Tag: Stitch Fix

After last month’s bad box, I expected yet another new stylist.   I’ve lost count of how many I’ve been through, but apparently, unless you super-love a box and keep most of the items, they switch you to a new stylist.   It’s both good and bad – you don’t get stuck with a stylist who may not ‘get’ your style, but constantly flipping through stylists means a lack of consistency and boxes that are ALL over the map.   This is Fix #12, and here’s the note from my stylist.

Happy Fix Day, Melissa!   It’s a pleasure to welcome you back to what now makes Fix #12.   I’m am so sorry to see that you’ve been disappointed in your past few boxes.   It’s my mission to ensure that you LOVE this experience, so I am all ears!   I fully intend to wow you, so I went through prior feedback & your Pinterest board to get a great handle on what makes you tick.   I love your retro vibe, so I included this 41Hawthorn black & white knit dress.   The bold pop of green looks fabulous layered over top when you wear the Skies are Blue cardigan.   You can add a chunky belt to help create that hourglass silhouette.   For some patterns play, try the KFTK skinny jeans with the striped Colette knit top & then rock this funky Dear John bomber jacket over top.   Do these styles feel more like you?   Can’t wait to hear your thoughts!   xo-Jess

Well, it was closer to the right idea this time, but unfortunately most of the items had fit issues.   I keep saying it, and I know I’m a tough shape/size to fit, but they’ve gotten it right before, I’m not sure why/how this was all so off.   I’ll get into that in each item though.   The box basically made two complete stand-alone outfits, and I love it when the stylists do that so it takes a bit of the pairing guess-work out of the equation for me.

Item:  Colette Chaves Pop Color Cuff Knit Top
Cost:  $48
Paired With:  Jeans and jacket (this Fix), Shoes (mine)
First up is the striped top with green accents.   I actually got a very similar top a few fixes back (I didn’t post that Fix – I had given the husband the camera to help, but he ended up focusing on the background, so ZERO of the photos came out), but it had skinnier stripes and red accents on the cuffs and collar.   This top is much too long for my short torso, and you can see it’s nearing dress length, hitting at my fingertips – the waistband of the jeans is about where the cuffs are.   The fabric was nice, and if it had been 5 or 6 stripes shorter, I might have kept it, even though it would be a bit of a duplicate piece.

Item:  Kut from the Kloth Connie Frayed Hem Skinny Jean
Cost:  $88
Paired With:  Top & Jacket (this Fix), Shoes (mine)
The jeans were really comfortable, but again with the fit problems.   They were too long and bunched up around my ankles.   Also, I just don’t like the whole frayed hem trend.   I guess I prefer my clothes to be more classic silhouettes with trendy/fun prints instead of trendy cuts that won’t be wearable within a year.   I have jeans from almost 10 years ago, and while I probably could’ve hemmed the frayed end off to make the length right and put on a proper hem, that’s a lot of time that I just don’t have, and no doubt they’d have ended up sitting on the sewing machine for months.   Plus, if I’m already paying $88 for jeans, they should fit without having to spend extra time/money on alterations.

Item:  Dear John Casco Bomber Jacket
Cost:  $78
Paired With:  Top & Jeans (this Fix), Shoes (mine)
If Jess had scanned through my Pinterest Stitch Fix board, she’d have seen there was zero camouflage in there.   Solid olive, yes, but no camo.   I just don’t like camo print clothing.   The fabric of the jacket was nice, and it fit well (maybe a smidge too big), but I just can’t with the camo.   If it were a solid olive color, I’d probably have kept it.   It’s also a wee bit too cold to wear this in southeastern PA right now too – it’s about two months too early.

Item:  41 Hawthorn Bella Knit Dress
Cost:  $74
Paired With:  Green Cardigan (this Fix), belt (mine), shoes (mine), red cardigan (mine)
I wanted to show this dress two ways to show what a poor fit it was.   The bust had SO much extra fabric and was fit for someone with .. huge tracts of land.   I’m not that person.   I think nearly every dress I’ve gotten from Stitch Fix has had this same problem (I had that one winner in the beginning, but even that was a little loose up top).   It’s funny because every dress I get from Torrid, an actual plus size clothing company, their clothes fit like they were custom made for me, but Stitch Fix keeps trying to assume HUGE BOOBS, and I don’t understand who their fit model is because it’s really absurd.   Annyyywayy, on the right, that’s with my own cardigan and the top of my hand is where my waist actually is – you can see the waist of the dress is hanging 3 or 4 inches lower since my lack of *cough* material *cough* to fill in the bust means extra fabric that droops down.   On the left, I added a belt, but you can still see the fabric bunched up over the belt.   The dress fit well through the hips and all, but the bust was just massive.   Then the fabric was that awful cheap, bouncy polyester with no structure to it, and it just doesn’t lay nicely over plus sized gals – it clings to every last lump and bump and there’s nothing flattering about it.   My favorite dresses are nearly always 100% cotton or cotton blends, so this was just a huge miss all around.   It’s a shame, because the idea is right, but the execution between fit and fabric, was WAY off.

Item:  Skies are Blue Abela Cotton Blend Cardigan
Cost:  $48
Paired With:  Dress (this Fix), shoes (mine), belt (mine)
Well, this is the only piece I kept out of the whole fix.   I wear cardigans like this all the time and they’re easy to throw over a silly, nerdy t-shirt with jeans and look more put-together than yoga pants and a hoodie.   The fabric is nice (cotton blend FTW!), it fits well, hangs nice, and I love the bright green color.

