Fashion - Pocketful of Joules

My July 2.0 Stitch Fix: A Lesson in Customer Service

I know, I know. I JUST wrote about my July Stitch Fix order two weeks ago. But, I was left with a yucky taste in my mouth after that Fix and just didn’t like ANYTHING that much. I was disappointed. And even kind of annoyed because I was totally planning to find something amazing to wear to BlogHer.

Instead, I returned the whole box. I also dropped a line to one of my Stitch Fix contacts about how disappointed I was and she totally offered to send me a do-over! YAY, A DO OVER! She even tried to get it out in the mail ASAP so that I could check it out before I left for California, but unfortunately it arrived at my house 4 hours after I left.

I had something to look forward to when I got back though… and I’m in LOVE all over again. I couldn’t WAIT to share it with you all, but felt a little weird about it since I just posted about Stitch Fix so recently. So I do what I usually do. I asked you! And according to the immediate feedback on my Facebook page, you wanted a post and you wanted it NOW.

So, here we go. I didn’t even take the time to digitally erase the camera remote from my hand!

Item #1: Ezra Bryn V-neck Mixed Material Knit Shirt – $48
Remember when I said I wanted “interesting” tops? Well, LOOK at this one! It is a mix of chiffon and a gorgeous knit and it doesn’t look like something I’ve seen a million times before. The color is a pretty mint and I tried it on with a pair of casual jeans (Loft), a t-shirt material skirt (Loft), and a pair of grey skinny jeans (Kate Spade). The only drawback is that it is see-through so a layering tank top is a necessity. Keep or Return?

Item #2: Mystree Skylar Asymmetrical Knit Zip Up Jacket – $78
If you’ve been following since my very first Stitch Fix review, you’ll remember that I said that asymmetrical tops aren’t flattering on us busty girls. I don’t know if I got used to the moto jacket look or this one is just super cute, but I’m LOVING this jacket. It’s made out of a super soft knitted material on the outside and a t-shirt material as the lining. It’s basically a fancy sweatshirt and I can see myself throwing this on with jeans or shorts all the livelong day. Keep or Return?

Item #3: Renee C Tucker Mixed Print Tank – $48
I actually had this tank top pinned on my Pinterest board at one point, because I liked the crazy pattern. In person, I like it even more. The fit is perfect and the colors are so vibrant. There is a split-back feature in the back that I’m not crazy about… but it’s only seen if you wear the tank untucked on its own. I like how it can have a super hippy vibe with shorts (Gap) and a jaunty hat (this one in chocolate from Ashbury Hats), or it can be totally professional with a swing skirt (Stitch Fix). Keep or Return?

Item #4: Pomelo Missy Polka Dot Tab-Sleeve Blouse – $58
When I opened the box, this top was the one I was least excited about. I mean, polka dots are cute. Tab sleeves are cute. The colors are cute. I don’t know. But, then I tried it on as both a casual and work option and I think that can become one of those fun go-to tops. It looks fun as heck with my red skinny jeans (Stitch Fix) and also looks totally professional with a high-waisted pencil skirt (Loft) and leopard heels (Target). Keep or Return?

Item #5: Daniel Rainn Greta Geo Print Crochet Detail Blouse – $68
I never realized it before, but I’m a huge fan of Daniel Rainn. Whenever I buy something from that brand, I wear the heck out of it. This shirt is super adorable. The top portion is eyelet and the print has hints of red (check out the fabric close-up picture for the details). For the first look, I paired it with a pair of my often-worn plain black work pants (Loft). For the second look, I threw on a pair of boyfriend-ish jeans (Loft) and sassy wedges (Toms). Cute, right? Keep or Return?

Here are all the close ups:

I want to know your thoughts. I really, really do. Because right now I’m pretty darn sure I’m going to buy the ENTIRE BOX! That’s right, the golden unicorn of Fixes has arrived… an entire box I want to keep! After having my first crappy Fix experience earlier this month, they really LISTENED to what I was saying and wanted to make it right. So they totally stepped up their game and I LOVE it all!

Let’s Talk Money
I think I’ve mentioned before that you get a 25% discount on the price if you buy the whole box. This entire box is $300 for all 5 pieces. Once you subtract the $20 styling fee, the additional buy-it-all discount is $70. I have been super lucky and three people have used my special referral code in the last month (which is AMAZING and has never happened before!!), so that is an additional discount of $75. So, for me to purchase the entire box it will be… $135.

Now it’s time for you all to chime in. Do you think I should keep the whole box?

