Tag / fashion

by AllyManet

Stitch Fix Review: Fix #6

Every once in a while, Stitch Fix will offer to waive the styling fee in order to get you to try out their service again. When they just so happen to do that right when I was considering ordering a box anyway, well, you know I had to.

Bonus: If you decide you want to give Stitch Fix a shot, they’re currently offering a Give $25, Get $25 for orders that ship before July 28. So if you use the links in this post, you’ll have a $25 credit waiting on you!

A quick reminder for anyone who doesn’t know, Stitch Fix is an online service where you set up a profile, pay $20 and have a personal stylist send you five curated items they think will suit your needs/wants. Once they arrive, you get three days to try things on, mix-and-match with items from your own closet, and decide what you want to keep. If you keep anything, your $20 up front goes toward your final total; if you keep everything, you get a 25% discount on the entire box. It’s super easy and, if you’re like me and hate to shop, easy is what you need when you need new clothes. Plus, referral links (like the ones in this post) get you $25 credit for each time someone orders a fix.

OK. Here we go! Stitch Fix review, complete with terrible bathroom shots!

First up: Skies are Blue, Crochet Trim Top

Camp counselor chic
Doing me no favors

I had to text 4 people on this one, all because I didn’t think I liked it, but Darrell said he did. Ultimately, I’ve decided the boxy style is unflattering on my body type. The size was right, just the way it was cut doesn’t work for me.

Cost: $48. Verdict: Sent back.

Next up, from the same company (Skies are Blue), the Abner Back Cutout Detail Top.


I really wanted to like this tank top – I love the cutout design – but the fit wasn’t right. It was baggier around the bust than it should be, and left big gaps under my arms. And again, kind of boxy, leaving me looking like a giant square.

Plus, let’s be honest: Mama’s gotta wear a bra under her shirts, and this cutout style top isn’t going to cut it.

Cost: $48. Verdict: Sent back.

For the last of the tops, the Nelda Halter Blouse, from Pixley.

Cute pattern, terrible fit.
Baby got gap.

I actually really like the style and print of this top, but once again, the fit was all wrong. It was too big in the bust, leaving lots of room under the arms. And, again, strapless bras are just not my jam right now, and therefore neither is this shirt.

Cost: $44. Verdict: Sent back.

When it comes to these shirts, either I’m just not in style, or maybe I need to size down on my style profile, but something’s not quite right. I’m hoping the next fix I order can get to the bottom of this.

Anyway, onto the dress! This one’s from Collective Concepts – the Chantelle Dress.


That’s the face you make when taking a backside selfie, obviously.

I have to tell you, I really liked this dress. Unfortunately, where the waistline sits really accentuated the fact that my stomach is still soft after having a baby.

Or after all those doughnuts people keep bringing into the office.

Whichever.

Either way, I’m bummed about this one because it was oh-so-close to being oh-so-right.

Le sigh.

Cost: $88. Verdict: Sent back.

And last but, uh, least – the Monica Suede Criss Cross Slide Sandal, by Dolce Vita.

Ugh. Feet.

These were comfortable, and even though I was lukewarm on how they looked, I was actually halfway excited about them because I thought they could be my I-should-wear-something-nicer-than-flip-flops-but-screw-wearing-heels shoes.

And then I looked at the price tag.

Hahahaha. I’m sorry, but $70 is just way too much for shoes I’m not really excited about. I also don’t really love slide-on sandals – I’m more of a ankle strap kind of gal.

So, like everything else, back they went.

Cost: $70. Verdict: Sent back.

Once more, I sent back everything. I was really hoping I’d be able to get something fun to wear over 4th of July weekend, but this just wasn’t the box for me. It seems like I need to really write out how things fit, as that’s the biggest problem. Next time I’ll be asking for more fitted tops, and maybe more forgiving dresses, as it seems I’m getting the two sort of in reverse of what I actually need.

If this review hasn’t completely dissuaded you, I’d definitely recommend you give Stitch Fix a try. Especially since if you order for delivery before July 28, my referral link will get you $25 too – that’s enough to cover your styling fee, meaning you’re out nothing if you don’t like your fix.

If you DO decide to try it, I’d love to hear how it goes!

 

by AllyManet

Stitch Fix Review: Fix #4 (Maternity Fix)

It’s been a while since I posted one of these, but since my lovely sister ordered her first fix last week using my referral link, I had $25 to spend and a dwindling closet that could use a few new pieces, so here we are…

My first Maternity Stitch Fix!

I updated my style profile to let the folks at Stitch Fix know I’m expecting in November, and asked for a few pieces I could wear on the regular, either to work in my casual office or out running errands.

