Men's Style Lab
closedAn online concierge subscription clothing service helping men look their best with great clothes that fit both life and style.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| investor | €0.0 | round | |
| investor | €0.0 | round | |
| investor | €0.0 | round | |
| investor | €0.0 | round | |
| N/A | $450k | Angel | |
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
Men's Style Lab operated as an online concierge clothing service for men, founded in 2013 by Derian Baugh. The venture originated from Baugh's personal interest in fashion and business, coupled with frequent style requests from friends and family. The company targeted men who disliked or lacked time for shopping, aiming to provide an effortless way to upgrade their wardrobes.
The business model was centered around personal styling and convenience, similar to competitors like Trunk Club but positioned at a more accessible price point. Clients would start by completing an online style questionnaire and have a follow-up call with a stylist. Based on this consultation, Men's Style Lab would ship a curated box of apparel items. Initially, these boxes contained 10-12 items, later shifting to five. Customers had a five-day period to try on the clothes at home, keep what they liked, and return the rest with free shipping both ways. Revenue was generated from the sale of the clothing kept by the customer; a styling fee was charged, which was often credited toward any purchase made.
The company raised approximately $3 million in angel investments from figures including former executives from Macy's and Kohl's. At its peak, the Des Moines, Iowa-based startup employed between 25 to 36 people, including a team of full-time stylists. The service carried established brands such as Ben Sherman, Grayers, and Florsheim. Despite initial growth and reporting a 40% month-over-month revenue increase at one point, the company ultimately faced significant challenges. The founder, Derian Baugh, later spoke about the difficulties of the business, which led to its shutdown and his personal bankruptcy.
Keywords: Men's Style Lab, Derian Baugh, online clothing service, personal styling, men's fashion, subscription box, concierge clothing, Trunk Club competitor, fashion startup, clothing delivery, style advisor, wardrobe service, curated clothing, men's apparel, Iowa startup, e-commerce fashion, startup failure, menswear subscription, Ben Sherman, Grayers