Stitch Fix August 2015 Review

Guess what, everyone? It's Stitch Fix time!

Not familiar with StitchFix? If you're not familiar with Stitch Fix, it's a really neat way to shop for clothes wherein you let someone else do just about all of the work for you. You schedule when you want your shipment, or "fix," and write a brief note describing what you might be looking for. Stitch Fix assigns you with a stylist who picks out five pieces they think will be just right for you based on your size and style preferences. When your fix ships, you're charged a $20.00 fee. Once it arrives, you have three days to try everything on and decide what to keep or send back. You're only charged for what you keep, and the $20.00 styling fee is credited toward the cost of your keepers. If you keep nothing, you're out your $20.00. If you keep everything, you get 25% off your total, less the $20.00.  Best of all, you don't have to go shopping. You get unique, quality pieces delivered right to your door.

I've been shopping with Stitch Fix for just about a year now and I really, really love it. It's perfect for someone like me who doesn't really love shopping, lives in a rural area with limited access to good shopping, and is busy.

I've had the same stylist for several fixes in a row. My last fix didn't wow me, and the one before that wasn't outstanding either, so I requested a new stylist this time. My previous stylist (Anna) did a fine job, but I was just ready to mix it up a bit with someone new. I asked for pieces for back to school, including chinos, or colored jeans or pants that aren't denim. I also requested that the pieces are some that can be layered going forward into fall, and said I love colors like blue, yellow, orange, navy, black, and gray.

So... Imagine my surprise when I took out my style card and saw XO Anna on the bottom. She said she wanted to try one more fix with me. Ok then. Let's take a look at the photos and see how she did! 

Here's what Anna sent me this time:
41Hawthorn Angela Quilted Detailed Blouse
Margaret M Emer High Waisted Trouser
Brixon Ivy Coco Swiss Dot Lattice Detail Blouse
Fun2Fun Mina Split Neck Blouse
Zad Jorja Teardrop Bauble Necklace

First off, I put the Emer pants, Swiss Dot top and Zad necklace on all together:

Brixon Ivy Coco Swiss Dot Lattice Detail Blouse, Margaret M Emer High Waisted Trouser, and Zad Jorja Teardop Bauble Necklace, from Stitch Fix. 

Zad Jorja Teardrop Bauble Necklace
I had requested a necklace to match the turquoise earrings I received in my last fix and this is what Anna sent. In theory, it should have worked, but the turquoises don't match, and that bothered me. I know the stylists often work from home and don't get a chance to actually see or feel the product all the time, and, turquoise is really hard to match, so I definitely don't hold it against Anna! The necklace does look nice with the Swiss dot top, but it just looked and felt sort of cheap. I'd rather spend more money on a higher quality item. Two more photos below. Verdict: Returned.

Zad Jorja Teardop Bauble Necklace and Bay To Baubles Eugenia Triple Stone Earrings from Stitch Fix.

Zad Jorja Teardrop Bauble Necklace from Stitch Fix.

Margaret M Emer High Waisted Trouser
If you look on the Stitch Fix B/S/T Facebook group, the Emer pants are everyone's favorite. This is actually the second time I've received a pair of these in my fix. I got a pair of cobalt blue textured Emers back in March. This time, I got plain black Emers. The fabric is nice and feels high-quality, and they were a good, all-around workhorse pair of black pants. But. I already have a glutton of black pants in my closet. There's also something about the Emers that just don't work exactly perfect for me-- I get a little pooch in the crotch area after I wear them, and they gap in the waistband for me. A common problem with my strong legs and booty is that pants fit through the leg but gap at the waist. They're also just tight enough that some of the more conservative-minded wardrobe watchers at school might call them border-line leggings which is deemed inappropriate in our dress code, so there's that. I can see why a lot of people really love these pants, but they're just not for me. They'd have to be perfect at $98.00 for me to keep them, and they just aren't. There's another photo of the Emer pants with the Swiss Dot top below. Verdict: Returned.

Margaret M Emer High Waisted Trouser and Brixon Ivy Coco Swiss Dot Lattice Detail Blouse from Stitch Fix.

Ok, now let's talk about the Brixon Ivy Top! Oh, how I adore this top. :)

Brixon Ivy Coco Swiss Dot Lattice Detail Blouse
I knew I'd like this top from the moment I peeked at my fix online. It did not disappoint in person! The fit and fabric were perfect. It also comes with a matching cami to wear underneath, since it's definitely sheer and, hello, it has lattice detail in the front! Since I knew I wasn't going to be keeping the Emer pants, I tried this top again with jeans and a cardigan I already owned, and some necklaces:

Brixon Ivy Coco Swiss Dot Lattice Detail Blouse from Stitch Fix.

Another great feature of this top is that it has handy little snaps in the shoulder seams so you can hook your cami straps or bra straps in place so they won't peak out. Honestly, I could never understand why every sleeveless top doesn't have these little snaps in them:

If I can find some different pants to wear with this outfit, I'll definitely wear this to school. I like that the top is a neutral color I can wear year-round and with many different cardigans and layering pieces. This is a great, versatile top I know I will wear a lot! Destined to be in my Stitch Fix Hall of Fame. :) Verdict: Definite Keeper!

Next up, Fun2Fun Mina Split Neck Blouse-

Fun2Fun Mina Split Neck Blouse paired with 41 Hawthorn Abriana Longsleeve Knit Cardigan and 31Bits Citron Escape Beaded Necklace, from Stitch Fix.

Fun2Fun Mina Split Neck Blouse- I immediately saw why Anna picked this top for me. It has all the colors I requested in my note in one shirt! haha! How could I turn it down? I paired this with the 31Bits Citron Escape Beaded Necklace I got in my May Fix and the 41Hawthorn Abriana Longsleeve Knit Cardigan from my March Fix. Instant outfit success. Even without those pieces, I really liked this top. I like the lightweight material, the fit is great, I love the colors and patterns, and again, I have a lot of cardigans and layering pieces to carry this top through to colder months. This top will also look great now, in summer's heat, with the white shorts I got in my June fix (which I wear all the time!) This was also the cheapest item in my fix (other than the necklace) so the obvious choice was to keep it. Verdict: Kept!

