Affiliate links included. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always. 

Oh friends, I have really been on a roller coaster of emotions over the past few months when it comes to my feelings about Stitch Fix.

Let me give the new folks out there a little background: Stitch Fix is what I call, “a personal stylist for the rest of us.” You fill out a detailed style profile online, and then Stitch Fix sends you a box of 5 items (can be tops, bottoms, dresses, purses or jewelry…you have some say in that) that have been hand selected by a stylist just for you. You get 3 business days after your box arrives to decide what you want to keep, and then you send anything you don’t like back (in a pre-paid envelope, they make it easy). If you love everything and want to keep it all, you get a 25% discount. So really everybody wins when the stylist nails it and sends you the PERFECT box of clothing and accessories.

I have received 8 fixes at this point, and I have yet to get that coveted perfect box. And friends, it has been wearing me down (yes, I know…first world problems…). My journey began last July when I detailed the entire process of getting signed up for Stitch Fix, and showed you some super cute clothes I got for the summer. I fell hard and fast, friends! My second fix was a bit more tailored to some particular styling needs I had for a job. Fix #3 was all about getting me prepped for fall, and I found a few pieces that I continue to absolutely love in that box. And yeah, for the record, I DO regret sending back that LBD.

And then we fell on hard times. Boxes 4 & 5 were both misses (with box #4 LITERALLY going missing and never reaching me). The CEO of the company reached out to me after that post and personally apologized for the errors. I was VERY impressed with that touch of great customer service after a disappointing experience. So I pressed on. Box 6 still didn’t fare well, but some of the fault was my own, as frankly, I’d gained a little weight over the holidays, and that made the pieces a bit too snug!

Box 7 came to me about a month ago, and it was such a catastrophic nightmare that I didn’t even take photos of what they sent. Pieces included a truly beautiful dress that was designed for someone with, AT MOST, a size B bra cup. I’m not exaggerating when I say that my breasts were literally cut in half when I put the dress on. It was so far beyond snug in the chest that it’s not even funny. And the other “highlight” was a crewneck sweater that was itchy, dull, and most definitely knitted for a giant person. No really…I think it was intended for a 7 foot tall, 320 pound man. It was the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen, and it made me feel like the company not only DIDN’T read my information (for example: I’m short and have a larger chest…key things to know) but that they just threw some random crap in a box with no regard for my style preferences and called it good.

I was sort of SEETHING after that box. And I only scheduled another one because I had a little bit of credit left on the site and I didn’t want to lose it. I sat and thought for a moment about what I really wanted to see in what I thought would be my final box, and then I gave very explicit instructions. No being vague this time. I said, “I want casual! I want romantic!  I want Spring!”

And guess what? My “last” box was one of my favorites. The stylist actually read my requests and gave me what I wanted! The first picture at the top of the post was a top that I ALMOST kept, but something about it was just a little too Laura Ashley 1992 for my taste. I was the Dalilah Sheer Floral Cluster Blouse from Sweet Rain, and it was $58. I don’t regret sending it back, as I only liked it ok, even though it was very on-trend.

I also sent back this shirt, although I absolutely adored it. The main reason? It was silk. I have a toddler. My home is where silk shirts come to DIE. This wouldn’t survive more than 2 wears, unfortunately. Also? It was $88! That’s a little too fancy for me!

The major hit for me in the box was a new pair of blue jeans. I was sent the Kate Distressed Boyfriend Jean from Kut From The Kloth. They were $78, but if you are like me, you will pay more for pants that fit. These feel SOOO good.

I also kept the Miandra Embroidery Detailed Tank from 41 Hawthorn (it was not wrinkled when they sent it…that’s the doings of my children playing with my clothes…I can’t have anything nice, you know). It was $54, and I just loved the bold color, the casual feel, and the romantic detailing. It was exactly what I was wishing for, and I can tell you that I’ll be pairing it with my new jeans pretty much constantly this summer.