I’m pretty lucky in that my sister gave me a ton of great stuff (thanks Kim!) from her maternity days, but her style and work environment differ a bit from mine.

She’s fancy. I’m not.

So aside from a few of her tops and jeans, I’ve been relying pretty heavily on the two pairs of shorts I bought, along with a handful of Old Navy tank tops that are nearing their limits.

Sorry, tank tops. I’m gonna wear you til you wear out or you’re no longer long enough to cover the belly, whichever comes first.

OK. Back to the box.

My Stitch Fix arrived yesterday and when I first opened it, I was pretty excited. There were some awesome colors and the fabrics felt nice, always a good start to a fix. Per the husband’s request, I started my fashion show with the dresses.

Up first: Abilene Printed Maternity Dress by Leota Maternity.

Bummmmmp.

Bummmmmp.

This dress is cute, light and comfortable. It also gets bonus points because (I think) you could potentially continue wearing it post-partum, as the wrap-style collar gives you a bit of leeway for nursing.

That being said, though, it’s a bit expensive when I think about what I’d actually need it for. I don’t HAVE to wear dresses to work, though I can, so I filed this one away into the if-I-keep-the-whole-box, box.

Spoiler alert: I don’t keep the whole box.

Cost: $98. Verdict: Sent back.

Next up, the Gabre Maternity Dress by Eight Sixty Maternity.

Cute dress, terrible picture. Sorry guys.

Cute dress, terrible picture.

Alright, I have to admit, I really love this dress. You can’t tell from the picture (because I’m a terrible selfie-taker and am way too lazy to make someone else do it), but it’s a very pretty navy blue dress with a cut-out overlay. The back dips down a bit (not too much), there are pleats over the bump and overall, it has some really cute details and it’s even comfortable, like a big T-shirt.

But again – when am I going to wear this? For the price, I couldn’t justify it on it’s own, and again, it fell into the maybe, if I keep everything, category. It also doesn’t help that my sister gave me a maternity dress (in gray) with a very similar style/cut, so if I were going to wear a dress like this, I’d probably stick with the one I already have.

Bummer. Sorry, adorable dress. You deserve someone who wants you as much as you want to be wanted.

Or something.

Cost: $94. Verdict: Sent back.

Maternity shopping is so weird. Clothes are expensive, but you’re only going to wear them a few times before you’re back in regular clothes. I think had this been a non-maternity purchase, I would have shelled out the cash. But seeing as how I won’t be this size and shape forever, it doesn’t make much financial sense. Le sigh.

Alright, next up, the laughable Azalea Cold Shoulder Maternity Knit Top by Loveappella Maternity.

Seriously. Why?

Seriously. Why?

My face in this picture pretty much sums up my feelings on it. Why. WHY would you make this shirt for maternity?

I feel like I can see gears turning for the men (obviously, men) who designed this shirt:

“Hey, guys, girls get fat when they’re pregnant, right? But like, what part of their body doesn’t get fat, so we can show that off?”

“Uhh, derr, her shoulders.”

“Bro YES – CUT OUT THE SHOULDERS!”

Pair those unattractive shoulder slits with a tight (why?) but loose (what?) knit fabric that highlights the fact that my belly button is flattening and widening, and you have this perfectly hateable shirt.

Gross.

Cost: $48. Verdict: Sent back.

Now this one. This one, I’m bummed about.

The Anaheim Roll Sleeve Maternity Top by Loveappella seemed at first to be awesome. I mean hey, I’m even smiling in the picture!

Aww, prematurely happy.

Aww, prematurely happy.

It fits my basic style (half-sleeved tees, ftw), is a good length and simple enough to go with any number of pants/shorts/leggings to get good use out of it.

And then, it started. The itching. Dear lord, the fabric on this thing itches!

Now that I’m writing this, I realize it’s those guys at Loveappella again.

“Hey man, pregnant ladies aren’t like, constantly uncomfortable, right? Itchy fabric is NBD, right?”

“Totally. Totally NBD.”

If I’m going to drop money on a comfortable T-shirt, it needs to be that: comfortable. I couldn’t get this thing off fast enough.

Cost: $58. Verdict: Sent back.

Alright, before you think I’m just a big, pregnant hater, not everything went back.

The lone survivor from my first maternity fix was this pair of Kiley Maternity Ankle Zip Leggings, by Rune.

Oh hey there, fancy zipper.

Oh hey there, fancy zipper.

