If you love fashion bloggers who‘ve parlayed their killer style into clothing lines, you‘ve likely heard of Rachel Parcell. The uber-popular blogger behind Pink Peonies has been enchanting her millions of followers for over a decade with her feminine, polished aesthetic. What started as sharing cute outfits on her blog has grown into a full-fledged brand, Rachel Parcell, Inc.
Nowadays, Rachel creates dreamy dresses, flirty blouses, and chic separates adored by women worldwide. Rachel Parcell the brand features clothing, accessories and home goods with the same signature romantic style Rachel is known for on her blog.
As a longtime fan girl of Rachel myself, I wanted to share an in-depth, honest review of the Rachel Parcell brand. I‘ve lost count of how many RP pieces I‘ve added to my closet over the years! I‘ll dish on the brand background, clothing quality, bestsellers, and my personal experience styling my favorite pieces. If you‘re thinking of splurging on some Rachel Parcell pretties, consider this your tell-all guide.
About Rachel Parcell
First, let‘s rewind to Rachel‘s early blogger days, shall we? If you were reading style blogs in the early 2010s, you definitely knew about Pink Peonies. Rachel started her blog in 2010 as a creative outlet while working a corporate finance job. She quickly amassed a loyal following who couldn‘t get enough of her cute outfits and down-to-earth personality. Seriously, her comment section was popping off!
Pink Peonies showcased Rachel‘s knack for mixing high and low pieces into fresh, feminine looks. She made a floral dress from Target look like a million bucks, you know? Rachel‘s style resonated with so many women trying to balance work, motherhood, and looking cute on a budget.
Fast forward a few years, and Rachel took the leap into designing, launching her first clothing collection in collaboration with Nordstrom in 2016. It was a smash hit and the rest is history! Rachel Parcell clothing is now sold at several major retailers and through her own website.
Rachel has come a long way from her early blogging days, but her mission remains the same: to help women feel beautiful and confident in what they wear. "I want my clothing to be a bright spot in a woman‘s day – pieces that make her feel pretty and put-together, no matter what she‘s doing," Rachel shares on her website. We love a relatable fashion queen!
Rachel Parcell has built a cult following of millennial women who want to experience her charmed life – if only through the rose-colored lens of her Instagram feed. – WWD
The Rachel Parcell Aesthetic
If you had to describe Rachel Parcell‘s signature style in a few words, it would be: feminine, romantic, and elevated. The brand is known for beautiful dresses, pretty blouses, and timeless silhouettes with a fresh twist.
Floral prints, ruffles, lace, and bows are all recurring details in Rachel Parcell collections. The color palette leans heavy on soft pastels – think blush pink, sky blue, lavender, and mint green. You‘ll also find plenty of crisp whites and neutrals like camel and heather gray. It‘s a decidedly soft and traditionally "girly" look.
However, Rachel Parcell isn‘t just ruffles and bows! The brand offers plenty of elevated basics and versatile separates too. Imagine the perfect wear-with-everything silk cami or a chic shirtdress you can style multiple ways. Rachel excels at pieces that are special yet practical.
While vintage-inspired details are a hallmark of Rachel Parcell, the overall vibe is more modern than retro. These pieces are meant to feel current and effortless, not costumey or overly fussy. Rachel describes her aesthetic as a blend of "timeless sophistication and contemporary influence."
As a mom of three, Rachel also understands the need for clothes that are unfussy and easy to wear. Many Rachel Parcell pieces are made of soft, durable fabrics with a relaxed fit for everyday comfort. Everything is machine washable too – a must for busy women!
The brand has expanded beyond just women‘s clothing into multiple categories:
| Category | Styles | Size Range | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dresses | Maxis, midis, minis, occasion dresses | 00-20 | $100 – $250 |
| Tops | Blouses, tees, sweaters, sweatshirts | XXS-XXL | $50 – $150 |
| Bottoms | Skirts, pants, denim, shorts | 00-16 | $75 – $200 |
| Swimwear | One-pieces, bikinis, cover-ups | XS-XL | $50 – $120 |
| Pajamas & Lingerie | Sets, robes, slips, bras | XS-XL | $30 – $120 |
| Girls | Dresses, tops, bottoms, pajamas | 2T-10 | $30 – $80 |
| Accessories | Jewelry, hair accessories, bags | One size | $10 – $250 |
| Home | Bedding, pillows, decor | One size | $25 – $200 |
"I try to create pieces that are classic with a feminine twist. My goal is to design clothes that make women feel beautiful and confident, pieces they can wear again and again." – Rachel Parcell
Bestsellers and Popular Pieces
After perusing the Rachel Parcell website, certain pieces definitely stand out as fan favorites. These styles are often restocked season after season in new colors and prints. If you‘re building a Rachel Parcell wardrobe, I‘d recommend starting with these tried-and-true bestsellers:
The RP icon dress: The brand‘s number one bestselling dress that comes back every year! A fit-and-flare silhouette with a smocked bodice and tiered skirt. Insanely flattering and comfy.
Satin midi dress: This dress went viral last year and sold out at every retailer. A gorgeous, flowy style with a cowl neckline and statement sleeves that works for any occasion. Size up if you‘re busty!
Bow blouse: A Rachel Parcell staple in a stretchy, wrinkle-resistant fabric (crucial). Pretty bow detail at the neck and slightly puffed shoulders. Dress it up with slacks or down with jeans.
