My Stitch Fix Shipment that Felt Like it was for Someone Else

July 1, 2018 By Maria Gavin - 109 Comments

I can’t believe that my 61st Stitch Fix shipment recently arrived. I’ve been a loyal Stitch Fix customer for over three years and I’ve had some truly fabulous fixes. I even kept every item from my fix on a few occasions (you can see those fixes here, here, and here.) After so much time, I’ve had some some lasting relationships with my stylists (my favorite stylist hand-picked my fixes for over two years.) With such a long stretch as a Stitch Fix customer, I’m sure it seems like I always get great fixes, that my stylist knows me perfectly, and that Stitch Fix sends me the perfect clothes every time. My July fix proved that there are bumps in the road even for me.

The whole fix felt like it was intended for someone else and, for the first time ever, I actually sent back everything that came in my shipment. Yes, it was disappointing, but I’m not really upset over it and I certainly won’t be giving up on Stitch Fix over one dud fix. A few of the items truly were fabulous. One just wasn’t my style and I really didn’t need the other one. Thankfully, I have a Stitch Fix Style Pass, which made the whole thing just a little less painful. I’ll fill you in on all the details (including the two pieces that made me cringe the entire time I wore them) in this month’s Stitch Fix review. Make sure you read all the way to the bottom of the post because we’re also giving away a $200 Stitch Fix gift card!

This post contains affiliate links, including my Stitch Fix referral link. We earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase or signs up for Stitch Fix using our link, which helps to support the blog.

I’ll fill you in on all of the awkward details of this month’s Stitch Fix post in just a moment, but I just wanted to answer a few quick questions for any newbies who are curious about Stitch Fix and my mysterious style pass.

What is Stitch Fix? Simply put: Stitch Fix in an online personal styling service. It’s super simple and super fun to get started. Just create a FREE style profile at StitchFix.com and answer a few simple questions about your taste preferences, sizes, budget, and clothing needs. When you are ready, you can schedule your first fix. You’ll be matched with a personal stylist (who is a real person) that will review your style profile and handpick 5 items just for you. The clothes are shipped directly to your door so you can try them on in the comfort of your home. Shipping and returns are FREE. Keep what you love, check out online, and return any unwanted items in the prepaid shipping envelope that is included in your fix.

How much does Stitch Fix cost? When you schedule your fix, you will be charged a $20 styling fee for the service, which is automatically deducted from the price of any items you choose to keep. The $20 fee is very reasonable considering that it covers shipping, returns, your stylist’s time, and a very personalized service. As for the clothes, the prices vary and you can customize your budget for various types of clothes in your style profile. I personally have my budget for accessories set at “the cheaper the better”, bottoms are set for $50-100, and dresses in my style profile are priced at $100-$150. The price preferences aren’t set in stone, but they are a helpful guide for your stylist to consider as she selects items for you.

Does Stitch Fix offer discounts? Since Stitch Fix isn’t a traditional clothing retailer, they don’t have “sales” in the traditional sense. What they do offer is a 25% buy-all discount. Each time a customer chooses to purchase all five items in their fix, the entire fix is marked down 25% (which is an amazing value!)

What is a Style Pass and how do I get one? Have you heard of the Style Pass? It’s an invite-only feature that Stitch Fix offers some of its customers. The Style Pass costs $49, lasts for an entire year, and waives all of your styling fees for a year. Plus, much like the styling fee, the $49 cost of the Style Pass is automatically deducted from your next Stitch Fix purchase.

I received an invitation to join Style Pass in my email this past winter. I have no idea why I was selected for it. Yes, I’ve been a Stitch Fix customer for a long time, but I don’t think that’s the basis of the Style Pass. I’m in a Stitch Fix Facebook group and I’ve been hearing rumors of the Style Pass for over a year before an invitation was ever sent my way. I’m always satisfied with my fixes so I actually dragged my feet about signing up for a few months. But after receiving this month’s Stitch Fix shipment, I’m really glad that I did choose to sign up so that I could return all five items guilt-free and without any out of pocket expense.

Ok, back to my not-so-perfect Stitch Fix review. A few months ago, someone commented on Facebook that she felt like all of my fixes were the same. Which made me laugh a bit because I had never thought of it before, but yes, all of my fixes tended to have a very similar style – MY style. And when a neutral loving, cardigan wearing, blush and floral enthusiast gets repeated fixes that are just her style, they do all seem to look the same. And I was one very happy customer. This month, however, my fix definitely did not feel the same. It had professional attire, bright colors, spaghetti straps, a wrap style top, and a released hem. (Ok, so the released hem skinny jeans actually were quite fabulous.)

As you scroll through my Stitch Fix review that felt like it was for someone else, you may notice a tiny change we’ve made to the house since last month. Let me know if you figure out what it is! Ok, here comes the full review.

Kassady Flutter Sleeve Top

At first glance, I really loved the Kassady Flutter Sleeve Top from 1. State ($68). The fabric reminded me of a gorgeous chambray. But a fun, dressed up chambray because the top had subtle red and white vertical stripes that already had me excited for the 4th of July. And the flutter sleeve detail was so cute. At first glance, I was pretty sure that I would decide to keep the Kassady Flutter Sleeve Top.

And then I tried it on.

And the top fit well, but the arm holes … they were so big. I was wearing a fitted white tank top under the Kassady Flutter Sleeve Top so it wasn’t like you could see my bra or anything revealing, but sleeveless tops with big arm holes drive me crazy. The flutter sleeves on the top also felt a little overpowering to me. I loved the concept, but I wished the ruffles were a little bit smaller and more subtle.

