A Birthday Stitch Fix and Tips for a Better Box

I promise I've started writing "real" blog posts between these silly Stitch Fix ones, but it's harder to finish those deep-thoughty thoughts. It takes time -- uninterrupted time. Of which I have little.

So I bring you another Stitch Fix unboxing, because I can. And I like to. And it's my birthday. 

This box literally came ON my birthday, which was a Wednesday and for the most part just a normal mom-day. But I got a box in the mail! Happy birthday to me! I opened it right away and tried everything on.

Look! Pretty things! This box included two tops, a pair of jeans, a dress, and a necklace. I've since gone back into to my style profile and edited it to omit jewelry from my boxes for now. I'd much rather have clothes, and I'm just too picky when it comes to jewelry (and I don't like paying much for it).

Ok, on to the pieces!!

First I tried on the jeans. They are the Aaron Distressed Skinny Jeans by Just Black, size 27. I was a little thrown off, because though the style card said they were a skinny jean, the tag on the item said they were a straight leg fit. Whatever, it didn't matter much because I didn't like the fit of these on me. I've never tried this brand before, so maybe that was it; or it could've just been that the fit was just wrong for my body. I dunno. They were tight. They fit more like a size 2, and not a 4. And they were too long. And they were about $80. So for uncomfortable pants that I'd have to hem myself: that's a no.

But I'll show you anyway. I actually really liked the color and the distressing:

I put on the yellow Sicily Pintuck Detail Silk Top by Daniel Rainn with the jeans. I really love yellow, and I really wanted to keep this!! Plus, silk. Yummy. 

But it was so sheer, you guys. And really pricey. 

I put it on, took it off, and then put it back on again, because I loved it. I loved the color, and the style was adorable. But, 1.) Pricey, like $78 pricey. I don't pay that much for shirts, 2.) The sleeves were cap-sleeves and made me look really broad through the shoulders, and the shape of the body was lacking in....shape. Not very flattering, and 3.) Sheer. I'd have to wear a cami, and I'm too lazy for that. Also, if I'm going to pay almost $80 for a shirt, it better not need another shirt to make it wearable.

So with much regret, it went back to the Stitch Fix Mecca.

Next was the maxi dress! Another maxi, and I was looking forward to this one. As you may recall, my last fix had a maxi in it which ended up being too big. This one fit perfectly, since I changed my sizing for dresses in my style profile. 

Perfect length!! Here's another, a little closer so you can see the fit and the necklace they sent me as well:

This is the Papermoon Waters Printed Maxi Dress, size small. It's so soft. It fits nicely. But I'm not loving the colorful aztecian pattern. Also, sorry about my face. It's really kind of Disney villianesque here. I really am enjoying myself. 

And the final item, the Market and Spruce Floral Print Sleeveless Top. It's the perfect color red. It's not patriotic red, or cherry red, or superman red; it's like Hawaii, hot summer nights, I'm the coolest girl in the room red. That's just my opinion though. 

I've taken off the Just Black jeans, and am trying this on with my Mavi distressed jeans. I like it. Here's a better pic:

It's longer in the back, I like that. And the fabric is breathable and lightweight without being at all sheer. Winner!!

It makes me happy. I kept this and only this. I was really hoping I'd love everything in this box, because I pretty much had my husband's permission to buy the whole lot for my birthday. And I like to take advantage of such opportunities. 

Oh, this top was around $40, minus my $20 styling fee, so it was like $24 with tax. Not bad, not bad at all. I wore it the next day to my hair appointment.

So that's really it, folks. But before I sign off, I wanted to give a few tips on how to get great fixes.

Stitch Fix is obviously a company that, sight unseen, styles you, a complete stranger with unique likes and dislikes. Even if they have the most scientific formulaic statistical whatever and the best stylists in the world, they are not going to "get you" 100% every single time. Plus, their resources are limited, and you have a budget.

But here are some ways to make sure (or, mostly sure) you will get a box of amazing stuff that you love, that fits, and that you can afford. The goal should be to buy at least one item, and love it, so you don't "waist" your $20 styling fee (though it's not really a complete waist, as you've just been sent a free box of clothes to try on at your leisure, yes?).

Here it is:

1.) Be honest about your size, and remember these are women's sizes, not juniors, so if you're typically a medium in tops at Forever21, you may be a size small. Also, I find dress sizing to run on the small side. I was a small in women's tops, but a medium in dresses still at a size 6. Often you'll figure all of this out as you go, though. But be aware you may have to tweak your sizes now and then.

2.) Give really detailed feedback for each item. You have limited space on the feedback form, so use it wisely. Be specific about why you didn't like something, or if you did like it, why you didn't buy it. That may seem like the same thing, but it's not. The details matter. You could say something like, "Maxi dresses are not for me, please stop sending them." Or you could say, "The fit was perfect, but I hate busy patterns. I prefer neutral colors and patterns." Remember, you're not there to stroke any one's ego, but be polite too. It's a fine line.

3.) If you keep getting fixes you don't like, go back to your style profile and switch some things around. Change it up. Seriously, just start changing around your likes and dislikes, set it to include jewelry or accessories (like purses), or cut those things out. You can set it to include only dresses, or only pants. You can choose colors you do not want to see in your boxes, or fabrics you don't want, etc. after a few polyester fails, I just set my profile to not include polyester. 