So, overall, this was another miss, but as I mentioned in my notes on Stitch Fix, the idea was right, but the fit issues made me return more than I normally would have.   I said last month that if this box was a huge miss again, I’d be cancelling, but this had the right idea, so I’m going to do one more.   I also made myself another 3 years younger in my profile in hopes of getting more fun prints.   Polka dots and stripes are great, but there are so many missed opportunities for prints, and I feel like, again, it’s because of my age that I’m getting more sedate pieces.   For pete’s sake, I just bought a dress with an all-over book print, so I’m not afraid of bold prints!   Go wild!   Give me prints or give me death!   (Unless it’s camo or animal print, I mean, I have my limits).

Another month, another Stitch Fix!   Looking back, I’m now on my fourth stylist – the one from last month didn’t do this month’s box, so I got another new stylist.   This is Fix #11 for me, and I had a note from the stylist for this box, Laura.

Hello Melissa!   Happy 11th Fix day!   How were your holidays?!   After reviewing your profile, I selected a few items that’ll make getting dressed effortless as the days have become shorter and the to-do lists have gotten longer.   Reverse those winter blues with this mood-lifting flannel knit back top by Q&A.   It’ll look terrific with the jeans from your previous Fix.   Look forward to Valentine’s Day with this modern asymmetrical sweater by RD Style.   Pair it with jeans, leggings, or trousers.   Slip into these on-trend jogger pants by Rune for a rendezvous at the local farmer’s market and treat yourself to a fragrant artisanal bouquet!   Update your look with this with this chambray top by Skies Are Blend made of 100% comfortable cotton.   I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on everything.   Until next time, have fun and enjoy!   Warmest wishes, Laura.

I um.. Well, the week this arrived, it was about 15 degrees F, and there haven’t been artisanal bouquets at the farmers market since about September.   My farmers market is a real, honest to goodness FARMERS market, with real farmers, selling meat, vegetables, freshly baked bread, and we huddle together in the winter, cheering each other on for being badasses and braving the cold to support local, hardworking producers.   My farmers market is more (real) flannel, jeans, and work boots than joggers.   The husband is gone for Valentine’s Day, so there’s another miss (not that Laura would’ve known, but still, he’s gone for work so much that it’s better to err on the side that he’s not home).   I leaned pretty heavily on my Instagram friends to get opinions since I very nearly sent everything back on sight, I was that disappointed with what was sent.   Unfortunately (fortunately?) they agreed with me.   Well, before I go too far, let’s get into the items.

Item:  Q&A Romane Knit Back Top
Cost:  $54
Paired With:  Jeans (prior fix), boots (mine)
This was ENORMOUS on me.   You can see that my fingers just barely show out of the arms which were too long.   The bust was huge, the shoulder seams are off my shoulders, and I have to admit that I wasn’t a huge fan of the knit back.   And again, I have to complain about plus size clothing and how I loathe the shapeless sack rut designers fall into.   Yes, I may want to minimize my belly, but it doesn’t mean I have to wear a tent like this!   The fabric is also pretty light and not at all suitable for our winters in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Item: RD Style Juily Asymmetric Hem Pullover
Cost:  $64
Paired With:  Jeans, boots, tank top (all mine)
I know I told Lana to please not send dolman sleeves since I find them unflattering and uncomfortable, but I guess since I’ve been through two more new stylists, that got lost in the notes.   This makes me look like a marshmallow in the middle since the dolman sleeves add so much bulk to the body of the sweater.   The fabric was a heavy knit, so the price was right for such nice fabric, but every time I moved, the sweater would ride up and I spent half the time prepping for this photo pulling the damn thing back into place.   It’s just completely impractical to wear – I’d be futzing with it all day long.

Item: Skies are Blue Talar Cotton Blend Chambray Top
Cost:  $54
Paired With:  Jeans (prior fix), boots (mine)
I really had no idea how to style this.   The card that shows styling tips showed it paired with white jeans (LOL I could never own white jeans since I’m kind of a disaster) and with regular jeans and a long cardigan.   I’m just not into chambray on denim since it just looks a little too Canadian Tuxedo to me.   It’s hard to tell from the photo, but the chambray had this washed out polka dot print on it that I really liked, just, not in chambray.   If it had been a navy color or red, and maybe a full button down?   It just did nothing for me, and again, it was a box with sleeves and no shaping through the middle at all.

Item: Rune Luciana Jogger Pant
Cost:  $68
Paired With: Sneakers,  Jordandené tee, cardigan (all mine)
Okay, so here’s the thing.. These were SUPER DUPER comfortable, but it’s $68 for a pair of polyester/spandex blend jogger pants.   Also, I end up spending a lot of time at home since, as a photographer, I tend to spend a lot of time on the computer doing editing.   If I’m leaving the house, even for grocery shopping, I feel like as a minimum effort I can throw on jeans.   I’m totally down with it if you feel like joggers are meant to be worn in public, but.. I’m not that person.   So   I can’t justify spending $68 on pants that would essentially be pajama and dog-walking pants.

