Fast forward to now, and I have decided it's time to give the ol' blog another go. The six or seven people who read the old blog will be so delighted to know that I have, yet again, decided to share mundane details of my life. You people are so precious.
Allow me to get down to business. I want to share with you, my favorite peeps, the most ingenious idea EVER {next to DVR, of course} -- STITCH FIX. Stitch Fix is one of those ideas that make people pause for a moment in life and ponder, "Why, oh why, couldn't I have been clever enough to think of this?!"
Basically, Stitch Fix is a personal shopper for real people. Not celebs. REAL PEOPLE.
Here's the low-down:
1) Set up an account online by filling out 2,397 questions regarding fashion preferences. I found it to be.....enlightening. I pretty much came to the conclusion that I have no style. NONE WHATSOEVER. My style? Let's call it CLEARANCE RACK MISH MASH.
2) After choosing a price range (for me....the cheaper, the better), set a date to receive the first shipment of five items, hand-picked by a personal stylist.
3) Try on the items once the package arrives, then decide which ones work. Send back the ones that don't, but do so within three days. Shoppers are only charged for what they keep.
I mean, how much cooler can it get? {Except it would be a whole lot cooler if these items were DIRT CHEAP, which they're really not.}
After I found out about Stitch Fix from a friend, I did some research. {I'm a nerd. It's what I do.} I read blog post after blog post about Stitch Fix, and learned tips and tricks on getting the best "fix" for me. One blogger said to write an extensive blurb about myself, to ensure my stylist has an excellent idea of who I am. DONE. These people at Stitch Fix? Now they KNOW ME.
One blogger said it would help to give my stylist an idea of who my fashion role model is, as far as celebs go. This was a real head-scratcher for me. My first, immediate thought was -- Olivia Pope. Although I feel certain I could rock a pair of white Jimmy Choos all.day.long, perhaps that's not exactly proper wardrobe for a day shelving books in the library, or an evening sweating it out at the baseball field.
After also ruling out Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon {they need more COLOR in their lives, bless their plain little hearts!} I decided that my fashion "icons" are......drumroll please.....the Robertson sisters. No joke. The Robertson sisters from Duck Dynasty. They dress like moms should dress, all covered up and with class, but also with lots of pizzazz. I LOVE IT.
So, with all the initial steps completed, I waited patiently for nearly a month to receive my first "fix". I waited patiently to see what these West Coast stylists, people I've never met in real life, thought I would enjoy wearing. I waited patiently to see what fashion these people thought matched my zany personality and total absence of style.
So, without further adieu, let me present to you my first style "fix".
Basically, Stitch Fix is a personal shopper for real people. Not celebs. REAL PEOPLE.
Here's the low-down:
1) Set up an account online by filling out 2,397 questions regarding fashion preferences. I found it to be.....enlightening. I pretty much came to the conclusion that I have no style. NONE WHATSOEVER. My style? Let's call it CLEARANCE RACK MISH MASH.
2) After choosing a price range (for me....the cheaper, the better), set a date to receive the first shipment of five items, hand-picked by a personal stylist.
3) Try on the items once the package arrives, then decide which ones work. Send back the ones that don't, but do so within three days. Shoppers are only charged for what they keep.
I mean, how much cooler can it get? {Except it would be a whole lot cooler if these items were DIRT CHEAP, which they're really not.}
After I found out about Stitch Fix from a friend, I did some research. {I'm a nerd. It's what I do.} I read blog post after blog post about Stitch Fix, and learned tips and tricks on getting the best "fix" for me. One blogger said to write an extensive blurb about myself, to ensure my stylist has an excellent idea of who I am. DONE. These people at Stitch Fix? Now they KNOW ME.
One blogger said it would help to give my stylist an idea of who my fashion role model is, as far as celebs go. This was a real head-scratcher for me. My first, immediate thought was -- Olivia Pope. Although I feel certain I could rock a pair of white Jimmy Choos all.day.long, perhaps that's not exactly proper wardrobe for a day shelving books in the library, or an evening sweating it out at the baseball field.
After also ruling out Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon {they need more COLOR in their lives, bless their plain little hearts!} I decided that my fashion "icons" are......drumroll please.....the Robertson sisters. No joke. The Robertson sisters from Duck Dynasty. They dress like moms should dress, all covered up and with class, but also with lots of pizzazz. I LOVE IT.
