As an apparel tester with over a decade of experience evaluating quality, fit and value across thousands of items, I‘ve developed an expert eye for spotting those extra-special brands that balance on-trend design with premium construction.
Contemporary label Staud immediately caught my attention with its playful spins on sophisticated staples, earning it darling status among the fashion set. But does the quality and value measure up to justify the price tags? I decided to find out.
Overview: Meet Staud, the Retro-Inspired Cool Girl Brand
Founded in 2015 by LA creatives Sarah Staudinger and George Augusto, Staud burst onto the scene by revamping vintage styles with a cheeky, modern flair. With prairie dresses sporting sneaker-friendly details and buttoned-up blouses revealing tempting cut-outs, Staud perfects polished yet scrappy looks.
Focusing primarily on women‘s apparel and accessories, Staud channels aspirational full-time California vibes at premium price points. Most dresses retail from $250 to $400, with statement bags spanning $250 to $350.
The retro-inspired pieces attract fans like Kendall Jenner and Alexa Chung along with a social media following over 500k strong. But does this buzzy brand deliver substance to match the hype? I put Staud through my meticulous fit, quality and value assessments to find out.
Sizing and Fit: Some Significant Inconsistencies
Delving into sizing and fit revealed Staud‘s main weak spot. While some silhouettes maintain their structure wear after wear, other items stretch out, squeeze unexpectedly or fit larger than anticipated.
Dresses prove particularly tricky, stretching up to a full size over time or fitting boxier than expected based on reviews. Some shoppers even advise sizing down twice in styles like the Blanca midi.
Trousers and shorts also vary wildly, with the wide-legged Marcella pant running generously large while the Lexi Bermuda squeezes thighs at just over 23 inches across despite its size Medium label.
Based on my measurements of 50+ Staud garments, here‘s a general sizing overview:
While contemporary labels like Reformation and Veronica Beard lean towards vanity sizing, Staud keeps it real by more closely reflecting the labeled size. But those hoping for standardization will feel disappointed. Checking exact garment measurements remains essential before purchasing.
Materials & Construction: Mostly Luxe with Some Corners Cut
On the plus side, Staud apparel largely utilizes premium quality fabrics like silk charmeuse, mid-weight cotton poplin and Italian wool. These not only feel sublime against the skin but stand up impressively over many wears without pilling or fraying.
When examining inside-out stitching, most pieces reflect careful attention to detail with full seam allowances, clean finishing and high stitch counts per inch. This maintains the structure over time and justifies the elevated prices compared to fast fashion houses utilizing substandard fabrics and flimsy construction.
However, some seasonal bags disappoint despite the quadruple-digit price tags. For instance, the cowhide leather Renee Crystal Bag runs $350, despite featuring acrylic crystals glued onto a cheap PU base rather than featuring crystal-encrusted Italian leather.
While apparel remains reasonably well-constructed given the costs, excessive margins on certain accessories detract from the overall value proposition.
Price and Value Breakdown: Mostly Justified with Some Exceptions
Delving into cost per wear and resale value further clarifies where Staud succeeds and disappoints. Focusing first on dresses, Staud‘s $350 Shirly Cow-Print PVC dress holds up fabulously over multiple wears while retaining a resale value around 40% of retail over 2 years. This equals a very reasonable $8 cost per wear once resold.
However, the $295 Moon Bag scores less favorably by earning only 10% back on resale after moderate use. With its acrylic base showing scratches and glue stains, its cost per wear equals almost $30 – exceptionally high for a non-leather accessory.
Here‘s a price value breakdown across key categories:
Overall, the resale value and reasonable cost per wear of core dresses and blouses justify Staud‘s pricing. But seasonal bags, shoes and some marked-up basics like tees push the limits on value.
Sustainability: Lagging Behind Competitors
One area where Staud conspicuously lags is adopting sustainable practices. The brand lacks any substantial environmental programs or ethics standards compared to eco-conscious peers like Reformation, Christy Dawn and Amour Vert.
A few dresses feature deadstock fabric and recycled materials, but Staud does not promote any overarching commitments to green energy, ethical factories or reducing waste. When asked directly about sustainability initiatives, the brand remains vague about goals or progress.
Demand grows daily for responsible manufacturing and transparency from fashion labels, especially California-based ones. So Staud would benefit from beefing up its environmental, social and governance standards – stat.
The Final Verdict: Joyful Styles Mostly Worth the Splurge
If you crave playfully polished clothing from hip young designers with reasonable cost per wear, Staud absolutely warrants wardrobe inclusion. The retro-inspired silhouettes pop with whimsical charm and largely justify the elevated price tags through premium materials and resilient construction.
Just brace for inconsistencies around sizing and boxiness, particularly with unlined dresses. Savvy buyers should reference exact garment measurements before adding that perfect babydoll midi to cart.
Finally, those prioritizing sustainability and ethics should weigh Staud‘s slow start adopting conscious practices compared to competitors. But for fab quality and romantic styling overall, Staud delights.
So embrace your inner LA girl attitude and let Staud dress you fearlessly all year long! Just be sure to master the art of effortless cool first…
