japanese influence in there too; understated but stylish. There's also smart stuff if you want to sharpen up your work-wear.
What did you get? First up, you realise what a depressingly small space £1,000’s worth of clothing fits into: a box not much bigger than a wide briefcase. But when you open it, you see they manage to squeeze a lot in. My box contained two pairs of Paige jeans (navy and black, £215 a pair), which fitted perfectly (this virtually never happens), two t-shirts (white and navy) which were both great, and a pair of smart trainers that I wouldn’t have looked at twice but now wear all the time. There was also a heavy Stutterheim raincoat – beautiful but slightly too big – a pair of J Lindeberg trousers, a Gant jumper and an Eton denim shirt, all of which I sent back.
How much did it cost? The final invoice was £670, which is expensive but not unreasonable for the amount – and quality – of clothing I ended up with.
How was it different to shopping yourself? Well, for a start I’m usually far too stingy to spend £65 on a t-shirt, but after trying on this one from Orlebar Brown I was won over. The Paige jeans – not previously on my radar – will now be my go-to brand given how well they fit. And that raincoat I liked: I went and bought it in my size from a department store the next day. This is another advantage of Dappad (one they don’t advertise): you’re introduced to brands you’ll still be picking up long after you’ve forgotten about your personalised box.
Conclusion: The service is more useful than I’d envisaged: the clothes I kept have become wardrobe staples and the new brands I’ve been introduced to will hopefully serve me for years to come. It’s great to get a fresh perspective on your wardrobe; even as someone with a fairly keen interest in fashion, it made me realise how limited my clothing choices tend to be.
One more thing… Sign up to Dappad by Sunday the 4 September and get a gift worth £65 when spending £350. Tell your stylist that you read City PM – no code needed. hello.dappad.com