The Fun2Fun blouse instantly made me think of this dress I had pinned. In my photo, the colors don't look as bright as they actually are, but it is actually quite similar in look to this African-inspired dress:

Well done, Anna! Inspiration directly from my Pinterest. I do love me some primary colors all together! :)

Lastly, 41Hawthorn Angela Quilted Detailed Blouse:

41Hawthorn Angela Quilted Detailed Blouse from Stitch Fix

41Hawthorn Angela Quilted Detailed Blouse: Oh my, I knew I was in trouble when I peeked at this fix because I was pretty sure I'd like all three tops. I just didn't know what color this one would be until I opened the box. I had a suspicion it'd be cobalt blue, and, as you see, it was! Yay! It's a little loose and flowy on me, but not so much that it looks sloppy, especially if I can pair it with slim pants. I tried it on here with a Lia Sophia necklace I already owned in black and BAM! Perfect outfit for school functions--North Star Blue and Black!

This shirt is very, very similar to the 41Hawthorn Filbert 3/4 Sleeve Popover Blouse, which is another Stitch Fix mainstay. I received a white one in my March Fix, and I wear it a ton! The biggest difference is the length- this top is probably a good two inches shorter than the Filbert. And obviously, this one has that cute quilting detail across the shoulders and at the sleeve hem. Love it. I loved the blue color, but the quilting was what really sold this one for me in the end. Verdict: Kept!

Here's another outfit I put together with the Angela blouse, with some leggings and boots:

41Hawthorn Angela Quilted Detailed Blouse from Stitch Fix with Herringbone Chaturanga Tights from Athleta.

Again, probably can't wear this outfit to work due to the leggings rule (you can wear leggings, but then you have to wear something over them that comes to 4" above the knee, which this top doesn't) but it's still a great outfit I think I'll wear outside of work. I love it when I can see other items in my closet to pair my Stitch Fix finds with!

Overall, this fix was a great success! I kept three items--all tops-- from this fix. Thankfully, I had a referral credit in my account to make my fix even cheaper! (Thanks, Joellyn!) Also, my confidence in Anna, my stylist, was renewed and I'm going to stick with her for the foreseeable future. If you think you want to give Stitch Fix a try, I'd love if you'd use my referral link: https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/4005981 Yeah, you're only feeding my addiction. But just you try it and you'll see how addicting it is, too, especially when you get pieces that are hand-picked just for you! 

Also, if you've made it this far, I've got one more shameless plug for you to read through. My Stitch Fix posts have the highest traffic to my blog, by far, than anything else I write about, and it's largely women. So, this is a great opportunity to tell you all about a project I am doing to help educate and inspire rural women in Montana. My husband and I are first-time race directors for a 5K we're holding right here on our farm, called 5K On The Farm. It's a fun run/race fundraising event to raise money to provide leadership training and education for women in agriculture.

You may not know me, and you may not live in Montana, but you may be interested in helping women grow. That is why you should sign up for our Virtual Run, which we are also offering to people who want to help the cause but who can't make it to the farm on race day (September 12, 2015). Visit our race website: 5K On The Farm, or head to our RunSignUp page for more info!

Thanks, everyone! Until next time!!! :)

Stitchfix Review July 2015

It's time for another Stitch Fix review on my blog!



I actually received this fix several weeks ago when I was on vacation visiting family in Iowa. Life has just been extremely busy since then so I haven't gotten around to working on this post. So, this is technically my June fix, posting in July. I'm skipping the month of July to receive a fix and will pick up again in August for back to school. I don't need a ton of new clothes over the summer, so it's a good time to ease off the fixes and the budget.

I probably would have skipped the June fix, too, but I thought it would be fun for my Mom and I to have ours delivered at the same time so we could open ours together while I was home in Iowa. I got my Mom started with Stitch Fix last Christmas with a gift card. She has a full time job which she commutes to and has not a lot of free time to shop, so I thought it would be fun. I think (I hope!) she's still enjoying the service! Today's post will feature in-depth photos and descriptions of my items and some info and fewer photos of some of Mom's.

Without further ado, here's the list of what I got!
Just Black Tatyana Distressed Short
Papermoon Salen Knit Top
Bay to Baubles Eugenia Triple Stone Earrings
Eight Sixty Kip Dress
Papermoon Terren Maxi Dress



So, I'm one of those people who "peeks" when I get my shipping notification for my fix. I like to know ahead of time what I'm getting. I do google search and Pinterest search to see what's coming in. I'm not good with surprises and I've found that when I'm surprised, I do more impulse buying, which really translates to wasting money. I'm not saying that I'm not open to trying something different when it comes in my fix, but just that I find I do better if I can see what's coming and remain open minded.

The item I was probably most excited about were these shorts...
Just Black Tatyana Distressed Short, which I'm wearing with Papermoon Salen Knit Top.

Just Black Tatyana Distressed Short and Papermoon Salen Knit Top from Stitch Fix.

Just Black Tatyana Distressed Short

I have to say, I was not expecting white shorts, so when I opened my box, that was definitely a surprise. I shouldn't have been surprised, though, because I have been requesting white jeans since forever. My stylist went with white shorts instead. I wasn't sure I'd like them, but when I tried them on they fit absolutely perfect and they're very comfortable. As I've said before, if I can find something I like that actually fits around my behind, it's probably a keeper. So I kept these. I've actually worn them several times since receiving them and they've quickly become some of my favorite shorts for summer! Status: Kept!

Papermoon Salen Knit Top

This was something else that, after peeking on my fix, I thought I'd really like. Barring any poor fit or quality issues, I knew right away I'd be likely to keep it. Happily, it fit great! This top is a little loose and a little sheer, but it's perfect layered over a cami for summer. I wore it for my Grandma's 90th Birthday Party and received compliments. It's cool and comfortable. I'll definitely be able to wear it to school this fall, too. Status: Kept!

