This month I hired a personal stylist. True story.
But before you go thinking that Stuff Parents Need must be paying the bills and then some, let me explain a little bit! I learned about this styling service called (referral link)Β Stitch Fix thanks to my blogging bud Kayla of KaylaAimee.com (go subscribe, she’s a delight to read). Anyway, in the not-so-distant past, she got rid of most of her clothes and sort of started fresh, building a more intentional, more grown up wardrobe. Stitch Fix was an important part of her rebuilding process.
I did something a bit similar, though more over time. In the last 8 months I’ve gotten rid of about 60% of my clothes. I was finally ready to let go of all that stuff taking up room in my closet that was old, worn out, didn’t look good, wasn’t my style, etc. It felt really good to do it, and I have yet to miss a single article of clothing that I parted ways with.
I have, however, noticed that I wear about 4 things all the time now. And there were some gaps in my wardrobe, especially for those occasions when I needed to wear something that could pass for business casual. I may be a working woman, but I get to work in my yoga pants while sitting in my house! I needed a fresh look, and I had zero interest in going to the mall or scouring the internet for ideas.
And that, my friends, is why paying for a stylist at Stitch Fix to pick out some clothes for me actually made a whole lot of sense. You actually pay $20 for the styling service, but that money serves as a credit toward whatever you want to purchase from the box. So unless you hate everything in the box, the styling service is actually free. Make sense?
For my first fix, I filled out a fairly detailed style profile so my stylist could get to know me better, and then I waited for my box to arrive (I signed up for a particular day, and it actually arrived right on time!). It even came with a special note from my stylist, Margaret.
When your box arrives, you have 3 business days to try on the clothes and decide what you want to keep and what you want to send back. It even comes with a prepaid mailer for super simple returns. You can also provide more feedback to your stylist she she can get a better sense for what worked, what didn’t, and why, and use that knowledge when she styles you again (because I’m telling you, you’ll want to do this more than once!). If you happen to love all 5 pieces in your box, you get a 25% discount off the total price. Woo hoo!
So, would you like to see what was inside my fix?
Let me tell you something, it is REALLY FUN to get a box full of surprise clothes and accessories picked out just for you. Highlight of my week, no question!
I already showed the first dress to Facebook followers, but in case you missed it, here it is. It got quite a bit of lively discussion happening (which taught me that you all love to talk about clothes!). And let me just go ahead and say it now…my shoes are all wrong. I wasn’t even thinking about them when I put them on for all the clothes that morning. Shows what a rookie I am at fashion photo shoots!
Piece #1. Sheila Beaded Collar Detail Dress by Mystree ($58.00)
Most folks online thought the dress was cute, and I agree with them. What is so fun is that I would never had picked this dress off of a rack. The cut is VERY me, but the color is one I never ever wear. I go for the blue reds, not the orange reds. But guess what? It worked! π Stitch Fix is a great way to be forced out of your comfort zone. Final verdict: KEPT.
Piece 2. Floral Pendant Necklace by 41Hawthorn ($32.00)
I thought this piece was very on-trend, and Darah absolutely adored it, declaring it the world’s most beautiful necklace. I liked it more than I thought I would at first, but ultimately, I didn’t feel I could justify the price for a piece I would likely wear only once in a while. I also know that this “giant jewelry” phase will be over before we know it, and I’d rather buy things with a bit more lasting power. Final verdict: RETURNED. Also, just a head’s up, if you are looking for statement pieces like this, I see them all the time for a song on Jane.com!
Piece 3. Ivy Solid Tab Sleeve V-Neck Blouse ($58.00)
At first, I thought this blouse was completely forgettable. And then, the more I wore it during the shoot, the more comfortable I felt in it. And when I looked back at the pictures, I thought it looked like me…like something I would choose and wear a lot. I was just about to say yes to this piece, when I checked the washing instructions and noticed DRY CLEAN ONLY. Final verdict: RETURNED (I HATE going to the dry cleaners!).
