How Clothing Subscription Boxes Work
Clothing Subscription boxes are a fun and affordable way to try out a variety of new trends and styles each month.
Operating in a personal shopper-like form, most brands will curate a selection of items for you based on a personal style quiz, box them up, and ship them to your door at a time specified by you (normally monthly, but some offer different frequencies as well).
Ultimately, you have the final say over what you receive, but customers love the fun and mysterious nature of opening up a surprise or curated box and trying on a variety of styles.
Clothing subscription boxes are also a great way to try something you might not normally pick or get early access to new trends before other online shoppers do.
In the Best Clothing Subscription Boxes outlined below, you’ll be introduced to a variety of brands with varying plans, options, styles, and formats.
The 10 Best Clothing Subscription Boxes
In this review, we’ll round up some of the internet’s most popular options to help you choose which one of these Best Clothing Subscription Boxes is right for your needs, lifestyle, and budget.
From athleisure to high-fashion to fast-casual, there’s no limit on choices when it comes to picking a clothing subscription.
You’ll find options for men, women, and kids across the web, as well as brands that combine all three.
#1: StitchFix Subscription Box
About the brand:
Stitch Fix was founded in 2011 by Katrina Lake, shipping the brand’s first-ever order out of her apartment while she was enrolled at Harvard. Since then, she, and her passionate team of employees set up shop in San Francisco, California.
The brand’s mission is “to change the way people find clothes they love by combining technology with the personal touch of seasoned style experts.” Their unique platform tailors clothing to your every whim.
Stitch Fix sells modern essentials, with some trendy prints thrown in here and there and splashes of bright popping and fashionable muted colors. Their versatile selection of XS-3X pieces suits a range of styles, from the avid yogi to the hipster or the young professional.
Stitch Fix wouldn’t be one of our Best Clothing Subscription Boxes if it didn’t have an extra special element. What we found particularly enticing about this brand is its no-commitment subscription model.
What You Get:
Though no subscription is technically required at Stitch Fix, the brand happily curates outfits specific to your personal style. After you take the style quiz, you’ll be sent a selection of items that were picked uniquely for you.
You’ll find Men’s, Women’s, and Kid’s options on their website with a variety of tops, dresses, pants, outerwear, and fitness gear. If you want shoes included in your order, you’ll just need to leave a note on your order and your stylist will send some along. In the summer months, if requested, you’ll also find swimsuits in your box.
Delivery & Cost:
Usually, with clothing subscriptions, there is a minimum fee or monthly subscription fee that users need to pay just to place an order. Because Stitch Fix doesn’t require either, they do ask that you pay a $20 personal stylist fee that covers the time and efforts of their professional team.
How this fee actually works in your favor, is that if you decide to keep (read: buy) any of the items, that $20 is credited to your account and subtracted from your total. Pretty cool. What you choose to keep is up to you.
Stitch Fix has two different delivery frequency schedules. One, for men and women, the other for kids.
- Men & Women – 2-3 weeks / every month / every other month / every 3 months
- Kids – every month / every other month / every 3 months
And though you don’t need to subscribe, you totally can if you want. But you can also skip, pause, or cancel your delivery altogether at any time.
Once you schedule a delivery date, you’ll receive your box within a few days of that same day fast forward a month, three months, etc. It doesn’t appear that the brand offers different shipping options, but they do offer free shipping, returns, and exchanges.
You have 3 days from the time your order is delivered to try on your items and return them. If you don’t meet the deadline you’ll be charged for your items.
Because you’ll be trying on your items before you actually pay for them, you don’t need to worry about the annoying process of handling returns and refunds. Simply pack up everything you don’t want into the return envelope and drop it off at the nearest post office.
Related: Read the full Stitchfix Subscription Box Review.
#2: Trunk Club Subscription Box
About the brand:
What may not be apparent in this brand’s name, is that it’s a division of Nordstrom. Those who love the department store’s varying brands and upscale fashion will be thrilled to find they can save time on sifting through racks downtown and have pieces personally picked and sent straight to their door.
Founded in 2009 by Joanna Van Vlek, Trunk Club started as a men’s only styling service but now caters to women as well.
Operating out of Chicago, Illinois, Trunk Club one-ups the typical “box”, sending their customers “trunks” of their favorite, curated collections from Nordstrom’s signature brands.