Here's another image of the Just Black Tatyana Distressed Short, paired with another top I own. I seriously love these shorts! Cool, cute, and comfy for summer! 

Just Black Tatyana Distressed Shorts from Stitch Fix.

Next, a quick look at the earrings I got this time:

Bay to Baubles Eugenia Triple Stone Earrings

Bay to Baubles Eugenia Triple Stone Earrings from Stitch Fix, shown with Just Black Tatyana Distressed Short.

Bay to Baubles Eugenia Triple Stone Earrings
Again, I thought there'd be little chance I'd return any earrings once I peeked on my fix. I couldn't find any images of these, but I had a good feeling about them anyway. My stylist definitely delivered on these! I love, love, love turquoise jewelry and these really hit the mark. I've worn them a few times and they're not too heavy, which I also like. They're the longest dangly earrings I now own, but that doesn't bother me as much as I thought it might. I know I'll wear these a ton for years to come! Now I just need Stitch Fix to send me a necklace to match these... Status: Kept!

Moving on to the dresses I received this fix. I'd been asking for dresses to wear for summer weddings and my stylist sent me two more to try this time.

First, Eight Sixty Kip Dress

Eight Sixty Kip Dress from Stitch Fix.

Eight Sixty Kip Dress
This dress... Oh this dress. This was one that really had me scratching my head about my stylist. I did eventually find another dress I had pinned that was similar to this style, but way better, and it made a bit more sense. But... yeah. This did nothing for me. It kind of looked and felt like a bag. The balance was off on it, too-- you can see how it hangs shorter in the front than in the back? And there were quality issues. Lots of strings hanging loose all over the place. I couldn't think of any scenario in which I would keep this dress, sadly. Status: Returned!

Can you see the loose threads? Sad face.

Lastly from my fix, Papermoon Terren Maxi Dress

Papermoon Terren Maxi Dress from Stitch Fix.

Papermoon Terren Maxi Dress

I didn't care for the print on this dress right when I pulled it out of the box, but I have a rule that whatever I receive, I try on anyway, just to be sure. Sometimes you're surprised by how much you like something once you get it on. Unfortunately, not the case here. I still didn't like it. The dress fit well and the length was good, but I just didn't like the pattern. Also, there was elastic in the waist to cinch it in and it's exposed on the inside of the dress, so it was really scratchy. I tried this one on for Jeff and he said he liked it, but I just didn't like it myself enough to keep. 

So, just to recap, I kept 3/5 items from this fix: Just Black Tatyana Distressed Shorts, Papermoon Salen Knit Top, and Bay to Baubles Eugenia Triple Stone Earrings. I love all three of those pieces and I'm super happy I kept them! I spent just under $100 total for keeping those three items. Gotta love summer for less expensive pieces! I returned both dresses. 

Now, here's the photos of the items my Mom received. I just took photos of her things lying flat on the countertop, and I don't remember what the item names are for some of them, so bare with me!

First, this necklace:

Gorjana necklace from Stitch Fix.

 I really liked this necklace and if for some reason she wouldn't have wanted to keep it, I would have bought it from her! Very pretty.

Donna Morgan Dress

 There are a lot of cute, very flattering Donna Morgan dress styles. Just type it into your Pinterest search and you'll see what I mean. This style would have been really great on my mom but it was way too big, especially through the bust. She returned it.

Renee C Skirt

Mom's style card called this a maxi skirt but in actuality, it hit her sort of mid-calf, and she's not tall. Again, there are a lot of cute Renee C skirts to be found from Stitch Fix, but this one wasn't the one. Besides the odd length, it was really see through and too tight. I thought it might have been cute as a swimsuit cover on the beach, but that's not really Mom's thing. Or mine either. This one got returned.

Something I'm calling the Weird Crochet Top...

I don't know. Mom didn't really say much about this one. I wasn't seeing it either. It definitely could not have been worn on its own, although it was actually the only piece Mom got that actually fit her. I thought it could have been cute layered over a gray tank top, but in the end, neither of us were feeling it. This one was sent back, too.

Blue Sleeveless Top--

 This one was a really lovely color, which, again, would have looked stunning on my Mom but... it was waaaaay too big! Honestly, I think she needs to adjust the sizing in her style profile and maybe even mark for petite sizes. I thought about trying this top on for myself, but didn't because I had received a cobalt blue top that was similar in a previous fix that I really liked (more on this later!) and didn't think I needed this, too. Plus, it looked like it might have been too big for me, too.

So, out of Mom's five items, she kept just the necklace. She was able to use a gift card for that, so it was basically free for her!

 
I know this post got really long, but hang in here with me for one more thing. I just want to take a minute to share about Stitch Fix's awesome Customer Service. So, you know how I just mentioned I had a similar cobalt blue top to the one my Mom just got? Here it is, from my April fix:

I had worn this top several times and then finally went to wash it and it shrank. A lot. I had followed the care instructions to the T and washed it delicate/hand wash, then hung it to dry. When I went to put it on recently, I could barely fit it over my head, it had shrunk so much. (Guess I should have given Mom's top a try after all!)

The next day, I emailed Stitch Fix Customer Service just to see what they could do, not really expecting much. The Customer Service Rep, Rachael, who handled my issue responded very quickly to my email and said they didn't have another top in my size they could send, but that they could refund me for this top. She even attached a pre-paid shipping label so all I had to do was print the label and package up the shirt to send it back. Wow!

Even when a fix item goes bad, Stitch Fix Customer Service saves the day! Things like this make me want to keep shopping with these guys and keep referring them to my friends and family. I've been so happy with Stitch Fix and the Customer Service is just the icing on the cake!

Hope you enjoyed this Stitch Fix review! If you think you'd like to sign up to give Stitch Fix a try yourself, please use my referral code to do so! Click here: https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/4005981

Thanks for reading! Have a great day, everyone!

