If you‘ve scrolled through Instagram in the last few years, chances are you‘ve come across fashion brand I.AM.GIA. With over 1.2 million followers and a fanbase that includes the likes of Bella Hadid and Kaia Gerber, this Australian label has quickly become one of the most buzzed-about brands for fashion-forward millennials and Gen Z.
But what‘s the hype really about? Is I.AM.GIA actually worth your hard-earned cash? As someone who‘s spent hours scrolling through their feed and finally took the plunge on a few pieces, I‘m here to give you my honest, unfiltered take.
In this ultimate I.AM.GIA review, I‘ll cover everything you need to know about the brand, from their iconic styles to quality and fit to how they stack up to the competition. Plus, I‘ll reveal what real customers have to say and give you my final verdict on whether I.AM.GIA lives up to its "It Girl" reputation. Let‘s dive in!
The story behind I.AM.GIA
Founded in 2017 by Australian sisters Alana Pallister and Stevie Cox, I.AM.GIA has quickly skyrocketed from a small Aussie label to an international fashion phenomenon worn by top models and celebrities.
The brand is named after 1970s supermodel Gia Carangi, who serves as I.AM.GIA‘s muse and the embodiment of their edgy, rebellious aesthetic. Inspired by the idea of the "modern female protagonist" and early 2000s icons like Paris Hilton and Bratz dolls, I.AM.GIA pieces are all about being unapologetically bold, sexy and confident.
As Alana Pallister describes it, I.AM.GIA is for "the girl who goes out at night and is the life of the party and then still looks bomb the next day in her sweats with her sunglasses on, slightly hungover eating a burger."
With a focus on body-hugging silhouettes, cut-out details and streetwear-inspired designs in a neutral color palette, I.AM.GIA has created an instantly recognizable look favored by influencers and fashion risk-takers. Some of their cult favorite designs include the Pixie coat, Carlo cargo pants and Lucid cutout pants.
While I.AM.GIA is first and foremost an online brand, they‘ve done pop-up shops and expanded into select retailers like Revolve, Urban Outfitters and Dolls Kill to reach their growing customer base. Their line encompasses a full range of apparel from tops and bodysuits to pants and dresses, along with swimwear, outerwear and accessories.
So now that you know the background on I.AM.GIA, let‘s take a closer look at their products and see whether they‘re worth the investment for your wardrobe.
I.AM.GIA product review: Are the quality and fit worth the price?
I.AM.GIA is definitely not the cheapest brand out there, with most pieces ranging from $50-$150. So before hitting that "add to cart" button, you want to make sure you‘re getting your money‘s worth in terms of quality, fit and design.
From my personal experience and scouring loads of customer reviews, here‘s the consensus on I.AM.GIA‘s most popular categories:
Tops and bodysuits
I.AM.GIA has nailed the going-out top and bodysuit. They‘re super flattering and hug your curves in all the right places thanks to stretchy, second-skin fabrics. The cut-out and lace-up details add the perfect sexy touch without being too risqué. I own the Sadie lace-up bodysuit and it makes me feel like a badass every time I wear it.
Pants
This is what I.AM.GIA is most famous for and I can see why. From the ‘90s-inspired Halo pants with the adorable front-tie detail to the utility-chic Cobain cargos, these pants make a STATEMENT. They‘re comfy and easy to move in while still looking tailored and cool. The only downside is they run a bit long for petite girls, so you may need to get them hemmed.
Outerwear
If you want a standout coat or jacket, I.AM.GIA has you covered, literally. The teddy coats and puffers are so soft and cozy, you‘ll never want to take them off. I love how the slightly oversized fit makes them perfect for layering over a hoodie or chunky sweater. Quality-wise, they hold up well and don‘t pile or snag easily.
Dresses and skirts
To be honest, this is the category I was least impressed with from I.AM.GIA. The dresses are very pretty and on-trend, but for the price point, the fabrics feel kind of cheap and flimsy. I also found the skirts to run really small and tight in the waist. If you have a curvier bottom half, definitely size up.
Swimwear
I.AM.GIA‘s swimsuits are not for wallflowers. They‘re ultra strappy, high cut and revealing, but if you‘re daring enough to rock them, you‘ll look like a straight-up bikini model. Just don‘t expect tons of support or coverage. I‘d stick to sunbathing rather than swimming laps in these babies.