4.) Be honest about your budget. If you want the lowest cost in your fixes that they can possibly find for you, tell them! You can mark "The cheaper the better" for everything the send in your profile. If they happen to squeak something in your box that you think is overpriced, let them know in your feedback. You can also tell your stylist that you prefer the total cost of the box to be under "x" amount, that way you can budget for it, just in case you really fall in love with everything. 

I don't know if that's just more confusing or helpful. Hopefully the latter. Either way, I enjoyed this box, and I love this service! It's fun and I love unwrapping stuff, whether it's my birthday or not. 

If you want to give it a try, you can click here to sign up and I will get a small credit on my account when your first box ships! Thanks you guys, and have a great weekend!

An Easter Stitch Fix

I got another Stitch Fix box!

I actually emailed the company because I had skipped my fix last month, and because March was the absolute worst (four kids, stomach flu and double pink-eye for 3 weeks), I was really needing a pick-me-up. Anyway, I asked them to send me my April fix just a little early. 

They very generously acquiesced, and I got it one week early.

I did get a fix for February, but I didn't document it. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't awesome. I had asked for a flirty dress for Valentine's Day. I got a very heavy black dress with faux leather detailing, and I didn't even try it on. It was very nice and great quality, but not only could I not see myself wearing it in the upcoming spring, but my husband is not a fan of the faux leather trend.... And let's face it, I wanted a dress he would like to see me wear.

I kept one top out of that box, and while I initially didn't think I liked it at all, I ended up loving it! In fact, I wore it yesterday. It's a multi-colored chevron print dolman top by ReneeC (made in the USA):

I honestly would never have tried this on in the store. But once I tried it on, I didn't want to take it off. It's so soft and comfortable, and my husband immediately had positive things to say. It was a keeper.

Ok, on to my April fix! Here's a look at my invoice, style cards, and note from my stylist: 

As you can sort of see here (sorry for the blurry pic), I got a dress, a pair of skinny jeans, and 3 tops.

First, I tired on the dress. It's the Tenessy Maxi Dress by Angie, and I loved it. You guys. So soft. So stretchy. Super flattening. Last time I tried on a dress in this style, with that elastic waist bunching, I was not pleased. I had just had a baby, and it just kind of cut into my tummy pouch, and it was far from amazing. I don't know if it's the dress or me, but I loved this one:

The only problem is that it's a size medium, and I haven't changed my style profile to size small for dresses, and this is just a little too big. Even still, I seriously thought I might keep it. But in the end, if it wasn't exactly right I didn't want to spend the money. But the length is so perfect, isn't it?? I could wear flat sandals with it without stepping on the hem! Sigh. I sent it back.

The next items are the Kut from the Kloth Denna Skinny Jeans in light wash, and the Skies are Blue Keyhole Detail Blouse in Cobalt.

I don't love the bright cobalt color of the top, and the cut reminds me of business wear, but I tried it on. The stylist suggested I wear it with the (shown) Kut from the Kloth skinnies, with some gold accessories for a night out. I actually liked the top a lot better once I put it on. The fit is perfect. The color is beautiful. Still not "me." I can't really explain it. But it is a gorgeous top. Here's another angle, and you can see a close up of the neck detail; and you can see the back of the jeans as well:

So these jeans. They are okay. I don't know what it is about this brand, but the sizing always seems so huge. These are a size 4, and although the they don't look that huge, they are. They definitely feel like a 6 with room. They are very soft, very stretchy, and if only they were smaller and about 6 inches shorter, they would have been perfect. Yes, I rolled them up a lot for these pictures. They were really bunchy at my ankles, and that's not pretty.

Needless to say, I didn't keep either of these items. Now, on to the final two! Spoiler alert, I kept both of these tops:

First, the Papermoon Croatia Lace Bib Top. When I opened this box, I was wearing another top by Papermoon that I'd gotten in a previous Fix. I must really like this brand. And this one...it's perfect. I have been looking for a casual flowy top to wear with distressed jeans, and maybe shorts in the summer, and this one fits my criteria:

My only complaint, is the sheerness of it. But that can be remedied by a cami. It's a nice weight, great drape, and I love the lace detailing. It's also more of an antique white, and I love that.

Ok, the next one is kind of similar in style. The RD Style Embroidery Detail Top is so pretty too. However, initially I didn't think it would work for me, as these types of sleeveless tops can make even the most narrow-shouldered woman look like a line-backer. But it worked for me! And I love the embroidery detailing.

I have a visitor. And I wish I'd tried these tops on with my own jeans; I feel like these jeans are growing bigger with each photo.

She won't leave. I'm ignoring her. Here's a close up of the neckline:

And that's all, folks! The tops were in the $40-50 range, and with the $20 styling fee deduction, and some leftover credit on my account, I only paid about $24 for each top! So thank you to every one who signed up using my affiliate link!

If you haven't signed up yet, or you did sign up but haven't scheduled a fix yet, I really recommend the service. Click here to try it for yourself! 

Obviously, there's no obligation to continue or "commit" after you try it, if you decide it's not for you. Read my last post for more information on the service and why I love it.

Thanks for reading, friends, and Happy Easter weekend!