Just before 2015 got here, I decided I wanted to simplify yet expand my wardrobe.
Sounds like an oxymoron right?
Let me explain.
Simplify - I want less. I read a blog that talked about a capsule wardrobe. Basically you pare down your clothes to 37 items per season (this doesn't include undergarments or tanks/sleepwear). A season is considered 3 months. At the end of those 3 months, you look back over your wardrobe and plan for the next season. Some items you may keep. Others you may box up/push to the back of the closet until next year. The blog author (here is a link to the blog post) says she typically only gets about 4-8 new pieces of clothing each season. After I read that post, I emptied out my entire closet (so glad Todd wasn't home…he would have thought I was going crazy). I tried on just about everything to double check if I loved it, liked it or should donate it. It was during this time I realized I still had clothing pieces from at least 5 years ago! I guess that isn't a bad thing necessarily but I felt this urge that if I'm going to go simple, I need to get pieces that were great and versatile. This is where the expand part comes into play.
Expand - I want great. I want durable. I want versatile. I want pieces that I will love. I went out shopping for this season (Dec-Feb is how I'm tracking mine..) and I was either too cheap to pull the trigger on some items or I couldn't find anything at all. Maybe I panicked. But in the moment I felt like I had no fashion style. Then I discovered Stitch Fix. I debated for a few months of whether I should do it or not but after three attempts at the mall trying on clothes I began to feel like I was wasting my time. I also felt that for some reason my late twenties has brought about clothing insecurities. I just don't know what to wear anymore. So, I came home during that third mall trip and signed up for Stitch Fix.
Stitch Fix - It's an online personal shopping subscription. $20 each time you get a box of 5 items (you can do this biweekly, monthly or every other month). When you sign up you answer lots and lots of questions about your body/style and you can also link a Pinterest board to it. The company pairs you up with a stylist who then does all the work for you. AND it gets better…you can write your stylist a note each time you send for a box detailing anything important about your style. My first box came today and I was super giddy when it arrived.
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| Feels so personal and I LOVED the ideas. |
Item #1: Just Black Dean Ankle Zip Skinny Jean
These were some of the softest jeans I have ever put on and my stylist fitted me perfectly! It is hard to tell from this picture but it is a very dark dark blue (not black) and has a zipper on each leg on the side. I liked the jean but I didn't love it. Jeans are hard for me because I feel they always buckle weird in my knee. But for my first fix, I was impressed! Returned
Item #2: RD Style Braddon Airy Knit V-Neck Sweater
This was love at first sight when I saw it in the box. It reminded me more of a late Winter, early Spring sweater. I liked that it was lower in the back but wished it was the same in the front. I couldn't quite come to terms with buying it. Maybe it was the price, $68 for something I feel like I could find at Marshalls cheaper. Returned
Item 3: Bajee Collection Barton Graphic Knit Drape Front Cardigan
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| Cameo by Maggie our goldendoodle |
At first I wasn't impressed as I began to put it on. The sleeves were so long and I felt huge in it. However, I don't own anything like this and I always admire cardigans like this on my friends. I rolled the sleeves up a bit and it worked better especially if I add some bracelets and bangles. I regret not taking a picture of the back because the pattern is different. Speaking of pattern, one of my goals this year is to add more pattern. I decided that this piece hit another goal of mine which is versatile and I feel I can get longer wear out of this (if I'm ever preggo). Kept
Item #4: 41Hawthorn Jace Chevron Print Dress
I wasn't thrilled with this when I saw it in the box. My feelings changed as I put it on but I just couldn't imagine myself wearing this anywhere on a normal occasion. As a teacher, I rarely wear dresses and none are really ever like this. I did love the shape. My stylist did great with that! The pattern was cute and it felt so comfortable. In the end, I still felt too dressed up in it so I decided it was a no. Returned
Item 5: Zad Denmark Hammered Abstract Shapes Necklace
I asked for more necklaces in my fixes because I hardly ever wear them. This silver abstract necklace was cute but so far from what I normally wear. It did go well with this dress and cardigan I added but I felt like it was something I could find again locally or from some of my friends that sell jewelry if I really really want to go the silver abstract route. Returned
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| LOVED that the fix came with ideas of the exact pieces and how to wear them with other items. |
So there you have it. My first fix. I certainly recommend it! What do I do now, you may ask? Stitch Fix sends a prepaid postage bag that I put all the items I don't want in. I simply drop it off to be shipped in the next 3 business days. The item(s) that I do keep, I go online to my account and pay for. The best part is that the $20 you spend each time on your fix gets to be applied as store credit. So you technically are still paying retail for what you are getting but at least you don't lose your $20 on top of the retail price. Hope that all makes sense. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. I'm going to try it out again next month and see how it goes. I doubt this will be something I do long term but for now it is helping me expand. If you want to give it a try, use me as a referral by clicking this link (which helps me get some store credit).
Have a great week!
-S