This feature sets the brand apart from competitors, creating a fancier feel than the average, everyday subscription box.
And they should because on average, their pieces cost more, but they do have some lower-cost items as well.
Depending on your personal style, you could be sent more edgy items like an asymmetrical one-shoulder top or something simple yet striking like a long canary yellow tank dress. Men may receive bright, patterned shirts, soft tees, or crisp slacks.
What You Get:
New users will need to take a personal style quiz so that Trunk Club can get a feel for what you like and what you definitely don’t.
With collections for both men and women, take a peek at the brand’s style inspiration pages and you’ll find season-specific pieces as well as year-round favorites that move with you throughout the seasons.
The Trunk Club has some elite perks like free shipping, rewards, and referral credits. You can even use your Nordstrom card for a waived styling fee. That means your picks will be sent to you free of cost – no commitment. Period.
We love that the Trunk Club has a fashion-forward feel to it, nothing short of the high-class vibe the store is notorious for. Their website has helpful articles to show you how to wear certain pieces and how those pieces can be mixed and matched with different styles.
Delivery & Cost:
Trunk Club’s styling fee is $25 per month, use, or subscription period. Unless you use your Nordstrom credit card, this fee is required for the styling service their team provides. With that said, if you choose to keep any of the items you’re sent, that $25 will be deducted from your total.
In general, items cost between $50-$200 per piece, but you’ll be able to set your monthly budget to avoid receiving items that are outside of your price range. Plus, any items you may not think are worth it can be sent back without you ever having to spend a dime on them.
You don’t have to subscribe to the Trunk Club to get an order, in fact, you can request one at any time, not just in the typical month to three months.
When you request an order, it will arrive at your door in about 7-10 business days. From the time you place your order, you have 48 hours to make any changes before it’s shipped out.
All Trunk Club orders are shipped for free through FedEx. Returns and exchanges are free as well, but you have 5 days to send them back. If you take longer than this, you’ll be charged for your entire order.
If there’s a special reason you can’t send it back within 5 days, just shoot them a message and they may be able to extend it for you.
When it comes to returning any items you need to, pack them up in the return mailer and print off the prepaid shipping label. Drop at your nearest FedEx location.
Related: Read the full Trunk Club review.
#3: Le Tote Subscription Box
About the brand:
Bratty Northart and Rakesh Tondon started Le Tote in 2012 based out of San Francisco, California. With a collection of well-known names, you’ll choose from brands like Jessica Simpson, Calvin Klien, Kate Spade, and BCBGeneration.
Just like most of the other services, you’ll need to take a style quiz before you get started. But unlike other services, Le Tote’s picks are curated electronically.
We love that Le Tote’s Style Profile quiz asks what your postal code is so that they can tailor pieces to the weather in your specific state. This makes complete sense but is a detail other subscription brands leave out.
What You Get:
Le Tote sends you a box of curated pieces monthly after building your Style Profile in your account. The brand offers Classic and Maternity options, and once you finish your profile and pay for your plan, you’ll get your first recommendations in about 15 minutes.
Sift through what Le Tote picks and “heart” anything that strikes your fancy. 8,10, or 15 of those items will be sent in your tote. You’ll pick from an assortment of jewelry, bags, and clothing, so essentially, though this box is curated (by technology, not stylists) you have the final say in what you receive.
Another great thing about this service is the fact you can wear the items like you own them for an entire month before sending them back. That’s one of the reasons we picked Le Tote as one of our top ten Best Clothing Subscriptions Boxes.
Delivery & Cost:
Le Tote has some variations when it comes to subscriptions.
- $79/month – 8 items (5 garments, 3 accessories)
- $99/month – 10 items (3 garments, 3 accessories)
- $119/month – 15 items (10 garments, 5 accessories)
You can choose to opt out of receiving accessories, and if you do, your monthly cost will go down by $10 each month. For example, if you choose just 5 pieces per month, the monthly cost is $69.
You’ll get your box once a month and you can cancel your subscription at any time if you need to. When you get an item you love, you have the option to keep it for a discounted price. If you choose to keep all the pieces in your tote, you’ll get your next month’s subscription for free.
#4: Fabletics
About the brand:
You might have seen Kate Hudson gracefully stretching in a Fabletics commercial set somewhere in a picture-perfect desert. Though Hudson was the fresh and friendly face behind the brand, it was initially founded by Adam Goldenberg and Don Ressler in 2013.
