Monday, January 12, 2015

Soooo Close but No Cigar: Stitch Fix Box #1

So I finally decided to try Stitch Fix on New Years Eve, after reading about it for years online and seeing the adorable clothes my friends (Jenn Marshall, I'm looking at you) have gotten there.

Stitch Fix is a personal shopping service, where you answer questions about your clothing preferences and a stylist will send you a box of clothes to choose from. You pay a $20 styling fee, which is refunded if you buy any of the items they send you. You also get another discount if you happen to buy ALL the items at once. Prices vary, but they seem high to me because, as you know, I like to buy my clothes two ways: USED and CHEAP.

The box came a few days ago and Margaret and I had fun opening it together.

The good news is they absolutely PEGGED my style, likes and dislikes. You will see this in the accompanying crappy photos taken by my very reluctant and put-upon photographer. 

Every item felt well made and inviting and looked like something I would wear.

The bad news: the fits weren't perfect. I have recently put on 10 lbs, and even though I was honest about my current weight to Stitch Fix, items that would have looked great at my normal weight, just didn't do it for me right now. I could have been being extra picky, but since I'm not used to paying full price for clothes, I wanted to be IN LOVE in order to keep something.

Okay, want to take a look?

Here we go: Item #1 was a very soft gray scoop next tee shirt. It felt great and went with my personal style; I've never met a stripe I didn't like. The downside: it was a tad short.

Item #2: An asymmetrical French terry zip cardigan. Margaret hated this look when it was zipped, but we both loved it unzipped. It is super soft and has good long coverage in the back and a funky zipper detail. Sorry about the closed eyes. My request for a re-take was denied. This is the item I think I will keep!
 Item #3: Navy blue denim stretch jeans. I loved the look of these, but there was quite a size difference between my actual thighs and the thigh space in these jeans. I will spare you a photo, but I did try them on. You would think Margaret had never seen someone wriggle on the floor to pull on jeans before. Sheesh.

Black/white sheer arrow polyester blouse. I loved this! Hard as it is to believe that polyester blouses are back, I am really enjoying them. This one looks a tad short in this photo, but I think that's because my photographer was sitting down. In reality, it was a good length, but was a tad snug in the arms, making hugging difficult. I like to be ready for hugs at all times.
 Item # 5: Hunter green knit dress. This dress has a cool exposed zipper in the back. It is also right up my alley because it is nearly identical to the navy blue dress I've worn to at least 4 of my book events.  The stylist clearly understood my preference for smaller on top, larger on the bottom dresses.

Margaret liked this dress, and I wanted to like it, but I hated the color. It appears navy or black in these pictures, but it is really hunter green and super blah. Emerald green, royal blue, or pretty much any other color would have tempted me, but not this one. Also, my chest was busting out of this dress in an unflattering way. Front view: cute! Side view: bulge-y and constricted as if testing the limits of the stretch fabric.

Bottom Line:

Stitch Fix was easy and a lot of fun. I plan on trying it again.

I think the service is well suited to a variety of women who either don't have time to shop or who would like to break out of their comfort zones a little bit. Each clothing item came with photos of sample outfits and how to integrate pieces into your wardrobe, which would be great for women who don't have a lot of confidence in putting outfits together. Very cool!

No home run today, but as I give feedback to the stylist, chances are future orders will be even better!  My sister is trying Stitch Fix next. Like many of us, she has kind of a "uniform" that she wears to work each day, and I'm dying to see if she sticks with that, or if she breaks out of the mold a bit.

P.S. If you are interested in trying Stitch Fix, and you access it from HERE,  I'll get a discount if you end up placing an order:

P.P.S. If you follow An Inch of Gray on Facebook, you will have seen that I got my second "Fix" and kept all 5 items! A HOME RUN, for sure!

21 comments:

angela said...

I like reading yours! I am tempted, but I am also a fan of ... cheap/discount/bargain clothes and worry everything will seem outrageously priced. Thanks for being honest about the price issue and finding the things you LOVE instead of just like.

Suburban Correspondent said...

I tried it, too, with pretty much the same results - one sweater in a dull Hunter green that I didn't like, a pretty blouse that was 2 tight in the armpits, jeans that I didn't love...BUT I received a banded bottom, black Dolman sleeve blouse that I absolutely LOVE and never would have bothered picking out for myself. LOVE. As you said, prices are higher than I would normally pay (but probably normal for a lot of other people).

Suburban Correspondent said...