Stitchfix May 2015 Review

It's time again for another Stitch Fix box opening and review on the blog!

I came across this article from the Harvard Business Review recently that goes more in-depth on the how and the why of Stitch Fix: What Stitch Fix Figured Out About Mass Customization, but the basic gist of it is that someone else picks out clothes for you so you don't have to go shopping. You sign up and fill out a style profile, then schedule your fix. Your stylist chooses five items to send you, then you're charged a $20.00 styling fee when your fix ships. You're not obligated to keep any of the five items you receive in your fix, so anything you don't want you can return in a mailing envelope, which is included in your box. You have three days to try everything on and decide, then send back what you don't want. Your $20.00 fee is credited toward the cost of the items you keep. And if you get a Stitch Fix Bingo (keeping all five items) you also get 25% off your total. It's totally convenient, super fun, and the clothes are of nice quality. At the very least, I recommend going on and filling out your style profile so that you can have a better idea of what you might like when you're out shopping for yourself.

Let's move on to my fix! This was my seventh fix, and the third time with my stylist, Anna. This time, I specifically asked for summer tops, and dresses and jewelry to wear for summer weddings. I also noted that I'd be looking for bright colors and bold patterns. I really think Anna took my request to heart and I could see thoughtfulness in her selections for me, as well as reference to my Stitchfix Pinterest board.  I keep my board updated for each fix I schedule, adding and deleting so that it is a well-edited representation of what I like and what I'm looking for. I think doing so makes a big difference in the quality of the fixes I receive.

Here's what I received this time:

My stylist definitely did not skimp on the bright colors and patterns!

Daniel Rainn Judith Spaghetti Strap Blouse
Collective Concepts Lydia Floral Print Keyhole Blouse
Gilli Mattie Mixed Print Crossback Maxi Dress
Leota Dariah Printed Dress
31 Bits Citron Escape Beaded Necklace

Since the weather is nice right now, I decided it would be fun to do my "photo shoot" outdoors with the smiley barn in the background for some of the shots. I've gotten a little better at using my phone and self timer to get my shots, but I could still use a little improvement... Enjoy the photos! Let me know what you think of the clothes!

First up, let's have a look at the 31 Bits Citron Escape Beaded Necklace.

31 Bits Citron Escape Beaded Necklace from Stitch Fix.
Very cute packaging and awesome backstory!

 This was something I specifically requested in my note to Anna-- some jewelry from 31 Bits. It's a project Stitch Fix is working on with artisans from Uganda, who make all the jewelry for this line by hand from recycled materials. By keeping and purchasing this necklace (which I did) I am helping support the artisans, who are earning a fair wage. Love the story. Read the card the sent with my necklace below:

Information card for 31 Bits jewelry from Stitch Fix

I don't normally like chunky necklaces and jewelry, but again, I loved that I could feel good about purchasing this, knowing that I'm helping someone. The color is neutral and will go with anything and everything, which you'll see in the rest of my photos-- I wore this necklace with each of my remaining pieces. I do really like the look of the necklace, and that it is versatile, easy to wear, and comfortable. Status: Kept!

Next, Daniel Rainn Judith Spaghetti Strap Blouse, worn with my own jeans and the 31 Bits Citron Escape Beaded Necklace.

Daniel Rainn Judith Spaghetti Strap Blouse and 31 Bits Citron Escape Beaded Necklace from Stitch Fix.

This top was light and breezy for summer and I could see definite inspiration from my Pinterest board as to why Anna chose this for me. It's hard to tell in the photos, but it's actually a lot too big for me. I had to cinch the straps way up and sort of pinch it in the back so that I could even wear it for these pictures. I don't love coral-tone colors for my skin tone, so to have it right up by my face wasn't good. Overall, I just felt like it was too big and too sparse and, well, I just didn't really like this piece that much. Status: Returned.

Collective Concepts Lydia Floral Print Keyhole Blouse and 31 Bits Citron Escape Beaded Necklace.

Collective Concepts Lydia Floral Print Keyhole Blouse and 31 Bits Citron Escape Beaded Necklace from Stitch Fix.

I had this top pinned on my Pinterest board because I had seen it around on others' reviews and thought I would like it. I do really like the pattern on this blouse and the fabric was really silky and soft, even though I think it was polyester. I also like the details of this blouse: pleats down center-front, nice detail on back shoulder, contrast fabric on the shoulders, and the keyhole front. But again, this top was probably at least one size too big for me. It felt like I was wearing a tent. And the keyhole opening was actually pretty low--I'd definitely have to wear a cami underneath and who wants to wear two shirts during hot summer months? If this had been a size smaller I may have kept it, but I just didn't love it as much in person as I thought I would. Not enough to request an exchange of size from Customer Service. Status: Returned.

Gilli Mattie Mixed Print Crossback Maxi Dress and 31 Bits Citron Escape Beaded Necklace.

Gilli Mattie Mixed Print Crossback Maxi Dress and 31 Bits Citron Escape Beaded Necklace from Stitch Fix

I have been requesting summer dresses to wear to weddings for a few fixes now and this time Anna sent me two to choose from. This was the first one I put on and it was super comfortable and fit perfectly. Even the length was good, which is a bit surprising because I have short legs! When I first tried this one on, I thought it was a keeper. It has a flattering cut, and was actually slimming on me, emphasizing my waist and not my (large!) booty. This dress also has some interesting cut-outs with the cross-back. The cut and material is placed just right, though, so that you can still wear a normal bra. Perfect!

The one thing that bothered me about this dress was that the pattern didn't match up at the side seam. For some, this is nitpicky, but for me, it just wouldn't cut it. To me, the fact that there wasn't enough attention to quality and detail to match the pattern just cheapened the whole look and made it seem like something I'd buy at a discount store. So, even though it was pretty flattering on me overall, and at first I thought this was the keeper of the bunch, I sent this one back.  Status: Returned.

Last but not least, Leota Dariah Printed Dress and 31 Bits Citron Escape Beaded Necklace.

