Honest 2022 Chicwish Review (and Photos!) After Spending $600+ • Budget Fashionista
Thank you to Chicwish for sponsoring this post and funding my summer wardrobe overhaul. I got paid for my time, but all opinions below are genuinely mine.
TLDR:
- The Chicwish catalog is stuffed with fun, interesting pieces that have a retro vibe.
- I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the Chicwish clothes I received.
- Chicwish prices are reasonable, especially given the quality. Don’t overlook the sale items, which can be discounted from 20% to 40%.
- Shipping can take some time and larger orders may be split up and arrive separately.
You know that feeling of looking in your closet and realizing you have nothing to wear? Often, that’s just your brain saying there’s nothing you want to wear. But not always. In my case, it was partially true.
Last year, I relocated from Missouri to New Mexico. I approached the move as a massive decluttering effort. I donated or sold furniture, housewares, and — you guessed it — clothes. (If you’re interested, you can procure some of my old garments on ThredUp right now.) I whittled down my closet to the best of my basics and investment pieces.
I mostly managed through winter on jeans, sweatshirts, and my large-ish coat collection. But once the days started warming up, I was having that “nothing to wear” feeling on the regular.
That’s about the time Chicwish approached me to review their shopping experience. I agreed for two reasons. One, my wardrobe was meager. And two, I’d been admiring Chicwish’s girly A-line skirts and crop tops for ages — but I hadn’t yet made a purchase.
One thing I knew I didn’t love about Chicwish is the lack of models in many of the product shots. I find it harder to envision myself wearing a piece when I see it on a hanger vs. on a person. I guess that some of you feel the same way. So I shook hands with the Chicwish team on the review — I figured I’d enjoy a real-life look at their clothes and you might, too.
My Chicwish order
For the above-mentioned reason (I had nothing to wear), I kind of went crazy with my Chicwish shopping. Below is a look at eight of my favorite Chicwish looks. I also included links for you to shop these fun styles. You can also follow Chicwish on Instagram and Pinterest for more retro-style inspiration.
1. A-line skirt + crop
Chicwish’s signature style is the full, high-waisted A-line skirt with a cute crop. My picks in that wheelhouse were a gorgeous white and blue floral skirt ($46.90) plus a white top with pearl detail around the neckline ($32.90).
I adore both pieces. The top is incredibly versatile — it’ll dress up jeans or pair perfectly with wide-legged, high-waisted trousers. And the skirt? A statement maker. It’s visually stunning and holds its shape after a full day of wear. (Also, practically speaking, I did spill guacamole on it and the stain washed out easily.)
2. Floral midi + twist top
Next up is a chiffon floral midi skirt ($43.90) that I paired with a dual-style knit top ($49.90). The skirt is flirty, feminine, and lightweight. It’s also lined to the mid-thigh. I love that detail since it means there’s no chance I’ll show off too much on a sunny day.
The cropped, short-sleeved sweater has a twist detail, plus a peekaboo cutout. You can wear the twist and cutout facing front or back, but I preferred it on the front. I might change my mind on that next year if cutouts aren’t as trendy as they are now.
3. Kimono as a swim coverup
A floaty white, waist-defining coverup ($52.90) with batwing sleeves and crochet detail? Yes, please. I felt like a poolside goddess in this kimono. It’s the perfect complement to a modest, retro bikini.
Note that the lightweight fabric of the kimono does wrinkle easily in a suitcase. A traditional iron or a steam iron may be needed unless you want to rock the “I don’t like ironing” look (which I can’t say I haven’t done).
4. Palm print dress
Chicwish’s palm print halter dress ($62.90) is a fan favorite, having earned a five-star review from 50+ Chicwish customers. I found this dress to be prettier in person than it is online. In real life, the green print is richer and more vibrant in color. The halter top with a fitted waistband is also incredibly flattering.
This piece is best worn with a strapless or racerback bra. The top is unlined. The skirt is lined, down to the knees. Like the kimono, this dress did wrinkle a bit in transit. A steam iron quickly softened those creases.
