I’m pretty sure that STITCH FIX was invented just for me. Since it started in the Bay Area, it is highly possible that someone overheard my weird clothes-shopping peculiarities in some coffee shop and launched it into a startup. That really happens out here.
The deal is that real-life human stylists create a box of 5 items based on my style preferences, a questionnaire, what’s fashionable, and a sprinkling of Pinterest. Each month, I receive a new *fix* in the mail, then I try to take selfies and get my friends to democratically decide what to keep and what to return. I only pay for what I keep — but there is a major 25% incentive if I keep everything.
I can’t decide if I love it, but I have been having so much fun. This is what I’ve been sent so far in my three fixes.
My first STITCH FIX box was so exciting to open but, ultimately, unfulfilling. I was hoping my friends would go crazy for this bold new dress (#4) but nobody on facebook liked it at all. I wanted to keep top #3 but I could barely move my shoulders. I threw in my own shirt as a #5 decoy and several friends told me to return it. I kept the pants in #2 but instantly regretted it. The necklace was so not-my-style (NMS), I didn’t even photograph it.
I also discovered that my mirror is really dusty.
The second STITCH FIX was better in that I kept more stuff. But it was worse in that I spent real money. This is a dangerous game.
I liked dress #1 and tried to “stack the deck” by smiling in the picture. Then I realized that I don’t know how to photograph my face AND the clothes, so I gave up on that. I kept top #2 despite mixed reviews (and I have to wear it with a girdle to keep it flat). Necklace #3 is so cute but I haven’t worn it yet. Top #4 is heinous with my skin tone and I don’t care if you like it. Finally, even though I think it’s cute, blouse #5 is too shapeless to ever make it past my husband.
And then I just kept rolling the dice. I had heard from reliable people that the “third fix is the charm.” Obviously this is a subjective game we’re playing.
I got excited when I saw the polka dots but that’s because I have so many navy and white polka dots, I could wear nothing else for an entire week — pass. Blouse B is current, but the color and style makes me want to puke. Me in orange? Yuck! Blouse C was a fun pick that I would have never chosen for myself. I put on a fancy gray work skirt and felt like a professional. Then I grabbed the next thing in the pile and it was a pair of red skinny jeans; I also untucked the blouse for a wild and crazy look. Ding, ding, ding. My panel of voters said that this was the winning look. Nevermind that I was wearing my own red pixie pants in photo A. And nobody cared about the dress, so I saved myself some money and only kept Blouse C.
Stitch Fix might be for you if:
- you hate shopping or you have no time for it
- you want to be cute and trendy but don’t know how
It might not be for you if:
- you love shopping and would miss picking out your own clothes – Whitney!
- you have super specific tastes and a uniform already
So far, I’m still having fun and can’t quit. I feel like I’m receiving a very special present and have license to return it without hurting the gift-giver’s feelings. My next fix is due to arrive on August 5th.
What do you think?
Do YOU want to try Stitch Fix? If you’d like to get a pile of clothes in the mail, click here to start the sign-up process.
Have you tried this or another service like it? I’m always looking for next easy thing! If you’re more like Whitney and LOVE shopping, STITCH FIX hires SAHMs (among others) to be their stylists, check out 7 flexible jobs for stay-at-home moms.
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I just got my second fix and got that same green dress. There’s just something off about it. My friend said the green color made it look like a hospital gown. You definitely have to be very specific in your profile and in the feedback. After having two babies, I need to rebuild my work wardrobe so this has been a nice way to add a few things at a time.
My favorite outfit is your pose! 🙂 Work it gurrrl!
I’m a huge StichFix fan too:) And for me, the third box was definitely a charm (after a disappointing first box and a mixed second one). I found it helpful to create a Pinterest board of clothes I want and to share that board with the stylist – my third box was full of items that pretty much matched up with the style of my board.
I’ve been doing StitchFix for a year, and the fixes have gotten better over time. (And I have the same grey sweatshirt-thing-with-a-zipper as you do, AKA Top #2!) I totally recommend it to moms who want to look cute but have no time to shop (or no desire to do it with little helpers). I work for a retailer and I still get almost all my clothes from StitchFix!
@Sara, I’m glad to hear you’re having fun with it, too. The green dress was sooo close, but not quite there.
@Suzanne, Rowr.
@HintMama, I think YOU may have been the one to tell me that the third fix was the charm. I’m hoping for the fourth one to be magical.
@Rianna, Thanks. I don’t know if my wallet will like if the fixes just keep getting better and better over time, but I’ll be delighted.
Okay, I will admit it.. I was disappointed in my boxes. I was so excited about Stitch Fix and nothing fit good or looked right on me. The things that I thought about keeping were basically things I would have paid for half or less price in a store…not anything special necessarily.
There were a lot of people at the last conference I went to gabbing to each other, “Oh, I got that dress in my second box and kept it too…” or, “I almost wore that today from Stitch Fix. So funny- we could have been twins.”
I am just wondering how personalized it is for each person if everyone is wearing the same stuff.
I totally get the appeal of the concept for people who don’t enjoy shopping, I just was disheartened with my boxes and the idea that it really wasn’t the unique shopping experience I had hoped for.
And you could wear a grocery bag and make it look cute. I would be happy to be your personal stylist any day, lady!
I want to do it but I’m afraid I will either like too much (and therefore spend lots of money) or not like anything (and spend time sending it back.)
Karen, I wonder if you’d have any luck saying you want only all dresses! I’d be curious how that might work. You might have fun with it, but I suspect you’re too much like Whitney and would rather just take your own keen fashion sense shopping in the real world (or internet world).
Amy, if you want to be my stylist, you’re hired! No reasonable offer is refused. Especially if you find good deals.