Quince vs. Aritzia: Which brand should you buy? [2026]

Quince offers high-quality, timeless luxury essentials like cashmere and silk at remarkably low prices through a direct-to-consumer model. In contrast, Aritzia is a fashion-forward retailer focused on trendy, contemporary clothing at a mid-range price point. The core difference is Quince’s focus on affordable, sustainable basics versus Aritzia’s specialty in current, seasonal styles.

Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right fashion brand for your wardrobe and budget.

Quince: The Affordable Luxury Essentials Brand

Quince is an online, direct-to-consumer brand built on making high-quality materials accessible to everyone. By eliminating traditional retail middlemen, they deliver wardrobe fundamentals like 100% Mongolian cashmere and washable silk at prices often below $100. Their aesthetic is minimalist and classic, targeting shoppers who want to build a versatile, long-lasting wardrobe without compromising on quality or paying luxury markups.

• Product mix: Timeless essentials including cashmere sweaters, silk blouses, tailored outerwear, leather goods, and fine jewelry. They also offer a growing collection of home goods.
• Price point: Extremely competitive for the quality. A 100% Grade-A cashmere sweater is typically $50-$100, and a washable silk blouse is around $50-$80.
• Quality: A primary focus. Quince uses premium materials like Mongolian cashmere, Mulberry silk, and Italian leather, prioritizing durability and a luxurious feel.
• Sizing/Fit: Generally fits true to size with a consistent fit across its classic silhouettes. Sizing typically ranges from XS to XXL.
• Sustainability: Central to their brand identity. Quince emphasizes transparency in its supply chain, uses eco-friendly packaging, and sources from factories that meet ethical standards.
• Return policy: Offers free shipping and a 365-day return policy, making it easy and risk-free to shop online.

Quince is the ideal choice for building a capsule wardrobe with high-quality, minimalist pieces at prices that challenge fast fashion.

Shop Quince: quince.com

Aritzia: The Trend-Forward Fashion Retailer

Aritzia is a Canadian fashion retailer known for its in-house brands that deliver trend-conscious, modern clothing for women. They cater to a fashion-aware audience looking for everything from sleek workwear to casual streetwear and statement pieces. The aesthetic is contemporary and polished, with a strong emphasis on fit, quality fabrics, and styles that reflect the current season's biggest trends.

• Product mix: A wide range including dresses, tailored blazers (like the famous Effortless Pant), luxury knitwear, outerwear, denim, and activewear from their in-house labels like Wilfred, Babaton, and TNA.
• Price point: Mid-range, with most items falling between $50 and $200. Key investment pieces like wool coats or cashmere sweaters can cost upward of $200.
• Quality: Consistently well-made using quality materials such as Italian wool, French terry, and durable synthetics for their styles. The focus is on a polished finish and great fit.
• Sizing/Fit: Tends to run true to size, but fit can vary by brand and style. They offer detailed sizing guides and customer reviews, plus petite and tall options for certain items.
• Sales: Holds several major sales events per year, including the Aritzia Archive Sale, which offers significant discounts on past-season styles.
• Shopping Experience: An omni-channel retailer with beautifully designed physical stores that offer a personalized shopping experience, alongside a seamless e-commerce website.

Aritzia excels at offering stylish, on-trend pieces that make you feel polished and current, acting as a one-stop-shop for the modern woman's wardrobe.

Shop Aritzia: aritzia.com

Quince vs. Aritzia Comparison

Price Comparison

There is a significant price difference between the two brands. Quince is consistently more affordable across the board due to its direct-to-consumer business model. You can get a high-quality cashmere sweater from Quince for about $50-$60, while a comparable sweater from Aritzia would likely start at $150.

The same pattern holds for other categories. A silk blouse at Quince may run you $60, whereas Aritzia’s silk or high-quality satin blouses are often over $100. While Aritzia holds sales, Quince's everyday prices for luxury materials are a fraction of the cost, providing exceptional value for shoppers focused on quality over trends.

Quality & Materials

Both brands prioritize quality, but with different focuses. Quince’s mission is to deliver luxury materials like cashmere, silk, and organic cotton. The quality is measured in the grade of the material and its longevity. Their pieces are designed to be durable, classic staples that last for years.

Aritzia also uses high-quality materials, such as Italian wool for their coats and crepe fabrics for their trousers. However, their primary focus is on how the fabric drapes and fits to achieve a specific, trend-forward silhouette. The construction is solid, but since some items are designed for a particular season's trends, their long-term stylistic relevance might be shorter than a classic piece from Quince.