Item: Absolutely Maxx Cutout Detail Pullover
Cost:  $44
Paired With: Jeans (prior fix), boots and tank (mine)
Well, this was the only piece that my Instagram commenters suggested I keep, if anything.   I don’t like the cutout detail at the shoulders and would be CONSTANTLY tugging at it to keep it from showing my bra or sliding down and they just felt awkward.   It was also MUCH too big in the bust, but it had a slight high-low hem and fell nicely over my hips.   The knit is an open knit, so I definitely need to wear something underneath, but it also means I can use this beyond winter as a cool-summer-evening sweater.   I did end up keeping this, but I have to sew the cutouts closed or I’ll go absolutely crazy.   I have to admit that the only reason I kept this is that I didn’t want to lose my $20 styling fee, and it only cost an additional $24 on top of the styling fee.   It still almost went back with everything because I was that upset about this Fix.

So, final thoughts.. I kept one piece begrudgingly because I didn’t want to lose my $20 styling fee (they taken the styling fee off your kept items purchase, but if you send everything back, you lose the $20).   I still have to modify the sweater to sew up those stupid cutouts and make it something I’ll actually wear, but I’m not incredibly thrilled with it, and absolutely nothing in this box jumped out at me.   I mean, I like to have fun with my wardrobe – I wear nerdy, funny t-shirts and jeans most days, and having pieces to wear that stand out (my cherry print swing dress!) are super fun.   These were all boring, shapeless sacks, and there was no structure, no fun, no life to any of them.   I see other plus size gals on Instagram getting fun prints and fun pieces, but they’re also younger than me, so, I adjusted my age down by three years.   It feels SO wrong to do that, lying about my age, but I feel like I’m getting boring pieces because of my age – that the computer algorithm is going, “OOOHH she’s past 35, muted colors and shapeless clothes for her!”   I know Stitch Fix has detailed how their algorithm works, but I feel like it’s failing me here, and that the failure isn’t necessarily the stylist, but that the stylist gets a garbage set of options to choose from for me.   I don’t know how else to fix this other than make myself look younger.   So, one more box .. if it’s another complete failure, I’m going to have to call it quits with Stitch Fix which is a shame since I did have a few boxes that I kept everything, and I have enjoyed trying some new things (skinny jeans!) and have gotten a bunch of great pieces I wear all the time.

Wow, so I kind of abandoned the blog for a few months. I feel like my life completely turned upside down since September, and I’m finally starting to set things right again. It’s mostly been good things, but it was a lot of things at once and keeping up to date on the blog just wasn’t happening.   There’ll be more on that later, since it’s some pretty big and exciting news.   I did post October and November’s fixes on Instagram, but figured I’d get back on track with December’s fix finally! This is fix #10 for me and I also got a new stylist this month, Christina.

Christina included a little note at the top of the Fix:

Hi Melissa, Welcome back for a brand new Fix!   I hope you are doing well this week.   Let’s start today with the Kut from the Kloth boyfriend jeans.   These are great to wear on laid back days with the adorable 41Hawthorn polka dot sweater and the Octavia scarf.   For a comfy look on weekends, try the jeans with the burgundy Laila Jayde top and a pair of sneakers.   I read that you were looking for a dress to pair with leggings so I sent the Lemon Tart dress.   It’s great with leggings and a pair of ankle booties.   Have fun trying on this Fix, Melissa!   If you have the chance, I’d love to learn more about you so I can tailor your Fixes to your lifestyle.   Use your profile notes to let me know about your daily routine or aspects of your wardrobe that are in need of a refresh.   Also, be sure to leave feedback on pieces when you check out.   xo Christina.

Sounds good!   Everything included is very seasonal for late fall and winter, and I adore that she picked up on my love of polka dots (I mayyy have a problem, but it’s fine!).   On to the pieces…

Item:  41 Hawthorn Gilda Polka Dot Pullover
Cost:  $68
Paired With:  Jeans (prior fix), boots (mine, my favorite boots)
I wasn’t sure about pairing this with the scarf (below) as suggested since it felt too clashy with patterns.   I absolutely LOVE the polka dots, but I think this might be a little big/long.   It fell pretty much at the widest part of my hips since I have a SUPER short torso.   Pretty much everything that isn’t cropped or empire waist is way too long or big on me.   I’m really torn on this one – it’s a heavy double knit sweater, but I think it’s just too long both in the body and in the sleeves.   Going down a size would probably make it too tight around the middle, so I think I’m going to have to send this one back.

Item:  Kut From The Kloth Kate Boyfriend Jean
Cost:  $88
Item:  Laila Jayde Cindy Slub Knit Raglan Top
Cost:  $64
Item:  Octavia Russo Plaid Reversible Infinity Scarf
Cost:  $34
Paired With:  Boots (mine)
Okay, let’s start with the jeans.   They’re Kut From The Kloth brand, so they’re super soft and comfortable, but I think they may be a size too big.   I know I’ve shrank a little over the past two months, so I may even be between sizes which makes these just a hair too large – I can take them off without unbuttoning/unzipping them.   Also, uncuffed, they’re about 2 inches too long, so I have to cuff them so I don’t walk on them though it appears from the style card that they’re supposed to be worn cuffed.   I’m kind of torn on these too – I may have a go at exchanging them for a size down since I think they’ll be cute for Spring/Fall with sandals as well as boots and sneakers.
The top is probably my favorite piece out of this fix!   I love the burgundy color, and the sleeves even have a cute little patch detail on the elbows (just an extra reinforced section in the same color fabric).   The cut is just right – nips in a bit at the waist, and flares out for the hips without being too clingy.   I know this will go perfectly with the olive cargo skinny jeans I got a few fixes ago too.
The scarf!   I did want something like this for fall and winter to layer over other pieces, and the colors are so great, not to mention that it’s double-sided with two different prints.   Really a nice scarf too.   This is a keeper.

