Stitch Fix

What you see when you first open the box

 I'm writing this blog in case there's anyone reading this who is thinking about trying Stitch Fix and wants to get a better idea of how the service works. 

What is Stitch Fix and how does it work?

Stitch Fix is an online clothing styling company.  You fill out a profile with your sizes and style preferences.  Then, they send you a box with 5 pieces that the stylist picks out for you.  You have 3 days to try it on, decide what you want to keep, and return the rest.  The cost of shipping both ways is "free" (built into the cost of the service) and they include an envelope that makes return shipping very easy. 

Is there a minimum cost?

Style Card

There is a minimum $20 styling fee, which is applied towards any purchase you make from the box.  I've received about 10 boxes and have never not found at least one thing that I really, genuinely wanted to keep (so I've never "lost" the styling fee because it's always been applied to a purchase). 

Pros and Cons:

The pros are 1) you can avoid in person shopping - anyone who has ever had the painful experience of shopping with me knows that this is a HUUUUGE plus for me, even before kids, 2) you will probably receive some pieces that you would never have picked out for yourself but you end up loving, and 3) it's pretty high quality stuff.  Stitch Fix jeans in particular are amazing. 

The only real con is that you might end up spending too much money.  You have a lot of control in this - how often you order a new box, how high or low you ask Stitch Fix to set price controls, how many pieces you choose to keep.  But I have found that when you get a box on your doorstep and it feels like Christmas opening it, and then you try the pieces on and at least some of them look great, it is *really* hard to resist buying.  (And this is coming from a person who errors WAY on the side of cheap - i can go into Target with a gift certificate and not manage to spend it all.) 

What comes in a box?

Cardigan and jeans

I'm showing my most recent box here.  Here is how the pieces looked when I tried them on, and what I decided to keep. 

First up:  1) cardigan, and 2) jeans.  When I first saw that cardigan, I thought, "No way."  It looked way too Mr. Rogers, and while I do have a total nerdy side (and I would love it if I someday have a job that, if it were a piece of clothing, looked exactly like this), it's not what I'm looking to show off ala Stitch Fix clothing.   But then I tried the cardigan on and it was so warm and comfortable, and that *almost* changed my mind, as I'm always always always cold when the temp dips below 75.  But ultimately, I just didn't think I would wear it enough, so the verdict on cardigan is Return. 

Dress

The jeans were okay, but they were a little short, fit strangely in the waist, and were too expensive to be anything less than a perfect fit.  Stitch Fix can get you a pair of jeans that will be the best fit you've ever had, so it doesn't make sense to keep them when they miss the mark, even by just a little bit.  The verdict on the jeans is also Return.

Next, i tried on the 3) dress.  I loved this one.  This is exactly the kind of piece that I hope for from Stitch Fix - something that shows a stylist thoughts about how to flatter your body type, and in a print that I wouldn't have chosen for myself but like once it's on.  Verdict:  Keep.

Casual brown shirt

Then, onto the 4) casual brown shirt.  Often Stitch Fix is great about sending a plain colored, casual shirt with some added embellishment that makes the shirt both versatile (because of the plain color) and special.  I was hoping this tie on the stomach would be that, but instead it was just odd.  It might be that my torso is too long for this shirt to work well, but it shows just a bit of tummy and not in a flattering way.  Meanwhile, it adds volume to your abdomen, which I'm not sure who's looking for that feature in a shirt, but it's not me.  Verdict:  Return.

Mixed print shirt

Lastly, I tried on the 5) mixed print shirt.  I loved this one.  I need casual fall shirts, it will work well with my chasing-young-kids lifestyle, and it's interesting how it mixes two materials.  Verdict:  Keep.

This is a pretty typical box for me.  One or two pieces that I definitely want to buy, two more that I'm on the fence about and decide based on budget and wardrobe needs, and one or two that are just total fails (but that's not bad for a stylist that knows you only through the Internet!). 

So there's my Stitch Fix preview.  If any of you want to try it and feel like doing me a solid at the same time, here's my referral code.  Thanks for reading!

In Defense of Thoughts and prayers

I've seen lots of social media push back this week on people offering "thoughts and prayers" in the wake of a tragedy, particularly regarding the shooting in Las Vegas.  And I do get these posters' frustration - they are sad to see more people suffering and they want to see action to fix things.  I share this desire for policy action - we've had two shootings this month that were close to home and i would LOVE to see gun regulations tighten up.

But, i want to offer up some push back to this thoughts and prayers push back:

1.  It is a false dichotomy to claim that posting about thoughts and prayers cannot go with taking action (whether this action is sending aid to Puerto Rico, calling your legislator about gun control, donating blood, etc.).  You can do both, and many people do.

2.  For people of faith (like myself), praying is not "doing nothing".  You may not share the same belief system, and if you don't believe in prayer then nobody is asking you to pray, but it's disrespectful to people of faith to dismiss prayers like that.  Along these same lines, please do not write that you're praying or sending prayers or anything along these lines if you're not actually praying, because i think this is also a disrespectful way to use prayer.

3.  Sending thoughts and prayers is a phrase saying that you're supporting that community.  These messages of support can add up and really bolster people who are suffering.  Just because you can't fix the situation doesn't mean you can't help someone by letting them know that you care and they are not forgotten.

4.  If you're completely unconnected to the event in any way and you still post about thoughts and prayers, and that message never directly reaches any of the victims, and that message is mostly about making you feel better - so what?!  I've seen Facebook used in a thousand worse ways than someone expressing an empathetic message towards victims of a disaster or atrocity.