Again, it may be hard to tell in the picture, but they’re a deep navy (almost purple?) and the zipper detail is in gold. Seeing as how we’re coming up on fall – hooray! – and the supportive maternity waist on these means I’ll probably actually wear them post-partum to hold in all the jigglies, they seemed like a legit purchase.

Plus, since this box was free via a referral, the final cost was totally reasonable. And they’re super stretchy, thick and comfortable. Win, win, win.

Cost: $58 ($33 after $25 credit). Verdict: Kept!

Ultimately, this fix was a total mixed bag. Two things went back gladly, two more I’m a bit reluctant to put into the mailing envelope. But I just can’t justify the expense on something I know I won’t get much use out of, and unfortunately, I just don’t wear dresses all that often.

I was really hoping to see more inexpensive basics, considering the short lifespan of maternity clothing. I should probably update my style profile to reflect that.

My bad, Stitch fix; my bad.

by AllyManet

Stitch Fix Review: Fix #2

It’s time for another Stitch Fix review!

A quick reminder about what Stitch Fix is and how it works:

Stitch Fix, for those who don’t know, is an online service where you set up a profile, pay $20 and have a personal stylist send you five curated items they think will suit your needs/wants. Once they arrive, you get three days to try things on, mix-and-match with items from your own closet, and decide what you want to keep. If you keep anything, your $20 up front goes toward your final total; if you keep everything, you get a 25% discount on the entire box. It’s super easy and, if you’re like me and hate to shop, easy is what you need when you need new clothes. Plus, referral links (like the ones in this post) get you $25 credit for each time someone orders a fix.

Since I loved a couple items in my first fix, and because I had a referral credit in my account, I went ahead and ordered another. The three items I returned last time were more of a fit issue than a style issue (except that terrible mauve sweater), so I had high hopes for this box. When I opened it, I was excited to see they sent a couple casual tops, just like I asked.

There was also a really great pair of jeans I couldn’t wait to try on: Henry & Belle, Abana Coated Ankle Length Skinny Jean. The stylist card they included mentioned they should fit better than the last two they sent, so I had high hopes for these guys! Plus, they have this really great sort of metallic/shiny look to them that makes you feel a bit rocker when you put ’em on.

So shiny, so fancy.

So shiny, so fancy.

So like I said, high hopes. And they fit *almost* perfectly.

Super skinny skinnies

Super skinny skinnies

Yeah, my lighting is terrible. Whatever. Anyway, what you can’t see in this picture so much is that while they fit great through the hips and legs, the waist was a bit … tight. I’ve got a bit of dunlap (done-lapped over my belt!) going on here, and no one needs to see that muffin top.

Especially not at $114.

Cost: $114. Verdict: Sent back.

What you can also see in the above picture is one of the tops I was excited about: Market & Spruce, Sam Hi-Lo Short Sleeve Tee.

Super soft, super comfy

Super soft, super comfy

Ugh. Muffin top, visible through that thin tee. Stupid jeans.

This shirt though. It was super comfortable, soft and a nice casual shirt you could wear just about anywhere. I liked the fact that it had a lower hem in the back, making it perfect to wear with leggings if you’re down with that sort of thing. The only downside here is that it feels a lot like some other shirts I own, and that I could probably find something similar if I wanted to for a lot less.

Cost: $44. Verdict: Sent back.

I can’t be too mad that the stylist found something that basically already exists in my wardrobe.

Speaking of which …

The Pixley Abriella Waffle Knit Cardigan, while awesome, is a near replica of a cardigan I already own. I probably actually like this one better, but I’m not trying to buy duplicates.

Exhibit A: The Pixley cardigan.

Such a great staple item!

Such a great staple item!

Exhibit B: Cardigan I already own, purchased at Old Navy like a year ago.

So great, in fact, I already own one.

So great, in fact, I already own one.

You see what I’m saying. Again, the stylist nailed my style, but since I already own something nearly identical, I’ll be passing on the cardigan.

Cost: $48. Verdict: Sent back.

I think you’re probably starting to see a pattern here, and unfortunately it continues. This cuff? Already own one.

Dorothy Layered Hammered Cuff, by Zad

Dorothy Layered Hammered Cuff, by Zad

So I guess, good job Makela for hitting my style on the head?

Well, almost. This shirt. What do I say about this shirt? It looked so cute in the box; the material so soft, the color nice and saturated, flowy like I like a lot of tops to be, and long enough in the back to pull it off with leggings.

Oh and also designed to make me look like a small house.

Pitchin' a tent up in hurr.

Pitchin’ a tent up in hurr.

Seriously. I know I made fun of my muffin top earlier, but in no way does this shirt help make things better. I look huge! My husband asked if there was a circus going on under this tent. I think the verdict is pretty clear; the only way I could see keeping this thing would be if I were in the market for maternity clothes.