Item:  Lemon Tart Lindsay Dress
Cost:  $78
Paired With:  Boots (mine), leggings (mine)
I included two photos to show that no matter what I did, this dress just didn’t fit.   It’s the right idea – the print is great and it has POCKETS (!!!!) – however the cut/fit is WAY off for me.   Again going back to me having a short torso, any dress with a waist has to be an empire waist or it ends up hitting at the top of my hips.   You can see in the first photo, with the dress left to fall where I think it should, it’s scraping the top of my hips, about 4 inches below my waist.   In the second photo, I pulled it up a little (still below my waist) and let it blouse over which looks even worse with all the extra fabric hanging there, making me look larger.   Nothing I did could make this dress look good on me.   It also kind of falls into that unfortunate trap that a lot of plus size clothing falls into – a shapeless sack with a drawstring.   When plus size clothing is structured and fit well, it’s really flattering, but shapeless sacks just makes plus size gals look like shapeless blobs.   I get the urge designers have to make clothes that ‘hide’ everything, but sometimes it goes too far.

Anyway, I’m definitely keeping the burgundy top and the scarf, and I think I’ll try to exchange the jeans for a smaller size.   I know I emailed Stitch Fix before about exchanges, and if for any reason the smaller jeans don’t work, I can return them for a full refund, no problem, which is pretty generous.   The dress and polka dot sweater are definitely going back due to the fit issues.   I know it’s a little bit tricky for me to find clothes that fit well since I’m both plus size but also teetering on the border of petite and regular misses (petite jeans are too short, misses are too long, but misses “short” length tend to be fine – same with tops).   I mean, it’s part of the reason why I’m doing Stitch Fix, so that I’m exposed to new brands that may fit better (Torrid tends to be my go-to since their fit model is basically my body double, but I’d love to have other options), and so that someone else who isn’t me may be able to say, “Hey, I saw this thing that I want you to try, no commitment, but at least give it a go.”   I can get a little stylistically stuck in a rut sometimes!   Looking forward to what Christina picks for me next month!   In case you’re thinking about trying Stitch Fix and want to give me a little love, here’s my  referral link!

EDIT 7 Dec 2017:
I did get the exchange on the jeans and the size down fits PERFECTLY.   I mean, no gap in the back, falls just right across my hips, nice amount of stretch but not too tight.   It’s like they were made for me.   So glad I gave the exchange a go because they really are spectacular jeans.

This is my sixth Stitch Fix, and it arrived just this week.  Since I’m catching up, I’m posting both July and August on the same day while I’ve got some spare time to do some blogging.  Lana was my stylist again and wrote me a note about her choices.

Hi Melissa!  I can’t wait to see a picture of you in those blue jeans from your last Fix – I am so happy you enjoyed them!  In your last request, you asked for more casual pieces, and since you’ve been loving the skinny pant trend, I thought you might want to try the Level + cargo pants.  They are a nice alternative to jeans and will look fabulous with the Papermoon striped top and some sandals for summer.  Fall is right around the corner, so as it cools down, add the 41 Hawthorn open cardigan and some short booties; you can also wear the outfit now indoors where it’s air-conditioned.  The Skies are Blue tie front top will also look chic with your new pants.  I’ve also chosen the Bay to Baubles fringe pendant which will add length to an outfit.  It looks great with a dress, or a simple top and jeans to add a little something special.  XO Lana

I know fashion “seasons” tend to run a month or two ahead of the actual season, so I’m not surprised to see Fall items even though it’s still in the 80s and humid outside.  I mean, winter is coming eventually, but it sure doesn’t feel like it right now!  So, out of the box, I have to admit, I’m not sure I would’ve actually pulled any of these items off a rack in a store and tried them on, and even opening the box, I was kind of skeptical about how many I’d keep.  Then I tried them on.  I looked in the mirror and thought, “Hey, I could pass for an actual adult, not some college-aged slob,” which was basically the point at which I knew I was keeping everything.  I mean, sure, I’m 37, but not having a traditional office job for the last 10 years means my wardrobe has shifted.  A lot.  And, when I shop for myself, I buy things that are decent enough mostly because they’re on the 70% off clearance rack and not because they’re great pieces that look fantastic on – they’re okay enough for the price.  My stylist, Lana, actually takes the time to pick out pieces that she thinks will look good on and that go together well; something I’m just not great at doing for myself.  Yes, the Stitch Fix prices are higher than I’ll pay for clothes when I shop by myself, but I’m finding more and more that the crappy clearance stuff I buy ends up in the back of the closet while I wear my Stitch Fix stuff right away.  Anyway, on to the box!