I tried it, too, with pretty much the same results - one sweater in a dull Hunter green that I didn't like, a pretty blouse that was 2 tight in the armpits, jeans that I didn't love...BUT I received a banded bottom, black Dolman sleeve blouse that I absolutely LOVE and never would have bothered picking out for myself. LOVE. As you said, prices are higher than I would normally pay (but probably normal for a lot of other people).

Unknown said...

I tried Stitch Fix 4-5 times and always felt the same way. They were close but never quite what I expected for the price point. Have you tried Golden Tote? I think it is a much better value and I have LOVED it!

Jill said...

I have wanted to give them a try, but when I read the "average" price of each item, I thought, Ohhhhh, no, I only spend that kind of money on my daughter's clothes". Funny how that works, eh? Haha :) You, however are adorable!

Lori said...

Dear Stitch Fix, plus sizes!

(That being said, I thoroughly enjoy it when any blogger shares a box.)

Unknown said...

I love how open minded you are Anna about what you received, even if it didn't say in the KEEP pile. The hardest part about breaking out of our "uniforms" is getting out of our comfort zones and accepting that a different look can be good and not scary. My brain apparently likes safety so I pretty much reject everything that doesn't feel "safe". Opening up your mind to different possibilities today only increases our resilience for future changes, no? That's the one thing I do know for sure- change is inevitable. Why not look good while you're evolving!!

Christy said...

You're so cute I wish I could just hug you right now! I hate the mall too - in fact I haven't gone shopping for clothes for myself in YEARS. I might have to try this out!!!

Bob Braxton said...

I identify with "a tad short." For my men's under T- I finally settled on Tall as well as Big (I like to wear loose and this garment is not on the outside where it is seen). The long "tail" is essential for me (comfort). These are well work. I got six so that lasts me the week until next laundry day.

Jackie said...

I just got my third fix and kept all of the items after only keeping one thing from each of the first two. But, now I have really high expectations for the next one!! I love seeing what other people get and I hope you keep posting when you get them!

Anonymous said...

I hate the mall too. In fact, I refuse completely. I ONLY do online shopping and I'll tell you my secret: I tend to shop the "sports" brands. I say "sports" because I am IN NO WAY sporty. But the sports brands have become quite cute and fashionable in recent years, and their clothes tend to fit easily (because they're stretchy) and yet don't look frumpy or old lady at all. So I go for UnderArmour, Ibex, Patagonia, RoyalRobins, Horny Toad, etc. Now you'll notice if you go to those sites that they're not cheap (if you like stretch that looks good, you gotta pay up). But if you studiously watch for sales on their sites as well as larger retail sites (like REI) you can find great sales. Treat yo'self girl! P.S. You look G O R G E O U S.

April said...

I got 2 (did every other month)shipments and I loved the stuff they sent. But I had to stop because I couldn't afford it! Would love to keep getting it because it was fun to see what they picked out!

Anonymous said...

I cancelled my Stitch Fixes after 4 or 5 months of boxes of items where nothing worked. No matter how many emails to my stylist or pins on pinterest I had, the fit or items just weren't right. I finally gave up.

Kim said...

@Lori - I emailed stichfix about the lack of plus sizes :-)

Alison said...

I like the arrow shirt, and the dress looks cute on you. But yeah, I don't think I'll like 'hunter green'either.

Anonymous said...

I love Stitch Fix, and they are pretty inexpensive compared to Nordstrom's or Macy's. Keep trying!

Unknown said...

I have tried Stitch-Fix twice and have kept 2 items each time. One, an animal print cardigan, has become a wardrobe favorite. Still working on getting the sizing right. As for pricing--remember that you have input on how much you are willing to pay for particular items, and you can go back and change those amounts. So if everything was coming in too expensive, adjust your preferences.

Unknown said...

I like the one you're keeping. I also liked the Hunter green one, but I get it - if it's not your colour, it just isn't.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

That's a very interesting concept. I will go check them out!

Andrea Mowery said...

I think the dress is adorable, and love the sweater you're keeping! I am afraid that nothing will fit me, so I haven't tried this. But I have to admit that it would be fun to try on a box of clothes that a personal stylist has picked out!

Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O) said...

Clothes shopping has taken place either online or at my local thrift stores for the last thirty years since I quit needing Levis 501s.

I scored five new undershirts for $13 total yesterday at Goodwill. Fine colors, all fit well and the Eddie Bauer piece looks and feels like it will last 4ever... Another is brilliant yellow which feels like I am wearing a chunk of sunshine. You've given me the idea to do my own blog post about them and the shop from whence they came... Thanks so much for inspiration; you're the best !~!