Leota Dariah Printed Dress and 31 Bits Citron Escape Beaded Necklace from Stitch Fix.
Also shown with my own denim jacket from Eddie Bauer, my cowboy boots, the dogs, a smiley barn, and some of my own jewelry from Lia Sophia.

I had some fun with this dress! This dress at first sight, I wasn't sure about. I thought the pattern looked too busy and that it "wasn't me." But again, the cut of this dress was absolutely perfect for me. This dress fits me like it was made just for me-- felt like a custom order! And the material feels luxurious. It's a high-end polyester/spandex blend that behaves like a silk crepe. The drape and flow is beautiful. For some reason, I was planning on sending this dress back and keeping the maxi, but when I tried these on for my husband's opinion, he convinced me to keep this one instead. I wore it that very same night (Saturday) to a wedding and received TONS of compliments. Here's another photo, taken by Jeff, as we headed to town for the wedding:

Leota Dariah Printed Dress from Stitch Fix.

Anna suggested wearing this Leota dress to a summer wedding with a bold clutch and my favorite heels. Well... I don't own any heels and it's Montana, so that meant cowboy boots and a denim jacket! But, I'm already thinking ahead to my next trip to Washington D.C. and I know I'll be able to take this dress a bit more formal for Senate office visits. Also, as I thought more about the pattern of this dress, I was reminded quite a bit of Boden USA, which is another clothing company whose style I really love and have referenced in my Stitch Fix profile and Pinterest board. Again, Anna has noticed and remembered the details!

The other awesome thing about Leota as a company is that they make all their garments in New York City. I am a big fan of USA made clothing because it means I know the workers are making a fair wage and it keeps jobs here at home! Because of all the amazingness of this dress, I justified the high price tag of around $140. I know I'll wear this a ton and get my money's worth. Status: Definite Keeper!

So this time I kept two items out of five from my fix. My next fix is scheduled for late June to arrive in Iowa. I'm having it shipped to my parents house because Jeff and I will be visiting at that time and my mom, who is also into Stitch Fix, will be getting her fix at the same time. We plan to open ours and try everything on together. Should be fun!

Here's my style cards from this fix. 

If you're interested in getting started, please Click Here to fill out your style profile and schedule your first fix. Yes, I do get a small referral fee if you sign up. It'll go to feed my Stitch Fix addiction! But seriously, it's super convenient and lots of fun, especially if you loathe shopping, as I do.

So what did you think of my fix? Did I keep the right things? What would you have done?

StitchFix March 2015 Review

My March Stitch Fix box has arrived! Yippee!

I haven't received a box since early January, so it's been about two months. I skipped February because I knew we would be wanting to spend freely on our trip to Red Lodge. My fix in January was disappointing and I only ended up keeping one item. The one item I did keep, however, I wear all the time and I love it!

In the interim, which seemed like an agonizingly long time, I trolled the internet to see what others have been getting in their fixes, and did a lot of pinning to my Pinterest board to help my stylist out. I also made a few changes to my style profile. Needless to say, my March fix has been greatly anticipated!

In my note to my stylist this time, I requested some new clothes in spring colors- turquoise, cobalt blue, coral, white. Also, some non-denim jeans or chinos that I could wear to work.  My stylist did a great job trying to address my requests in my note as well as looking at my Pinterest board for inspiration.

Here's what I got--
41Hawthorn Abrianna Longsleeve Knit Cardigan
THML Kahlo Knit Top
41Hawthorn Georgia Crewneck Raglan Top
Margart M Emer Textured Tall Straight Leg Pant
41Hawthorn Filbert 3/4 Sleeve Popover Blouse

These are the style cards that arrived with my fix this time, and the note my stylist, Anna, sent. 

This time, once again, my fix arrived a few days late. I don't blame Stitch Fix though. I live in an extremely rural area with limited mail delivery, so it's not their fault. My box was here when I got home from school and track practice on Wednesday, and we also had something at our church that evening, too. So, it was 8:00pm, I hadn't showered after Track and having a long day... That's my disclaimer as to my personal appearance not looking very fresh. I do want to credit my friend Stephanie for her input, for Jeff's input, and for Carol, my Mother-In-Law for snapping the photos and for her input. Thanks guys!

Let's start with the Margart M Emer Textured Tall Straight Leg Pant and the 41Hawthorn Abrianna Longsleeve Knit Cardigan.

Margaret M Emer Textured Tall Straight Leg Pant and 41Hawthorn Abrianna Longsleeve Cardigan.

41Hawthorn Abrianna Longsleeve Knit Cardigan

I have seen this cardigan many a time in other Stitch Fix review posts, blogs, on Pinterest, on Facebook, etc. It comes in many colors and is versatile and flattering on most everyone. It's pretty basic, but I know I 'll wear it a ton. It fits perfect and it's a great color for me. It's also really soft! In the photo it looks black, but it's actually a really dark navy. Perfect for when I want to wear Bobcat colors (navy and gold) to school! I knew I would keep this item before I even tried it on. Status: KEPT!

Margart M Emer Textured Tall Straight Leg Pant

Hard to see in my photos, but there is a nice texture to these pants. They're like a stretchy jacquard woven pant. They have a high waist and a sort of built in tummy control panel. They are SUPER comfy. My stylist said she didn't have any white jeans in stock, but sent these instead. Well, they're far from white jeans, lol, but they are cobalt blue, which I had requested and pinned. They're also Tall in sizing and I'm definitely not tall. So they're about three inches too long for me. I have the skills to hem them, but at the price of $98.00, I wasn't wild about having do to extra work to make them just right. I thought pretty hard about keeping these. They fit perfect, are really comfortable, and are just the right North Star Blue color I could wear for school events. Our school has a no-leggings dress code though, and while these aren't leggings exactly, they're pretty close, so I probably wouldn't wear them to school. And I'm certainly not going to wear them around on the farm. Status: Unsure. 