So, with all the initial steps completed, I waited patiently for nearly a month to receive my first "fix". I waited patiently to see what these West Coast stylists, people I've never met in real life, thought I would enjoy wearing. I waited patiently to see what fashion these people thought matched my zany personality and total absence of style.
So, without further adieu, let me present to you my first style "fix".
ITEM #1: Indianan Chevron Print Mixed Material Tee (by Pixley)
I admit....I learned how to "cheat" and found out some items before they arrived. I had been mulling this top over since the moment I saw it. I like that it has the chevron pattern, and in bright colors, which is something I told the stylists that I dig. In the end, this shirt was a keeper. Comfy, funky, and can be worn with jeans or with dress pants to work.
STATUS: IT'S A KEEPER!
ITEM #2: Yorba Abstract Floral Print Kimono (by Papermoon)
I was not able to view this piece before receiving it; however, I was able to view the word KIMONO, which had me totally worried. The vision that came to my mind was Memoirs of a Geisha, and I didn't really think there were any styles there I'd like to emulate. I actually tried this piece on a few times, trying to decide how I felt about it. In the end, I decided that it was obvious I wasn't IN LOVE with it, so I decided to send it back. It just felt a little....frumpy.
STATUS: SENT BACK
ITEM #3: Micah Ruffle Detail Sleeveless Blouse (by Cooper)
This blouse was actually very pretty on. The detail around the neck is super cute. I told the stylists that I LOVE BLUE, so I was stoked that they listened and sent me this piece. What it boils down to with this top....it's kind of plain and I have a few similar to it already. The material was so soft and silky and had such an expensive feel to it, which also made me nervous. Since I need a bib when I eat, as it is, maybe I should shy away from anything that would need dry cleaning.
STATUS: SENT BACK
ITEM #4: Rye Floral Print Short Sleeve Blouse (by Creative Commune)
I wanted to love this top. I really, really did. I tried it on with jeans. I tried it on with black slacks. I tried it on with tan dress pants, like the cool little "styling card" showed me how to do. But when I tried it on to show Derek, I knew I had to send it back. He cracked up. The way the shirt is made, with black piping down the sides and cut with curved slits on the bottom, it fits like a pajama top, or the top to a pair of scrubs. It just didn't work for me, even though I was so in love with the bright colors and the floral pattern.
STATUS: SENT BACK
ITEM #5: Riley Distressed Boyfriend Jean (by Just Black)
These jeans? ADORABLE. When I tried them on, though, I felt like I should be the topic of a country tune about painted-on jeans. Holy smokes, these were tight. NOT FOR ME. At all. Two sizes bigger, and I would have been all in. They were so darling -- the muffin top just wasn't.
STATUS: SENT BACK. SENT BACK FAST.
My goal this fall is to weed through my wardrobe, replacing much of my decade-old, cheaply-made items with a handful of quality-made items that are actually fashionable and fit me and my taste to a tee. I figure, why not allow someone to hand-pick items that are JUST FOR ME?
What I'm most impressed with, right off the bat with Stitch Fix, is that I understand why each of these five pieces were picked for me. I told the stylists that I need more casual, jeans-and-tee type clothing. I told the stylists that I'm a librarian by day, a sports enthusiast by night -- many days leaving work to go straight to baseball/basketball games {thus wanting as much as possible in the color BLUE}. They listened, and sent just what I asked for.
While I'm singing the blues that this box didn't 100% work out, I'm looking forward to September's box. After tweaking my sizing and some of my fit preferences online, I think the next box will be even better.
What I'm most impressed with, right off the bat with Stitch Fix, is that I understand why each of these five pieces were picked for me. I told the stylists that I need more casual, jeans-and-tee type clothing. I told the stylists that I'm a librarian by day, a sports enthusiast by night -- many days leaving work to go straight to baseball/basketball games {thus wanting as much as possible in the color BLUE}. They listened, and sent just what I asked for.
While I'm singing the blues that this box didn't 100% work out, I'm looking forward to September's box. After tweaking my sizing and some of my fit preferences online, I think the next box will be even better.