Item:  Skies are Blue Deliana Tie Front Top
Cost:  $48
Item:  Level + Sybil Cargo Skinny Pant
Cost:  $88
Paired With:  Flats (mine)
Okay, so I’ll admit that when I first pulled the pants out of the box and saw the zip detail at the bottom of the pant legs, I was a little meh.  Cargo pants are awesome, but I wasn’t so sold on the zipper, and since they’re skinny jeans, I can’t see actually using the cargo pockets since they’d bulge out funny if you put anything in them (I know, welcome to The Futility of Pockets on Womens Clothing 101).  I tried them on right away, and was still skeptical since I felt like they were a bit of a slimmer fit and didn’t feel like they looked as flattering.  Two days passed, and as I put on this outfit for the photos, all of a sudden they clicked and looked fabulous.  I don’t even know what was up with my brain, writing them off so quickly, but once I saw how Lana had put these two pieces together and how perfectly matched they were, well, I was sold.  They’re two pieces I never would’ve pulled off the rack in a million years, but LOOK AT HOW CUTE!  It’s got just enough preppy to be adorable, but is still laid-back and fun between the cargo pockets and print on the top.  Which, the top!  The print is awesome, has no pink, and is this fun rustic sort of paisley pattern.  I was worried at first that the cut would just be a big old boxy top, but it actually has just enough of a baseball tee sort of shape (curving in just enough at the waist and back out at the hips) that it’s surprisingly flattering.

Item:  Papermoon Croydon Knit Top
Cost:  $38
Item:  41Hawthorn Ajana Open Cardigan
Cost:  $98
Item:  Bay to Baubles Kenny Fringe Pendant
Cost:  $28
Paired With: Level + Sybil Cargo Skinny Pant (this month’s Fix)  and  flats (mine)
This was the outfit that made me feel like an adult.  It’s just SO well put together and fulfills that goal of still being casual without going out in yoga pants.  The stripe top I specifically took a photo without the cardigan because it has this cute little braided detail up the side seams.  The sleeves are just long enough that it covers enough arm for my comfort, so I could easily wear it without the cardigan, making it a great seasonal transition piece.  The cardigan is a perfect fit, falls just to the end of the top, and is so cozy and perfectly up my style alley.  Plus, I mean, it’s blue, so you basically can’t go wrong there!  It pairs well with the other top too which shows just how well thought-out this entire Fix was.  The necklace, which I neglected to get a close up of, is silver and pretty long, with seven little ‘fringe’ bars that hang down in a triangle shape (I did find a close-up someone else took here).  I don’t think I have a necklace quite as long and I know I have a few tops and dresses this will pair with nicely, so it’s a keeper too.

I know I usually post more photos and try to tie in pieces from my wardrobe, but I almost didn’t have the heart to this time since this was just so perfect as a package deal.  I know I have other tops that will go with the pants, and you know I’m itching to throw a red cardigan over that striped top because it’s just begging for it.  I’ve also got a great pair of boots that will go with the pants, and now that I’m sitting here doing the write-up, I’m mentally sorting through my closet going OH, YEAH, that’ll work too!  The total for the box came to $260.  The buy 5, 25% discount took off $65 which is $1 less than the cost of the necklace and striped top combined, so it really was a no-brainer when it came to whether or not I’d keep everything (which, I loved everything anyway, so the discount is a nice bonus!).  T-Mobile offered a code the other week for $25 off at Stitch Fix, so my $20 styling fee was covered plus an extra $5, so the final cost of the box came to $170 for five pieces.  Next month is September, so we’ll be into full swing with my favorite part of the year, Fall and Winter, so I’m looking forward to see what Lana will pick for me next!  In case you’re thinking about trying Stitch Fix and want to give me a little love, here’s my  referral link!

This is my fifth Stitch Fix, and it arrived just before the July 4th holiday long weekend.  My poor little blog has been sorely neglected over the last month as things have gotten crazy busy around here, but I hope to get back on track from now on!  This means a lot of catch-up posts, the first of which is Stitch Fix from last month!  I had my usual stylist, Lana, who wrote me a note as usual.

Hi Melissa!  Happy Summer!  I was thrilled to see you found some pieces that you loved in your last Fix.  I am sorry about the fit of the maxi, I included another style for you to try; it has a similar boho print to one you have on your Pinterest board!  Pair the Gilli maxi with some wedges or sandals and layer with the RWN by Rawan distressed denim jacket.  The arms may run long on you, but the style is meant to be worn cuffed a few times for a more casual look.  Since you liked the last skinny jeans I sent, I thought you might want to try another pair in a fun color, and the Kut From the Kloth skinny jeans will look great paired with the BRIXON IVY cap sleeve blouse, or the Honey Punch embroidered top and your new jacket.  Have fun trying it all on and can’t wait to read your review and get your feedback.  Enjoy, and have a happy 4th!  XO Lana

I did indeed ask for more casual sort of items this time around since I find that I don’t really have too many opportunities to wear super nice things.  I don’t have a traditional office job, so most of the week I’m in yoga pants/capris and snarky or nerdy t-shirts.  When I do leave the house, I don’t want to get all super-perfect, but I want to not look like my primary wardrobe doubles as gym clothes.  Everything in this Fix fit that bill, and since this is going up on a crazy long delay, I can honestly tell you I’ve worn each piece a number of times over the past month already!

