Chico’s Early Fall 2025 Try-On: Fit, Fabric, and Honest Favorites
Last week I tried Chico’s early fall pieces in two different stores, and the experiences couldn’t have been more different. In the first, a salesperson swooped in, convinced she knew exactly what I’d love, and promptly filled my room with things I’d never wear. At the second, the associate barely glanced up from her paper before pointing me to a dressing room.
Between the two, I’ll take the hands-off approach any day. I’d rather browse than be talked into something unflattering, ill-fitting, or simply not my style. Too often, women are steered by salespeople who are projecting their own taste instead of respecting yours. That’s why I share these try-ons—to show you what’s new without pretending everything works. I won’t photograph myself looking frumpy, tartish, or downright unstylish…at least not on purpose.
I think its so important to realize this – whether it is the salesperson you encounter, your best friend, or even what is first up on the website. You really have to use your intuition, and not be talked into something because it happens to be “in style,” “on trend,” or what works for someone else. Because unless they are a trained professional, its unlikely they know what is right for you. So, trust your gut, and have fun out there.
Now, let’s get to the clothes… I’ve broken this post into two parts– you’ll see the second half tomorrow.
I’m not sure if this midi denim skirt is meant to channel the western look that’s trending for fall, but it could certainly be styled that way. It’s a light, flowy denim made from Tencel that moves with you and doesn’t have the usual stiffness of cotton denim skirts. It’s quite long, which I like and it would go over boots nicely this fall/winter.
I tucked this black Henley shirt into the skirt to show the shape, but obviously, you could leave it untucked. If you do a tuck or a half tuck, I would add a belt because the belt loops will show and look weird. The shirt is a knit cotton/modal blend and also comes in spruce…which I’m loving for fall.
I would style this skirt with a simple knit black turtleneck, black knee-high suede boots, and big silver earrings.
I shared this outfit in this fall color trend post, but would like to add some fit, color, and sizing notes here. This suede moto jacket is in the trending mushroom color and is just lovely. I know it looks more like a tobacco color, but that is because of the lighting. It’s softly distressed and made from faux suede, not cowhide. I wish brands would make that clear in their titles, as it can be confusing. And since it’s polyester, it can be machine-washed. The snaps and zipper are bronze-ish, so they blend into the fabric well.
Underneath, I am wearing the microfiber tank they carry every season in colors to coordinate with the rest of their collection. I always size up in these, or they look shrink-wrapped on my body…not a great look at 69, (which I’m turning very soon). The Juliet straight leg ankle pants are a pull-on style in regular with a 27″ inseam.
The petite has a 25″ inseam, and the tall is 30″. If it were a toss-up between Juliet vs Brigitte pants, I would have a hard time choosing because they both look slimming and have a smoothing waistband. This tank and pant are both in darkest spruce.
This jacket would pair nicely with a sweater dress, which would compliment the faux suede with the extra texture.
This No-Iron Stretch Sateen shirt is also labeled a mushroom color, but it’s not as gray as the color Pantene talks about for fall. The fabric is described as sateen, but I didn’t notice much sheen, just a smooth no-iron finish. The shirt-tail hem looks nice tucked or untucked. I often leave them untucket. This shirt comes in 4 other colors and has full-length sleeves, which I am very happy to see.
The pull-on jeggings are in a color called Rocky Mountain, and they also come in black or Rose Smoke. These legs aren’t as skintight as some jeggings, which is a nice change. They have plenty of stretch, which makes them comfy.
Many of these pieces are already marked down, so I assume even newer pieces are on their way.
Last not but not least, I’m sharing an outfit I wore today — a day of working, hanging around the house, and running some errands. This black summer dress has been on a regular rotation for me this summer- its easy to wear, the shape adds some interest, and its microfiber so it doesn’t wrinkle. I’ve worn it all summer sometimes dressed down with a flat sandal, and sometimes dressed up–for dinner out.
What kind of sales person approach do you prefer– someone pushy or more uninterested? Do you like to shop on your own, or do you like assistance? Let me know in the comments, and see you tomorrow for Part 2.
I usually prefer to be left alone but once I needed a dress for an awards dinner and went to a small boutique where the owner was just amazing at finding the thing that was right for me – it was not something I would have looked at twice on the hanger, but on me it was another story – she knew her stuff, but then, she was the owner, buyer, stylist, etc. all in one, not someone hired to get a warm body for a time slot. Some salespeople are great, some not so great, but I think a warm welcome followed by backing off while being available for help and knowing the inventory is appreciated! I also remind myself that they are just trying to make a living and probably not working as a hobby, whatever their perceived faults may be, and they may just not be in the right job for them.
Hi, Jennifer: Your commentary woke up some long-ago memories of my sales training at Franklin Simon in New York. We were trained to spot the customers who needed help and those that didn’t through body language. It was a lovely place to work where I learned the fine art of customer service. We were paid a baseline hourly wage plus commission on high end items such as furs. We had an in-house tailor that did expert work at very reasonable cost. And then the clothing! High quality fabrics and construction, much of which you don’t see at all today. Ah, it was another place and time, but the bottom line was that the customer was always right – and we knew who to approach and who to leave alone.
Those were the days!