I went back and forth about the dress that came my way, but I ultimately decided that it just overwhelmed me. This much pattern on a 5 foot 1 inch frame meant that the dress was wearing me and not the other way around. I also thought it was a bit of a wild card, and didn’t really go with the rest of the box, which seemed to be very casual and romantic. So I sent it back, too, although I thought it was a cute pattern and would no doubt look great on someone just a bit taller than me. This was the Dominic Belted Tabsleeve Shirtdress from 41 Hawthorn, and it was $78.00. And for the record, the picture above is the absolute most flattering the dress ever looked on me. If I could just stand up against the tree in that exact pose and never move, then the dress would be a keeper. 😉

Even though I only kept 2 out of the 5 items in this box, I had my love for the company rekindled. What I learned is that I’m really more into romantic styles than I realized, and that I need to be VERY SPECIFIC with them about the fact that I want more casual pieces. If I had to guess, I’d say that most of their clients work outside of the home, and need more business-casual looks. I need stuff like boyfriend jeans, though. And I need to tell them that. I also need to hold on to this stylist and request that she dress me again in the future, because I think she came closer to getting my style right than anyone has from box 4 onward. I’ve got to hang on to this girl! 🙂

What do you think about my journey with Stitch Fix? Should I have just cut them loose after the downward spiral? Is it crazy that I’m signed up for yet another box with them? Is it obvious that I HATE shopping for clothes for myself bad enough to give them yet another try? I really do believe in the concept…maybe the key is just getting the right stylist and NEVER LETTING HER OUT OF YOUR SIGHT!

Well hello there, friends! I’ve been away from the blog for a few days (nothing exciting, just a stomach bug. Yuck). But I’m back and ready to talk fashion!

Today you can find me over at A Daily Dose of Toni, sharing all the details on my latest Stitch Fix box and talking about wearable fashion for moms (but not mom jeans!). Come visit me and let me know what you think about what I kept and what I sent back!

It’s time for another Stitch Fix review! They seem to be a reader favorite, and they are a personal favorite, as well. If you’ve missed my other reviews of this clothing subscription service, check out Stitch Fix review 1 (where you’ll also learn exactly how Stitch Fix works), Stitch Fix review 2 and Stitch Fix review 3.

Stitch Fix #4….the Fix that Never Was

About six weeks ago I logged into Stitch Fix to place an order for my fourth box. I was really shocked to see that the wait time for a fix was almost 7 weeks long. Yikes! I was hoping to get a box of clothes that would be appropriate for the cruise I would be going on November 1st. So I sent customer service an email and politely begged them to help a girl out. They were totally sweet and agreed, stating that my box would arrive on October 25th.

On October 26th I got the email that my box was on the way. I was a little bummed because I thought it would be arriving on the 25th and now it would be cutting it close in terms of the timing, but beggars can’t really be choosers, right?

So when I still hadn’t received my box 2 days before vacation time, I checked the FedEx shipping information, and all FedEx had was package shipping information. They didn’t show any record of actually receiving the box. Yikes! So I emailed Stitch Fix, and after 24 hours and having heard nothing, I went to their Facebook site and put out an SOS. That worked, and I got in touch with someone and explained that I was leaving the next day for a week-long vacation, that I had been planning on using the clothes as some of my wardrobe for the week, and that if it arrived while I was gone I wouldn’t be able to return it within the 3 day window. Basically, it was a hot mess.

Stitch Fix determined that the package was lost and offered to send me another package the week I returned. I agreed, but asked for different clothing since I wouldn’t be needing clothes meant for 90 degree weather anymore. I also asked for them to refund the $20 styling fee for box #4 since I never even got to see the clothes. They agreed to do so, although I am frustrated that I can’t find any record of that happening in my account information (Stitch Fix doesn’t seem to show a record of previous orders for you to review, which is something I wish they would change).

Stitch Fix #5

When I got home late in the evening on the 7th, my fix was already at my house. This made me panic a little bit because of the 3 day window. I knew I wouldn’t be able to try stuff on and snap photos Friday, which meant it absolutely had to be done Saturday. I was a bit more rushed than I wanted to be, and I was surprised to get the package that early since I told them I wouldn’t be home until the 8th. But whatever…getting a box of clothes is always fun, so why rain on the parade?!

