Back in March, I gave Stitch Fix one last chance to knock my socks off… and it didn’t go well. In fact, it may have been one of my worst Fixes ever with a pair of damaged sandals and dress that looked like a Storm Trooper’s face (thank you to the person on Facebook who pointed that out, now I can’t un-see it).
I honestly thought that by giving them an ultimatum that it would most likely be my last Fix, they would be encouraged to step up to the plate. Instead, the opposite was true. After my March Fix, I felt like I must have outgrown the service. Or maybe they outgrew me by taking on too many clients for their stylists to handle.
So, I cancelled.
Apparently after 30 Fixes if you cancel your account it must sound a red alert over at Stitch Fix headquarters, because almost immediately they reached out to see if they could make it right.
I appreciated it. I mean, it’s only good business sense to try and keep your long-term customers. However, this wasn’t a new issue – as my Fixes have been going downhill since September – so I didn’t know if the relationship could be saved.
They gave me a free styling fee though, so I decided to give them ONE LAST TRY to redeem themselves.
Here is what I wrote in the “tell your stylist” section:
Last chance fix. Senior stylist please. Would like to try Emers for a work-appropriate pant (solid color black or a subtle black on black print). Check my pinterest. I dress professionally for work — fit-and-flare dresses in professional-looking prints, knee-length skirts, elbow-length sleeves. Nothing too juvenile or cheaply made.
So, let’s put on our judgy hats and see what they sent me.
Item #1: 41Hawthorn Tameron Button Down Blouse, $58
In my notes, I asked specifically for elbow-length sleeved blouses and this one meets that criteria. I like the button up front, v-neck and tabbed sleeves.
I tried styling this top two ways – tucked into a skirt and untucked with a pair of trousers. Although I like the idea of the blouse – dressy for work and elbow-length sleeves – the polyester fabric is pretty awful. Also, I’m quite busty and the buttons pull across my chest. My closet is lacking solid-colored blouses, but this one didn’t make the cut.
Item #2: 41Hawthorn Kourtney Mixed Material Open Front Cardigan, $58
I have mixed feelings on open cardigans. I feel like they can be super comfortable, but can also look kind of dumpy if you don’t style them right. I have a couple that I wear around the house, but typically don’t really wear them to work.
I paired this cardigan with a tank top from a previous Fix and black trousers. As you can see, the back is a pretty chiffon fabric. While I like that it is a mix of a couple fabrics, this cardigan is just kind of basic and boring. I already own a couple black cardigans and this one isn’t bringing anything new to the table.
Item #3: Maggy London Scarlet Scuba Dress, $138
In my note, I asked for fit-and-flare dresses in professional looking prints… so they sent this one over. While I typically like Maggy London dresses, you can easily pick up that brand at Marshall’s, TJ Maxx or Nordstrom Rack for less than $50 (see here) So, paying almost three times that price for this dress seems a bit silly.
The silhouette is nice and the dress fits well, however I’m just not a fan of the pattern. It seems a bit too much like a scrubs pattern you night see on a nurse at your lady-bits appointment.
Item #4: Margaret M Emer High Waisted Trouser, $98
Everyone on the Stitch Fix Facebook pages is totally obsessed with the Emers. OBSESSED! In fact, if you sell a pair over there, they are pretty much gone in 5 minutes. So I thought it was really weird that in 30 Fixes I’ve never, ever been sent a pair of the super popular pants.
So, do they live up to the hype? I’m not sure what I was expecting, but the pants are basically if leggings and dress pants had a baby. The material is like a super-thin,unlined dress pants fabric. However, instead of a button and zipper closure, they just pull on like leggings and come above your belly button. There are no pockets, either on the butt or at your hips. They were really growing on me as comfortable work trousers, but then I realized that the fabric is so thin that they were already damaged along one of the seams. Guess they are going back too.
Item #5: Diba Adela Laser Cut T-Strap Sandals, $75
I pinned these exact shoes on my pinterest page, so I have to give them credit for sending them over for me to try. However, this is the same brand that they sent me in my last Fix that seemed to be very cheaply made.
This pair is almost double the price of the last one’s they sent over, which you can see in the quality with the real leather upper. I love the way that these feel and they are a nice, dressy option to go with work trousers, skirts or dresses. I actually wore them with every outfit from this Fix and love them. Looks like we have a keeper!
My Thoughts on My May Fix
For a ‘last chance Fix’ I really do feel like my stylist did her homework on the types of clothes that I’d like to try. Unfortunately, each item was a little bit off base for me. The blue shirt would have been great if the bust fit and if the fabric weren’t terrible. The pants seemed nice, but the fabric was so thin that they were already damaged. The dress fit well, but I didn’t like the pattern.
And before you say it… YES, I’m super picky. I’ve built up a great closet of clothes for work and home and if I’m going to add something to it, it needs to be pretty fantastic. Out of this Fix, the only things I found fantastic were the shoes. So I will definitely be buying them!
I really appreciate that Stitch Fix wanted to give it one last shot and it is possible that I might do an occasional Fix – maybe on a quarterly basis – for fun. However, it’s pretty clear that it’s no longer the monthly obsession it once was. And to be honest, from what I hear on the Facebook boards a lot of other ladies are feeling the same way.
What do you think… am I being too picky?
{If you want to see the other service that I’m crazy about, check out my thoughts on Trunk Club here. It’s similar to Stitch Fix, except you get to preview and veto items and there is no stylist fee!}
Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored by Stitch Fix, I typically pay for the $20 styling fee and any clothing I purchase with my own hard-earned money. However, for this do-over Fix they paid my fee.
Psssst…Do you love checking out what other people received in their Fixes? I added quick links to every single one of my reviews on my Stitch Fix Reviews page!
