“This is so addictive. I have a problem.”
That’s how my friend captioned a recent Instagram photo of her latest Stitch Fix package. Are you familiar with the online personal styling service?
Here’s how it works (according to the website): Stitch Fix’s personal stylists handpick apparel and accessories for you based on your Stitch Fix Style Profile. They send five items at a time with styling tips for how to wear each piece. You can buy what you like and return the rest in a prepaid envelope.
Curious about the service, I asked my friend whether she thought it was worth the hype. I loved her honest Stitch Fix review and though you might appreciate it, too.
“I’ve received two, um, ‘fixes’ so far. The first one had six items inside by mistake. Unfortunately, the sixth item wasn’t good for me, so I couldn’t steal it.
Anyway, I kept a wrap dress and a top from that first package. I sent back a necklace that was too long for my neck and a quilted navy jacket that I liked very much but was too similar to one that I happen to already have. I also sent back a dolman-sleeve knit top because the neckline was so wide that my bra straps showed. Hate that.
The second one just came yesterday. I got a cream-colored boucle skirt that I really liked, but when I put it on, I felt like it made look like Hannah Horvath. I also received a pair of pants that are very different from anything I have ever worn — they are sort of a ponte pant with tiny white dots. I think I’m keeping them because my whole purpose in doing Stitch Fix was to find things I wouldn’t normally pick for myself.
Then there were three tops, all the same brand — 41 Hawthorn. (I think that’s Stitch Fix’s in-house brand.) One of them was too tight across my chest and will go back.
I’m probably going to keep the other two. A black dolman-sleeve top and a purple oversized dressy sort of blouse. Both go well with the pants and other stuff.
I think Stitch Fix has been really clever with finding things for a short person. For example, all of the long-sleeve items have roll-up options. That quilted jacket had a cute lining you could see when I rolled the sleeves. The ponte pants were supposed to be cropped, but on me they were a perfect full-length pant. The wrap dress also hit me at the right place.
My favorite part, though, is the thrill of getting the box. It’s like opening an exciting surprise present (that you happened to pay for). It’s really good for me because I don’t have time to get myself to the mall. However, I’m going to wait a couple of months before I do it again because I don’t want to buy more stuff from them at the moment.”
What do you think about the idea of an online personal styling service? I’d be very curious to see what somebody else would pick for me! Would you try Stitch Fix based on my friend’s review?
(images via Instagram)
I used Stitch Fix twice before I got pregnant with Graham. I kept a pair of skinny Kensie jeans in army green and a black drapey open cardigan. There was a top that I loved, but it was too tight across the bust 🙁 I didn’t end up keeping anything from the second “fix”. There was a dress I liked, but I didn’t really have a need for it and it was a bit expensive. Overall, I was really happy with the process and definitely would not have picked out the jeans myself, though I really love them. I think I’m going to try it again once I lost some of this baby weight 🙂 I love the idea of not having to go shopping and am also into getting things from brands other than my usual Banana Republic and Ann Taylor Loft.
I really like the idea of using an online personal styling service like Stitch Fix to expand beyond the mall-brands we’ve all grown accustomed to wearing. Sure, you can probably find the brands they sell at department stores, but who has time to browse through those types of stores anymore? So much easier to pop into Banana Republic or J.Crew!