Item: Gilli Ryland Knit 2fer Maxi Dress
Cost:  $78
Item:  RWN by Rawan Jess Distressed Denim Jacket
Cost:  $98
Paired With: Sandals and belt (both mine)
Two items at once!  I tried to keep it simple this time around so I could get everything photographed and up fairly quickly.  The whole outfit was definitely inspired by this pin and I think Lana hit it spot on here!  The jacket sleeves did run a little long, and while I forgot to cuff them up for this photo, they’re definitely fine rolled up, and just the tiniest bit too long uncuffed.  The cut of the jacket is a little long too since I have such a short torso (that belt is at my ‘natural’ waist, and the jacket falls to the widest part of my hips), but it’ll be a really nice piece to throw over whatever I’m wearing as the weather turns, probably with a longer cut tunic top too.  I usually buy cropped style cardigans and jackets since a cropped length is actually the right length to hit a few inches below my waist like a normal cardigan/jacket should, instead of falling to my hips like this jacket does.  Still, I think it’ll be a good layering piece once cooler weather starts rolling in.  The distressing is also really lightly done – it’s not so much that it looks like it’s falling to pieces, just a few rips and thin spots so it looks well-loved.  The dress though!  The fabric is a nice weight knit with a wrap style top and SLEEVES!  The sleeves are just an inch or two too short for my comfort, so I still threw a white cardigan over this when I wore it.  I love adding belts to dresses like this to help really define a waist (I’m kind of shaped like a box through the middle, so anything to give me more of an illusion of a shape is a help).  I love that the wrap top is higher cut too.  Usually wrap tops and my short torso mean that I’m pinning them together because they dip way too low (like, below my bra band low), but this one didn’t shift and I didn’t feel like I had to fuss with it or worry about it a wardrobe malfunction.  The length is just right too!

Item:  BRIXON IVY Jarred Lace Detail Cap-Sleeve Blouse
Cost:  $58
Item:  Kut From The Kloth Candace Split Hem Skinny Jean
Cost:  $78
Paired With:  Sandals (mine), Kimono Cardigan from the amazing Side Stitch by Ginny
I’ve been looking for more excuses to wear the cute cardigan I bought from a brilliant friend of mine, so this worked out great!  I’ve seen people post about the Kut From The Kloth jeans before and how amazing they are, and they’re not lying.  The jeans are quite possibly the most buttery smooth, stretchy denim I’ve ever worn and are so incredibly comfortable, it’s like wearing pajamas.  I think Lana zeroed in on my love of blue because these are just the prettiest shade of blue and I can tell you the non-standard-jeans color still probably goes with 90% of my wardrobe because admittedly, most of it is blue.  The length is great, and I’m sure they’ll look just as good with boots as they do with sandals.  The top has a really pretty lace detail at the center and on the cap sleeves, but as usual, I’m going to find a way to cover up my arms, so it’s nice to find a compromise with this kimono cardigan since it doesn’t sit quite so high on my shoulders and lets the sleeve detail show.  The lace “V” in the front does go pretty low, so I have to wear a cami underneath, but that’s no problem.  It’s a great top that can dress up or down.

Item:  Honey Punch Zanth Embroidered Woven Panel Knit Top
Cost:  $48
Paired With: Kut From The Kloth Candace Split Hem Skinny Jean  (this month’s Fix), sandals  (mine)
This top is a light, breezy knit with embroidery down the front and a chiffon-ish inset on the sides.  There aren’t exactly sleeves, but the width of the top means I can comfortably wear this without a cardigan since it hangs down far enough on my arms.  This will also go well with the black skinny jeans from two months ago and will easily take me into fall with that jacket from this month too.  It’s just such a perfect, casual piece that I can throw on with jeans to run out to the grocery store or farmers market.  I do have to wear a cami underneath since it’s kind of sheer, but that’s absolutely not a problem.

The total for this Fix came to $360 which I think was my most expensive Fix yet.  I was a little hesitant on the jacket since it’s a bit too long of a fit in the body, but the 25% discount for keeping all five was $90 which meant that returning the jacket would only save me $8, so I ended up keeping it because I figured I’d still find ways to wear it (and I have!).  After the discount and taking off the styling fee, the box cost $250 ($270 with the styling fee included) for all five pieces.  I think the jeans have seen the most wear – have I mentioned how comfortable they are?!  I keep throwing them on when I head out of the house because they’re just so ridiculously comfortable, and I feel like they surprisingly make me look slimmer, something I thought skinny jeans weren’t capable of doing!  This was a really fantastic fix, and I’m super pleased with all the items!  I’m also amazed that my stylist, Lana, is getting a feel for what does and doesn’t work on my body type too.  She did mention in her note that the arms of the jacket may run long on me, so posting the review on the blog here is actually helping me get better customization and a better fit since Lana is doing a knockout job on following the details I leave here and on the Stitch Fix website and then applying those to her choices for me every month.  It really doesn’t get much more customized than that for off-the-rack clothing!  And, because I’ve already received August’s fix, that’s going up right after this!  In case you’re thinking about trying Stitch Fix and want to give me a little love, here’s my  referral link!

This is now my fourth Stitch Fix!  I did put in a request this month for a summery maxi dress and cardigan, and of course, Lana delivered.  As usual, she wrote me a little note about the pieces included.

Hi Melissa!  Hope you had a great holiday weekend.  The way you paired that yellow skirt with that denim shirt looks so fabulous on you.  I see you are looking for a summer maxi dress, and I know you like polka dots, so I chose for you the Gilli Knit Maxi Dress which also has that empire waist you love.  Layer it with the white crochet cardigan and pair with your favorite sandals for a stylish look perfect for your next summer event.  I spotted the Beauport Off The Shoulder dress on your Pinterest board, so I also included it today.  It has that vintage vibe you can rock with a fun colored head scarf and some wedges.  I also chose the Brixon Ivy lace overlay blouse for you which you can pair with your black Makers skinny jeans for a night out with your husband.  Enjoy and please let me know if you have any summer requests next time!  XO Lana

LOL it’s always good to know you’re on the right track with styling ideas when your Stitch Fix stylist compliments you on your pairing choices!  I didn’t mention it last month, but the fact that these clothes come to my door and I can dig through my closet for things to pair them with is probably one of the greatest things about the service.  Say you go out shopping.  You find a few tops you think might work with pants or skirts you have at home.  You bring them home, find out that they just don’t jive with the colors and pieces you already have, and after you have them on again at home, you end up going all the way back to the store to return them.  It’s a hassle and wastes gas and time.  With Stitch Fix, I get to play around with the clothes I have in my closet and the only gas I’m using is a stop at the  post office while I’m out running other errands anyway.  I’m much more certain of the pieces I keep from Stitch Fix than I have ever been with brick-and-mortar store-bought clothes!

