Stitch Fix… Fell Flat

When you have to fill out a three page long style profile, you expect that the stylist you’re assigned is going to at least read it. That, to me, was the biggest problem I had with stitch fix.  

In the 4 months that I've been getting my stitch fixes, I *think* I had two stylists. I’m not sure anymore, there might have been more.

 

So here's what I got, what I kept, and how they fared....

 

Fix #1

I was expecting this one to be bumpy. After all, what can a style profile tell you? I hoped to get one think I liked and maybe—through the use of well applied feedback—get a better fix on the second go-around.

What I got was:

A dress that I absolutely LOVED! Except, I’d never be able to wear it because it was the wrong size (Didn’t I have to fill out a thing with my boob size in it? So why am I getting a dress made for an a-cup?)

A shirt that was a gorgeous color and deliciously soft fabric, but had a high-low hem and was too clingy around my tummy (unforgiving fabric was unforgiving)

A blouse that looked like I’d thrown the white lace equivalent of a burlap bag over my head

A chunky necklace that looked like it came out of a plastic egg from a $0.25 mall dispenser

And what I kept was:

A pair of work pants with a blue and white good & plenty pattern that I didn’t hate. They’re basically really thick leggings.

How they fared:

Several washes in, the pants are still holding up okay. They’ve faded a lot and they remain unfortunately tight (even though I’ve lost 5 lbs since getting them)

 

Fix #2

Leaving as much feedback as I did, I was hopeful upon receipt of the next fix and opened the box a little more excited than I had been before.

What I got was:

Black and white diagonal striped v-neck shirt. At first I was excited about this one! A) I love V-necks and B) it felt awesome and silky. When I put it on… it felt like a sausage casing and again I was confused at how it seemed that my stylist could send me clothes that were so many different sizes.

Jersey tank dress, white horizontal stripes on top, black on bottom. This one fit fine, it had a boat neck style that I didn’t hate, but was at that weird length that makes me look even shorter than I already am.

What I kept was:

A pair of high-waisted black-wash, cuffed jean shorts

A blue peasant-style blouse with white hearts and a tank top (since the blouse itself is sheer)

A silver feather pendant necklace on a long chain.

How they fared:

I wear the necklace all the time, but I’ve found that I’m pretty disappointed I kept the shirt and the shorts. The shorts cuffs were not sewn in, so after one wash, they were suddenly two inches longer, leaving them at an unflattering length. I sewed them by hand (to keep from breaking my sewing machine) but I’m unhappy with that development. After trying to wear the blouse a few times, I’ve come to accept that I won’t be able to wear it without modifying it. The neckline is wrong and the way it hangs off my boobs makes me look gigantic.

 

Fix #3

After the success (or what I felt was success at the time) of the second fix, I was certain fix #3 had the potential to be THE ONE. That I had a chance of liking ALL THE THINGS.

What I got:

Rayon-esque peasant style hi-lo tank top with keyhole in the back. The draping was okay, but the pattern (brown and robin’s egg blue floral) looked like the worst kind of throw-back. Some eras shouldn’t be revisited.

Grey and white horizontal striped tank dress. This one felt lovely. Fabric was slinky, but still sturdy, but once I put it on, it felt like I was wearing a bathrobe. It had a fake drawstring waist that was annoying, and had gathered sides that were more awkward than they were cute.

A bracelet they called a bangle, but had a tricky clasp and looked like it had been spray painted gold. With wired on “crystals.” I specifically marked that I don’t wear gold. Ever.

Grey boat neck sweater with horizontal navy? Stripes and 3/4 sleeves. This one was just okay. But after the previous shirt mishap, and knowing that I’d never be able to wear it to work (need full sleeves) it would have spent most of the year tucked away for cooler weather.

What I kept:

A Pair of work pants. Plain black. Again, basically thick leggings. They’re slim cut and they work great with my ballet flats and whatever random shirt I grab down.

How they fared:

A month later, I still like them, though they roll oddly at the tummy. They’re just pants. Nothing special about them.

 

Stitch #4

So before this stitch, I rearranged my style profile and sent a very detailed note asking for two things. Firstly, we’re going to a wedding at the end of the month and I was hoping they’d come up with an awesome new dress (I was really hoping for something like the first dress they’d sent me) and secondly, I wanted something out of my normal color palate.

What I got:

A gray, cropped “moto” jacket that looked like someone had tried to mix preppy, punk, & business casual and wound up with that ugly color you get when you mix all the colors of paint (not quite brown….). On top of the fact that I’ll never wear something as lacking in function as a cropped coat, the zippers for the pockets… yeah the pulls hung down like nipple tassels on me. WTF.

A black and gray 3/4 sleeve shirt. T-shirt style fabric for the sleeves and lower part of the shirt, a weird quilted type for the top 2inches? I put it on and immediately said “No.” the shoulder seems were half way between my neck and shoulders creating a LOVELY puff look that made me want to call the stylist and ask her if she thought I was a twelve year old girl.

A “navy” shirt made of a see through material that looked inside out, had a crooked neckline, and hung like another burlap sack. This was the point I knew that nothing in the box was going to work.

The first of the dresses they sent me was a navy, lace, body-con style that had the neckline where everything is a triangle down from a collar. In the style profile, I marked that I wanted to show off my cleavage and hide my shoulders. This did the exact opposite. The fit was fine from the neck through waist, but it took a crazy dive inward at my thighs and I was fairly certain it would cut my circulation off if I kept it on any longer. Also, the thing was covered in snags and loose threads. It was difficult to see how they expected anyone to pay $78 for the damn thing. As far as whether or not I’d wear it to a wedding…. The tightness of the hem made the whole thing ride up and after two steps, it was at “clubbing” length. So, no.

A black and navy color-blocked business dress. While I liked the length, the thing made me look like a 45 year old corporate secretary… not a 28 year old headed for a friend’s wedding. The long zipper bunched at the back and the blocking made me look like I had a wide torso while somehow completely masking my boobs. It was disconcerting and all around disappointing.

What I kept:

Nothing. The fix was an exercise in disappointment, from the moment I opened it to see nothing but dark colors (unlike my request) to the fact that even though I’m extremely thorough in my feedback, they just can’t seem to get it right.

 

Why I’m not getting “fixed” again:

I feel like by the fourth try a fix where they get nothing write is a pretty clear death stroke. There should be something in each box that the stylist KNOWS I’m going to keep. I have a feeling they switched me to a different stylist between 3 & 4. That was a mistake. Clothing is tied to personality so strongly that there’s no way you’re going to hit pay-dirt on a first go (especially when no one seems to be referencing my style profile.)

I know a lot of other people who use stitch fix and have gotten great results. I envy them.

For now, I’ll go back to having boring clothes, because clearly whatever fashion is, I’m not a fan.