The second outfit I tried was Margart M Emer Textured Tall Straight Leg Pant again, with the 41Hawthorn Filbert 3/4 Sleeve Popover Blouse. 

41 Hawthorn Filbert 3/4 Sleeve Popover Blouse and Margaret M Emer Textured Tall Pants.

41Hawthorn Filbert 3/4 Sleeve Popover Blouse

In her note, my stylist suggested I try these two on together. They do look great as an outfit. White isn't an awesome color with my skin tone, but I think with a scarf and some jewelry, this would work all together. I honestly own very, very few white tops and have wished for a good, basic white blouse or button down shirt I can wear to business casual events, or to school, especially under a blazer. It's pretty thin and see-through, but since I pretty much always wear a cami under my shirts anyway, that doesn't bother me. I also don't love the 100% polyester fiber content and usually wouldn't keep something all-synthetic, but since I'm lacking tops like this, I decided to keep it. Again, it fit perfect and was flattering and overall pretty comfortable. I packed it in my suitcase for my trip to Wichita and plan to wear it under a blazer. Status: KEPT!

Next I tried on the THML Kahlo Knit Top.

THML Kahlo Knit Top

THML Kahlo Knit Top

This is another favorite that's been on plenty a StitchFix blog post and pinterest board. Again, I knew immediately when I saw it that unless it fit horribly that I would keep it. The fit was perfect, so there was that! I love the mix of stripes and embroidery. The coral embroidery is a great accent and I also like the high-low hem of the shirt. This top is a great combo of fitted and flowy and is very flattering! Tops that are too boxy or too flowy don't look great on me, so this was a good mix of both. Coral is a color that I like for spring and summer but doesn't look awesome next to my face, so today I actually wore this same outfit again, but added a navy scarf to add a little contrast and because blue looks better on me. Anyway, overall status of this shirt: Kept! I love this top and I know I'll wear it a lot. I immediately got a compliment on this shirt right when I walked in to school. Definite keeper!

Last item I tried was the 41Hawthorn Georgia Crewneck Raglan Top.

41Hawthorn Georgia Crewneck Raglan Top

41Hawthorn Georgia Crewneck Raglan Top

I really liked the look and style of this top right out of the box. I love raglan style sleeves and I like the bright, contrasting colors. It was soft and comfortable and fit like a sweatshirt. The downside to this top was that it was just barely a little too boxy for me through my shoulders and upper torso, and also confirmed that coral is a color that washes out my complexion. I was not planning to keep this sweater, but then Carol, my MIL, said she really liked it so I encouraged her to try it on...

41Hawthorn Georgia Crewneck Raglan Top

...and it looked really fabulous on her! The fit was better on her and the color was excellent with her skin tone! She offered to buy it from me, so we decided to make that happen. Status: Kept, but not for me!

So that brought me back to the Margaret M pants. In the end, I decided to keep them because I was money ahead to do so. Stitch Fix gives you a 25% discount on your entire order if you keep everything. I am actually offering them for sale on the super-secret StitchFix message board on Facebook and already have a few people in line to take them. So, then I'll really be money ahead! If you're interested in buying the pants, please let me know. Full price is $98.00, but I'm selling them for $75.00 (including shipping). They are new with tags. Leave me a comment or message if you'd like to get in line to buy them!

In the end, since I kept all five items, I got my 25% discount. I'm only actually keeping for myself three tops, and after selling the sweater to Carol and once I sell the Margaret M pants, the total I will have spent on the three tops will be $105.00. Not too bad for three new shirts of good quality that I know I'll wear a bunch! I was also really happy with my stylist this time and requested to have her again. I would really love to sort of start a "relationship" with one stylist, rather than bouncing around each time, as I have in the past.

In case you're wondering, here is the archives of blog posts I've done from fixes past:
Stitch Fix January 2015 Review
StitchFix December 2014 Review
StitchFix October 2014 Review
I also got a fix in September, but never did a blog post or review about it. So, this fix was actually my 5th fix so far! I also gave my Mom a gift card for Christmas to get her started. She's received a few fixes now, too, and says she has really been liking it. She kept two items from her first fix and three from her second. I'm glad the gift worked out and that the service fills a need for her!

If you'd like to sign up to start receiving Stitch Fix boxes, please consider doing so using my REFERRAL LINK. I will get a $25.00 credit when you sign up and receive your first fix.

Thanks for reading, everyone! I hope you all have a great weekend!

StitchFix January 2015 Review

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Some of us were lucky enough to enjoy Monday off of work and bask in a long weekend, myself included. Jeff and I took our annual January trip to West Glacier, MT. We left Friday and returned last night. I'll write more about this trip and post it later this week, because today's post is going to be devoted to clothes. That's right-- I received another StitchFix box last week!

It arrived Thursday night, so with packing for our weekend away, I didn't have time to get my blog post up. But I DID make time on Thursday evening to try everything on, get Jeff to snap some photos, and decide what I'd be keeping or sending back. Read on to see what I got!

First off, I have had a few questions from friends who read my blog and want to know a little more about Stitch Fix. I haven't done an informational blurb about it yet, so I'm going to do that now. If you already feel like you know what it's all about, just scroll down.

Here's the skinny: You register on the StitchFix website and fill out a style profile-- that's all free. Even if you don't plan on signing up to receive any fixes, it's still fun to do the style profile and maybe learn something more about what you do and don't like. This is also where you set a price range for your stylist to stay within when selecting items for you. Then, you can schedule your fix for a date you'd like to receive your shipment. At this time, you'll also write a little note to your stylist with more details about what you might want to see in your fix. When your stylist ships your fix, you're charged a $20.00 styling fee. Soon after that, you receive your happy box of stuff in the mail! Yay!  You have three days to try everything on, deliberate, and decide what you'll keep. Whatever you don't want, you ship back in a postage-paid envelope, which you can send through regular USPS mail. You'll receive five items in your Fix. Typically, one pair of pants, three tops, and one accessory. Your $20.00 styling fee is credited toward the total cost of any items you decide to keep. If you keep all five of your items, your total will be less your $20.00 fee AND you get 25% off everything! You can sign up to receive your fixes automatically, or you can just go on the site and schedule a fix only when you want to receive one (that's what I do).