Piece #4. Adora Ankle Length Jean from (ironically) Just Black ($58)
When I pulled these out of the box, I was like, “Yeah right! I’m not putting skin-tight turquoise on my bottom half!” And then I tried them on. And they were soft. SO soft. And kind of fun to wear, too. And I started looking through my closet, and I noticed a surprising number of pieces that would actually look cute with them. And did I mention how soft they are? This is yet another piece I would have blown right past in a store, but thanks to Stitch Fix, I gave them a chance. Final verdict: KEPT.
Piece 5. Noel Crochet Detail Sheer Sleeveless Top from Collective Concepts ($68.00)
I thought this top was cute, and it was suggested to pair it with the turquoise pants (by the way, all of your pieces come with two specific suggestions for ways to wear the clothes, which is VERY helpful!). I thought the top was very cute and looked like something I would wear, but the colors weren’t doing much for me. And the price tag, for a sleeveless top, was a little hard to swallow. Final verdict: RETURNED.
I got some feedback on Facebook that the price points for the clothes seemed a little high. You can actually select a price range for the clothes, in order to ensure that you aren’t sent something that is too far out of your desired budget. I chose the $50-100 price range, but for my next fix, which I have actually already ordered, I selected “the cheaper the better. ” I think in general, though, the prices will be higher than what many of us, myself most definitely included, might be used to (shout out, Target clearance rack!). BUT…you don’t have to spend any time looking for the right clothes or figuring out what to pair them with. You also get access to brands that you won’t find in the mall, and certainly not in Target. It is refreshing, and oh-so-perfect for anyone whose wardrobe could use a little pick me up.
I was also impressed with the ability of the stylists to work with my “curvier” body type. I tend to imagine that dressing folks who wear size 4 and 6 is easy breezy (I’m probably wrong but it’s still what I imagine) but when you are dealing with women with larger chests and/or more curves, fitting can get really tricky! I’m also quite short, so that adds another layer of complexity. But I was pleased to see that this company is equipped to dress me well, and not simply to send me stuff that is only going to look good on women who are 3 sizes smaller than me.
I absolutely loved it, and like I said, I’ve already ordered another box. I have a video shoot coming up in a month and I have to supply 5 (!) tops that are “bright, seasonless and have no patterns or stripes.” I could spend hours and hours looking for these tops, or I could just let my stylist do it for me. π You absolutely can make specific requests like I did for this next round!
What do you think about the concept of Stitch Fix? Is it something you’d ever try? Do you think I made the right decisions with what I kept and what I returned? Chime in!Β
Kelli says
I had an awful experience with stitch fix. I had three jewelry items break and a return that, according the the postal service, may have been caused by a purposeful wrong label from Stitchfix. I would never waste my money again. There are so many stores offering quality items without the hassle. Be confident and purposeful in your choices!
Stephenie says
Hey I am actually getting those pants in my next fix and I recently lost weight so my profile said I was an 8 but I’m actually a 4. Do you remember if the pants run in XS,S,M,L or of they run 0,2,4,6,8?
Tiffany Merritt says
They were sized by the waist (so like 27, 29, 31). So if you’ve gone down 2 sizes, it is likely that what they are sending won’t fit, I’m sorry to say! Has it already shipped? It not, you can go in and change your style profile!
Stephenie says
Hey I actually have a question about the pants. I have them coming in my next fix and I wanted to know do they size it s,m,L
Or 0,2,4,6,8 because I recently lost weight and my size was an 8 and I never fixed it to a 4 so I hope they send me a medium. Do you remember how they sized it?