My Least Favorite Box

Alas, my string of bad luck with Stitch Fix wasn’t over, yet. This was by far my least favorite fix. The packaging seemed a bit sloppy, as the cards that come with styling suggestions weren’t even attached to the clothing. Perhaps since it was a “re-do” box they were just in a terrible hurry? I also had a stylist I had never used before and I just don’t think she had a good read on my style preferences.

Here’s what I got:

The color of the Leighton Twist-Front Sheer Blouse from Kut From the Kloth was very pretty, and the price was right, but I was swimming in this top. It is meant to be drapey, but it felt like I was wearing a sack. No good! Also, it was far too similar in style to the green top that was in fix #2 and that I already purchased. Seemed like a mistake on the part of the stylist to send me something so similar to something I’ve already received.

This is the Kensie Olivina Slub Knit Long Sleeve Sweater. And it came with a hole in the sleeve. 🙁 So even if I had liked it, I would have returned it. This also tells me that this is the type of garment that will very easily get ruined, which means it isn’t practical for me.

Also? I totally don’t like it! It reads as a bit too “sporty” for my taste…I don’t care for the sporty look at all. This was just a huge miss, all around.

Let me give my stylist credit where it is due: the style of this coat is in line with my tastes. I like the drapey, flowy, romantic look of it. But alas, the fit was weird! I totally didn’t like how it looked with the belt, so I left it off altogether. And the sleeves were rather snug. In this picture, I’m in a sleeveless tank, so it fit. But if I had on a sweater or basically anything with sleeves, it would have been uncomfortably tight. Also, since it is wool, it is itchy, so wearing it with sleeveless stuff is never going to happen. And finally, it just isn’t something I need. About a month ago I picked up a gorgeous Bebe black coat at Unclaimed Baggage for just $10 (they were have a special coat sale the day I went). So a $98 jacket that would serve the same purpose just isn’t going to happen.

This is the Zouk Ronda Dot Print Sleeveless Dress, and not to be overly negative, but I might as well just be honest…I pretty much hate everything about it. It is polka dot that is venturing into animal print, and I detest animal prints. It is too big in the chest (which is a problem I never ever experienced, so I can’t imagine who this dress actually fits well!), and I would never have a reason to wear it since I don’t work in an office setting, and this dress just screams, “wear me in a cubicle, please!”.

And finally we get to the piece that I actually kept. This is the 41Hawthorn Aleah Heathered V-Neck Dolman Top. And honestly, I didn’t love it. I liked it ok. And I didn’t want to lose my $20 styling fee credit. The color is nice and on trend. And the bat-wing style is in right now, even though it is a trend I’m not too excited about. But Tim said he liked it an I was feeling so sad about returning the whole thing, so I just went for it. I will say that it is a very cozy and comfy top, and I’m glad to have something so casual that looks nice in my closet. But if it had been in a box with better selections, it likely wouldn’t have made the cut.

Why I’ll Order Stitch Fix #6

Whew! I’m a little worn out from all that complaining! I bet you are, too. And you’re probably really surprised to hear that my Stitch Fix dud isn’t going to stop me from ordering Fix #6 (I actually have it scheduled already…second week of January!). I’m not giving up because I’ve personally experienced what a fantastic job the stylists at Stitch Fix can do, and I have reaped the benefits of not having to look for fun new clothes for myself (I just don’t have time and I’d rather poke my eyes out with a fork than take my girls to the mall. Totally serious).

Here’s my assessment of what went wrong here: Stitch Fix has skyrocketed in popularity, and the demand for fixes is greater than the supply of stylists who work there. As a result, they are backlogged and probably overworked right now. And when you are exhausted, you don’t do your best work! My fix got thrown into the mix at the last minute, and all the stylist had to go on was my previous info, which she probably didn’t have enough time to properly review, and she knew that I DIDN’T want summer stuff anymore. So she just threw together what she could as fast as she could (this is my assumption…I don’t know if this is how it actually went down).