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored by Stitch Fix, I pay for the $20 styling fee and any clothing I purchase with my own hard-earned money. If you enjoyed my review and decide to try Stitch Fix for yourself, the biggest compliment you can give me is by using my referral link. Thank you to anyone who chooses to click through and support my shopping addiction!

7/29/14 Update: Yup, I bought the whole darn Fix and I’m even wearing one of the tops to work today. I postponed my next Fix until the middle of September, as a birthday gift to myself. Thank you all for your feedback!

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!

How to Keep Your Wrap Dress from Being a Peep Show

I went to Nordstrom Rack and found this Maggy London wrap dress marked way down to just $35. I couldn’t resist it! The colors were pretty, the price was right and the fit was great, except for one little thing…

BOOBS!
Right?!

Wrap dresses are super flattering, especially for us curvy girls with boobs and hips. However, they also fly open like they’re advertising your goodies for sale.

Yes, you can always throw a camisole on underneath your dress, but when it’s 95 degrees and humid the last thing you want is another layer of clothing. So you can do one of two things, strategically keep your hand over your cleavage or just yank that baby back together when nobody is looking (you hope).

As attractive as those options tend to be (obviously), they are not really a great long term solution. Which brings me to the point of today’s post: a super easy way to fix your wrap dress for less than $5.

And no, the answer is not to use a safety pin. {However, if you MUST use a safety pin, use one of these — it’s an assorted set of black and white pins so that they don’t catch the sun and glint… catching everyone’s attention!}

Before you start, go out and buy something like this:

You can get sew-on snaps at your local Joann’s or online. Here’s a set on Amazon.com for just $3. And before you tell me what a horrible sewer you are, let me say that ANYONE can do this. I wouldn’t consider myself a good sewer, just a randomly capable person who can figure stuff out logically. If I can do this, you can do this!

Step 1: Put your dress on and use a safety pin to hold the top together just a smidge below where you’d like it to fall. Take the dress off over your head, keeping the safety pin attached to the dress.

Step 2: Leave the safety pin in your dress. Take the pokey end of a snap (I used the largest one in the package) and sew it onto the side of the dress that will lay closest to your skin. Try to use thread that will blend into your dress; however if you don’t have matching thread just keep the sewing on the folded over area of the seam. Then, you won’t be able to see it come out the other side.

Step 3: STILL leave the safety pin in your dress. Line up the unsewn side of the snap with the one that is now sewn onto your dress and attach above the safety pin. Once again, be sure to keep your sewing on the flap so that your thread won’t be seen through the fabric.

Step 4: Once both sides of the snap are sewn on, make sure they line up and snap together. NOW you can remove the safety pin.

Step 5: Look the safety pin is out and the dress is snapped together!

You’re done! All that’s left to do is for you to try your dress on again and marvel about the fact that you no longer showing off your bra.

And if you’re wondering what that cord is in the picture, I’m trying out a remote camera shutter and I’m kind of loving it! I’m also loving my new wrap dress, which is why it will be going to BlogHer with me this week.

Are you a fan of wrap dresses? Do you go the camisole route, or just stick a safety pin through the fabric and pretend to ignore the shiny gleam that peeks through?

Disclaimer: This post contains an Amazon Associates link. This means that clicking on a link may help me earn a small commission at no cost to you.

My July Stitch Fix: Summertime & the Livin’ Is Easy

Yay, it’s Stitch Fix time again! Before we get into what I received in my July Fix, if you are wondering “What the Heck is Stitch Fix” you should probably check out this post. If you’re feeling super stalkery and want to see ALL my Stitch Fix posts, you can find them here. If you’re wondering WHY I use Stitch Fix and whether I’m getting rich off these posts, check out last month’s blog.

For this month’s Fix, I was a bit more specific with my requests. I asked to retry the skinny jeans from my last Fix… but in a different brand with more stretch. I also really wanted to try a couple tops that other bloggers have received: the Mary Geo print tank and the Evie drawstring funnel sweatshirt (they are both on my Pinterest board). My last request was for the rest of the Fix to be all summery tops.

Okay, now let’s get on to the awkward fashion show!

Item #1: Melody Lace Embellished Sleeveless Blouse – $48
YAY, a tank top! It is HOT and humid here in Maryland, so I love having a couple nicer tank tops that can be paired with a cardigan for work or on their own for play. This top has some pretty embellishing on the front of it and came with a white tank top to wear underneath. The style cards showed it styled with jean shorts for a casual look and with a pencil skirt to make it work appropriate… so I copied them with my two looks.

I like this top, the color is pretty and the way it flows is pretty flattering. I tried it on with the white tank top provided, but a black tank top might blend a bit better. I don’t own anything else similar to this blouse, but I’m not sure if that’s enough reason for me to buy it. However, once it gets a bit cooler, it might look nice under a suit jacket.