Located in El Segundo, California, Fabletics is the athletic sister company of JustFab, a fashionable, everyday clothing subscription company that operates similarly. The brand’s mission is to be “the most fashionable, innovative, and inclusive active-lifestyle brand.”
Their sizes proudly range from XXS-4X – something that makes Fabletics one of the Best Clothing Subscription Boxes in the US. We also appreciate the option for customers to buy clothes just as they would from an online store.
Though non-subscribers will pay a higher price than those who receive consistent orders, it’s still an option that gives flexibility for those who may not want to dish out monthly payments.
What You Get:
When you first land on the Fabletics page you’ll need to choose whether you’d like to browse women’s or men’s collections. The brand does have a kid’s division, but that’s an entirely different website, and although notable, Fabletics is the one we’ve nominated as one of our top ten Best Clothing Subscription Boxes.
The brand specializes in athletic apparel, so you’ll find a range of yoga, cardio, and strength-specific items, as well as those you can just hang around the house in their collections.
When signing up, like most other subscription services, you’ll need to take the style quiz. You’ll choose which color palettes you prefer, what kind of activities you do, and which pieces you’re most interested in.
Though there is a monthly fee, subscribers will get 20-50% off the normal retail price of items, as well as free shipping for all orders that total over $50.
Delivery & Cost:
Fabletics has a more structured payment schedule. To access discounts, you’ll need to subscribe, and on the 6th of each month, $50 will be charged to your credit card. But don’t worry, this amount becomes a credit if you choose not to order any of the items in your virtual closet.
If you don’t choose any, that amount carries over to the next month and keeps accumulating until you spend it. This is a pretty interesting structure that, if you don’t end up spending for several months, can feel like a mini shopping spree. But be aware that credits expire after 12 months of accumulation, so be sure to shop within a year – a task we’re sure won’t be too hard!
If you’d rather not be charged a particular month, you can always skip it. If you choose not to skip, you’ll receive your order every month until you cancel. Shipping is free for orders over $50, otherwise, it’s $5-$9 depending on your location. The brand offers expedited shipping as well for $16.
If you need to return any items, you do so within 45 days of purchase. You can choose either a credit, exchange for free, or get a full refund.
Related: Read the full Fabletics Review.
#5: Frank and Oak Style Plan
About the brand:
Frank and Oak’s graceful style is matched by its beautifully structured garments. Founded in 2012 by Ethan Song and Hicham Ratnani, the brand began as a quality menswear clothing line, 4 years later launching its women’s collection.
The brand’s style has sustainability at its heart, incorporating purposeful features, clean lines, and muted tones. Their collection ranges from swimwear to outwear to everything in between, including socks, watches, and bags.
Located in Montreal, Frank and Oak believes “that when we all act on our promises, we can live in a cleaner, healthier and more mindful world where human progress is in harmony with the planet.”
With the planet in mind, the brand transitioned its subscription box plan into a loyalty program that gives users all the same benefits of a subscription plan but cuts down on its co2 footprint racked up by the back and forths of subscription shipping and returns.
We decided to still list Frank and Oak Style Plan as one of the Best Clothing Subscription Boxes out there because it gives its customers some really great perks without a monthly fee.
What You Get:
Frank and Oak Style Club (turned loyalty program) got rid of monthly boxes that not only cut down on the co2s produced in shipping, but also on the amount of packaging sent back and forth.
Current Style Plan members will be automatically swapped to Loyalty Program members, but they will no longer receive boxes of curated picks. Instead, users will have access to special pricing and will discover new collections before the crowds pick them over.
Loyalty members will also get news on private sales and be invited to special events the brand has, where others won’t be. Shipping and returns will also remain free.
What you buy is completely up to you, you’ll need to shop as normal with this service, but Frank and Oak stylists are there for you whenever you need them. If you need to talk to one, they’re still available for appointments through the website.
Simply book online and hop on for a quick chat to go over your style and what pieces they think would work best for you.
Delivery & Cost:
The Frank and Oak Loyalty Program is completely free and anyone in the US or Canada can sign up at any time. Once you sign up, you’ll get instant access to discounts and special perks.