Ruffle pajama set: The coziest PJs you‘ll ever own, hands down. Buttery soft with feminine ruffle trim. They come in the cutest prints every season like florals and gingham.
Floral maxi dress: Every RP collection has a statement floral maxi that makes my heart skip a beat. The pink and red floral number from last summer‘s line is an all-time fave. I wore it to multiple weddings!
High rise denim: Rachel makes the best jeans – super soft with just the right amount of stretch. I love the high rise straight leg style for a polished casual look. Size down, they run big.
A quick scan of the #rachelparcell hashtag on Instagram confirms these popular styles in action. You‘ll see countless real women showing off their RP pieces styled different ways. There are over 48,000 posts with the hashtag – Rachel Parcell has a very engaged community of fans!
"I‘ve been living in my Rachel Parcell PJs these days. They‘re so soft and make me feel cute even when I‘m just lounging at home. Well worth the price!" – Carly A., Rachel Parcell customer
Quality and Price
So let‘s talk about the elephant in the room: Rachel Parcell is definitely a splurge compared to mall brands or Amazon dupes. Dresses generally cost between $100 to $250, blouses and sweaters are around $75 to $150, and a pair of jeans will set you back about $150 to $200.
However, most Rachel Parcell customers (including yours truly) agree that the quality is in line with contemporary brands at a similar price point. Rachel uses beautiful, high-end fabrics like silk, linen, and pima cotton – nothing flimsy or cheap-feeling. The pieces are well-constructed with special details you won‘t find at fast fashion retailers.
I appreciate that most Rachel Parcell garments are lined, meaning you get a nice, smooth finish with no show-through. The buttons and zippers are sturdy, and I‘ve never had an issue with the fabric pilling, shrinking or falling apart in the wash. You can tell these pieces are designed with longevity in mind.
I also think Rachel Parcell is smart to keep her collections tightly edited and not overproduce. There‘s a focus on quality over quantity, so you won‘t see the site overflowing with hundreds of throwaway styles. Instead, each piece feels intentional and carefully considered. This approach means collections often sell out quickly, so you have to act fast on a piece you love!
So far the quality of every piece I‘ve ordered has been amazing! I don‘t mind spending more for dresses I know I‘ll wear for several seasons. The fabrics and fits are beautiful and flattering. – Meghan S., Rachel Parcell customer
Sizing and Fit
In my experience, Rachel Parcell sizing is pretty consistent with other contemporary brands like Madewell or Anthropologie. I wear a small or 4 in most brands and find the same to be true with Rachel Parcell tops and dresses.
I love that the size range is quite inclusive for a blogger-founded brand, with most styles going up to a size 20 or XXL. All product pages list the model‘s height and size worn which is super helpful for gauging fit. There are also detailed garment measurements in the size guide.
One quirk to note is that Rachel Parcell denim tends to run large, so I always size down in jeans or pants. On the flip side, I find the bust area of certain dresses to be a bit snug, so I‘ll size up for a more comfortable fit.
Reviews from other customers confirm that the pieces fit true to size or even a bit big, so when in doubt, order your usual size or one down. The flowy silhouettes are forgiving and easy to wear.
"I‘m usually a size 12 or large and the RP large fits perfectly. The dresses especially are a dream – I don‘t feel like I‘m squeezing into anything. So nice to find pretty options in my size that aren‘t boxy or matronly." – Jenna R., Rachel Parcell customer
Styling Tips
Half the fun of Rachel Parcell pieces is dreaming up cute ways to style them! While her signature look is certainly feminine dresses with heels, don‘t sleep on the versatility of these pieces.
I love mixing Rachel Parcell tops and sweaters with more casual bottoms like distressed denim or cut-off shorts. It‘s an effortless way to dress up a basic outfit. You can also pair a frilly dress with sneakers or sandals for a laid-back daytime look.
The dressier pieces can easily go from work to weekend too. Try a printed midi skirt with a simple tee and denim jacket for brunch, then swap in a silk cami and heels for date night. Rachel Parcell is a pro at making fancy dresses feel more approachable – you‘ll often see her pairing sequin minis with combat boots and cozy cardigans.
"Such lovely, well-made pieces! I feel like a princess in my RP dresses. I‘ve been styling the printed maxis with sandals and a hat for summer parties. So many compliments!" – Kate W., Rachel Parcell customer
The Verdict
So, is Rachel Parcell worth the hype? In my opinion, absolutely! While the prices are certainly steeper than somewhere like Target or H&M, I think you get what you pay for in terms of quality, fit and design.
This is the brand I turn to for beautiful dresses and elevated separates I know I‘ll love for years to come. No, I can‘t fill my closet solely with Rachel Parcell, but I‘m happy to invest in a few special pieces each season. The cost per wear ends up being super low since I reach for my RP items again and again.
I also appreciate supporting a female-founded, mission-driven brand. Rachel is very hands-on in the design process and production to ensure the quality reflects her high standards. Many garments are made in small batches in Europe and the US – not mass-produced in questionable factories. Rachel is all about the slow fashion life!
The Rachel Parcell team is equally committed to creating a positive community around the clothes. They‘re always engaging with customers on social media, sharing styling tips and sale alerts. It feels like you‘re part of Rachel‘s inner circle of girlfriends when you shop her collection.
My best advice? Snag a Rachel Parcell piece on sale or secondhand to test out the brand for yourself. Be warned though – her candy-colored pretties are very addicting! Here‘s to filling our closets with clothes that make us feel as beautiful as we are.
