Guest post by our friend Jane!

What's Stitch Fix?

I first heard about Stitch Fix a few months ago from a friend, and I was intrigued. When I got an email from Klout about a Stitch Fix perk, I knew I had to try it out!

Stitch Fix is an online personal shopping service. When you join, you fill out a comprehensive style profile with your sizes, likes, dislikes, price parameters, and any other information that will help your stylist (yes, a real person!) select items for you. You can schedule an automatic “fix” on a regular basis or simply log in to your account and schedule a fix any time you want a few new items for your wardrobe. Your stylist will send you 5 items (usually 4 clothing items and 1 accessory). When you receive your fix in the mail, you try on everything at home and send back any items you don’t love. You pay only for what you keep, and if you keep all 5 items, you receive a 25% discount. There is a $20 styling fee per fix that goes toward your final purchase should you decide to keep any of the items.

First Delivery

I ordered my first fix in March, but was informed that I would not receive it until mid-May. The Stitch Fix team has been rapidly growing due to popularity of the service, so they are currently working hard to reduce wait times. I didn’t mind the wait and figured it would be even more of a pleasant surprise when I received my first fix.

I was right! I received an email a few weeks ago notifying me that my first fix had been shipped, complete with USPS tracking number. It was delivered the next day.

There’s something about receiving a package with surprise contents - I couldn’t wait to see what my stylist had picked out for me. I brought the box inside and quickly opened it to find a personal note from her welcoming me to Stitch Fix and describing the items she had selected for me. Stitch Fix also includes styling cards for each item to show you different ways to wear it.

When I unwrapped the simple, well-designed packaging, I was pleasantly surprised to find a pair of mustard skinny jeans folded neatly on top.

I immediately tried them on and was amazed that they fit perfectly and looked great. I usually have a hard time finding pants that fit well, so these pants were a dream come true. Instant love! (Price: $108)

Next was a striped tank with a metal decoration on the collar. Still wearing the skinny jeans, I put this on and immediately loved it as well.

Especially with the occasional San Francisco heat wave, this seemed like a good piece to have. Unfortunately, I noticed that the loop to secure the upper back button was broken, so even though I loved this piece, I ended up sending it back. (Price: $68)

Next was a long, light-weight black cardigan with a crochet back detail, which shows off whatever you are wearing underneath.

My stylist suggested this piece as a versatile lightweight coverup and when I tried it on, I immediately knew that it was something I would get a ton of wear out of, especially during the spring and summer. I happened to be wearing a bright blue tank top underneath (and yes, still wearing the mustard skinny jeans), so the cardigan was perfect for showing off my colorful top. (Price: $48)

The next item in my fix was a cowl neck knit top.

When I first saw this piece, I was drawn to the fun print and color. But, when I tried it on, I hated how it looked on me. The combination of the body-hugging synthetic fabric, the cowl neck, and the half sleeves just wasn’t for me. (Price: $58)

Finally, the accessory that my stylist picked out was a beautiful crystal ball necklace.

I have to admit, I’m not really a jewelry person. I love fun earrings, but when it comes to other jewelry, I have a couple of key pieces that I rotate between. However, when I put this necklace on, I knew I had to keep it. Not only is it pretty, but I also realized that it can be worn two ways--as one long necklace or doubled up as a shorter one. I love the versatility! (Price: $52)

3/5 Stitch Fix Success

Out of the five items sent, I chose to keep three: the mustard skinny jeans, the lightweight cardigan, and the crystal ball necklace. I would have kept the striped tank as well had the button loop not been broken, but instead I sent it back along with the cowl neck knit top. Stitch Fix provides a USPS return envelope for any items you want to send back, so all you have to do is drop it in a mailbox within 3 days of receiving your fix and you’re good to go. Then, you log in to your account to let them know which items you are keeping, pay for them, and give feedback on everything. Your stylist will use the feedback to help select even more pieces you will love for future fixes.

Overall, I was very impressed with my first experience with Stitch Fix. They make the whole process incredibly easy for the customer and I loved the surprise element of receiving my first fix. Discovering new brands is another benefit of the service - I was not familiar with any of the brands in my first fix. In doing research, I found that most of the brands I received do not sell their products online, so I didn’t have to worry about paying more for an item from Stitch Fix vs. elsewhere. I highly recommend Stitch Fix and I will definitely order another fix next time I need a few new pieces for my closet. Here’s me wearing all of my new pieces:

If you’d like to try Stitch Fix for yourself, here's my referral link!

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Jane Philipps is an artist and apparel industry consultant living in San Francisco. She loves textiles, patterns, and all things fashion related. If you’d like to get in touch, visit her website or send her an email.

Have you tried Stitch Fix? How was your experience?