Stitchfix Review #3: Rush Job

Filbert 3/4 Sleeve Popover Blouse

Stitchfix #3 came in the mail on December 23rd while I was 600 miles away a full 2 weeks before I requested it. I was pissed. It was a miracle I was in town at all on Christmas day. I had a full 12 hours to get it sorted before I left for Joshua Tree. When I opened the box I realized that they too slapped this whole operation together.

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So if you have never heard of stitch fix before it works like this:

My five items were an A-line skirt and 4 work tops. I asked them to give a midi skirt and no jewelery this time. I felt a tiny bit self conscious because the stylists message implied that he reads the reviews on my blog. That feeling was silly. Of course he read my blog, the whole world is allowed to read my blog!

See, this is what his message said:

Stylist Note

However, him taking the time to read my blog posts doesn't mean that he takes a ton of time working on my fix. I'm sure he overnighted this to me far before my requested date so he could have his very own christmas vacation. He didn't even take the time to take the perforations off and put them in little plastic holders. Not that this SUPER important to me, its just that perforations are meant to be ripped apart.

Here is what I got

1. Jordanne A-line Skirt by 41Hawthorn ($68)

I made a specific note to the stylist asking for a full skirt ala Atlantic Pacific. I even had a few pins to that effect.

Me in the Stitchfix A-line Skirt

Atlantic Pacific Rocking the Midi Skirt

The Back Side

See, This skirt isn't quite what I wanted. The fullness isn't what I wanted, also, the length is just a tad wrong. Stopping before the knee is...not optimal. Either the skirt is long enough to cover my knob knees or it is short enough to show off my legs.

Also, I don't really wear skirts to work. This is totally a work skirt. I wouldn't have a place to wear this without looking inappropriately business casual.

The skirt came with a style guide card shown below. Normally I just ignore these things but I noticed that the outfit ideas for this skirt were cuter than normal. I love the idea of a sleeveless skirt with a leather pocket and wearing knee high socks with ankle boots? Adorbs! I'm sure it would look dorky with this above-the-knee length skirt, but I am going to tuck that idea away for next time when I get the skirt I want.

Status: Returned

A-line Skirt Style guide.

2. Corinna Striped Dolman Top by 41Hawthorn ($48)
(Also shown above)

Burgundy Dolman Top

They also sent me this casual burgandy dolman top. I've said this before and I'll say it again: I don't look too bad under that shirt. You just can't tell. This misunderstanding probably comes from that bit in my style profile where I say that I like my tops baggier than my pants. I should have have noted that I think dolman tops make me look out of shape in a sloppy way.

I think the Color is great though. It happens to be the same color as my 3/4 sleeve blazer from my last stitchfix. This is definitely MY color.

I think the style guide is a bit off for this one. It recommends a thin scarf and a knee length skirt. A billowy top would look awful with a hip hugging skirt. And the best neck accessory for a top with bigger proportions is a nice bony collarbone. Love those knee high patent leather boots though.

Status: Returned.

Burgandy Top Style Card

3. Ivy Grid Print Tab-Sleeve blouse by 41Hawthorn ($68)

Me having fun with this funky Tab-Sleeve Blouse

When I opened the box, this is the one I loved the most. The print was loud and I liked that. What can

I say, it had a lot of personality. My mood changed after I tried everything on. The cut is a tiny bit boxy. I would appreciate having a cut with a bit more ease. A few darts here and there wouldn't hurt! It would make it look like I had a waist or something. You can see that in the picture on the right. Once I realized how unflattering the shirt is, I also realized that the massive print made the boxiness look even worse. I can't carry a print that large! In such contrasting colors too! I just can't take a risk like that right now.

Lets talk about the price for a second. Its too expensive for a polyester shirt. There, I said it.

Status: Returned

4. Benzer Mixed Material Sweater by Kensie ($78)

Benzer Mixed Material Sweater

I wanted to keep this, I really did. I don't really own a white top to wear. I never met one I liked as much as this one. Sure, the fake shirt detail is a little bit... extraneous. However, the extra length the fake shirt detail gives the top makes it just about the right length for me. Maybe stitchfix knows me a little bit better than I know myself because I just noticed that all the tops are about this length. Hmmm...

I also think its cute that the seam of the fake portion of the shirt is off center. You can't really tell by looking at the first image, but you can tell by looking at the second one and on the style card.

Status: Returned.

I almost kept it. If price were not an option/this was $20 cheaper, I would have kept it. However, we live in the real world and this is not the case. My tiny little complaint that pushed me over the edge on returning it was that, again, the boxy cut was not flattering. I'm sure these square sweaters look good on flatchested broads, but it just makes me look like I have (more) unhealthy midsection fat.

Ok, and if I am going to level with you, I would have kept it if the whole send day mixup didn't happen. I may have been a little sore at them for putting me in that position.

5. Filbert 3/4 Sleeve Popover Blouse ($58)

Filber 3/4 Sleeve popover Blouse

This is a pretty safe top. Its black, and EVERYONE looks good in black. Especially me. The 3/4 sleeve and the crotch-covering length is also quite safe. It has the same shape as the silk top I got in my first box. This isn't silk, but it still costs a pretty penny. An interesting feature I liked about this top was that the hems were just a tiny bit smaller than the top, making it billow just the right amount. That featured gave it a tailored feel. The back hem also had a rounded shape that tells me it will not ride up. I have a lululemon top with a similar hem.

I don't like the contrasting buttons and the shoulder tabs so much. This top is doing an impersonation of a wannabe urbanite cowboy top. I suppose it had to have SOME personality.

Status: Kept/Bought

Of the two styles that the style card gave me, I liked the one on the left more. Tucking this top into a skirt would just hide it's beautiful hems.

This is the second box where I only kept one item. So worth it! This is a super fun thing to do.

I am not sponsored by stitch fix. Actually, I am paying them. If you decide this looks crazy fun (which it is!) I think it would be swell if you used my link! They give me referral credits if you do.

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A quick note about the fact that this box came about 2 weeks early and when I was out of town on holiday:

I emailed Stitchfix asking them what I should do about it, giving them a headsup that I might not be able to meet their 3 day deadline on returning the stuff. When I got back to my apartment on christmas day with still no word from stitchfix, I resolved the issue in an unsatisfying way. I quickly checked out all the items, took the pictures you saw here, and made a rash decision to return everything except the safe black top. I think that if I had a little big longer to think about it, I would have kept that mixed media white top as well.

A day later, and while I was rock climbing in Joshua Tree, I got an email in resolution to my headsup email. They told me that they would extend the period of return for me. Sure, it was too late for me to have used that advice (4 days late), but it was a nice gesture. The bothersome thing about it was that they didn't take fault for the issue. They said it was a "post office" issue. Yeah, right.