I think it’s nice to have a salesperson who checks in while I’m doing a try-on in case I need a different size or want to ask a question, but I definitely prefer do my being left alone to do my browsing and gathering items to try on. I also hate when they sort of shadow me, following me like they’re worried I might mess up the displays or stuff something in my purse. That doesn’t happen often, but I actually walked out of a store one time without even trying on the items I’d collected because I felt like I was being stalked.
I love Chicos. The Chicos in Asheville was in an area that was devastated by the flooding caused by hurricane Helene last September. All the stores in that strip mall closed after the storm and haven’t reopened yet. I really miss being able to try on the items that interest me, but currently I just have to take a chance on ordering online.
I like to be noticed when I come into the store, and for a sales person to ask if I am looking for anything in particular, and to offer to provide help if I need it. Ordinarily I like to be left alone, but a recent exception was my very first trip into a J Jill for a summer dress, and even though the sales ladies were more involved than I would have liked, I ended up with a fabulous long dress with appropriate crop sweater to cover my upper arms, and a size that worked much better than I would have chosen for myself! So I learned that sometimes it’s better to accept the help—-independent as I think I might like to be!
I prefer on my own with some gentle feedback. When I was shopping for a mother of the groom dress in the spring, a very young pushy saleswoman talked me in to taking 3 dresses home. I thought they were too tight and not my style but she worked me down. When I took them to my seamstress to be altered, she brought me back to reality and sent me back out to look some more. I went out on my own and found my dream dress at Nordstrom. Thank goodness my seamstress ( who is a friend) was honest with me!
My Chico’s in the Denver metro area is the same! They need to do a lot more training!
Agreed
Chicos is the only women’s store in our area so I’ve been going there for a long time. I remember when there were were. no mirrors in the changing rooms and the idea was you’d come out to a group mirror and the clerks would sell you jewelry and scarfs. Glad those days are over. We have a very friendly staff but they don’t push clothes on you.
I hate that Aritzia has no mirrors in the changing rooms.
Didn’t know that. My daughters love Aritzia. My worst experience at Chico’s was the time when there were 8 women sitting in the changing area watching someone try on dresses. I had had to make my way through the crowd to see myself in a mirror. I sent corporate a complaint…
More customers need to send corporate offices feedback on their shopping experiences
I admit that at my age I sometimes feel invisible so I’m always startled when a sales person is “overly helpful”. I had a wonderful sales person at Chico’s who knew me well and was great at gently steering me toward pieces that I loved but would never have tried on my own. I miss her! Generally, I’m quite focused and prefer to do my own thing.
I’m in the “say hello, bring me different sizes” group but…we no longer have many stores. Jcrew? Gone. Talbots? Gone. Ann Taylor? Gone. You get the idea ☹️
Now, I have to drive about 2 hours which I rarely do.
So…..I’m an online gal! Miss the shopping experience, particularly small unique boutiques. Gone, too.
A good salesperson knows her inventory very well and can identify what will flatter each particular customer according to her individual taste. But they will also suggest you try on things you might not on your own – because she knows what is looking fabulous on. There are a lot of “hanger dogs” , as I say, that don’t look good until they’re on a body. I am that salesperson and I can’t tell you how many times a day someone says “thanks for suggesting that – I love it but would never have tried it on”!
This is a great topic, so it’s not surprising that there are many comments.
Mine in particular involve Chico’s because I love to shop there. Sales peoples personalities come into play in their work, I think, and how they were trained.
I laugh to myself every time I go into my favorite Chico’s; someone is always steaming clothes! Even when the store gets crowded they don’t take that person off the steam machine! I just think it’s funny; poor customer service, but funny!
If I saw someone doing a crossword puzzle while people were shopping, that would irk me…if I needed or wanted help.
Anyway, I prefer in between the two extremes. I usually want help when I’m in the dressing room. I like them to frequently check on me to see if I need other sizes, rather than having to get dressed and go back out. Sometimes they check, sometimes they don’t; even after saying they would! Frustrating! While they check on me, if they make a few suggestions and bring some things back for me to try on, I don’t mind that, but to be totally ignored, no, I don’t like that either.
Years — and I mean more than 25 — ago, I went into a Chico’s for the first time. I was absolutely hounded by a sales person who followed me around the store. She would not leave me alone. I simply walked out, but it left such a bad taste in my mouth for Chico’s that it wasn’t until a store opened up nearby many years later that I ventured back to the brand. I loathe a pushy sales person — it’s an automatic turn-off and a true detriment to what could be a great shopping experience.
Hi Jennifer,
I much prefer to be left alone when shopping as I know what I like and can tell by the color and texture of the fabric whether it is going to be something I am interested in. I was told by a friend who works in a clothing store touching a garment is a dead giveaway you are interested and the salesperson often comes up fast, ready to help you choose a size. I really like that Chico’s shirt thanks for trying things on! Have a lovely day x
You too Francesca!
I like tencel and rayon because they make garments drape so nicely.
Living rurally has its perks. I do all of my shopping online. I’ve learned what is my style, size and color palette. No one bothers me and the try on is fun in my own room when my packages arrive. I agree that the no iron shirt and jeggings looks great on you.