City Chic has its positives and its negatives — and I’ve experienced both.

The negatives first.
1. Customer service. It’s wildly inconsistent. Every store visit seems to be a lucky dip — one lovely staff member and one crabby pain in the bum. If there’s only one person on, you just hope it’s the good one. Phone service is the same — fine until returns or policy come into play, then they can turn dismissive and sometimes rude. That’s not a good look. Better vetting and proper staff training would go a long way.
2. Return/refund/exchange policy. It’s too tight and, honestly, unfair. A strict four-week window with zero flexibility — in real life, that’s not always workable. The rules around tags are over the top (surely a tag can be replaced), and being told to resell items on a Facebook group is not a solution.
3. Buying online but returning in store. This one really gets me. I live in the country — over an hour away on a 110km highway to the nearest store. If you can post it to me, I should be able to post it back. It’s that simple.
4. Sizing. It can be all over the place, even within the same range. Which means you rely heavily on the return policy… and around we go.
5. Sleeveless overload. Not just a City Chic issue, but for a brand that caters to larger bodies, you’d think there’d be more awareness here. Many of us don’t want everything sleeveless. Yet the range often feels 80% that way. The industry as a whole needs to do better.
6. Pricing. Full price can feel steep for what you’re getting, especially given the inconsistencies in sizing and the strict return policy. The real value is in the sales — that’s when City Chic truly shines. But at full retail, it can be hard to justify the spend.

Now the positives — because there are definitely some.
1. Quality. When you get the right size at the right price, it’s a fantastic buy. The sizing (when correct) feels like a true Aussie fit, just designed with the extra room we actually need. I’ve gone from a size 24 to a 10 and can still shop there — that inclusivity is something to be proud of.
2. The good staff. When you find a great one, they’re exceptional. They go above and beyond every time. If I were the CEO, I’d be rewarding those staff properly — they’re the ones holding the brand together.
3. Fashion forward. This is where City Chic shines. Larger bodies deserve modern, stylish clothing — not daggy, outdated options. City Chic understands that big girls are just as beautiful and just as fashion-conscious as anyone else. And for that, credit where it’s due.

At the end of the day, I shop there because when it’s good, it’s really good. Tighten up the policies, lift the service standards, and you’d have something truly exceptional.