As women mature, finding flattering, age-appropriate clothing and home goods can become quite challenging. Fast fashion brands cater to younger crowds, while high-end designers price many women out. That‘s where Soft Surroundings comes in – this St. Louis-based company specifically targets females over 40 with its selection of apparel, bedding, and decor.
Known for upscale fabrics, tailored fits, and elegant prints, Soft Surroundings looks to deliver refinement and comfort to their customers. I‘ve analyzed the brand‘s backgrounds, products, policies, and reviews to bring you a comprehensive assessment. Keep reading to determine if their catalog suits your tastes and lifestyle needs.
Overview of Soft Surroundings: Comfort Meets Sophistication
Robin Sheldon founded Soft Surroundings in 1999 as a catalog company focused on women aged 40-75. The direct-to-consumer brand promises to use better fabrics for an elevated look, without sacrificing ease and versatility.
While they started solely as a print publication, Soft Surroundings now also sells through online channels and brick-and-mortar retail locations across 38 states. Over 300 employees strong, the company remains based in St. Louis, producing apparel and home goods domestically and overseas.
Soft Surroundings doesn‘t follow fleeting trends – rather, they stick to timeless elegance for items you‘ll wear and enjoy for years. They use high-end fabrics like silk, cashmere, and faux fur blended with cottons and rayons for optimal softness. While selections cater to more mature tastes, the aesthetic still feels current and vibrant.
Beyond clothing, Soft Surroundings also sells bedding, blankets, pillows, and other home accessories in matching collections so you can carry the style throughout your personal spaces.
Key Product Offerings Meet a Range of Style Needs
Soft Surroundings doesn‘t just offer one aesthetic – selections range from tailored classics perfect for the office to flowing bohemian dresses and cardigans meant for relaxing. The breadth of choices means you can likely find multiple wardrobe staples rather than just a single statement piece.
Bedding and Home Decor
- Quilts, duvets, shams, sheets sets, and coverlets in both bold and neutral palettes
- Throw blankets and pillows in knits, velvets, faux fur, linen
- Accent pillows and decorative items like jewelry boxes
- Items available in twin up to California king for outfitting any bed
- Selection of monogramming available for personalization
Pricing ranges from $40 for decorative pillows up to $450 for a complete seven-piece quilt set. Materials include cotton, rayon, linen, cashmere, silk, velvet – all selected for optimal softness and durability.
Clothing and Accessories
- Tops, blouses, sweaters, tunics, and tees for layering or wearing alone
- Cardigans, dusters, kimonos, ponchos, capes for light cover
- Trousers, leggings, jeans, shorts, skirts, and jumpsuits for bottoms
- Activewear like yoga pants, joggers, shorts, and tees
- Intimates including soft bras, panties, pajamas, and loungewear
- Outerwear like lightweight jackets, trenches, parkas, and faux furs
- Scarves, hats, gloves, jewelry, handbags, and other accessories
- Petite and plus sizes available up to size 28W
Apparel pricing ranges widely from $30 basic layers and tees up to $350 for cashmere sweaters and genuine leather handbags. The bulk of everyday selections falls between $75 and $150.
Spotlight on Bestselling Items
While Soft Surroundings sells hundreds of products across home and fashion categories, a few customer favorites stand out for their exceptional quality and enduring styles.
Portofino Smocked Comforter
This cotton comforter earns rave reviews for its soft texture, on-trend aqua hue, and decorative details. The subtle smocked patterning adds depth without overpowering. Light enough for year-round use.
- 100% cotton shell and fill
- Available in twin, queen, and king ($150-$270)
- Matching shams sold separately
- 4.8/5 star average across 289 reviews
Amalfi Luxe Bedding
For the ultimate hotel luxury feel at home, customers love this quilted bedding set. The soft ivory color scheme works in any bedroom, while the pinned details lend subtle interest. Breathable for year-round comfort.
- Cotton front, polyester fill
- Sold as comforter + sham sets starting at $180
- Also available in aqua and white color schemes
- Rated 4.9/5 stars over 19 reviews
Icon Sultana Maxi Dress
Feminine details shine in this fan favorite dress with contrasting floral and paisley prints for visual intrigue. The plunging front embellished with gold studs flatters without revealing too much. It drapes beautifully on all body types.
- Poly-spandex blend is soft with stretch
- Blue/ivory pattern works year round
- Available in XS-3X for under $200
- "Iconic!" says one of many 5-star reviewers
Velvet Boyfriend Shirt
For the 36th year running, Soft Surroundings customers say this velvet button-up remains a yearly staple. The cotton-blend velvet offers substantial warmth without weight. Smart tailoring flatters while the velvet adds richness.
- Cotton/velvet blend with hint of stretch
- Gray or black options to pair with anything
- Sizes XXS-XL for under $100
- 4.7/5 stars across nearly 400 reviews
Who is the Soft Surroundings Customer?
The typical Soft Surroundings customer is a woman aged 40-75 looking for stylish comfort clothes to see her through daily life. She appreciates quality construction and materials that stand the test of time. Offering extended sizes up to 3X means more shoppers can access signature favorites year after year.
Busy suburban moms, retirees, career women, and empty nesters alike gravitate towards the brand‘s timeless sophistication and focus on refined fabrics over trends. The addition of coordinating home goods means Soft Surroundings becomes a go-to for filling both wardrobes and living spaces.
While prices sit above mass retailers like Target or Walmart, women find value in the attention to detail and investment pieces they‘ll reuse for multiple seasons.