Okay, so this month’s fix.  When I opened the box and saw what was inside, I thought uh oh, this is going to be another 5-piece-winner box, because everything looked so perfect.  And, it is all perfect in theory, but there are some fit issues, and I’m having trouble justifying keeping everything when the fit isn’t that great.  I’d love to say, oh sure, I’ll just hem or alter these pieces to make them work, but knowing how busy things are getting, it’s not going to happen in time to wear them before the end of summer, so I need to be a little more picky about fit this time around.  Photos are inside again since it’s raining .. AGAIN.  Or STILL.  I’m not quite sure which one it is anymore!

Item: Brixon Ivy Willard Lace Overlay Blouse
Cost: $54
Paired With:  Makers Lianne Skinny Jean (last month’s Fix), sandals  (mine), cardigan  (mine)
BLUE!  Blue is my favorite color, and this is such a pretty shade of blue.  The top is sleeveless so adjusting my preferences worked to get me sleeveless tops.  I’m still going to toss a cardigan over them since I don’t like my arms, but it’s nice to have the flexibility to go either way.  This really does go nicely with the jeans from last month, and the lace detail at the top is really cute.  I honestly don’t have too many nice tops like this – during the summer, I find it’s easier to throw on a dress and cardi, so it’s nice to fill in that style gap in my wardrobe with tops that can really be worn any season.  It is a little sheer so I do have a cami on underneath.  The fabric is polyester in the front with a black rayon/spandex blend for the back and is made in China.  This is definitely a keeper.

Item: 41Hawthorn Carla Crochet Detail Blouse
Cost: $58
Paired With:  Makers Lianne Skinny Jean (last month’s Fix), sandals  (mine), cardigan  (mine)
I think we have another winner of a top!  This pretty green top is really sheer so I do have a cami on underneath.  This top is sleeveless as well and the crochet detail runs around the outside edge of the arm openings to the back.  I paired this with a cardigan again because, cardigan.  It fits nicely and drapes well too.  The fabric is 100% polyester and is made in China.  This one is a keeper too.

Item: Gilli Grace Knit Maxi Dress
Cost: $74
Paired With:  Michel Studio Calantha Crochet Detail Cardigan (this month’s fix), wedges (mine)
Oh boy.  I LOVE the idea of this dress, and I did ask for a maxi dress this month.  The polka dots, neckline, empire waist – it’s all perfect.  But.. once I put it on?  It just doesn’t work for me.  For the photo, I dragged out the 4″ high ankle-breaker wedges, and you can’t even see them because the dress is so long (or I’m so short).  The top is HUGE and gapes at the arm openings around the bust, but then it’s just a little too snug through the lower abdomen.  Usually dresses with an empire waist open up so that the hip sizing is free and open, but this was pretty fitted straight down to the top of my thighs where the skirt finally started to open up.  If I sized up so I had more room through the middle, it would be MUCH too large in the bust.  The fabric is problematic too – it’s a polyester/spandex knit with a viscose/spandex lining that only goes to about knee-length.  It’s one of those stretchy, jumpy, bouncy fabric blends that doesn’t drape nicely and shows off every last lump and bump, especially the ones in my midsection (you can’t tell in a straight-on photo, but the side view, even with shapewear, just .. no).  It kills me because this is GORGEOUS, but I’m awful with crazy high heels like that, and it’s just a little too form fitting through the middle for me to feel comfortable.  I might have been able to take up the skirt at the empire waist, but  the lining is sewn to  the dress at the waist seam which would mean separating the two so that I don’t shorten the lining too far, and it’s just too much work.  I would’ve absolutely kept this if it was a cotton blend and if it wasn’t as fitted through the middle, but with the fabric and fit issues, I’m going to have to pass.  It’s really a shame because this is spot on a great dress and the style idea is a match to what I like to wear, but the fabric and fit issues make it a return, unfortunately!

Item: Michel Studio Calantha Crochet Detail Cardigan
Cost: $54
Paired With:  Jeans, flats, black top (all mine)
I did ask for a cardigan, and Lana delivered!  I didn’t quite like this paired with the dress, so I tried something different, and I’m still not sure I like the sleeves.  The crochet detail at the edge of the sleeves is super cute, but the sleeves are way too wide and a weird inbetween length.  The sleeves don’t taper down along the arm but stay the same width the whole way, and the length falls between 3/4 and full length.  The crop length of the body is perfect (Hi, I’m short), but overall I think this may be a little too big.  I could probably exchange for a size smaller, but .. those sleeves just aren’t doing it for me.. the extra sleeve fabric doesn’t hang nicely and there’s so much extra fabric on the arms that I don’t think it looks terribly flattering either.  There’s a seam that runs under the arm and down the side, so it would be fairly easy to take that in to a shape I like, but for $54, I’m not feeling like doing so much extra work to dramatically alter a cardigan.  The fabric is a visocose/polyester/spandex blend, made in Cambodia.  I’m kind of 50/50 on this right now, but probably leaning just a little to the return side of things.