I’m not.

Cost: $58. Verdict: Sent back.

So there you have it — I won’t be keeping anything from this fix, but mostly because I already own similar items. I’m also still trying to figure out the right size to ask for in jeans, but I’m not giving up hope on them. There’s something just so much better about trying jeans on at home, with your shirts and your shoes, that it’s worth trying again and again to get it right.

Better luck next time, Stitch Fix.

by AllyManet

Stitch Fix Review: Fix #1

I suppose I need to join the cool kids and post a review about my experience with Stitch Fix, right? I’m a total newb in the Stitch Fix game and am terrible when it comes to fashion, but hey, why not write up an entire post about it?

Stitch Fix, for those who don’t know, is an online service where you set up a profile, pay $20 and have a personal stylist send you five curated items they think will suit your needs/wants. Once they arrive, you get three days to try things on, mix-and-match with items from your own closet, and decide what you want to keep. If you keep anything, your $20s up front goes toward your final total; if you keep everything, you get a 25% discount on the entire box. It’s super easy and, if you’re like me and hate to shop, easy is what you need when you need new clothes.

Make sense? Also, if you sign up through any of the links in this post, I’ll get a $25 credit without costing you anything extra, so that’s pretty awesome. OK — on to the fix.

First up: Ooh, how pretty!

Everything comes in a nice neat little package.

Such a nice, neat little package.

I had asked in my style profile for a big, oversized cardigan (hello, cold office), so seeing all the knits in this box was a good sign. Definitely off to a good start.

First up, this pink/mauve cable knit sweater.

Hmm... that's an interesting hem.

Hmm… that’s an interesting hem.

I was pretty skeptical about this one right away, considering I don’t typically look great in this style of sweater, and-plus-also, what was going on with that hem? But I tried it on anyway, and…

Nope. Big ol' nope.

Nope. Big ol’ nope.

Yeah, no. The fit on me was super frumpy, the little side flaps (I mean, what else would you call them?) we’re a little too weird for me. And since I decapitated myself in this pic you can’t tell, but the mauve doesn’t do much for my skin tone.

Cost: $68. Verdict: Sent back.

Next up, these super cute skinny jeans.

Ooh, fancy pocket zippers.

Ooh, fancy pocket zippers.

At first glance I really liked these jeans. They were super soft and I kinda liked the funky-ness of that zipper detail.

Look at me, following directions!

Look at me, following directions!

I took a cue from the style card and paired them up with a bold-colored top and some snakeskin flats. I liked the look a lot, but ultimately, the fit was a bit off.

Cost: $88. Verdict: Sent back.

Man, I really need some jeans though, and they sent me two pair. Next up, these wide-leg trouser jeans.

Gettin' fancy. Denim fancy.

Gettin’ fancy. Denim fancy.

In theory, I really liked these jeans. I like that they’re a little nicer than your average denim, and the creased front makes them more like a pair of trousers. Oh right, that’s why they’re called trouser jeans. Anywho.

Close, but no cigar.

Close, but no cigar.

For the most part, I really liked these jeans. I had a bit of an issue with how they fit around the waist (just a smidge too big). And for nicer jeans, I’d want them to be a bit longer so I could wear them with heels; these are just long enough on me for flats. Darn.

Cost: $78. Verdict: Sent back.

Now, before you go thinking I sent back everything, I saved the best two for last!

To infinity (scarf), and beyond!

To infinity (scarf), and beyond!

Let’s pretend I didn’t just caption it that.

This scarf was super cute, a bluish-green color that I don’t own much of, and so, so snuggly.

Fashion, yo.

Fashion, yo.

Paired with a simple tee and some jeans, we’re good to go!

Cost: $28. Verdict: Kept!

And finally, the cardigan I begged for requested!

Why hello, there.

Why hello, there.

I spent hours — nope, not exaggerating — trying to find this mystical cardigan. Something big, warm and soft I could wear to work. Our office is freezing, FREEZING, and I’m usually at my desk wearing gloves and a coat because none of my cardigans are heavy enough.

Boom. Nailed it.

Boom. Nailed it.

This scarf fits the bill. It’s super soft and warm enough to wear sans-coat, even now when it’s in the low 40s. There was no question, this one was a keeper.

Cost: $78. Verdict: Kept!

So there you have it, my very first Stitch Fix! I know I’ll definitely give it another go, as I loved the convenience of being able to try stuff on with what I already own, not to mention having someone else make the selection decisions for me.

Did I mention I hate shopping?

🙂