Now, let's get into my Fix from January! I had high hopes for this fix because my last one was really great and I felt like I had been very specific in my note to my Stylist and in the pins I put on my Pinterest board. Again, I"ll mention as a disclaimer that this is NOT a fashion blog and my husband is NOT a fashion photographer! Ha! That being said, I think we do at least an OK job of showing the clothes in the photos.  Here's what I got:

Outfit One, Featuring Mavi Gold Nigel Skinny Jean and Evolution by Cyrus Bolina Marled Knit Sweater.

I had specifically requested another pair of pants that fit like the black cords I received in my last fix. These did fit like the last pants and are the same brand, but I just didn't think they were as flattering somehow. Maybe some strategic sandblasting would have been good? For the price, they just didn't Wow me and when it comes to pants, I want them to pretty much be perfect before I'll keep them.

The sweater was my stylists response to my request for "Montana Snow Bunny" and ski lodge apparel. I knew I'd have several fun ski weekends planned for this winter and specifically requested some fun sweaters for that reason. This sweater, however, did not fit the bill for me. I thought it was just sort of sad and frumpy and too big. In addition to looking bad on me, it was boring. Not what I'd want to wear for beers at the lodge.

Outfit Two, Featuring Mavi Gold Nigel Skinny Jean and Market and Spruce Elissa French Terry Striped Moto Jacket.

This is a top I had seen on someone else's StitchFix review blog post and really liked. It was pinned on my Pinterest board and my stylist delivered on this one! The fit is great and I love all the cute zipper details. The fabric is soft and the colors are neutral. I can wear this with a lot. I think this is the third or fourth item that I've kept overall from Market and Spruce, so this seems to be a brand that matches my style and fits me well. I'm looking forward to wearing this jacket this week with some black pants and a bold colored top underneath. Definite keeper!

The same jeans as in the previous outfit. Again, I just don't think they really do anything for me, especially for the price (which was just a little higher than my targeted price range).

Outfit Three, Featuring Sweet Rain Sterling Quilted Pullover Top and Octavia Harlow Heart Print Infinity Scarf.

 I tried this top on with some of my own jeans and threw it over a tank top. I have requested Navy in my note each time I go for a fix because it's a color I wear a lot, but I didn't care for this top overall. It was comfortable and soft, but again I thought it looked frumpy on me. Jeff said, "That looks like it came from Kmart," and I described it as, "I think it's a confused sweatshirt." Too boxy. Quilting idea is not bad, but this style just didn't work for me.

The heart-print scarf was cute and would have been really fun for Valentine's Day, especially since I work in a school, but once again this scarf was pretty similar to something I already have. The scarf wasn't expensive, but since it didn't really fill a need for me, it went back. If I hadn't been already planning on keeping something else from this fix, I would have kept the scarf so as not to lose my $20 styling fee. I would also have kept it in order to get 25% off my order if I had been keeping everything else. Neither of those situations was happening, so buh-bye scarf.

 Harvey weighed in with his opinion, which was primarily something to the effect of, "I don't care which scarf you keep. Just please pet me, Mom, pet me!"  Gotta love the Velcro Vizsla photobomb!

All of my items from this fix, in a neat little pile! 

Just to recap what I got and what I kept, here's a list:
Mavi Gold Nigel Skinny Jean: Returned.
Octavia Harlow Heart Print Infinity Scarf: Returned.
Market and Spruce Elissa French Terry Striped Moto Jacket: Kept! Yay!
Evolution by Cyrus Bolina Marled Knit Sweater: Returned.
Sweet Rain Sterling Quilted Pullover Top: Returned.

What did you think of what I got? What would you have kept or returned? Overall, I wanted more from this fix and was disappointed in what I got, other than the Moto Jacket. I had specifically written in my note about a new black skirt I had received for Christmas and wanting something to wear with it. My stylist this time didn't even address that, even though I had called it out and pinned a couple of images of the skirt on my Pinterest board. I had a different stylist again this time, and I think the ones I had previously understood my style a little better.

If you want to check out my posts about previous fixes, you can do that here:
StitchFix December 2014 Review
StitchFix September 2014 Review

I plan to set up my next fix to be delivered in March, and I think I'll request the same stylist I had from my December fix because so far, I've been happiest with that one. I'm still having lots of fun with StitchFix and I can't wait for my next fix to come!

If you want to give it a try, click this link to get started: Katie's Referral Link to Sign Up for Stitch Fix! I would really appreciate the credit. :)

StitchFix December 2014 Review

Somehow, I got my Stitch Fix box today. On a Sunday. Out here, we only get mail three days a week ~ Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I got pinged that my box had shipped on Wednesday, and was due to arrive by 12/9, Tuesday, so I expected to actually see it on Wednesday 12/10. Must have come Friday and we just haven't been over to Tom and Carol's to get our mail until this morning when Jeff went over to help with chores.  I'm happy it's here early because it gave me a chance to not be rushed, and, with Jeff's help, get some photos taken of all the items.

All my stuff, with the box and the style card. I like the color story of my items this time. 

I'm trying to get better at staging photos of my items. Jeff is a very patient photographer and husband, so kudos to him for helping out! The hardest thing is finding a spot in our house to take photos that has good lighting and a neutral backdrop. Not too many places fit that bill. I have one little corner of wall that works OK if I crop the photos. If it were nice weather, maybe I could talk Jeff into taking the photos with me outside? Next time maybe. Also, I downloaded a very basic frames app so I can group some shots together, show multiple angles, and details. Welcome to modern times, Katie! lol

Let's have a look at what I got this time!

Outfit One, featuring: Mavi Freida Corduroy, and Collective Concepts Gustav Textured V-Neck Sweater. 