Customer Reviews Praise Quality & Selection
Scouring sites like TrustPilot, Facebook, and the SoftSurroundings site itself reveals a loyal fan base with very positive perceptions overall. With many shoppers returning for 5, 10, even 15+ years, the numbers speak for themselves.
A few themes stand out amongst reviews in terms of what women most appreciate:
- Consistent quality – spanning materials to construction, customers say pieces withstand frequent wear over many seasons
- Flattering cuts – curated for mature bodies mean clothes fit and feel fantastic
- Accessible luxury – while not the cheapest brand, Soft Surroundings fills the gap between department stores and designers
- Standout prints – vibrant colors and patterns that feel sophisticated rather than stuffy
That said, some shoppers experienced shipping delays, quality inconsistencies, or mediocre customer service interactions. This criticism seems relatively minimal compared to thousands of glowing testimonials but proves no brand perfect across all touch points.
Pros and Cons of Soft Surroundings
Pros
- Specializes in elevated essentials for mature women often ignored by mainstream fashion
- Established brand with reputation for quality construction and fabrics
- Carries both casual everyday wear along with special occasion pieces
- Cohesive home offerings for a pulled together environment
- Loyal customers praise flattering fits, vibrant prints, and lasting durability
- Items frequently added and removed to keep selections fresh
- Buy online or in retail stores across 38 states
Cons
- Price points sit above average department store brands
- Some variability reported in customer service responsiveness
- Limited global shipping options
- Sale and clearance stock sells quickly
For shoppers seeking a trusted destination for sophisticated comfort wear, Soft Surroundings delivers quality and convenience worth the prices. Infrequent complaints around shipping delays or fabric issues pale in comparison to 20+ years of repeat buyers singing praises.
While budgets and preferences vary wildly, the brand‘s balancing of style and ease squarely hits the target.
Smart Savings to Shop Soft Surroundings
While Soft Surroundings positions itself as an elevated essentials brand, they do offer loyal shoppers ways to lighten loads on their wallets. Seasonal sales, exclusive discounts, rebates, and more offer women regular opportunities to score deals.
- Sign up for email list to receive 25% off welcome coupon
- Add online order to in-store pickup for extra 20% off
- Shop sales for discounts up 50-60% clearance items
- Take advantage of seasonal sales around holidays and changeovers
- Buy bundled sets that offer a complete look for less
- Join loyalty program for free shipping and birthday gifts
Savvy shoppers can easily save $50-100 per order through smart stacking of these savings and promotions. For the biggest price cuts focus efforts around major sales holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day, holiday weekends.
Where to Buy Soft Surroundings
Soft Surroundings operates both online ecommerce and brick-and-mortar retail stores to meet customers wherever convenient.
Online
- Softsurroundings.com
- Amazon third-party marketplace
- Various affiliate partners
In Person
- 38 states boast at least one retail location
- Stores centered in midwestern states like Missouri, Iowa, Illinois
- Use online locator to find nearest one
Both channels offer the complete range of products shown online with comparable pricing. In-store purchases skipping delivery fees while online opens more filter tools like reviews and accelerated fulfilment options.
Key Soft Surroundings Policy Highlights
Understanding a retailer‘s policies around shipping, returns, price adjustments, and service practices often makes or breaks a shopping experience. Here I outline the most important details to know as a Soft Surroundings customer:
Shipping
- Standard shipping $10 flat rate in US
- Expedited 2-day or overnight shipping ranges $13-$26
- Allow 1-2 days processing + stated transit time
- Extra fee of $12 for AK/HI/PR/VI/GU/AS/MP
Returns
- 60 days for refund or exchange
- Original condition with tags + unwashed/unworn
- $8 return processing fee deducted
- Custom or monogrammed items final sale
Pricing
- MSRP prices generally as marked
- Discounted and sale items will reflect savings off original MSRP
- Coupons stack on top of sales for extra savings
- Loyalty program 10% rewards and free shipping
Customer Service
- Phone, chat, email, social support channels
- Brick-and-mortar locations also handle questions
- Some reports around delays during COVID surges
They stick closely to stated timelines around fulfillment and returns to limit unwelcome surprises. Reach out directly with any other inquiries.
Answers to Your Top Soft Surroundings Questions
Who owns and runs Soft Surroundings?
Founder Robin Sheldon still serves as Vice Chairman working with CEO AmyAGT to shape the brand‘s strategy and positioning.
What sizes do they offer?
Most apparel ranges from XXS-3X in both missy and petite frames to accommodate a wide range of bodies. Extended footwear and accessories as well.
Do they offer monogramming or personalization?
Yes! Many bedding and linen collections allow monogram and name customization. Some apparel like robes, bags, and zip jackets also qualify.
Can I return sale items?
Yes, the standard 60 day return policy applies regardless of whether items were purchased at full or sale prices.
Where are Soft Surroundings clothes made?
While a few casual basics are cut and sewn domestically, most clothing comes from overseas factories in India, China, Indonesia. All vendors must comply with ethical standards.
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Let Soft Surroundings Comfort and Style Shine
If you feelother brands ignore mature women or lack softness both inside and out…Soft Surroundings presents the perfect solution. Timeless apparel, bedding, and home goods revolve around elevated fabrics cut and draped for optimal ease and fit.
While not the absolute most affordable, devoted fans swear by the quality construction and unique prints over fast fashion that fades. For women who‘ve aged out of trendy junior sections without maturing into dowdy grandmother territory, Soft Surroundings satisfies with sophisticated grace.
Based on decades of satisfied return customers, this brand clearly delivers clothing and sanctuary worth coming home to. Browse the complete comfort catalogue at SoftSurroundings.com to welcome simpler sophistication into your life today.
