I don’t particularly enjoy shopping for clothes. I’m not hardwired to spend the day floating through the mall and just browsing. Two times a year my husband and I go to the outlet malls for the morning and stock up on any basic needs. That’s typically all the shopping for my year. I’ll pick up an occasional item from TJ Maxx or Target if I’m looking for something specific, but generally, that’s it.

I’m also the gal who if I like something, I will just buy it in 2-3 colors. I own the same cotton dress from Wal-Mart in both black and red. If you find a good $15 win, why not make it last that much longer? Hah!

This year is providing so many opportunities for me to speak to my peers. I’m honored for the chance to address Mops, Moms, and various women’s ministries in my area. More engagements also means a need to dress like an adult, at least occasionally. (I’ve told you before, a daily goal is to be out of my pjs by noon -> perks and curse of working from home.) A quick survey of my wardrobe and you would discover lots of solid-colored cotton tops and pairs of dark-wash blue jeans. Nothing wrong with those items, just not always ideal for my job.

Enter Stitch Fix: an online personal stylist.

The Stitch Fix Website will summarize the process better than any lengthy paragraph I could write! Here’s how it works:

1. Create your style profile.
2. Pay $20 styling fee toward your box. (You can use toward your final order – any of the 5 products you keep!)
3. Schedule your box.
4. Open you box and try on the clothes. Take awkward selfies in mirrors and send the pic to your friends and family members. (Each item also comes with styling tips on how to best wear the products.)
5. Once the box arrives you have 3 days to decide what you are keeping and what you are returning. The returns are all free and super easy: drop the prepaid envelope in any USPS box.

Other noteworthy pieces of info: If you keep all 5 items you get 25% off. The more info you provide on your style profile, the better matches your stylist will make. Most items are about $65.

My initial qualms: $65 is a lot for a gal used to buying at TJ Maxx. What if I don’t keep anything?

My answers: This was a birthday gift to myself (using $ from grandparents! THANK YOU!) – I was hunting items for speaking, pieces I wouldn’t normally choose for myself. Worse case scenario, I’m out $20. Best case, I find something I love.

Without further ado, here’s my box experience!

My box arrived on a Thursday afternoon. I had until end of mailing day on Saturday to figure out what I was keeping and what I was returning. (Forgive the cell phone pic from the floor of my daughter’s room.)

The five items in my box were priced between $32 and $88. I liked the looks of everything and was very pleased at the various fabrics and prints. The dress was really the only thing I would have picked up off a rack and tried on. It just also happened to fit the best out of everything. I text my friend Carey and said, “I HOPE THE DRESS FITS!”

Although I liked the vest and bird shirt, they were just too big. I’m not sure if it was the fit or if I’ve gone down a size, both just looked like big boxes on me. I also really liked the floral shirt, just not $58 like it. Had it been less than $40 I might have considered it.

In the end I kept the necklace and the dress. I almost talked myself out of the necklace, I’m not big on flashy jewelry, but it just went so nicely with the dress. The work was already done. My husband told me to keep it just so he didn’t have to hear me say that I WISHED I’d kept it. The $20 styling fee went toward my purchase, essentially making the necklace $12. I can do a $12 necklace. 🙂

All in all it was a good experience. I didn’t get a speaking top, but I also hadn’t bought a new dress in almost two years. Well, I had, they were just maternity dresses. I would definitely do this again, I’m just going to wait for a credit to do it.

A credit, you ask? Why yes! If you sign up for Stitch Fix using this link, I get a credit toward my next box. (OR use this referral code: 3310293). Lovely, right?! That’s what I thought.

Here’s what I will do differently next time:

1. Update the Pinterest board I shared with my stylist to include exactly what I’m looking for: dressy tops. (DO make a board!)
2. Measure myself so I can better determine my current size.
3. Remove jewelry from my next box. (Check out the profile, you can be super specific!)
4. Request a certain color palate. (I own too much navy.)
5. Stay away from winter clothes – rarely is it colder than 60 degrees here. How often will I really get to wear a warm vest?

In summary: fun, unique experience. I don’t have the cash flow or need to do it monthly, but I might do this for myself each Birthday.Thanks for indulging this random post. So many people were interested in the process that I just had to share.

Happy Thursday!

Ginger