 Let's start with the sweater. I don't love it. White/cream is generally not a good color for me- it tends to wash me out. Also, it's a little short in the body for me, and the sleeves kept creeping up as I wore it, too. The material is 100% polyester, which I'm not opposed to in a different style of shirt, but not in a sweater. This one's going back.

Ok, now the cords. I specifically requested a corduroy or velveteen pant in a modern cut, knowing full well that it could be a challenge for my stylist to find a pant that actually fit over my booty without gapping at the back waist. What can I say other than my stylist totally delivered on these! They fit great, with no gap at the back, they're a good length, and they're SUPER comfy. I foresee myself wearing these a lot. They'll work for school, and can be dressed up or down. I can rotate them in and out of my wardrobe with my other black skinny pants from Banana Republic, which is a good thing, since those have to be dry-cleaned. These cords are a definite keeper!

Here's another basic outfit I created with pieces I already had...
Outfit Two, featuring: Mavi Freida Corduroy, denim shirt from Eddie Bauer, and Timberland Earthkeepers boots.

Let me just take a moment to note that this is my third fix and my third different stylist. I haven't requested different stylists, they've just assigned me to someone different each time. I don't know what's up with that, but I'd love it if I could keep the same person for a while at least. Maybe it will lead to consistently better and better fixes? Who am I kidding-- they probably use an algorithm to decide what goes into each fix anyway. Nevertheless, I'm going to try to make a note of that when I check out and see what happens.

Let's move on to the next item.

Outfit Three, featuring: Collective Concepts Esten Button-Up Sleeveless Blouse, and (again!) Mavi Freida Corduroy.

 We've already discussed the cords. I love them. As for the blouse, this is another case where my stylist listened to my request and checked out my recent Pinterest pins of outfits with primary colors. I requested yellow/gold as a color I'm interested in because I can wear it with red for my Iowa State Cyclones or Navy for my MSU Bobcats. Yes, I like to wear team-spirit outfits on days when my teams play. I'm cool like that. I also just really like to wear bright, cheery colors.

This shirt on it's own isn't really fabulous for me. Yellow is another of those colors that just doesn't suit my skin tone very well. That being said, the shirt fits like it's supposed to and is comfortable, and will meet some of my other outfit ideas, as you can see in the next image...

Outfit Four, featuring: Collective Concepts Esten Button-Up Sleeveless Blouse, Mavi Freida Cordoroy (there's those pants again!), cardigan from Target, and hand-made scarf that my dad brought be back from Ireland. Oh, and those Timberland boots again, too.

 Primary color outfit achieved! I could wear this outfit straight to school on a Cyclone game day! I think this looks happy and festive for a day that I'm working in the Elementary school. Jeff also agreed that the shirt looked a lot better as part of an outfit like this. So, I think I'll keep this one, too, along with my cords.

Outfit Five, featuring: Collective Concepts Esten Button-Up Sleeveless Blouse, Look by M Celine Lace Pattern Fringe End Scarf, Pink Martini Augustina Lace Back Open Cardigan, and my own Miss Me straight leg jeans. 

This last outfit features the final two pieces I received in my fix, the lace back cardigan and the scarf. My stylist suggested these two pieces together with the sleeveless top. I think on the whole, the outfit looks good together and I like the style of it. I'm not a huge fan of the scarf. It's just really big. Jeff's comment was, "Why did they send you a blanket?" and then I told him it was a scarf. Oh. I think I may have been more inclined to keep this, even though it's large, if the pattern was different. I also thought about it as maybe a gift for someone else for Christmas. If I were on the border of keeping all five items, I'd probably keep this for the 20% discount when you keep all five, but I knew I wasn't keeping all five, or even four of five.

On the cardigan, it's the right color and the right size. Again, my stylist followed my request for blue and navy, and layering pieces. This piece fits all of those check-marks. The cardigan is nice, but I'm just not a big fan of the lace back trend that's happening right now. I can't explain it, don't know why, but I just don't love the look of a lace back shirt.

Overall, I think I can accomplish the same look of this outfit with pieces I already have, like the scarf in the primary colors outfit, and my own navy cardigan that's already in my closet (not pictured). So, I'm returning both the cardigan and the scarf.

So, after my third fix, I'd still say that I'm happy with Stitch Fix. I still think it's a lot of fun, and I really like having someone else pick out pieces for me and give me outfit suggestions. Again, I think my stylist really listened to my requests and picked out some great pieces, even though she was my third stylist. The shipping and check-out process is easy and fun. There are a lot of benefits to me for continuing with Stitch Fix. The biggest reasons are that there's not a lot of shopping opportunities in Almost-Canada, MT,  and when I am places where there is decent shopping, I don't seem to have a ton of extra time to do said shopping. The prices are reasonable, in my opinion, and I'm getting pieces I may not have picked out or tried on for myself otherwise. I'm getting great styling ideas for cute outfits, too.

Most of all, I think the biggest benefit to me of Stitch Fix is that I'm getting back into looking cute and taking more pride in being fashionable, which is something I had gotten away from since living up here. Ultimately, I'm feeling more confident in my appearance and therefore, in myself. And that's a good thing.

Here's a rundown, again, of what I'm keeping and what I'm sending back.
Look by M Celine Lace Pattern Fringe End Scarf: Returned.
Mavi Freida Corduroy: KEPT, Enthusiastically!!!
Collective Concepts Esten Button-Up Sleeveless Blouse: Kept.
Pink Martini Augustina Lace Back Open Cardigan: Returned.
Collective Concepts Gustav Textured V-Neck Sweater: Returned.

If you haven't tried Stitch Fix and you want to, please consider signing up through my referral link (below) so I can get a little credit when your first Fix ships. If you've already signed up for Stitch Fix using my referral code from last time, but you're still waiting to schedule your first fix (there are a few of you who have done that!) maybe consider scheduling it. You might get some awesome things that you really love, too!

REFERRAL CODE LINK: https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/4005981

And, in case you're curious, here's a link to my October Stitch Fix Review. 

So, there you have it, folks! Hope you all have a wonderful week!