When you place your Frank and Oak order is up to you. There is no minimum amount required to access the program’s benefits.
You can expect your order to arrive in 2-7 business days, but it may take longer depending on where you live.
Shipping and returns are free for Loyalty members, and the return process is fairly similar to what it was before, but you’ll need to go through the regular return system to start a return (of which you have 30 days from the date of purchase to initiate).
Related: Read the full Frank and Oak Review.
#6: Gwynnie Bee Subscription
About the brand:
For many of us, shopping leads to dressing room breakdowns, impulse buys, and a ton of wasted money. This is due to either us changing size, feeling like we have to buy something, or bringing home an item that looked good in the store, but one that we’ll never wear.
Gwynnie Bee believes in the power of fashion without limits. It’s on a mission “to deliver all the great things that fashion has to offer, without all the stress” that in-person shopping can cause.
Founded in 2011 by Christine Hunsicker, the brand had a humble start, sending its first shipments from inside the founder’s Manhattan apartment. Today, Gwynnie Bee has 450 employees with offices located in Long Island City, Columbus, Ohio, Palo Alto, and Bangalore, India.
With commitment, comes stress. Spending $200 on a dress we’re not sure about is a risky decision, one that Gwynnie Bee makes easier with its plus-size rental and subscription box programs.
From casual to dressy, the brand’s collections include modern prints like tie-dye, fashionable designs like high-low hems, and everyday graphic basics from 180+ brands.
Related: Read the full Gywnnie Bee review.
What You Get:
Gwynnie Bee isn’t just for plus-sized women, although that’s who it originally catered to. The brand now proudly carries sizes 0-32.
Instead of receiving a box of picks from stylists, you get to enjoy the process of browsing through the many brands, styles, and curated collections, adding any pieces to your online closet that strike your fancy.
Gwynnie Bee carries a selection of tops, bottoms, and outerwear. Pick the pieces that you’d like to try and have them sent right to your door. Wear the items as much as you like, then either return them and shop again, or add them to your wardrobe for a discounted cost.
What makes Gwynnie Bee one of our picks for Best Clothing Subscription Boxes is the way it’s structured. We love the rental aspect because sometimes trying on a piece of clothing in your home isn’t good enough. You need to wear it outside to get the full effect of how it works with your personal style.
The brand runs on trust, so you can keep the items as long as you want, but you’ll still be charged a monthly fee for the rental. But with that fee comes free shipping and free dry cleaning!
Delivery & Cost:
Gwynnie Bee’s pricing differs depending on how many items you take out at a time. The most you can rent per period is 10 pieces, and the plans range from $50-$200.
You can check out items as often as you like. You won’t be able to get new items until you have either returned or purchased the ones from your last order.
Subscription boxes take about 2-3 business days to process and they’re sent out through either USPS or DHL. You should get your order within 1-4 business days. Though they don’t offer expedited shipping, you can have a faster processing time for $5 with Dart, which promises next-day processing.
When you’re ready to return your item, login to your account and let Gwynnie Bee know you’ll be sending it back. You can also let them know which items you’ll be keeping. Place any items that you wish you send back in the purple return bag and drop them off at UPS.
#7: Wantable Fitness
About the brand:
If you want personal recommendations but want a steady influx of options, Wantable is the place for you.
Founded in 2011 by Jaime Getz, the Milwaukee-based online styling service was created as a way to help people “look great, feel good about themselves, and [give] them more time for what really matters most.” With inclusive sizes from XS-3X, the brand proves that regardless of your body type, you can love what you wear.
Wantable has 5 Edit options to choose from: Men’s Style, Women’s Style, Men’s Active, Women’s Active, and Sleep & Body. But we’ve nominated Wantable Fitness Edits as one of the web’s Best Clothing Subscription Boxes.
What really makes this brand stand out amongst competitors is its themed edits. The idea is sort of like if you were able to purchase your themed Pinterest board – something we all wish we could, but don’t want to visit 7 different websites to do.
What You Get:
After choosing whether you’d like the Women’s or Men’s Active Edit and you take the personal style quiz, you’ll receive your own custom stream of shoppable items. It’s sort of like scrolling through Instagram, but what you see you can add to your online closet, review, then order.
You’ll be able to try 7 pieces at a time, but what arrives in your box is for you to try on first before any purchase takes place. If you decide to keep more than 5 items, you’ll get 20% off your entire order. Whatever you don’t want just ship back – for free.