I’m telling you, I really wanted to love this top. I loved the color, the subtle stripes, and how perfectly it paired with a great fitting pair of skinny jeans, a simple Kendra Scott bracelet and my white Converse shoreline sneakers. If it weren’t for those big ruffles and armholes, it would have been a definite keeper. But over time I’ve learned to only keep what I absolutely love and I didn’t absolutely love the Kassady Flutter Sleeve Top, so it was going back to Stitch Fix.

RECREATE THE LOOK:

Nadine Released Step Hem Skinny Jean

The Kassady Flutter Sleeve Top may not have been perfect, but I kept it on and paired it with the second item that my stylist Jenn sent in my fix this month – a pair of white Nadine Released Step Hem Skinny Jeans from Just Black ($78). These pants were good and they looked so great with the top.

My conservative taste in clothes has made me slow to embrace a step hem or a released hem and this pair of pants made me fall in love with both trends. It was such a fun, sophisticated detail.

And then there was the fit. These pants fit like they were made for me. They had great stretch and they were super comfortable to try on. I was so, so tempted to keep these pants; but I already own a perfect fitting pair of white pants that are under-used because of the baby. It just wasn’t sensible to spend the money on a second pair that wouldn’t be worn often enough. It pained me to return this perfect pair of pants!

RECREATE THE LOOK:

Heidi Cold Shoulder Ruffle Blouse

The third item I tried on was simply gorgeous, but definitely out of my realm. It was a beautiful royal blue floral print Heidi Cold Shoulder Ruffle Blouse from Skies are Blue ($54). I LOVE good floral print and I was happy to try on the top, even if I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be keeping it. No surprise, the blouse was a perfect fit!

The cold shoulder/ruffle sleeve combo was quite lovely and perfectly proportioned. Unlike the first top I tried on, these ruffles were soft, feminine and very flattering.

The back of the blouse had a fun criss-cross pattern for an unexpected playful pop.

I wanted to thoughtfully style the blouse with accessories that would coordinate with the floral print and sleeve details without distracting the eye. The pendant on my gold Kendra Scott Rayne necklace was bold enough to stand out from the floral print and it complimented the yellow tones in the blouse. A simple gold Elton Station cuff bracelet from Kendra Scott offered just a hint of something shiny on my wrist. I own several of these cuffs and I find that they are always the perfect accessory for my slender wrists.

Even though the Heidi Cold Shoulder Ruffle Blouse was a perfect fit and was lovely, I ultimately decided to return it. At the end of the day I just knew that this was exactly the type of blouse that I would be likely to purchase because it is gorgeous, but will find itself forever buried in my closet. The Heidi Cold Shoulder Ruffle Blouse was too dressy for my clothing needs right now, required a strapless bra (which I’m almost never motivated to wear) and it wasn’t a color that I typically gravitate toward. It’s a shame though, because it really was lovely! Just one of those things that my stylist still needs to learn about me.

RECREATE THE LOOK:

Benni Crossfront Knit Top

At this point, there were two items left in my fix and I was saving them for the end because I knew that I wouldn’t be comfortable wearing them. Not only that, but both items felt like they were a bit more professional than I usually dress. Granted, I often dress nice for the classroom, but that’s more of a “casual dressy” than business attire. Item number 4 this month was a navy blue Benni Crossfront Knit Top from MIX BY 41 HAWTHORN ($44). I am not one to wear wrap tops or dresses – they’re always just a little too fitted for my taste. But there I was, trying on a wrap style top for photos.

Don’t let the smile fool you – inside I was cringing.

After a few uncomfortable moments, I added a little white cardigan – this is much more my style.

Maybell Lace Detail Skirt

Last up was a navy blue Maybell Lace Detail Skirt from Renee C ($48). I’m much more of a dress person than a skirt wearer, but this was a very pretty skirt and it looked great with the Benni Crossfront Knit Top.

Much like the blouse, the Benni Crossfront Knit Top fit perfectly. It just wasn’t my style. I worked as a bank teller while I was on break in college and this outfit reminded me of that job and that time in my life. Add in some gray heels (similar), a simple necklace, and a silver Kate Spade watch and it was a cute enough outfit – it just didn’t fit my current lifestyle.

RECREATE THE LOOK:

What I Returned from My Fix this Month

You already know that I decided to return everything from my fix this month, but the funny thing is, that as I look through the photos of this month’s Stitch Fix review, I can see that I look really nice in these photos. The clothes fit well and are quite flattering (which means that my stylist is very good at selecting high quality pieces with a great fit). She just doesn’t know me very well yet. When I looked back at these photos, I actually felt a slight twinge of guilt and wondered if I should have kept the Kassady Flutter Sleeve Top or the Heidi Cold Shoulder Ruffle Blouse or those fabulous step hem jeans.

But then I thought: “No. I either wasn’t comfortable in those items or I didn’t actually need them – which means that they would basically take up valuable space in my closet and essentially be money down the drain.” And right now in the Gavin house, we can’t afford to be wasting money. So, here’s a quick recap of the five beautiful but not-for-me items that I sent back in this month’s fix:

Kassady Flutter Sleeve Top from 1. State ($68)
Nadine Released Step Hem Skinny Jean from Just Black ($78)
Heidi Cold shoulder Ruffle Blouse from Skies are Blue ($54)
Benni Crossfront Knit Top from MIX BY 41 HAWTHORN ($44)
Maybell Lace Detail Skirt from Renee C ($48)

$200 Stitch Fix giveaway

I’m excited to partner with some of my blogging friends again this month to bring you a $200 Stitch Fix giveaway. Use the rafflecopter below for your chance to win and good luck!

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Sponsored by:
Crazy Together | Lipgloss and Crayons | Pearls & Sports Bras | Wildly Charmed

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