It’s been more than a year since my last Stitch Fix – I went out on a high note, keeping the whole box for the first time ever. I decided at that point to quit making clothing purchases and focus for awhile on refining my fashion sense and editing my wardrobe accordingly. This past spring, I worked towards a minimalist wardrobe centered around a specific palette and I’ve been trying to do that again this fall. It isn’t as hardcore minimalist as the wardrobes of people who limit themselves to 33 items, but for me, it’s pretty pared down.
But last month, I realized I had built up a little bit of referral credit in my Stitch Fix account, and I thought it would be fun to get a box and see if I could find one perfect piece to add to my wardrobe. Before I show you what I got, if you’d like to read previous reviews, you can check them out here:
My 11th box arrived on Friday, and my first impression of everything was very good. I had stipulated that I didn’t want any accessories this time, and that I really wanted to focus on work-appropriate tops and jackets/cardis. I was also open to a skirt or dress. My stylist Shannon kept to my requests and picked out some really cute stuff, all within the price point I set.
As usual, please ignore my dirty mirror and messy room! All my house cleaning efforts have been focused on the downstairs, where our Thanksgiving company will be!
First up was this sweet Daniel Rainn Minal V-Neck Silk Blouse, in a deep teal – a color I had been looking to add to my fall wardrobe.
When I first pulled this out of the box, I instantly thought this was the piece I was going to keep. And when I tried it on, I was still pleased with it. It’s 100% silk, which I like, but it’s different from my other silk blouses in that it doesn’t button all the way down the front (meaning I don’t have to worry about a gap between the buttons at the chest, as I sometimes do). It’s also long and just a wee bit blousy, so again, different from other tops in my current wardrobe.
However, it lies a little funny around the shoulders and bust, and it looks like it wants to stay this way. Also, at $78, it costs more than the silk blouses I’ve been able to buy on sale at Ann Taylor, which also have a more upscale feel. So though my initial impression was positive, I’ve decided that I’m just not wowed enough to keep this one. Verdict: Send Back.
Up next was this really sweet Market & Spruce Kristah Ruffle Knit Blazer.
I was suuuuper excited to see a black blazer in my box. The last time Stitch Fix sent me one, I fell in love with it and then it ended up being way too tight and I had to send it back. That’s one down side of this service – you may get something you love, but if it doesn’t fit, you are out of luck; you can’t exchange it for a different size.
But I had a very good impression of this when I first tried it on. It’s a pointe knit with a great feel, and I just thought it was so completely cute. With three-quarter sleeves, it’s different from the other black blazer in my wardrobe (which gets a lot of wear). I felt like I would definitely get a lot of use out of this piece. Plus, it has this really adorable little ruffle detail on the back:
It’s like a slightly sheer two-tiered ruffle coming out of the bottom back of the jacket. I was sure this was a keeper.
Then I tried it on for my husband. And he immediately pointed out what my brain had selectively chosen not to see:
Yeah, it pulls, y’all. It doesn’t feel too tight. But that pulling is not flattering. And when I looked around online to see this same piece in other people’s Stitch Fix boxes, I saw this same thing happening in their pictures – unless they were wearing it open, which many of them were. But on me, wearing it open just looks unflattering. Plus, I don’t like buying a piece that’s supposed to button but can’t be worn that way. Verdict: Send back, with a huge sad face.
Next up was this RD Style Kalin Draped Cardigan.
It’s hard for me to love an acrylic sweater, y’all. Call it knitter’s bias, but if I’m not wearing a handknit wool sweater, I want my store-bought sweaters to be either wool or cotton. I’m also not a fan of the marled look. That said, the fit of this was kind of cute:
But still, this one was a no-brainer. Verdict: Send back.
Next up was a sweet little Pixley Kathy Striped Fit & Flare Dress. My stylist wrote, “I checked out your Pinterest board and I noticed you pinning a ton of vintage inspired Fit & Flare dresses. I thought you may fall in love with this gorgeous Pixley striped number. The silhouette is very classic but the v-back is what makes this dress extra special.”
I have to say, this dress is pretty cute. I love the stripes and I love the shape and I definitely love the v-back, which I didn’t manage to get a shot of. At $68, it’s a nice price for a dress.
But here’s what’s keeping me from keeping it:
- Though it feels comfortable, it looks too tight.
- The shoulders have a little bit of puff to them (intentional, part of the style). This isn’t a feature I care for – looks good on other people, but just not my personal style.
- I have no place to wear something like this. It is too fun/casual/party-ish for my work but not something I would likely pull out for a night out, either. (I learned this lesson from the last dress I kept through Stitch Fix – I love the dress and thought I would wear it for going out, and I think I’ve worn it precisely once).
It’s a shame, because it’s an adorable dress, but I want to be very realistic about what looks good on me, what fits in my wardrobe, and what I will actually wear. Verdict: Send back.
Finally, there was this Paradigma Firnat Henley Blouse. My stylist wrote, “I noticed that a lot of the items you liked from your last Fix were very boho-inspired. The Paradigma henley blouse brings boho into fall with the sheer material and loose silhouette.”
