Stitch Fix #3 Review

My third Stitch Fix box came the last day we were in Ohio, so I got to open it a little differently this time. When we got home, Jordan wouldn't let me open it...I had to sit there with my eyes closed while he opened it and described the item to me in game-show-like fashion, and THEN I could look at it. Haha. It was fun. :) 

If you haven't seen my other Stitch Fix reviews, here they are:
Stitch Fix Review #1 Stitch Fix Review #2
For those of you new to this idea, here is the description from their site:
"Stitch Fix has re-invented shopping, the way women really want to shop. Keep your wardrobe up-to-date with no hassle. You give us your size and style preferences, and your stylist sends you a selection of 5 items picked just for you. Try everything on at home, and only pay for what you want to keep! Free shipping both ways and a 25% discount if you buy all 5 items."
I LOVE Stitch Fix because:

• It's easy. I strongly dislike shopping and making decisions so the help of the stylist is great.
• It's fun. I was so pumped to get my box, see what was inside, and pick out new clothes!
• It's convenient. Having it sent to my house to try on in my room with no shipping charge? Awesome.
• It's customized for me. My stylist picks out the pieces especially for me and my body type.

The styling fee is $20, and then that goes toward whatever you want to buy. Thank to you anyone who has signed up using my referral link! Whenever someone signs up with your link and gets her first box, you get $25 credit. Which is lovely.

Also, let me clarify that this is not a subscription -- you pick when and how often to get a box! So no need to worry about fees or commitments. 

Alright, let's get to the clothes! THANK YOU to my wonderful stylist, Dolene. You rock. It was another fabulous selection! Again, I kept the whole box. 

Firstly, I asked for an open cardigan, mainly because I gave my mom one for Christmas and it looks so amazing on her that I regretted not getting one for myself. My stylist picked out the Pomelo Carla Contrast Trim Drape-Front Cardigan.

It's perfect! The color, the detail, the fit, the extreme pajama-like comfort...I love it. I also asked my stylist for this box to be more "springy", and this is a perfect transition piece. 

Underneath it is the next item, the Daniel Rainn Minna V-Neck 3/4 Sleeve Dot-Print Blouse. 

When Jordan first described it to me and said "with attached tank top" I was like noooo. No. No. I loathe attached tank tops (and also built-in bras for that matter) because they never fit me. Butttt...this one did! And is a wonderfully soft, stretchy material that I appreciate. I was pleasantly surprised.

It is lower in the back, so here is a back view.

I love the navy with coral and mint dots. By the way, those wedges are my favorite shoes of all time that I got in 2008 I think. They're Nine West in a size Narrow which is SO HARD TO COME BY. I could write full posts, nay, books, on my lifelong quest for shoes that fit my feet. Maybe I will. But anyway, they are the best shoes ever and I will mourn them if they ever become unwearable. 

The jeans are high waisted skinny ones from American Eagle. They almost look black in the pics, but they're just a dark denim wash. Their "high waist" is actually pretty regular to me, haha. They don't come up to my belly button or anything. (Let's not even talk about how their "regular" rise jeans fit me. I'll just say if I wore them I'd never be able to bend over, ever.) But I LOVE AE jeans. I have a pair from 9th grade that have been patched three times and I can't wear anymore due to the fact that when you hold them up they are see through. So yeah. I digress.

The next item is probably my favorite of the bunch: the Collective Concepts Cathleen Abstract Print Tulip-Sleeve Blouse.

These colors are perfect for spring! And I love the cut of the top which hangs a little bit lower in the back. It's so different from anything that I have and was just the kinda thing I was hoping for with this box. Thumbs UP!

I also got a dress in my box for the first time. It's the Under Skies Gabrielle Ikat Print Fit & Flare Dress.

The fit and flare style works great for my body type. The waist band is stretchy, but not too stretchy to where I have to tug on it all the time. I was quite pleased with this and will probably be wearing it to a couple spring/summer weddings.

