Hello again! It's time for another Stitch Fix Review! After coming home from Ecuador at the beginning of May, I scheduled another Stitch Fix to arrive two weeks later. I think re-entering after a trip abroad while working full time can really cause you to be off your game, so it's taken me a little while to get this review up. BUT, you know what they say - better late than never.
Just a reminder: Stitch Fix is a mail order styling service for women. You sign up on their website, answer their questions to create a style profile, pay the $20 styling fee, and receive 5 items curated for you by one of their stylists. You also have the opportunity to create a Pinterest board to link to for your stylist and a place to write notes about any details you want to share with your stylist that you think will help them understand what you're looking for. Clothing goes from sizes 0/XS-14/XL and they've recently introduced maternity and petite sizing.
Stitch Fix allows you to leave a note for your stylist where you can leave requests, give them feedback or let them know any special events you have coming up that you'd like them to keep in mind. For this fix, I took a slightly different route with my note and asked for much more specific items. Namely, I asked for: wide leg jean trouser, a midi-length black shirt dress and a neutral circle skirt (midi length). I pinned pictures of the items, so that my stylist could see what I was looking for. I did this for two reasons: 1) I wanted those items and 2) I was curious as to what extent the stylists are able to accommodate both specific requests and requests for more staple items. I was interested with what I requested versus what I got and why what my stylist picked made a lot of sense to me.
Sooo without further ado, here's what I got in my third "Fix".
Stitch Fix allows you to leave a note for your stylist where you can leave requests, give them feedback or let them know any special events you have coming up that you'd like them to keep in mind. For this fix, I took a slightly different route with my note and asked for much more specific items. Namely, I asked for: wide leg jean trouser, a midi-length black shirt dress and a neutral circle skirt (midi length). I pinned pictures of the items, so that my stylist could see what I was looking for. I did this for two reasons: 1) I wanted those items and 2) I was curious as to what extent the stylists are able to accommodate both specific requests and requests for more staple items. I was interested with what I requested versus what I got and why what my stylist picked made a lot of sense to me.
Sooo without further ado, here's what I got in my third "Fix".
Market & Spruce - Barrymore Solid Pleat Detail Top
In my post-vacation fog, I realized that I should probably give some kind of note to my (super-fly) stylist. I asked her for the staple items, above, and also for some warm weather items to prepare for the inevitable sweat-fest that is summer in the Central Valley. So I wasn't surprised when I saw this turquoise tank top in the mix. It's a cute, simple top that fits really well. I can definitely see wearing it with shorts and keeping it casual or dressing it up as a work top. The fabric is a rayon material as opposed to cotton, so it is a bit more soft and it doesn't read as casual as a cotton shirt might. Overall, I like this shirt, though I'm hoping it doesn't wrinkle too much (you can see some of the wrinkling already occurring in the photos).
VERDICT: Kept.
VERDICT: Kept.
Zad - Shari Beaded Long Fringe Necklace
More jewelry! Yay! I have to tell you guys, I really am terrible at picking out jewelry, so the idea of putting that burden on someone else really does take a weight off (#firstworldproblems). This is a cute, mixed metal necklace that I don't think I would have normally picked out myself. Typically I don't wear a lot of green (or variants thereof), but I like the style and it is nice to have another something to pick from in my jewelry box. If I could change one thing, it would be to have the length be adjustable. It would be nice to have it a bit shorter, but there's no easy way to shorten it without cutting out some of the chain.
VERDICT: Kept.
VERDICT: Kept.
Papermoon - Nixie Wide Leg Pant
Look at these pants! The minute I saw them I thought "hippie chick" and then the more I played around with the styling, I definitely felt a sixties vibe going on. My stylist picked them because of the wide leg shape, but these fit more like bell bottoms on me. The material is stretchy and soft, but I was really on the fence about whether or not to keep them. I tend to have a hard time wearing pants that have the flat panel elastic waist, because they just never seem to know where to go - higher on my waist, lower? It's a continuous battle at my hemline that totally takes away from the should-be glory of stretch pants.
Not to mention these pants have a lot to say, regardless of how they fit me personally. Again, they're playing with a color palette I don't normally pick for myself, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't try a different color palette and that this isn't a good place to start. I paired them with the Market & Spruce top because it made sense together, but I could certainly take some time to find a good black t-shirt or simple tank to pair with them too.
VERDICT: Kept.
Not to mention these pants have a lot to say, regardless of how they fit me personally. Again, they're playing with a color palette I don't normally pick for myself, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't try a different color palette and that this isn't a good place to start. I paired them with the Market & Spruce top because it made sense together, but I could certainly take some time to find a good black t-shirt or simple tank to pair with them too.
VERDICT: Kept.
Fate - Ruby Maxi Dress
This dress. THIS. DRESS. I pulled this dress out of the box and was so, so excited by the butterfly and rose print that I immediately became worried that it wouldn't fit and that I would have to send it back. I'm instinctively drawn to this shape dress, but find it difficult to find one that is long enough and that sits on my waist properly (is this waist thing a theme?? hmmm). So you can imagine my excitement when it fit like a glove. Seriously, I'm in love with this dress and am going to find every opportunity to wear it.
VERDICT: Kept. Easily.
VERDICT: Kept. Easily.