Keep or return: I like this top, but I don’t swoon over it. It is pretty though and the color could transition well to fall. What do you think – keep it or send it back?

Item #2: Gaia Crochet Detail Sheer Cotton Tank – $54
When I first pulled this top of out the box I LOVED it. The orange is so pretty and vibrant in person. This one also came with a white tank top to wear underneath of it because it’s totally see-through. However, once again I think a black tank would have been a better choice – in the shorts picture I’m wearing the white tank top and in the jeans picture I’m wearing a black one.

I WANT to love this shirt so bad, but I just don’t feel like it’s doing anything for my shape. Even with the skinny jeans, it just seems kind of boxy and unflattering. Also, it is SO transparent that it just makes you focus on what I’m wearing under the tank top… which is kind of odd.

Keep or return: I’m pretty sure that this should go in the return pile, but let me know if you think otherwise.

Item #3: Bryson Mixed Print Twisted Seams Tank – $48
Unfortunately the top I asked to try wasn’t available in my size, so Meagan sent this one instead. It is pretty interesting with the polka dot front and the tribal looking back. If this had a v-neck or a lower swoop neck, I’d buy it in a heartbeat. With the higher neck, it’s just kind of okay. Hmm… maybe I just need more of a statement necklace? The top is made out of a nice, soft cotton though so it could end up being one of those sleeper hits that get a lot of wear.

Keep or return: I’m kind of lukewarm on this top, but I could be swayed towards buying it if you think it’s awesome. Let me know!

Item #4: Spensur Striped Jersey Dress – $54
I didn’t request a dress in this month’s Fix because I just bought one last month that I’m in love with. See, I’m even wearing it in my new “I’m Joules” profile picture over there on the right sidebar. I feel like the stripes on this dress are supposed to make it figure flattering, but actually end up making my middle look thicker. I tried a belt with it and it looked kind of odd. It is a pretty color, but basically just a glorified t-shirt.

Keep or return: Nope. It doesn’t make me feel pretty at all… which is my requirement for dresses!

Item #5: Kensie Johnny Regular Length Skinny Jean – $88
I asked for another pair of skinny jeans to try that were similar to the ones that I returned last month. These are actually the same brand as the distressed skinnies I got a couple months ago (and love). I was expecting a fun color though, since I asked for something “similar to last month’s jeans”… and these are black.

I’m wearing them in pictures for Item #2 and Item #3, as well as in this picture with a plain ol’ t-shirt. Out of everything this month, these might be the only thing I buy because they fit great — they have the perfect amount of stretch and the length is perfect. Now that I’ve jumped on the skinny jeans bandwagon, these could work as another one of those fall transition pieces in a couple months.

Keep or return: I’m thinking I’ll keep these jeans, unless there is something else that is getting all your votes!

HELP ME!
So now it’s the fun part where you get to tell me what to do! I’m just kind of underwhelmed for this month’s Stitch Fix. Everything was okay, but nothing jumped out at me like in past month’s where I just HAD to have it and couldn’t wait to wear it out of the house. I was really disappointed that my specific requests weren’t met… neither of the two tops I asked for were available and the only thing that made the jeans similar to what I asked for is that they are skinny jeans. Perhaps I’m being too harsh though, am I overlooking a winner?

I’m leaning towards getting the Kensie skinny jeans and possibly the purple tank top. I’m torn on the mixed print tank top and could pretty much be convinced either way. My mind is mostly made up on the orange tank top and the striped dress, but I’d still love your feedback if you think I need to talk another look at them. Please help me decide and leave your comments below!

7/16/14 Update: Thank you all for your lovely comments! After listening to you all, I tried the purple top on with a black cami and all sorts of cardigans and suit jackets… and it didn’t make the cut. I agree that I LOVE the color, but my plans of it transitioning into a fun fall piece were foiled. I was resigned to buying the black jeans because I didn’t want to throw away my $20 styling fee… but then I reminded myself of my goal to NOT buy things unless I was in love with them (and that I already own a similar pair of black skinnies). So… everything went back in the bag to be returned to Stitch Fix. I’m glad I’ve had other Fixes that I loved, because this one just left me feeling disappointed. Let’s cross our fingers for a better Fix next month!

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored by Stitch Fix, I pay for the $20 styling fee and any clothing I purchase with my own hard-earned money. If you enjoyed my review and decide to try Stitch Fix for yourself, the biggest compliment you can give me is by using my referral link. Thank you to anyone who chooses to click through and support my shopping addiction!

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!