I also received some basic Kensie skinny jeans in my box that were very similar to the ones I have on in the above pictures. I didn't love how they fit in certain areas, but like last time, it wasn't beneficial to me to send them back since I got a 25% discount for keeping the whole box. :) 

So there ya have it! A successful Stitch Fix Box #3!

When it comes to pricing, the cheapest items I've gotten have been in the $35-$45 range. The highest priced items I've gotten have been the pants which were in the $80s. You can set your preferred pricing range when you fill out our profile, and I have all of mine set on "as cheap as possible", haha. What's made it worth it to me is the convenience, the discount when I keep the whole box, the credit I've received, and the fact that I haven't purchased any other clothes AT ALL since November. 

Have you tried it yet? If you've blogged about it, please link to it in the comments because I love seeing what other people get. :) 

If you want to, please do use my referral link when you sign up to try it! Thanks so much. 

Hope y'all have an amazing weekend and that some of you are getting a break from the snow! Spring is coming, y'all. I hope. 

Stitch Fix #2 Review!

Firstly, thank you to those who have already linked up and shared what they're reading on my last post. I love checking out the suggestions y'all are giving me! Remember you can link up for the rest of the month or comment on the post to enter the giveaway. :)
Alright, now on to the Stitch Fix! 
I LOVE Stitch Fix because:

• It's easy. I strongly dislike shopping and making decisions so the help of the stylist is great.
• It's fun. I was so pumped to get my box, see what was inside, and pick out new clothes!
• It's convenient. Having it sent to my house to try on in my room with no shipping charge? Awesome.
• It's customized for me. My stylist picks out the pieces especially for me and my body type.

If you need a quick explanation of what Stitch Fix is, here's the description from their Facebook: "Stitch Fix has re-invented shopping, the way women really want to shop. Keep your wardrobe up-to-date with no hassle. You give us your size and style preferences, and your stylist sends you a selection of 5 items picked just for you. Try everything on at home, and only pay for what you want to keep! Free shipping both ways and a 25% discount if you buy all 5 items."
And here is my first Stitch Fix post that is much more detailed about the process. I kept the polka dot sweater and have loved wearing it!
My stylist definitely knocked it outta the park with this box. You may be wondering why I'm not asking for your help deciding this time...it's because I kept it all! Haha. LOVED it. I refrained from buying clothes with my Christmas money because I knew this box was coming. I had some credit from the lovely people who signed up from my link so that helped with my decision also. :) Which means that if you've gotten a Stitch Fix already, you should absolutely share your referral link with people -- when someone gets their first fix you get $25 credit! Which is awesome!
You should have seen me when the box was delivered...I skipped all the way to the door and then opened it as fast as I could. (After I took a pic of it, obviously.) It seriously makes me giddy.

It had a nice little note from my stylist and some cards that showed me outfit suggestions for the items in the box. So helpful!

The first items are the Fronz striped button-front cardigan and Adora skinny jeans.

If there was one thing that I was hesitant about keeping, it was this cardigan. I liked it, but I didn't think I loved it enough for the price. BUT, since you get 25% off if you keep the whole box, it was actually cheaper for me to keep it since I wanted everything else. :) Haha. When I paired it with the jeans I liked it a lot more. The pop of green is a nice touch and it is super comfortable.

When I saw the jeans in the box I was like ohhh boy. I strongly dislike trying on jeans because it's difficult to find a nice fitting pair. I was pleasantly surprised with these! The color wasn't something that I would pick up in a store but I love it. It makes me think that they truly took my Pinterest board into consideration because I had a few pins with "wine" colored pants. How cool!

The jeans also went well with the next item, the Howland square print crochet detail top.

It's pretty wrinkly so it looks kinda funny in the picture, but I LOOOVE this top. It's comfy and silky, I love how it hangs low in the front and back, love the tiny square print, and the crochet detailing is beautiful. At only $34 this was a no-brainer that I will be wearing quite a bit I'm sure!

And then one of the cats started hopping into the picture so I scooped her up. This is Floyd. Her sister's name is Pink. :)

Next up is the Finley bell sleeve knit sweater.