SHELLEY R ZUREK says
I would really like to try this service. I have seen several others bloggers try it. I also like how you showed the different options to your readers. I could do that with my Kohl’s shopping! Thanks for linking this up last week!! Hope you will join us this week for the Verizon Voices Fashionista style hop. We are over on Modly Chic this week. You can find us here: http://www.modlychic.com/2013/07/verizon-voices-fashionista-style-hop-july-23.html and don’t forget to sign up for weekly reminders here: http://stillblondeafteralltheseyears.us2.list-manage2.com/subscribe?u=bad1d19331701105428b1360e&id=d5cb5effbd
Stephanie says
Hi Tiffany,
First off I just wanted to tell you that I love your blue flower necklace I think you should have kept it and the turquoise jeans are great. I also wanted to let you know about Tog+Porter, they are a personal styling company. Their stylists are very personable and are great at identifying gaps in peoples closets. You should give them a try π
Lisa says
This idea is great! I love your choices! I love the pants. And that dress is AMAZING!
Laura R says
Loved seeing all the other items that came in your box AND what you decided to keep. Totally agree on the trendy necklace, and stuff like that I think you can easily pick up on the cheap for similar style at places like Old Navy & Target, etc. LOVE the black top with the colorful jeans – top looks super comfy & versatile. I’ll have to keep Stitch Fix in mind when I’m feeling the need for some style guidance/makeover.
jodi says
I’ve been to the stitchfix website, but ended up closing out of it when they wanted my billing info, and the fine print made it seem like a month-to-month commitment – is this true?
Tiffany Merritt says
Hi Jodi!
At first I thought it was a monthly commitment, too, but it is not! You schedule a fix whenever you want and however often you want (so no commitment at all). You are charged the $20 styling fee at the moment you order your box. Remember, that fee is applied toward whatever you purchase, so unless you send back your entire box, you aren’t out that $20. When you try on your clothes and have decided what you want and what you will send back, you fill out a survey on the site letting them know what is staying with you and what is headed back their way, and at that time they charge you for what you purchased (less $20, since your styling fee is applied to your purchase total). Make sense?
jodi says
Yes, that does make sense – thank you for clarifying! I may have to look into it again. π
Kayla Aimee says
We’re pants twins!! I LOVE the black top- I had that one in blue but sent it back b/c it was too big. I like the necklace too but agree with you on it. I really love the dress you kept though. Like, want it love it π
Tiffany Merritt says
Yay for being pants twins! They are so cute and fun…and like I said, I would have avoided them like the plague if I had seen them in a store! I’m still mourning that black top a bit, too. But dry clean only means I would wear it once or twice and then not again for a few months!
brandy says
I love it! I would have been all over that black shirt, but yeah, dry cleaning…
I love your new dress!!
Tiffany Merritt says
Thank you! I love the dress, too! π And glad to hear I’m not the only one who gives a thumbs down to dry cleaning.
Alanna says
I think this is totally awesome. Next time I have a budget for clothes, I think I’m going to give this a try! It’s so hard to find time to shop for something I like without a preschooler complaining and hiding in the clothes racks the whole time. I always end up buying things that look the same. I need some help branching out. I have awful fashion sense!
Oh, and I love the jeans too – I think I need to find a pair for myself! π
Tiffany Merritt says
You should most definitely try it! All you risk is that $20 styling fee, and from everything I’ve read online, it is very unusual not to like at least one thing in your box, in which case that “fee” is applied as a credit toward your purchase! π
Kristin says
I like all of the pieces that they sent, but I agree with your decisionsβI don’t do dry clean only clothes now (most of them went after I had baby #1), and cost is always a factor in my choices, too. The necklace looks great on you but I agree that something more classic would have more staying power. The jeans are especially fabulous.
Tiffany Merritt says
Thanks so much for chiming in. Between the hassle of getting to the dry cleaners and the expense, it is literally something that I do once a year, if that! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! π
Jenn says
Think you should have kept the necklace. Send it to me! lol
Just thrifted some turquoise jeans myself and was surprised with how much they coordinate with.
Tiffany Merritt says
Oooh! I’d love to see what you pair them with! π