I trust that by January, Stitch Fix will have adjusted to the growth and hired more great stylists so that everyone isn’t over worked and can put together killer fixes. I still dream of the day when I get the perfect fix and keep all 5 pieces. I want that 25% discount that you get when you order the whole thing! 🙂

So yes, even though this go around was rough, I would still absolutely recommend that you try out Stitch Fix. I’ll be back for more, and I’ll be sure to tell you all about!

Did you miss my first two stitch fix reviews? (Referral links ahead) To get you caught up, here’s where you can find my introduction to having a personal stylist, and then you can check out my second stitch fix review. Two very different boxes, but happy results both times!

The moment I felt the slightest breeze of cool in the air, I hopped online and requested a box from Stitch Fix. Remember, this is not a clothing subscription service where you hand over your credit card information and get charged monthly, but you just order a box whenever you are in need of some new apparel. You can even make special requests (for example: perhaps you are going on vacation, or have a wedding to attend, or need extra sharp to wear while giving a presentation at work). Whatever your styling needs or preferences, just let your stylist know and she’ll take care of you!

I requested some casual-yet-cute pieces for fall in a mild weather climate. I also asked for one LBD (little black dress) for upcoming holiday cocktail parties. Here’s what arrived!

This was the least expensive piece in my box (remember, you can set a general price range, starting with, “the cheaper the better”, which of course is how I roll). This sweater was the perfect color, a very soft material, a reasonable price, and looked great on me if I stood up straight, sucked in my stomach and stopped breathing. Even though it was a size large, I could tell the second I pulled it out of the box that it wouldn’t fit. Bummer! Final verdict: RETURNED.

Well now, isn’t this cute? Stitch Fix totally nailed the style that looks nice on me (fit and flare…kind of throw back ’50s style). And I goofed on the price tag in the photo (yikes!). It was an even more reasonable $68. Tim absolutely loved the dress. And I really WANTED to love the dress. It was exactly right, except for one thing: SO MUCH CLEAVAGE! I think many women with similar size tops would feel perfectly comfortable in this dress with this amount of cleavage for something like a cocktail party, and I tried to convince myself that I could, too. But I noticed that I just kept fidgeting with the dress and thinking about if I looked decent or decidedly indecent, and so, with a twinge of regret, it went back in the box. Final verdict: RETURNED.

This top is SOOOOO me! I’m actually not a huge floral print fan, but I love things that are soft and feminine, and I feel like I’m wearing a Monet painting when I have this top on. And yes, I’m totally the type of person who would WANT to wear a Monet painting! I also like the pickup in the sleeves. It is just a lovely top that I feel lovely in. Final verdict: KEPT.

I can’t tell you the last time I purchased a pair of $88 pants, you guys. The last pants I purchased were some rad polka-dot jeans for $12.50 at Target. And the most expensive pair of pants in my wardrobe are my $68 turquoise pants from Stitch Fix box #1. These are supposed to be “ankle biters” meaning that they look kind of short and are kind of tight around the ankles. Except here’s the thing: I’m just barely over 5 feet tall! So these didn’t hit me the way they should, and they were (for me) kind of crazy expensive. BUT….oh my goodness they are soft, they fit great, and they are such a pretty color. They go great with my new favorite top (see above) and since they are meant to be short, by giving them a little cuff flipped under, they actually fit me really well, without having to take them to be altered! So final verdict: KEPT.

I thought this top was really cute, and just right for fall. But it also didn’t breathe well at all, so I felt a little sweaty in it. And y’all, I don’t sweat. I glisten, but only when absolutely necessary. Also, the pattern, while totally on-trend, just didn’t give me warm fuzzies the way my floral top did. I did like the top, but honestly, once I decided to keep those Kensie jeans, I knew I needed to make another sacrifice. Final verdict: RETURNED.

So what do you think about my choices? Tim thinks that LBD will be the one that got away. What would you have picked? And have you tried Stitch Fix yet? Treat yourself to just one and you’ll see how very “worth it” Stitch Fix is!

I’m linked up to Wordless Wednesday, today, if you want to find more cool outfits!