The quality of this sweater is amazing. I could wear it every day. (I've worn it twice since I got the box if that tells you anything!) I should have done a close-up because the knit detail is gorgeous.  So, so happy with this! I couldn't believe it was also under $40. I like how my North Carolina necklace I got for Christmas looks with it too. :)

Oh, and then, hey, another animal. This is Sunny the border collie. 

Last, but definitely not least, is what I specifically asked my stylist for - a blazer. She picked out the Benson 3/4 ruched sleeved blazer.

Love it! What I really love about it is how comfortable it is. That's obviously important to me as I've mentioned it like eight times in this post. But seriously it's so soft. The color is like boom in your face but I really like it. Anddd another cool thing is the inside -- black and white stripes! 

So when you roll the sleeves up you see black and white! Brilliant! (By the way, disregard the billowing effect that is happening with my black top in that pic, I'm not hiding anything, I promise.)

So there ya have it. The whole box is now mine. And any time you see me in the next few weeks or maybe ever I'll probably be wearing one of these articles of clothing so be forewarned.

What do you think?? Are you ready to try Stitch Fix yet?!

You should. I'm obviously a fan. Let me know if you do! I'd love to see what you get!


In case you missed it, here's the link to get your first Stitch Fix box delivered to you so you can get awesome clothes. :) All of my opinions are completely honest and my own. I do receive credit if you use my referral link so have at it, y'all! 

My First Stitch Fix - I Need Your Help!

So here's the thing. I'm on a mission. A mission to have a simple, functional, quality wardrobe. One that doesn't include a bunch of clothes I don't wear, or that have stretched out/lost color.

I didn't buy any clothes in 2012. That truly helped me figure out what I actually wear -- my go-to pieces. I've never been a huge shopper anyway, but it made me realize that I do not in fact need to try out every trend or get clothes just because they are on clearance and a great deal. I needed to learn how to shop smart.

Enter Stitch Fix. I was introduced to them at the Influence Conference this year and knew I had to try it out.

Here's their description from Facebook:
"Stitch Fix has re-invented shopping, the way women really want to shop. Keep your wardrobe up-to-date with no hassle. You give us your size and style preferences, and your stylist sends you a selection of 5 items picked just for you. Try everything on at home, and only pay for w hat you want to keep! Free shipping both ways and a 25% discount if you buy all 5 items."

So I went to their website and made a style profile. This part was so fun! It was much more in depth than I thought it would be. It asked me all about my likes and dislikes, my body type, what I'm looking to incorporate into my wardrobe, my price range, and even what parts of my body I like to have covered up! (insert raise-the-roof emoji) It showed me examples of style boards and asked me what I liked out of the examples. They even take my Pinterest board into consideration! It was an excellent way for me to work out for myself what my style truly is. (Mine is a mix of casual chic/classic/edgy with a little boho and preppy thrown in! Haha.)

The way that they can do all of this is that they set me up with a Stitch Fix stylist who gets to know me through my style profile. The stylist takes all of my ideas and comments and comes up with 5 items to send me in my "fix". I told her when I filled out my profile that for this fix I was looking mainly for tops. Say you have an upcoming event and need a dress -- you can let your stylist know to focus on that for the fix. It's whatever you want!

Alright, enough with the talk. Let's get to pictures! I set my fix date for November 7th, and sure enough it arrived on that day much to my happiness. 

Here's my Stitch Fix stylist note. I love how the whole experience was extremely personalized. I didn't get some random box of clothes that hopefully I would like -- thought and effort were obviously put into this box just for me! Thanks, Jill. :)

And then I opened up the pretty packaging and was instantly oohing and ahhing over the pretty patterns laying before me!

These are the lovely Stitch Fix pieces that my stylist Jill picked out for me to try on. 

A Dantine striped skirt.

This Cheyanne printed dolman sleeve cardigan.

A Marci zig-zag print tab-sleeve blouse.

A Stevenson polka dot crew neck sweater.

And this MacArthur leopard trim hi-lo blouse.