5. Starfish earrings
I paired the palm print dress with these delightful starfish earrings ($9.90). When I ordered these, I thought they’d be smaller — more like studs. The larger size was a pleasant surprise, however, because they’re still lightweight and easy to wear. These have made their way into my regular rotation.
6. White jeans + pink cami
I have been known to fall into a skinny jeans rut, but now I have no excuse. These white, wide-legged jeans are super chic and lightweight enough to be comfortable, too.
They’re also versatile. Here, I paired them with Chicwish’s satin cami in nude pink ($32.90) — a pretty upgrade to a cotton cami, tank, or t-shirt. I’ve also worn these white jeans with tucked-in floral blouses and crop sweaters.
7. Wrap style top
Sometimes you need a top that’ll carry an outfit on its own. This wrap-style crop ($39.90) fits the bill. Gathers at the shoulders, wrists, and sides add shape and interest, while the shirred back holds everything in place. Thanks to a neutral color, you can wear the top with almost anything — including white denim shorts for drinks on the patio.
8. The boyfriend sweater
I’m thrilled to add this cute boyfriend sweater ($59.90) to my collection of comfort wear. With an easy fit and playful heart embellishments, this sweater keeps me stylish on days when I’d rather wrap up in a blanket and stay in bed.
I mostly team this sweater with jeans, but it could also work with a pencil skirt or leggings (depending on your shape).
Chicwish prices
Chicwish pricing is affordable, but not rock-bottom. Most items on the site are priced at $40 to $60. Maxi dresses and blazers are a touch more expensive, usually topping out in the high-$60s or mid-$70s.
If you wanted to splurge, you could invest in a chic wool coat for around $90. I didn’t try any of the coats, but if the quality matches the pieces I ordered, $90 is a value-rich price point.
Chicwish shipping
Chicwish doesn’t follow the Amazon model of getting items to your door within a few days. The garments come from overseas so that naturally creates a longer timeline. I placed my order on March 20 and received most of the pieces between April 5 and 25. Some items arrived via DHL and others via FedEx.
I did receive shipping updates by email and text. Because my order was split up, the various updates got sort of confusing.
If you order several pieces at once as I did, make a list of what you ordered and check the items off as they arrive. You can’t get this information by logging into your Chicwish account online. As the items ship out, your order remains in “processing” status — without an itemization of what’s been shipped or delivered.
Chicwish customer service
I did have one snafu with my order and had to contact customer service. A month after I’d placed my order, I hadn’t received any shipping notifications on three of the items. When I reached out, my customer service rep said one of the items was no longer available, so they owed me a credit. She also said they’d ship the other items out right away.
The positive of this was that customer service was easy to reach via email, and they responded quickly. But still, my order was stuck in an incomplete status and I had to contact them to find out why — which seemed odd. I’d prefer if they would have proactively notified me about the delay.
Chicwish return policy
I didn’t have to return any of my Chicwish pieces — always a good sign. Still, I’ll drop the return policy highlights here so you have them.
You must return unwanted items within 30 days from receipt to receive a refund. Every piece in your order has a giant tag on it that must remain attached. If you remove that tag or wear or wash your garments, they’re not returnable.
Chicwish pays for the return shipping on your first return from a single order. To access a printable shipping label, log into your account and tap My Orders. Then, look for the tab labeled “RMA.” Tap here and you should see a button to “Request New Return.” Follow the prompts.
If you checked out as a guest, you can access the return request from this page.
If you need to make additional returns from the same order, you are responsible for the return shipping fee. You can still use the RMA process noted above to get a shipping label, and then Chicwish will deduct $7.99 from your refund.
You can select whether you want a refund to your original form of payment, a store credit, or an exchange. Opting for store credit earns you a $2 bonus on top of your refund amount.
Would I buy again from Chicwish?
I will be buying again from Chicwish. I like that the catalog has its own flair — the styles are different from what you find in other stores. And I can’t say enough about the quality of the clothes. The dresses and skirts are lined, stitching is tight and strong, zippers are sturdy, etc.
Plus, the sizing charts are accurate. I went by the sizing chart for each piece in my order and everything fit as expected.
As noted, the order delivery wasn’t blazing fast. But I’ll take that in exchange for chic, quality garments at reasonable prices.
