The Perfect Maxi: Stitch Fix Review July 2015

Dear readers, it is Stitch Fix time again! It actually came last week, I am just sort of behind, as always.... (For a reminder of how Stitch Fix works, read my post on it here.)

As you might remember, my last fix was... well... basically a bust. Stitch Fix was kind enough to refund my styling fee and send me a new fix, which I really appreciated. In that fix, I ended up keeping one shirt, but I didn't bother blogging about it because it was sort of blah. However, the beauty of Stitch Fix is that each month we get to try again! And I am happy to report that Stitch Fix has me as a very happy customer again this July.

The view inside. Pretty colors!

 I had asked for more specific things this time than in past fixes, and also asked Alison to style me again. I am coming to have a great affection for Alison. I had asked for an everyday bag that wasn't too big in a bright color, a maxi dress (I'll explain why later), and the Leota Amandine dress, which I had fallen in love with when I saw it on another blog.

If I had kept everything it would have been
$259.00. Yikes!

My style card.

 This fix was a little pricey for me, and the wallop was made even worse by the fact that I finally ran out of credit, so after my last $20 of credit I had to start paying for my own fixes again. Bummer. (I guess free fixes 2-7 = can't complain...) However, I went into everything with an open mind, rationalizing that the spending freeze meant that I had a little extra money to spend. Luckily, I didn't want to keep everything. Shall we take a look?

Urban Expressions Caroline Hobo Bag in Light Green-- $68

Notice that I'm wearing my awesome dress from Fix #5!

 Here is what I liked about this bag: It was super high quality. If I had liked it, it would have been worth the money, I think.
Here is what I didn't like about this bag: Everything else. It was, again, way too big. I am not the tassel type of person. The color was not bright, but instead was simply asking to get dirty.

Don't I look thrilled? Umm... yay?

I was not sad to put this one back in the box.
Verdict: Returned

Leota Amandine Faux Wrap Dress in Black-- $138

Sorry about the giant hair. That's summer
in New York for you...

This is the dress I asked for. But I did now know about the price. Yikes! I loved it out of the box, but was a little disappointed in the fabric quality in the skirt for the price. It felt flimsy and pretty thin for a dress that cost almost $150. But it was so pretty!

 So then I put it on, and I didn't quite like it. It was a tiny bit too tight in the hips (not an uncommon problem for pear-shaped me) and a drop shorter than I would have liked. I confess that while I was sad that it didn't work, but also sort of relieved. Good bye, beautiful dress. I hope you make someone else very happy.

 Verdict: Returned

 Gilli Shay Maxi Dress in Light Grey-- $74
41Hawthorn Abrianna Long Sleeve Knit Cardigan in Navy-- $48

There's the happy face!

I have always wanted a good maxi dress, but I have found them surprisingly difficult to find. The problem is, since I need sleeves over or under, the dresses have a way of swallowing me. So I asked Alison to do what I couldn't do, which was find me a maxi dress that worked. And man did she succeed!

First of all, she sent this super soft navy cardigan to go over the dress. I wasn't going to keep it, but then I saw it in the pictured and loved how it looked with the dress. But then I remembered I have two navy grandpa cardigans already, and do not need to spend $48 on another one. Especially in the middle of the summer.

 However, there was no doubt that the dress was staying with me forever. I think the mixed media of the dress is what makes the layering work, because the pattern doesn't get too busy and consume me. It's also the perfect length and fit perfectly. Thanks Alison! A job well done to you!

New lighting for better reflection of the colors

 Verdict: Cardigan was returned, dress was kept!

Skies Are Blue Kavinski Button Down Blouse in Turquoise

 You'll notice that I'm not wearing this shirt. That is because of the sleeve length. Tooooo short. Also, I did try it on just because I was curious, but it was HUGE and also super boxy. The color is beautiful, but also very similar to a shirt that I kept from fix #2. I wasn't sad to see this one go. Good bye, immodest (for me) and unflattering shirt.

Verdict: Returned

So you might be wondering-- Rachel, you said you were so happy with your fix, but then you only kept one thing! What gives? And I would tell you, well, dear reader, that the one thing I kept, I LOVED. I also felt that this fix was super on target, and I would have kept three of the things if it hadn't been for fit and redundancy issues. So I am a happy camper. Don't you want to try a fix for yourself? You won't be sorry!