The key here is to build a versatile look from 7 pieces, of course, you can add only shirts if you want, but think of Wantable as an outfit generator of sorts. Sort of like the ones you do virtually, except with Wantable, you can actually try on the cute clothes. That’s the way it was designed, and honestly, we think that makes it more fun.
What’s in your box is up to you, but based on your style quiz, you may be shown either bright patterns or tons of neutrals.
Delivery & Cost:
To get your personal Edit, a $20 styling fee is paid upfront. This fee is credited towards anything you choose to buy though, so it ends up being a good trade-off.
Items in Wantable’s Style Edits range from $50-100 and the Active Edits are about $30-$70.
You can change your frequency at any time, but you have 5 days to return or exchange any items in your Edit. If you don’t return them within this period, they’ll all be charged to your account.
Delivery comes at the frequency you chose with your first Edit, but typically it takes 3-5 days to arrive from the day you place your order. Shipping is free and fairly quick so there are no other expedited options.
Your box comes with a return bag and prepaid postage label. Any items that you don’t want you can place in the bag and drop it off at the post office. Head onto your Wantable account to let your stylist know what didn’t work with the piece sent so that they can make a better recommendation next time.
Related: Read the full Wantable Subscription Review.
#8: Dia & Co Subscription
About the brand:
Founder, Nadia Boujarwah is no stranger to the hunt for plus-size clothing that made her feel good about herself and actually looked good on her. In 2015, she started Dia & Co. to help other women like her find fashion that complemented their bodies – and something they looked forward to wearing.
With offices in Dallas, Los Angeles, Greenwood, and New York, it’s safe to say the brand’s mission of creating “a place where everyone can explore all the incredible things that style can really do,” is truly valued by customers across the US.
On Dia & Co. you’ll find trendy styles and cute pairings that complement curvy women. Styled like H&M or Lululemon, the brand’s Active and Style collections are just as inclusive of items as they are of sizes. Swimsuits, Lingerie, and a variety of everyday and occasion clothing allow for seemingly endless options.
Dia & Co. is only for plus-sized women, and that’s what sets them apart from other Best Clothing Subscription Boxes as well. Instead of broadening its selection down to size zero, it focuses on curvy sizes. You’ll find size 0X-5X on the website for Tops and Dresses, and for Bottoms, 12-32.
What You Get:
Dia & Co. is for women only. Choose either a Style Box or Active Box, but whichever you choose, one of the brand’s stylists says for your first box, she’ll send you a selection of their “core pieces,” but will always throw in one or two curveballs to help push you out of your comfort zone.
We love this approach because so often people stick to what they’re comfortable wearing and never experiment. But that’s the job of a good personal stylist.
During your process of picking clothes with your stylist, you’ll be sent 5 pieces to try on at home. Prance around, get a feel for them, and any you don’t want just send them back.
Delivery & Cost:
There is a $20 styling fee per box that’s credited towards your purchase, and if you keep all 5 items in your order, you’ll get a 25% discount.
Items in the Dia Shop can be bought separately as well, but be aware that if you buy 5 you won’t get the discount, so ordering the box comes with perks.
Shipping is always free so the brand doesn’t offer expedited options. They do have quite a few frequency options though:
- 2-3 weeks
- Monthly
- Every two months
- Every three months
- One-time purchase
The fact you can do a one-time purchase is amazing and one of the reasons Dia & Co. is one of our picks for Best Clothing Subscription Boxes.
If you need to return any of the items in your box, just put anything you don’t want to keep inside the prepaid return envelope and drop it off at your local post office.
Related: Read the full Dia and Co review.
#9: Rent the Runway
About the brand:
Rentals take the stress out of buying something expensive. Rent the Runway has been helping women wear fashion without the price tag since 2009, when Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss dreamed up a way to help those who wanted to rock runway trends, but didn’t want to pay the hefty cost.
What started as a small business created while the two Jennifers studied at Harvard, has now bloomed into a household name brand based in New York.
Proving looking expensive doesn’t have to be expensive, Rent the Runway’s mission “is to power women to feel their best every day.” That power is fueled by a selection of designer labels like Diane Von Furstenburg, Tory Burch, Philip Lim, and Free People.
