My 2018 resolution was to not buy any new clothes for an entire year. I gave myself four “hall passes”—for weddings, special occasions, or absolute must-buys—and made it through the year with only a few slip-ups. So as 2019 approached, I was thinking about all the clothes I wanted to add to my closet, but my wallet doth protest too much. I issued myself a new challenge, with the help of my Glamour editor: Try four monthly plus-size clothing subscription boxes, which would let me test out clothes before committing to buying.

I don’t have the luxury of walking into any store and being able to wear whatever’s in stock—many stores I like only go up to size 12 or 16, and I hover between an 18 and 20. Because of that, I’ve always been a little trigger-happy with online shopping. I’ve gotten to know my sizing at these sites, like ASOS, quite well. I had heard about a lot of clothing subscription boxes for everything from underwear to workout clothes, but most are available in straight sizes only. Now more options specifically for plus-size women are out there and they’re generating a lot of buzz.

Dia & Co., a subscription box specifically for plus sizes, has secured a reported $95 million in funding, and has staged events at New York Fashion Week. (It’s where I first checked out their clothing, during a fashion show at plus-size convention CurvyCon.) Stitch Fix, one of the most successful of subscription services, expanded into plus in 2017. To me, these services felt like a more curated version of online shopping, with a prepaid label to return anything that I didn’t want. So I decided it was time to give it a shot.

I tried Dia & Co., Stitch Fix, Stylogic, and Gwynnie Bee. Which one is best? It depends on what you’re looking for. Below, some tips for making the most of your subscription.

For $20 a month, you can hire a personal stylist with Stitch Fix, which has clothes for men and women in a wide range of sizes (XS-3X, 0-24W, petite, and maternity) and for kids. This “styling fee” is credited toward anything you buy from your box, so, in a way, if you like what you’re sent and want to keep it, the stylist is free.

When you begin, you take a style profile quiz, which covers the basics like height and weight, but also dives into certain measurements (I marked long torso, short legs, average shoulders); preferred and hated cuts; fits, patterns, and styles for different types of clothing; examples of specific outfits you’d actually wear; and, of course, budget. There are also Tinder-style “style shuffles” that pop up, where you can thumbs up or thumbs down different items to decide if they match with your style.

About a week later, a Stitch Fix stylist is assigned to you. They’ll select five items, and ship them to you. Once you get your box, you have three days to decide what you want to keep, exchange (for a different size, not a different item) or return. Brands include Calvin Klein, Eloquii, Karl Lagerfeld Paris, Madewell, Vince Camuto, and Nike, plus some exclusive collections. The stylists will also curate basics (camisoles, shapewear, underwear, tights, bralettes, bras, socks, and sleepwear) from brands like Hanky Panky, Cosabella, and in-house brand Everyday by Stitch Fix that you can add onto your order.

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