Well, it was bound to happen.
After keeping all 5 of my items in my last Stitch Fix, it was only a matter of time before I had a disappointing “fix.”
I have had four Stitch Fix deliveries. I only kept one item from my first shipment, then kept three items from my second, and all five from my third. I ended up keeping two items from my fourth and most recent fix, but the three rejected items were so bad that it has almost made me give up Stitch Fix altogether.
Almost.
So what was so bad? Well…everything from the pricing to the styling to the fits…most everything just seemed a bit off.
I was really excited for this shipment because I had another $75 in referral credit (thank you to all who have used my link to sign up!) and a gift certificate I had received from my husband for Mother’s Day (did ya’ll see that cute post he wrote about me?). I was hoping to receive another “keeping it all” fix and end up not having to pay a cent out of my own pocket!
I had asked my stylist to pick some pieces that would be bright, floral, fun, and perfect for Summer. I am going on vacation to South Carolina in June, so something to add to my suitcase for that trip would be lovely. I follow Stitch Fix on Pinterest and Instagram, and I have seen some great trends popping up, so I made sure to fill my own Pinterest style board with colors and patterns and styles I had my eye on. I was hoping my stylist would check out my board while picking items for me.
I will admit that I was a little bummed from the get-go because the box my fix came in was very small. I immediately assumed there wouldn’t be room for a great dress or pair of pants simply because it didn’t look like they could fit inside the small box. I was worried they included jewelry, which I specifically asked them not to because I simply have no use for costume jewelry at this stage in my life.
When I opened the box, I was thrilled to see that a new pair of jeans were folded inside. My hopes were lifted as I unwrapped the package and began to pull out the items. I was liking the colors– pinks, yellows, teals, florals.
Fist pump!
The note my stylist wrote referenced my Pinterest board and some of the items I had been pinning, so I was excited she at least visited my board once or twice.
I went for the jeans first. They are Just Black Nickola Distressed Ankle Skinny Jeans. I have been obsessed with my Just Black jeans I received two fixes ago. They are literally the only jeans I wear now, and I have absolutely loved them. They were worth every penny in my opinion. So, I was happy to receive another pair in a different style. My very first fix sent me heavily distressed jeans that were far too young looking for me, so I was concerned that these distressed skinnies would be a no-go. However, they have very minimal distressing and just have kind of a “lived-in” look. No weird fading across the butt or anything like that. Just Black jeans are SOOOO comfortable. I just couldn’t turn them down.
The next item I tried on was the Fun2Fun Charles Embroidered Trim Blouse. I really liked the pink color as well as the detailing on the bottom. It fit pretty well, and I thought it would be an easy top to dress up or dress down. I don’t own anything like this, and the price was very fair — $38. I decided to keep it.
Next was the Laila Jayde Patricia Racerback Knit Tank. I loved the color and relaxed nature of this tank top, but it was truly just a cotton tank top. Nothing special about it. I didn’t lose 25 pounds when I put it on. It wasn’t made of gold or ostrich feathers. That’s why I was perplexed when I saw it was priced at $54 dollars. Seriously? Was that typo? Because I saw this exact thing at Old Navy for $14.50. I wasn’t pleased about this. The price was borderline offensive. Into the return bag it went.
I was surprised that a dress was included in this fix (given the small box everything came in)– the Pixley Ohara Faux Wrap Tie-Waist Dress. The color was pretty enough, and the fabric was a stretchy jersey knit. I wasn’t crazy about the pattern on the fabric, and I absolutely hated the style. I do not look good in wrap dresses. At all. I have no natural waist (even when I’m thinner), and these always look so terrible on me. I think the stylist picked it because of the deep V-neck and the ease of breastfeeding, but still. Blech.
I tried the dress on anyway, because I believe in the idea that the stylist might have better taste than I do, but I was not surprised to see that the dress was hideous on me.
As I was looking at myself in the mirror, I noticed that there was supposed to be a tie to string through the loops on the side, but yet there was no tie included with the dress. I looked in the box, on the floor, in the tissue paper, inside the other clothing items, but no tie was to be found. I was irritated by this because what if I would have loved that dress? I still wouldn’t have purchased it because it looks silly without the tie in the loops. Clearly, this was a mistake on Stitch Fix’s part, but it only added to my disappointment and annoyance with this fix.
Lastly, I tried on the Skies are Blue Page Flutter Sleeve Blouse. Initially, I was kind of excited about this top. I liked the colors in the floral print, and I really enjoy the airy, flowy fabrics these days. However. HOWever. This top was so bad. Just, so bad.
It had ZERO shape. ZERO ability to flatter anything I was working with. And the pattern, the more I looked at it, reminded me of a really, really terrible, old bed sheet. You know, the kind that still smells like whatever 1932 smelled like. I couldn’t get it off of me fast enough.
So, two keepers, and three that I will probably have nightmares about later. I have to admit, I was pretty disappointed and very frustrated with this fix. I gave everything very critical and specific feedback, and I can only hope my next one is a dramatic turn around. I am scheduled to receive another one just prior to my birthday in July.
I had to do some thinking about whether or not I wanted to continue this experience. Now that I have experienced what others have in a disappointing shipment, do I wish to continue? Or should I just go back to buying my own clothing items in an actual store?
Well, I decided to schedule another shipment for a few reasons.
1) I truly enjoy the anticipation of my next fix. I have always loved that part of Christmas– even better than actually receiving a gift is just the anticipation of it.
2) I absolutely do not have the time nor the motivation to shop for clothes for myself. These items are higher quality items. It would be like going to a department store in a mall or a boutique versus going to Target or Wal-Mart. I don’t even know the last time I went to a mall, and I certainly don’t know the last time I went when I had the freedom to shop for myself.
3) Some argue that Stitch Fix is too expensive. I agree that the $54 cotton tank top was absolutely ridiculous. However, most of the items I feel are fairly priced, albeit more expensive than the clothes at Target. What I have found is that when I am awaiting a shipment from Stitch Fix, I do not even really browse the clothes anywhere else because I know I have some coming. So instead of spending $20 here or $25 there on a random shirt that won’t even look the same after I wash it, I am holding out for a higher priced, higher quality item.
4) I am receiving advice from a person who probably knows more about looking stylish than I do. Even though she didn’t hit a home run this time, I still came away learning more about what I like and don’t like when it comes to what I wear.
5) The items I have purchased have been my favorite items to wear. I am constantly reaching for these pieces, which must mean that I am feeling good about wearing them. And isn’t that what we are all searching for? Clothing that makes us feel good when we wear it?
While I was bummed about this fix, I am hoping that my feedback will steer us back in the right direction.
Til then, I am going to start making yellow cotton tank tops and selling them for $54 because CLEARLY I am in the wrong business.
If you’d like to give Stitch Fix a try, click my referral link and get started! I get $25 credit for each person who schedules a fix using this link.