Just a few short years after opening Rent the Runway expanded their selection to include plus size fashion as well, adding sizes from 14-22.
Though not the only designer rental company out there, Rent the Runway is one of our top picks for Best Clothing Subscription Boxes because of its range of membership and subscription options.
What You Get:
Rent the Runway doesn’t pick what you get in your box. They want you to take control over what you receive, as they know fashion is extremely personal. What your order contains is totally up to you, but the company carries over 700 designers with new arrivals added each week.
The most shocking stat is that the average Rent the Runway member rents about $34K worth of clothing per year, and they only pay about $1,200 or less.
Specially designed for women’s fashion, Rent the Runway is for anyone who is in love with designer looks, loves shopping, and loves trying new things.
The company stocks both clothing and accessories and even has categories to separate items by occasion, plus a clearance section. Your membership plan will give you perks like special member sales too.
Delivery & Cost:
Rent the Runway has 3 membership plans. The prices listed below are for the trial plans (first month) with the regular pricing quoted after.
- 4 items per month (1 order per month) $70 —> $90
- 8 items per month (2 orders, 1 per every 2 weeks) $100 —> $135
- 16 items per month (4 orders, 1 per week) $150 —> $200
Shipping and returns are always free, and dry cleaning and rental coverage are included with each plan as well. Items ship in 2 days through FedEx.
When it’s time to return your items (unless you’ll be buying them) just pop them in the prepaid return mailer at drop them off at a Rent the Runway drop-off-box or at your local post office.
Related: Read the full Rent the Runway review.
#10: Menlo Club
About the brand:
Founded in 2002 by Andres Izquieta and Dee Murthy, Menlo (owned by Five Four Group) is a men’s fashion company that offers specific lines of clothing Young & Reckless, Five Four, New Republic, GRC, Midnight Studios, Ales Grey, Club Fantasy, and Clean Monster.
The catch with Menlo Club – and when we say “catch” we mean “great thing” – is that whatever items you’re sent are yours to keep. There’s no hassle with returning items, but you can exchange them for a different size if you need to.
What You Get:
Menlo Club is for men only and will deliver 2 curated work outfits or 2-3 pieces of clothing to your door monthly, but you’ll first need to take their style quiz.
In your monthly boxes, in one year of subscriptions, you are guaranteed to receive the following pieces:
- New Republic footwear (2 months)
- Grand AC athleisure wear (2 months)
- Five Four contemporary clothing (8 months)
With your Menlo Club membership, you’ll get 25% off all items in their store (even ones not included in your box). This feature is what makes them one of the web’s Best Clothing Subscription Boxes, as not many others will give you discounts on clothing in their regular store.
Your membership also gets you free shipping always and you’ll be notified of deals before non-members are.
Delivery & Cost:
Menlo Club has some options when it comes to its membership boxes.
- Two Work-Ready Outfits per month $50/month
- 2-3 Pieces of Curated Clothing per month $60/month
The company only has monthly memberships available, and your order will arrive about 9-15 days after your charge date. Though shipping is free for US customers, those in Canada and the UK will have to pay a surcharge (up to $30).
Related: Read the full Menlo Club Review.
How to Choose the Best Clothing Subscription Box
When we put together this Best Clothing Subscription Boxes list, we kept a few things in mind. And when you’re deciding which one best fits your needs, you should too.
If you read through each of the options outlined above, then you probably noticed they’re all pretty different. Even in the services that just carry, say women’s clothing, the plans and features vary from company to company, so it’s up to you to assess which one meets your needs.
When looking for the Top Clothing Subscription Boxes out there, you should consider a range of variables. Things like which gender and age group they cater to are obvious. You, of course, wouldn’t be choosing a kids’ subscription box to outfit yourself – unless you by chance fit into kid’s clothing.
But the choice goes deeper than that, if you’re someone who likes options, then be sure to go for a brand that has a varied, rotating selection. If you want to rent, the option to return or buy, or to tailor your clothes through the service, those are things you should keep an eye out for.
As you saw in the 10 plans above, some cost more than others do. Some also have more perks than others and while most include free shipping and returns, it’s not always granted.
We hope we’ve made the decision of which of the Best Clothing Subscription Boxes is best for you a little easier with this review. Happy unboxing!
Looking for other top brands? Check out these curated lists below:
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