Overall, the quality and construction of I.AM.GIA pieces are on par with other contemporary brands in their price range like I.AM.GIA or Tiger Mist. The fit can be inconsistent, so make sure to check the size guide and customer reviews for each item.
In terms of inclusivity, I.AM.GIA offers sizes XXS-XL which translates to about a US 0-14. They don‘t carry petite or plus sizes. Most models on their site appear to be a size small or medium with slim figures, so it would be great to see more body diversity and representation.
How ethical and sustainable is I.AM.GIA?
Now more than ever, consumers are holding brands accountable for their ethical and environmental practices. Unfortunately, I.AM.GIA is fairly lacking in the transparency department when it comes to their production process and supply chain.
As a fast fashion brand that capitalizes on trends, I.AM.GIA isn‘t winning any sustainability awards. The majority of their pieces are made from synthetic, non-biodegradable materials like polyester and nylon. While they have a recycled swimwear collection, it‘s a small portion of their total line.
I couldn‘t find any information on their website about factory conditions, worker wellbeing or reducing waste. I reached out to customer service to inquire but was told they "don‘t disclose supplier information." Not very reassuring.
For what it‘s worth, I.AM.GIA‘s pieces do seem to be well-made and hold up over time with proper care, so they encourage re-wearing your pieces rather than quickly cycling through trends. However, with their limited sizing and target demographic, it‘s inevitable that many pieces end up being re-sold or worse, in landfills.
As consumers, we have the power to demand better from the brands we shop from. I‘d love to see I.AM.GIA take steps towards more eco-friendly fabrics, ethical manufacturing and transparent communication with customers. Until then, I‘ll be more mindful about which I.AM.GIA pieces I choose to invest in and treat them as special-occasion wear rather than disposable fashion.
What do customers really think of I.AM.GIA?
For this I.AM.GIA review, I didn‘t just want to rely on my own opinions. I scoured the internet for customer feedback on blogs, YouTube, Reddit and review sites like Trustpilot and Sitejabber to get a well-rounded picture of I.AM.GIA‘s reputation.
With over 2,800 reviews on Trustpilot, I.AM.GIA scores an impressive 4.1 out of 5 stars. Happy customers rave about the on-trend designs, standout quality and head-turning compliments they get when wearing I.AM.GIA. "I feel like an off-duty model in the best way," one reviewer gushes about the Cobain pants.
YouTubers like Samantha Ravndahl and Allegra Shaw have also sung I.AM.GIA‘s praises in their try-on hauls, noting the spot-on fit and comfort of the bodysuits and pants. "I get the hype, I‘m a convert now," Samantha admits.
However, the reviews aren‘t all glowing. Common complaints include inconsistent sizing (particularly items running small), long shipping times and difficulty getting in touch with customer service to resolve issues. Some reviewers also felt the prices were a bit steep for the quality.
I will say, I.AM.GIA seems receptive to constructive feedback. They reply to every comment on Trustpilot, whether positive or negative, and work to make things right for unsatisfied customers. No brand is perfect, but it‘s refreshing to see them take accountability.
One thing I appreciate is that I.AM.GIA has a very detailed size guide on their website with garment measurements for each size. They‘ll also specify in the product description if an item runs true to size, small or large. When in doubt, I always recommend sizing up with I.AM.GIA, especially for fitted pieces.
All things considered, the majority of I.AM.GIA customers seem to be happy with their purchases and feel the brand lives up to the Instagram hype. No item is going to be universally flattering or loved by everyone, but if I.AM.GIA‘s aesthetic speaks to you and you‘re willing to splurge a bit, you‘ll probably be satisfied with the quality and fit.
I.AM.GIA vs. the competition: How do they compare?
I.AM.GIA isn‘t the only Insta-popular brand with a cool-girl, skinny-jeans-and-crop-top aesthetic. Other competitors in this space include Jagger & Stone, Lioness, Mistress Rocks and Verge Girl.
I‘d say the closest dupe for I.AM.GIA is fellow Aussie brand Jagger & Stone. They have a very similar vibe of vintage-inspired, edgy statement pieces like lace-up tops, cut-out dresses and cargo pants. J&S actually goes up to size XXL (18-20) so they have a slight edge in terms of size inclusivity.
