The Frivolist: Stylish Subscription Services to Wake Up Your Gay Fall Wardrobe

Once your box is prepared, you’ll be sent a preview e-mail so you can cancel or change anything you like within 48 hours of receipt.
Once your box is prepared, you’ll be sent a preview e-mail so you can cancel or change anything you like within 48 hours of receipt.

Once your box is prepared, you’ll be sent a preview e-mail so you can cancel or change anything you like within 48 hours of receipt.

By: Mikey Rox*/Special to TRT—

There’s more to autumn than apple pie this and pumpkin spice that. One of the best things about fall, in fact, is that we get to unpack the sweaters, scarves and other cool-weather clothing (most of us anyway), which provide many more outfit options than we have during summer. Sure, there’s plenty to be said about the lack of layers when the mercury is at its peak, but the latter months of the year have their own perks—like dapper dudes in button-downs, blazers and kick-ass boots. Now you can join the club—quite literally—and step up your own style this fall with these subscription services that bring fresh perspective to your wardrobe, delivered direct to your door.

  1. Five Four Club

If you’ve ever wanted a personal stylist to help you look your best even though you’re on a budget, Five Four Club may just be your materialistic messiah. The service—which if you do the math equals a “one-of-a-kind service with a one-of-a-kind value” —provides members with deep discounts on fresh duds that your closet already covets. Four distinct boxes are available—for personalities that range from “Dress to Impress” to “T-Shirt and Jeans” —the cost of which is less than half the retail price of the items inside. fivefourclothing.com

  1. Trunk Club

For high-end clothing handpicked to reflect your personal style, Trunk Club has you covered. Unlike many of the other clothing boxes, however, this isn’t a monthly service and there’s no upfront membership fee. Rather, you can request shipments at any time, try on the surprises inside at home, and decide what suits you. Whatever you don’t like you can return, and after 10 days you’ll be charged for the items you decide to keep. Trunk Club isn’t for everyone, though; this premium service is on par with top-tier shops that offer denim, casual shirts and sweaters in the $100 to $300 per-piece range. trunkclub.com

  1. Bombfell

Like other monthly boxes, Bombfell personal stylists are hard at work handpicking each item specifically for you, but you can maintain some measure of control if you’d like: You have the ability to skip the uncertainty and personally select the type of items that you’re sent, like “2 button-downs and a pair of jeans,” for instance. Once your box is prepared, you’ll be sent a preview e-mail so you can cancel or change anything you like within 48 hours of receipt. Individual pieces hover at an average of $69, and shipping is free both ways. bombfell.com

  1. Curator and Mule

Now that you’re all set with tops and bottoms, you’ll need accessories to personalize those new outfits—which is Curator and Mule’s specialty. Each season, the service discovers the hottest hats, shades, wallets and more to make you stand out from the crowd. Four or five pieces are then packed into a box and sent your way for $60 per season with an option to sit one out. Past brands have included private labels like Wovenn, UrbanCow and Evolution Man. curatorandmule.com

  1. Zoraab

Give your feet a pick-me-up with funky-fresh socks from Zoraab, a monthly subscription service that lets you customize your experience until your piggies are content. Choose your socks from four broad categories (“Laid Back,” “Fashion Statement,” “Strictly Business,” and “Walk on the Wild Side”), then choose the number of socks you’d like to receive every month, from two to five pair. Gift subscriptions also are available for the fashionistas on your list. zoraab.com

  1. Underwear Society

You’ll love gettin’ your undies in a bunch when they’re sent from Underwear Society, a subscription service that sends four pairs of skivvies once a month or as a one-off purchase. Designate your favorite brand from one of three choices—Kings and Jaxs, Stonemen, or XVII (or let the Society mix it up for you); pick your favorite cut (brief, boxer brief or trunk); and select your size. Prices vary based on brand, which range from the very affordable $18 per shipment to a more competitive $40 a box. underwearsociety.com

  1. Bespoke Post

If you’re a gambling man, Bespoke Post could be in your cards. This box club features several different themes from which to choose—focusing on accessories, personal grooming and more—that you’ll get to peek at on the first of every month via e-mail. You can “skip it, swap it, or let it ride,” and if you choose one of the latter two options you’ll be billed the $45 per-box fee when the goods ship around the 5th of the month. bespokepost.com

  1. FreshNeck

The guys at the office will start to envy your professional style (assuming they don’t already, of course) with a subscription to FreshNeck, which bills itself as the “Netflix for Ties.” For all intents and purposes, that’s an accurate description of this service that lets you fill your virtual closet with dozens of ties, bow ties, pocket squares and cufflinks, the top available items of which will arrive on your doorstep within one to three business days. Wear the items as long as you want, or send them back frequently to receive new items. Membership starts at $20 per month, shipping is free both ways, and there are never any late fees. freshneck.com

*Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and blogger whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. He lives in Manhattan with his husband and their cuddle-buddy furbaby. Connect with Mikey on Twitter @mikeyrox

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