The Giant Fail: Stitch Fix Review June 2015

Oh Stitch Fix, why do you do this to me? You send me amazing fixes on the odd numbers, and then terrible ones on the evens. What's that about? Suffice it to say that fix #6 was not a success. Ladies and gentlemen (because I know you're out there), we have our first 0/5 fix. Sad Rachel.

(For info about how Stitch Fix works, see my earlier post here.)

I asked Alison to style me again this time, and asked for things that are color, and things that are work-appropriate. While I mostly get where she was going, there were a couple of exceptions where I sort of wondered, what was she thinking? But it was a fail. Let's take a look.

My styling card! Good, but only in theory.

My total would have been $227.50 if I had kept everything. 

Skies are Blue Winston Button Down Blouse in Green-- $28.00

This shirt looked good until I put it on. And then... not so much. First of all, the material was super scratchy. Second, it looked like a maternity shirt-- not what you want to see when you are tiny on top and sort of bottom heavy. (Believe it or not, it looks better in the pics than in real life. It was not pretty.)

Also, it seemed to be shorter in the back than in the front. What's what about? Is that for hiding a second person underneath?
I googled around to find how other people wore this, and everyone had the same complaint as me. Also, the price for others was higher, so I wonder if everyone returns this, so they discounted it to try to get rid of it? Well, Stitch Fix, you won't fool me! Nice try.
Status: Return

Fun2Fun Binder Tie Neck Top in Pink-- $48

This shirt was the most promising in the bunch. I really liked the concept and it was super soft. But then there were some problems.

                                                    

First, the arms had elastic that was SO TIGHT. Like, cutting off my circulation tight. I know that my arms are a little out of proportion in size based on the rest of my body, but this was really ridiculous.

Second, it reminded me a lot of the shirt I got in Fix #3. I love that shirt, but I definitely don't need two of them.
Third, while it fit around the hips, it was too loose on top-- I could tell I would have to keep adjusting it to stop my tank top from showing.
Finally, the material didn't look so nice up close. If I'm going to spend $48 on a shirt, I need it to look a little more high quality
Status: Returned

Street Level Morris Braided Handle Tote in Blue-- $78

In theory, I could have gotten behind this bag. I liked the color. But then I held it up and it was HUGE. Even bigger than my backpack. Not being a mom, if I don't have said backpack, I have no reason to carry this much stuff.

Also, the bag smelled sort of funny. It probably would have gone away, but for $78, I can't deal with a smell. In fact, I'm not sure there's much that can get me behind a $78 bag, but it would certainly have to be love, and this was not.

It did have a messenger strap, which was cool. Oh well. Good bye, bag.

Status: Return

Level 99 Patrick Cropped Chino Pants in Light Blue-- $88

Not much to say. Unflattering in the thighs. Impractical (too casual for work, too much like other things i have for weekends.) Color that stains easily. Super expensive for casual pants. No thank you.

Status: Return

La Made Ida Striped Shirt Dress in Navy-- $98

 I saved the worst for last. Oh, this dress. Sooooo bad. First of all, it is basically a glorified beach cover-up, and who spends $98 on a beach cover up? Second, this is NOT a shape that works for the pear shaped among us. It hugged my thighs like crazy. Why would you give a dress in this silhouette to a bottom heavy person? Makes no sense. In case you're wondering why there are no pics of me wearing it, it's because I looked 5 months pregnant, and even I have limits.

Also, the fabric was much flimsier than it should have been for the price. I assume that it was sent to me because I pinned a bunch of striped dresses, but they were all with a full skirt. This is the opposite of that. BAD. Good bye, terrible dress. You will not make me feel bad about myself anymore.

Status: Returned

I confess that it was sad to get this bad of a box during the spending freeze, when I have extra money around. Perhaps this was my punishment for getting a box during the freeze? Could be...

So you might be thinking, wow Rachel, that's a massive fail. Are you done with Stitch Fix? Nope! Of all of my bad fixes, this is the one that was most on target. There was nothing in here where I thought, Why on earth was this sent to me? It was the right idea, but then very off. Also, it's still so exciting when my box comes. And remember-- it's only clothing! A bad box is not the end of the world. So let's keep on keeping on.

Are you ready to order your own Stitch Fix???