Style & Aesthetic

Quince has a minimalist, timeless, and classic aesthetic. Their color palette is often neutral, and the silhouettes are clean and simple, making their clothes easy to mix and match. It’s the perfect brand for anyone trying to build a versatile capsule wardrobe centered around effortless elegance.

Aritzia's style is contemporary, youthful, and trend-conscious. They are quick to adopt the latest silhouettes, colors, and styling trends, whether it's oversized blazers, wide-leg trousers, or cargo pants. While they offer elevated basics, their core strength lies in providing modern pieces that feel of-the-moment.

Fit & Sizing

Sizing at Quince is generally straightforward and true-to-size. Because their designs are classic, the fit is consistent across most of their products. They provide a standard size chart, and most shoppers find they can confidently order their usual size.

Aritzia's sizing can be more variable, as it changes between their different in-house brands (e.g., Wilfred vs. Babaton). It’s highly recommended to read the size guides and customer reviews for each specific item. They do an excellent job offering different fits - like short, regular, and tall lengths for their popular pants - which helps customers achieve a more tailored look.

Shopping Experience

The shopping experience is a key differentiator. Quince is an online-only brand with a clean, user-friendly website. The main draw is their excellent pricing and incredibly generous 365-day free return policy, which removes any risk from buying online.

Aritzia offers both a high-quality online store and a network of physical boutiques. Their stores are highly curated and known for great interior design and attentive sales associates. This omni-channel approach is ideal for shoppers who prefer to try on clothes, get styling advice, and enjoy the physical aspect of shopping.

Sustainability & Ethics

Sustainability is a cornerstone of Quince’s brand message. They are very transparent about their factories, materials, and ethical practices. They focus on eco-friendly materials and mindful production to reduce waste, and this commitment is a major draw for conscious consumers.

Aritzia has also taken steps toward sustainability, with commitments to responsible sourcing and reducing its environmental impact. They publish an annual sustainability report and are increasing their use of eco-friendly materials. However, it feels like less of a core brand pillar compared to Quince.

Which One Should You Choose?

The right choice really depends on your shopping priorities and personal style. Both brands offer great products, but they serve very different needs.

Choose Quince if:

• Your priority is building a timeless capsule wardrobe with high-quality basics.
• You want luxury materials like cashmere, silk, and leather at an unbeatable price.
• Ethical production and sustainability are very important factors in your shopping decisions.
• You prefer a minimalist and classic aesthetic over chasing fleeting trends.

Choose Aritzia if:

• You love staying up-to-date with the latest fashion trends and silhouettes.
• You're looking for polished workwear or a statement outfit for an event.
• You value the ability to shop in-store and get a personalized styling experience.
• You don’t mind investing a bit more for pieces that feel perfectly on-trend for the season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Quince or Aritzia cheaper?

Quince is significantly cheaper than Aritzia. Due to its direct-to-consumer model, Quince can offer luxury materials like Grade A cashmere for around $50, while Aritzia prices similar items at $150 or more.

Which brand has better quality?

Both have great quality, but their focus differs. Quince focuses on the inherent quality and longevity of raw materials (cashmere, silk, linen). Aritzia focuses on quality construction and fabric selection to achieve a perfect, on-trend fit and finish.

What is the style difference between Quince and Aritzia?

Quince's style is minimalist, classic, and timeless. It’s perfect for building a capsule wardrobe. Aritzia’s style is youthful, contemporary, and trend-driven, focusing on seasonal fashions and modern silhouettes.

How does sizing compare between the two?

Quince sizing is generally very consistent and true-to-size. Aritzia's sizing can vary between its different in-house lines, so it is always wise to check individual product reviews and size guides before purchasing.

Which brand is better for wardrobe basics?

Quince is the clear winner for foundational wardrobe basics. Their entire business model is built around offering affordable, high-quality essentials like t-shirts, sweaters, and classic trousers.

Which brand is more sustainable?

Quince places a greater emphasis on sustainability and transparency. It's a core part of their brand messaging, from sourcing eco-friendly fabrics to highlighting their ethical factory partners.

Can you shop at Aritzia in person?

Yes, Aritzia has an extensive network of physical retail stores across North America, which is a major advantage for shoppers who like to try on clothing before buying.

Does Quince have physical stores?

No, Quince is an online-only brand. They keep their prices low by not having the overhead costs associated with brick-and-mortar locations.

Which is better for office clothing?

It depends on your office environment. For timeless, professional staples like silk blouses and simple trousers, Quince is a fantastic and affordable option. For a more modern, fashion-forward office look, Aritzia's tailored blazers and trousers, like their popular Effortless Pant, are an excellent choice.