A Broke College Student Goes Undercover: Reformation’s high prices nearly seduced me

With my long record of reviewing new stores outside Nassau’s iron gates for the past couple of years, there are few stores that have convinced me to open my wallet, even when I’m well outside my very limited budget. I’m picky. I’m broke. But I love to shop. So, convincing myself to walk away without taking a couple pieces in hand is no easy feat. 

Coming into Reformation, my knowledge about the store was limited. I wasn’t aware of the price point, audience, or aesthetic they cater to, so going undercover completely blind gave me an uninfluenced first impression. 

Occupying a minimalistic shop next to Brandy Melville, Reformation’s presentation appeared to embody  “less is more.” Instead of piles of clothes and overstocked shelves flooding any available space like their one-size-fits-all neighbor, Reformation showed off one example of each piece, organized neatly into harmonious color palettes. 

At first glance, before I even inspected the pieces themselves, the colors demonstrated attention to current trends. New York Fashion Week fall collections had been released a few days prior, and the colors dominating the fall season range from burgundy to chartreuse. Reformation seems designed to appeal to “Martini Girls” — whose wardrobes are as luxurious and timeless as the classic cocktail — by leaning into the elegance of silks and minimal patterns in shades of plums, chartreuse, and burgundy. Everything is subtle yet chic. What is not subtle, however, is the pricing, as even basic shirts rarely cost below $100. 

So here comes the question you’ve all been asking: “Is the price worth it?” It depends on the piece. For a basic white shirt and jeans, you’d be far better off somewhere else. However, what I’m looking for isn’t basic. What I’m looking for is on-trend, one-of-a-kind pieces that speak to my own aesthetics. For me, the standouts from their current collection would be the Stelliana Silk Dress in “crushed violet,” priced at $298, and the Jillian Silk Dress in pear, priced at $378. The Stelliana is a high-collar cowl-neckline mini dress with a subtle gather to the hip, giving an asymmetric design, emphasizing elegance through simplicity. In contrast, the Jillian is a symmetric maxi dress with dark olive accents on the neck and waistline, elegant but with a more wedding-guest vibe. Both dresses use in-season colors and fabrics, but their simplistic designs make them more timeless. While on the higher end for my college budget, what I found personally attractive was the transparency on the sourcing of materials and overall sustainable messaging. Both pieces mentioned are advertised as made with 100 percent silk, and their production in Vietnam is contingent on fair worker rights within these garment factories. Both dresses wouldn’t just be a one-and-done purchase for one formal, but would be long-term investment pieces. This is where thinking beyond the current trends and considering social impact beyond your own personal style contextualizes higher-priced purchases. 

While I will always be a strong advocate for avoiding purchasing any synthetics such as rayon or polyester, both common now in low-quality yet high-priced garments, Reformation’s selection offers plenty of eco-friendly options to satisfy any environmentally cognizant and socially conscious consumer. If you want to support a brand that uses recycled materials and echoes a message of transparency for its sourcing, Reformation lands on the more sustainable options among current retail brands. 

However, I didn’t leave Reformation without critiques. Quality control was inconsistent, as some pieces were frayed at the edges and contained loose threads, which, for a $100+ piece, should never be normalized. I would avoid any pieces with lace patterns as well, as the ends were frayed on the store-displayed versions. While sweaters and knitted pieces were of high quality, the ratio of price to quality could be better somewhere else. 

The quality of service, however, was a highlight of my visit to Reformation. A previous experience at the nearby Hermes store was defined by the poor quality of service, as I was stalked throughout the store. As a similarly high-end store, Reformation gave me the opposite treatment, as I was politely welcomed into the store. Past the usual questions you’d often face when entering any store, the worker behind the register left me to my own devices as I inspected the clothes. With this more personal service, Reformation is a store I would recommend for the in-person experience. 

The worker only asked me questions when I asked my own. She also introduced me to one of the unique features of Reformation. As stated earlier, there was only one piece of each design on display, but that didn’t mean they only had one size. The worker introduced me to their system, explaining that any pieces I wanted to try on could be summoned to my dressing room, both in color and size. This way of shopping, while new to me, was an interesting experience. It meant I didn’t have to ask if anything was in my size. From there, I was left to inspect what they offered. It felt easy to know they had my size in stock. And while I inspected their work, their staff was more than friendly to my questions and curiosities. 

Reformation offers on-trend styles at a higher price point, and while not all pieces could be argued as a necessary purchase for my wallet, that didn’t make it any less tempting to walk out with something; yet alas, my wallet kept my hands empty. If the prices were just ever so slightly lower, considering the demographic of college students in the nearby area, Reformation could garner a larger fanbase. What was strong about Nassau’s newest fashion store was its unique, on-trend pieces and in-person customer experience. Maybe once this broke college student graduates to a paid lawyer, she will revisit Reformation.

Amanda Hugas is a member of the Class of 2027 and a senior writer for The Prospect. She can be reached by her email at ah0942@princeton.edu.

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