This is an interesting piece. It’s got a sheer black cami to be worn underneath, and then the top itself it also sheer (but layered on top of the cami keeps the body of the blouse from being sheer). It does have a loose silhouette, but the light, sheer fabric makes it flowy rather than maternity-ish (right? you guys would tell me if it made me look pregnant, I hope)
I would not be pairing it with this A-line corduroy skirt as shown above. When I tried it on with skinny black jeans and black cowboy boots this morning, it was exactly the right balance between loose and fitted.
It looks black from a distance, but up close you can see that it actually has dark blue squares printed on it:
It’s different from any other piece in my wardrobe but also fits right in. It was not a WOW piece when I first pulled it out or tried it on, but I think this is the one I’m going to keep. The price is right (it is exactly the cost of my credit), I like the color, the fit, the feel, and the styling. I could see myself wearing this out for dinner or fun, or even under a blazer to work. So unless y’all tell me that the knit blazer fits just beautifully and I should keep it instead, this is the piece I’m going to keep. Verdict: Keep.
So that’s my 11th Stitch Fix. In the past, I would’ve been tempted to keep at least three pieces from this box – the silk top, the henley top, and the knit blazer – or maybe even four (the dress), which would’ve led me keep all five since that would be more cost-effective, and then I’d be stuck with an acrylic cardigan I wouldn’t wear. It feels good to be more disciplined with myself about what stays and what goes back, and I think I’ve made the right choice. But what do you think? I’m returning the box later today so there’s still time for me to be persuaded by other input.
*Stitch Fix is a personal shopping/styling service – you fill out a style questionnaire on their site so that they get a sense of your “style profile.” Then you pay a $20 “styling fee” and they hand-pick five items for you, based on your preferences. They ship the box to you, you try everything on, and then you select what, if anything, you want to keep; the $20 styling fee goes toward the cost of anything you choose. If you don’t want to keep anything, you ship everything back in the package provided (they keep the $20 styling fee). If you decide to keep everything, you get a 25% discount (minus the $20 you already paid them). I do not receive any compensation from them for reviewing my experience with them.
But I *do* get a credit towards my next Fix if you schedule a Fix for yourself via my referral link: here. If you have questions about how it works, you can see their FAQ here – and I am more than happy to answer any questions based on my experience, too.
earthchicknits 
I enjoy reading your thinking as you evaluate these pieces. I’ve also received several Stitch Fixes, and sometimes it’s hard to decide. I think sometimes I’m unrealistic about whether I’ll actually wear the piece because it fits, and it’s cute, and it’s stylish.
It’s so tricky, isn’t it? There are things I’ve gotten (both through Stitch Fix and off the rack) that met all those criteria (fit, cuteness, stylishness) that I didn’t end up wearing as much as I would’ve thought. I’m trying to be so intentional about thinking through how much I’ll actually wear something.
I think the blazer is adorable, but if you won’t wear it unbuttoned, don’t keep it – you won’t ever feel comfortable wearing it, which means you won’t wear it and then what’s the point? I almost never button blazers, so I’m willing to buy ones that don’t button or button tightly (which isn’t unusual because they often button at my widest part), but if that’s not true for you, then you should pass on it, as cute as it is.
Isn’t it so cute? I’m so frustrated about the pulling. And I almost think it would still do that even in a size up, just based on what I’ve seen on other people’s blogs and photos (unless I got one so big that it just didn’t fit well at all). Such a bummer!
Since the last time I saw you post here about Stitch Fix, I’ve actually become a stylist- just a couple of pointers/suggestions that you might like to know:
1. Sometimes you *can* exchange sizes, or at the very least, say “I would love to get this is a size up/down next Fix” in your feedback or requests for your next Fix. The problem is it might not be in inventory, but we can try.
2. For future Fixes, especially if you get more this fall/winter, you can always say “I don’t want to receive any knit sweaters” somewhere in your profile notes. That way we know not to send you any. You can also say that in comments in your feedback on this Fix.
3. In general, the more feedback you give, always the better.
That’s so cool that you’ve become a stylist!! And I really appreciate your pointers and suggestions. It’s good to know about being able to ask for size up/down for next Fix, though I really am not sure if this particular blazer would fit right in the shoulders if I got it bigger. I do give feedback when I return things and also when I schedule a fix I put info in my notes – and I actually did want a sweater and/or cardi, I just guess I should’ve stipulated not 100% acrylic. (I have a cardi from one of my previous fixes that I absolutely adore!) I have been very bad about updating my Pinterest, however (though my stylist was still really spot-on with what she picked from me based on my Pinterest!).
For sure, the Pinterest board is really helpful. And it’s true sometimes going up/down a size is not always going to work- that blazer in particular I think is best for people with narrow shoulders, which might not help even in a bigger size. There’s definitely some gambling involved, for sure!
I like the piece you’ve selected to keep. I try to be brutally realistic about what I will wear when i shop. It means my wardrobe is smaller (not a bad thing) but I wear it all. That is kind of freeing, to know that I will almost always like what I pull out to put on. Maybe it isn’t right for every occasion, but I won’t feel self-conscious in it when i do wear it.
Love the blue shirt — in fact, I covet it. It was the first thing I noticed in the collage. I like the way the sheer sleeves balance center section, like the squares, like the drape — very nice on you!
Yeah, I’d return the cardigan. The marled effect is just too busy and actually not that flattering. If it were truly a solid color, it would look nice!