One thing that I really love about the process is that Stitch Fix goes one step further and includes style cards for each item of clothing with suggestions for how to style it. So handy!

So without further ado, here's me being a big dorko in my living room trying on my Stitch Fix clothes. As you can see, I am no fashion blogger. Ha. I didn't accessorize much for the pictures, but I did try to make outfits that I would actually wear in real life by pairing them with items I already own.

I like this sweater more than I thought I would and it is SO COMFY. Jordan liked it too.

I liked this shirt okay (especially the sleeves), but it wasn't my favorite of the bunch.

As you can see, this skirt has a pocket (kinda like a front hoodie pocket) that I love. I also like how it can be dressed up or more casual, and I think I could wear it year round. I'm glad the stripes were angled in a flattering way in the front so my bottom half didn't look like a big stripey box!

They had suggested pairing a chambray shirt with the skirt which I probably never would have done, but actually really liked. :)

My black, skinny, cigarette pants are not currently clean or else I would have gone for an all black look with this hi-lo top. I really liked this one! It's sheer so I put on a black tank underneath. I love the leopard accents on the cuffs and button down part. 

I liked this cardigan, especially the colors. It is super comfy, but definitely billow-y. Jordan said it kinda looked like a robe, haha. What do you think?

So there ya have it. What a great first fix!

What I loved about the Stitch Fix process:

• I didn't have to go to the mall and hunt for these items. (This could really benefit you moms out there.)
• It was completely personalized for me.
• It was fun!
• I was able to pick my price range (which is low, let's just say it), but still get high quality pieces. The "styling fee" is $20 which then goes toward what you purchase which is great.
• I could focus on these five pieces instead of looking through piles of clothes and picking things just because they're on sale (which adds up and defeats the purpose!).
• It is so great to be able to try clothes on with the clothes I already have! So often I hold something up in a store thinking, "I really like this, but what in the world would I wear it with?" The style cards and being in my own home made it so easy to think about the practicality of the items.
• I have time to think about what I want to get. I am a HORRIBLE decision maker when it comes to buying stuff and usually end up standing in a store thinking about pros and cons for 15 minutes only to give up. This way I had no pressure to decide at that moment, and I have three business days to think about it!
• My husband was able to give me his input without going shopping with me. He actually enjoyed the fashion show. :)
• I was a little wary of if the clothes would fit or not, but they all did! I can be such a weird size (Can someone please invent a smedium?) but my stylist truly took my height and body type into account.
• Free shipping, and being able to send the clothes I don't want right back to them with the bag they provided. 
• They want good feedback from me to influence my next fix if I choose to get another one. (I will!)
• It's not a subscription -- you just get "fixes" when you want them! No membership or fees. Yay.

So what do you think? Will you help me decide what to keep? 

I am not receiving compensation for this post, but will get credit for Stitch Fix if you use my referral link :) All opinions are my own and are what I really think, as always!

https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3225757

Respecting my Husband: His Clothes

I'm doing a 31 day series about Respecting my Husband! To read about why I should respect him and go to a list of all 31 days, please visit my 31 Days of Respecting my Husband post.

Day 12: Respecting His Clothes

This seems to be a fairly common progression in relationships: Girl meets guy, girl likes guy, girl dates guy, girl tells guy she thinks he's hot and handsome, girl and guy are together for a while, girl tells him that maybe he should try a different hairstyle, girl starts commenting on guy's clothes, girl buys him some clothes, girl makes guy wear aforementioned clothes, girl starts dictating guy's outfits, guy wonders what happened because he always dressed that way, guy thought girl already liked him for who he is, girl continues to make guy feel bad about his style, guy starts to resent being treated like a child, guy gives up and wears whatever girl wants.

Okay, that may be a little extreme, but I think it can be true to an extent. I'm not saying I shouldn't be honest or help Jordan pick out clothes when he wants me to, or that I shouldn't shop for him occasionally or buy him clothes for Christmas. But I am saying that I need to be careful, and that it's another thing I need to refrain from trying to control.