The main difference is that Jagger & Stone is solely based in Australia, so if you‘re ordering from the US or elsewhere, you‘ll have to pay hefty international shipping fees and potentially duties/taxes. I.AM.GIA has warehouses in both Australia and the US to keep shipping costs and times down for the majority of their customers.
Price-wise, I.AM.GIA and Jagger & Stone are comparable, with most pieces in the $80-$150 range. I own a few items from each brand and find the quality to be very similar too. I‘d say I.AM.GIA has a slight edge in the pants and outerwear department, while Jagger & Stone kills it with cute going-out tops.
Ultimately, your choice between the two comes down to your location and which specific designs you prefer, since they‘re both solid options for trendy, mid-priced pieces you won‘t see everyone else wearing.
Shipping, returns and promo codes: The fine print
Before you smash that checkout button, let‘s go over the nuts and bolts of shopping on I.AM.GIA‘s website. Their shipping and returns policy is fairly standard, but there are a few things to note.
I.AM.GIA offers free express shipping on all Australian orders over $80 AUD and all US orders over $80 USD. For orders below that threshold, there‘s a flat shipping rate of $9. Express typically takes 2-4 business days to arrive once dispatched.
For international customers outside of Australia and the US, I.AM.GIA offers flat-rate shipping ranging from $15-50 depending on your location. Transit times can be 7-20 business days, so be prepared to wait a bit.
In terms of returns, I.AM.GIA accepts returns within 30 days of delivery for a full refund, minus shipping costs. Sale items are typically final sale unless otherwise specified. You‘ll need to request a return through their online portal and customer service will provide you a label and instructions.
Something to keep in mind is that I.AM.GIA releases new drops every week, so popular items sell out crazy fast. If there‘s something you have your heart set on, I recommend signing up for their email newsletter to get notified of new releases and restocks.
I.AM.GIA also offers Afterpay as a payment method, which allows you to split your purchase into 4 interest-free installments if you want to spread out the cost. Students can also get 10% off their purchase with Student Beans.
As far as other I.AM.GIA discounts and promo codes, you can usually expect a decent Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale and an end-of-season sale in late summer. I‘d also recommend following I.AM.GIA on Instagram and subscribing to their newsletter, as they‘ll occasionally send out exclusive discount codes to their followers and email subscribers.
So is I.AM.GIA worth it? My honest conclusion
After thoroughly researching I.AM.GIA and experiencing the brand for myself, I can confidently say they‘re worth checking out if you‘re in the market for head-turning, trendy pieces that make a statement. No, they‘re not the most affordable or sustainable brand out there, but I can‘t deny the instant confidence boost I feel when wearing I.AM.GIA.
I‘m particularly impressed by their pants and outerwear selections. The fit and quality are consistently great and they nail that effortlessly cool vibe I‘m always striving for. I reach for my I.AM.GIA pieces when I want to feel like a slightly-hungover-but-still-hot off-duty model, even if I‘m just running errands or meeting friends for brunch.
However, I do have to acknowledge the lack of size inclusivity and transparency around I.AM.GIA‘s ethical practices. I really hope to see them expand their size range and provide more information on their production process in the future. No brand is perfect, but as an I.AM.GIA customer, I want to feel good about supporting them beyond just the clothes.
My biggest piece of advice for shopping I.AM.GIA is to carefully study the size guide, read reviews for your specific items of interest and when in doubt, size up. The return process is fairly easy, but it‘s always better to get it right the first time.
You should also be realistic about cost per wear for I.AM.GIA pieces. These aren‘t your everyday basics, so the cost breakdown is going to be higher than what you‘d spend at H&M or Zara. I like to think of my I.AM.GIA pieces as investment items I‘ll rewear for seasons to come, styled in new ways.
So is I.AM.GIA overhyped? In my opinion, no. While they‘re not perfect, they deliver on quality, style and that cool-girl aesthetic they‘ve become Insta-famous for. If that‘s the vibe you‘re after and you‘re willing to spend a bit more for it, then I say go for it. Treat yourself to those Pixie pants or Teddy coat and embrace your inner Gia Carangi.
I hope you found this I.AM.GIA review helpful in deciding whether the brand is right for you! At the end of the day, fashion is all about expressing yourself and wearing what makes you feel amazing. So if I.AM.GIA speaks to your personal style, then rock on with your bad self. And if not, that‘s cool too – there are plenty of other fish in the fashion sea.