Le Lis - Nene Striped Midi Dress
This dress doesn't look like much when it is on the hanger, but - in case you didn't notice - it's fabulous on. This is my stylist's nod to my request for a midi-length circle skirt and I'm in love with this dress. It fits my waist perfectly and the cap sleeve evens out my top in proportion with my bottom. Not to mention how comfortable it is to wear and how I can sit at my desk (or in my car, or in any chair, generally speaking) without feeling like my legs are hanging out excessively or that I need to readjust my skirt. I know this length isn't for everyone, but when' you're tall, it is a constant battle to find dresses that aren't way too short. This may be my new favorite dress and I'e already worn it twice.
VERDICT: Kept
VERDICT: Kept
The Nitty Gritty
SO, yet again, I kept the entire box! I was completely in love with both the dresses that my stylist picked out for me, so it was a given that I would keep them. I then had to decide whether or not I would keep the other items, so I reviewed the cost for all five items, versus the cost for the two that were for sure "loves". In the end, it made more sense to keep all five items than to return some. The only item that is a stretch for me in this box are the pants and I think the more I look at them, the more I like them. I think I'll have a lot of opportunity to wear them this summer.
I was also interested to see how my requests translated in this fix: the midi dress, the wide leg pants and the tank top. They were different from what I had specifically asked for, but were logical and opened up the possibility for different shapes and styles. All in all I was very happy with what I got and can't wait to wear all of it!
A few other details:
If you refer a friend (or inspired stranger), then you received a $25 credit when that person orders and receives their first fix. So, if you're interested in trying this service, I'd love for you to use my Referral Link. ;o)
Every fix comes with a personalized note from your stylist describing briefly why s/he picked the items for you. In addition, there is a card that shows two ways to style each item in the fix in order to give you inspiration.
When it comes to checking out, the $20 styling fee is credited back to you, even if you keep just one item. Also, if you buy all five items, then the whole lot is 25% off. It's interesting how the 25% off plays into the decision-making process. If the discount weren't a part of the equation, I probably would have returned the jeans, but with discount, it makes more financial sense to keep them and save on the total. It's really important to crunch the numbers!
I want to reiterate a couple of things I think anyone doing this service should keep in mind when they sign up:
1. Realistic Success Rate: My hope going in was that one item would be a keeper, because the $20 styling fee is applied to any item you buy. I figured if I liked one item, I would not be losing the $20. Because I only hoped for one item, having all of them work out felt like a home run. I still think that hoping one item will work out it a reasonable expectation going forward.
2. Willingness to Pay: Let's be clear: you can get clothes for cheaper than what you'll pay doing Stitch Fix. While they do ask what price range you're looking to spend when setting up your style profile, the clothes are going to be closer to retail. The clothes I got are also more stylish and higher quality than what I feel I often get at discount/traditionally inexpensive stores. If you're not willing to pay the true cost, then I think you may be setting yourself up to be disappointed.
3. Honest Details: I told the truth about my weight, clothing size and proportions, whether I liked it or not. I think this made a world of difference in getting the clothes to fit right. If the clothes don't fit, no matter how cute they are, you won't keep them.
4. Lots of Information - I think my Pinterest board made a big difference. I set up a board solely for Stitch Fix and only pinned things that I would both love to wear and thought that I could wear in terms of shapes and styles.
Click to read the reviews for my 1st Stitch Fix and 2nd Stitch Fix.
*disclosure: this is not a sponsored post, just a service that I'm using that I want to share
I was also interested to see how my requests translated in this fix: the midi dress, the wide leg pants and the tank top. They were different from what I had specifically asked for, but were logical and opened up the possibility for different shapes and styles. All in all I was very happy with what I got and can't wait to wear all of it!
A few other details:
If you refer a friend (or inspired stranger), then you received a $25 credit when that person orders and receives their first fix. So, if you're interested in trying this service, I'd love for you to use my Referral Link. ;o)
Every fix comes with a personalized note from your stylist describing briefly why s/he picked the items for you. In addition, there is a card that shows two ways to style each item in the fix in order to give you inspiration.
When it comes to checking out, the $20 styling fee is credited back to you, even if you keep just one item. Also, if you buy all five items, then the whole lot is 25% off. It's interesting how the 25% off plays into the decision-making process. If the discount weren't a part of the equation, I probably would have returned the jeans, but with discount, it makes more financial sense to keep them and save on the total. It's really important to crunch the numbers!
I want to reiterate a couple of things I think anyone doing this service should keep in mind when they sign up:
1. Realistic Success Rate: My hope going in was that one item would be a keeper, because the $20 styling fee is applied to any item you buy. I figured if I liked one item, I would not be losing the $20. Because I only hoped for one item, having all of them work out felt like a home run. I still think that hoping one item will work out it a reasonable expectation going forward.
2. Willingness to Pay: Let's be clear: you can get clothes for cheaper than what you'll pay doing Stitch Fix. While they do ask what price range you're looking to spend when setting up your style profile, the clothes are going to be closer to retail. The clothes I got are also more stylish and higher quality than what I feel I often get at discount/traditionally inexpensive stores. If you're not willing to pay the true cost, then I think you may be setting yourself up to be disappointed.
3. Honest Details: I told the truth about my weight, clothing size and proportions, whether I liked it or not. I think this made a world of difference in getting the clothes to fit right. If the clothes don't fit, no matter how cute they are, you won't keep them.
4. Lots of Information - I think my Pinterest board made a big difference. I set up a board solely for Stitch Fix and only pinned things that I would both love to wear and thought that I could wear in terms of shapes and styles.
Click to read the reviews for my 1st Stitch Fix and 2nd Stitch Fix.
*disclosure: this is not a sponsored post, just a service that I'm using that I want to share
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