I think Jordan would look great in pink or purple shades of shirts. He would never pick that. I think he would look dashing in a white shirt with a skinny black tie and suspenders. He would probably only wear that as a costume. I think his hair looks SO GOOD in a faux hawk. He only does that as a joke after his shower. I would love to see him wear a flat billed hat, and then turn it backwards too. He is probably laughing or shaking his head or both while reading this. 

While he knows that I think he would look good in these items (because it's not a bad thing to tell him my opinion), he also knows that I think he looks amazingly handsome how he already is. When I think he looks good, I tell him. (It's a lot. I actually annoy him with this.) I love how he looks in a suit and I love how he looks in a t-shirt and gym shorts. He wears mostly the same clothes or type of clothes he did when we started dating. I loved it then, and I love it now.

I don't ever want to make Jordan feel bad about his style. No, it's not always what I'd pick out for him. Yes, there are times when I tell him that something is completely out of season or doesn't go together, but he tells me that too. And I think the key is to making those times rare, and again -- making "I love it when you" statements instead of negative comments. Like, "I love it when you wear that blue button up, it really makes your eyes stand out." That way it can be more adoring-girl-like and less mother-like.

Of course, all guys are different. Your husband may want more direction when it comes to clothing or he may be the most stylin' stud ever who gives YOU clothing advice. We just need to be supportive, encouraging, and respectful about our husbands' style no matter what the situation is!

One thing I do buy for Jordan and love for him to wear: Red Sox shirts. Go Sox!

Six Reasons Why and How I Didn't Buy Clothes in 2012.

I didn't buy clothes in 2012.
No, seriously.
One of the goals I made for 2012 was to not buy clothing for a year. 
And I stuck to it.
I knew there would have to be a few exceptions, and there were: a bridesmaid dress for my friend's wedding, scrubs when I got my job, a bathing suit because I needed a one piece.
I also received some as gifts: a dress from my mom for my birthday, and some clothes for Christmas. 
Whenever I told people about this, (which was only if it somehow came up - I didn't go around proclaiming a no-clothes campaign or something) they asked, "WHY??"
First I'll tell you why, then I'll tell you how, and finally I'll tell you the results.

WHY
1. To challenge myself.
2. To remind myself that I don't "need" new clothes.  
3. To simplify my life in a small way.
4. To be grateful for what I have.
5. To save money.
6. Jordan and I shared a really small closet at our old apartment and nothing else would fit.
I think that all of those reasons (with probably the exception of #6) could apply to you if you want to accept this challenge! Not that I think that you should, but honestly - it was kinda fun. So I recommend it if you're looking for a 2013 challenge. :)

HOW
1. Don't go looking.
2. Don't browse clothes on Pinterest or clothing sites.
3. Don't covet what your friends have - admire it and how cute they are. :)
4. Don't get sucked into the trends.
5. Take stock of what you do have and create new outfits out of old clothes.
6. When you have to go to 3 weddings in November and don't want to repeat an outfit and don't have another option for cold weather - borrow a dress from your mom. :)

Again...the last number probably won't apply to you. But you get the picture.

RESULTS
1. Not that I was a big shopper before (my friends know I'm not a big fan of the activity unless it's for hang out time), but now I definitely will take part in minimal clothes shopping. I'm so used to it now.
2. I learned that quality and usefulness really are important if you want to make the most of what you have. Instead of getting a trendy piece because it's a good deal, I may be more inclined to spend a little more money on something that I'll wear countless times. (And when I say a little more money I don't mean hundreds of dollars for a dress, haha.)
3. We saved money. Yay.
4. I got rid of clothes I don't wear and discovered my true classic pieces. Pencil skirts. Cardigans. Solid tops. Good jeans. Etc.
Here's my go-to outfit...jeans, solid top, and cardigan. Or without cardigan in summer.

5. I succeeded in my challenge and felt good about it.
6. I am more grateful for what I do have, and more aware of what I don't need.
So there ya have it. It was a great year for a challenge. What about you? Are you up for a challenge? Did you complete any in 2012 or have you already challenged yourself for 2013?