Item: Beauport Isabell Off The Shoulder Dress
Cost: $78
Paired With:  Flats (mine)
I did have this on my Pinterest board!  That big buffalo check seems to be everywhere this season, and I just love it.  The dress is a nice weight woven rayon with a polyester lining, made in the  Philippines.  I included that second picture because man this is sized SO big that you might be able to fit a second me inside the dress.  The waist is elastic, but when I had it on, the elastic wasn’t even stretched at all around my waist – it was just hanging loose.  This is a 2x, and I think going down to the 1x wouldn’t be enough (it was REALLY loose in the top/waist), but it’s not available in standard sizing, or at least, the website is showing those sizes as out of stock.  I really wish they posted size charts for the different brands online because that would make it so much easier to tell if the smaller size would fit or not.  I may try  the exchange anyway though because I do like the dress between the print and fabric, and did I mention it has POCKETS?!  I’m a sucker for pockets on a dress.  The verdict is still out – I may try to email support to see if they can tell me the waist measurement on the 1x before making my final decision.  (also, say hello to my weird tan lines [hi, weird tan lines!] – some  dummy forgot sunblock earlier in the season and got a little sun-roasted  wearing something with a different neckline.  oops!)

The total cost of all five items comes to $318.  If I kept all five, the 25% discount brings the box down to $218.50 after taking off the styling fee credit.  I’m definitely keeping those two tops, but the maxi dress is going back, and the cardigan and other dress may be going back too, but I’m going to take a day to confer with friends (and probably Instagram) and think on it.  It’s nice that I get a few days to think it over and decide whether or not I want to keep the pieces I’m not sure about.  For the record, too, all the pieces were the same size, but none of them fit at all the same – the last dress was about two sizes too big and the maxi dress was probably just a size too small in the bottom half.  Both tops were a good fit, but  then the cardigan was too big.  I feel like Goldilocks and the three dresses with clothes sometimes – I could pull three dresses the same size from different brands, but one is too big, one is too small, and every once in a while, one is just right.  I’ll be sure to update the post once I do decide, and if you have any thoughts about any of the pieces, I’d love to hear from you!  In case you’re thinking about trying Stitch Fix and want to give me a little love, here’s my referral link!

EDIT 13 June 2017: I contacted customer service regarding that last dress.  They didn’t have the exact measurements on that specific dress, but they were able to tell me that generally, sizing runs about 4″ different in the waist on plus sizes, and if the exchange didn’t work out, they could email me a return label to return the dress at no cost to me.  That’s a really generous exchange/return policy, so I went for the exchange.  The smaller size actually fits rather well!  It’s still a little big in the top, but not so much that it looks like it’s hanging off me like the size I was originally sent.  Clothes sizing, how does it even work?!  It still boggles my mind how wildly different clothes sizes can be across manufacturers and even within ‘fit’ styles for a single manufacturer (one company makes 5 different ‘fits’ of jeans all with slightly different waist/hip/rise ratios).  *sigh*

My third stitch fix arrived today, styled again by Lana.  In case you missed it, my write up of last month’s fix was featured on the StitchFixReviews.com website, so that was pretty exciting!  It’s funny because I thought maybe I could skate by posting full-length photos of myself online and maybe no one would see it, so no big deal.  I was a little worried with the increased publicity that internet bullies would jump in, but, much to my surprise and delight, I got a bunch of wonderful, positive comments.  I can’t even begin to express how great it is  to have people be so kind and supportive.

So, this month’s fix arrived today while it was pouring rain outside, so I found a little space inside for photos this time.  Lana wrote me a little note on my item card again:

Hi Melissa!  I was so happy to see you enjoyed your last Fix – the dress looks amazing on you with that red cardigan.  To keep that 50’s style going, I chose the Loveappella off the shoulder knit dress for you.  It’s on trend for the season and will look great with some red lipstick.  The Laila Jayde cold shoulder top is perfect for a night out paired with the Makers skinny jeans.  I see you like to typically wear a bootcut style, but I thought these would look amazing on you, and they are super comfy.  I also included the Gilli Morgen skirt which will be a chic piece to wear to your next wedding with the black top in your last Fix or for a night out with your husband paired with some black boots.  Enjoy and I look forward to your feedback and requests next time.  PS: Happy belated Anniversary!  XO Lana

Is she not the bestest ever?!  I giggled  the whole way through because she totally gets me.   I basically get this awesome internet pen-pal who stalks me  sifts through my social media posts and blog and then sends me amazing clothes.  It’s a pretty awesome arrangement!   The anniversary wishes were really sweet too! (13 years!  ACK, how has it been 13 years  already?!)  Alright, so let’s go through the box, one item at a time.  I did a few different outfits with some of the items since I knew I had something in my closet that would work perfectly.  It was sort of funny – as I was taking photos, I’d go review the photos I just took and then go OH HEY and run off to the closet to dig for just the right top, shoes, etc.

Item: Laila Jayde Barret Cold Shoulder Knit Top
Cost: $54
Paired With:  Makers Lianne Skinny Jean (this month’s Fix), yellow flats (mine), necklace (mine)
I LOVE the color.  Unfortunately, it’s much too small even though it’s the same size as the rest of my Fix – instead of having enough room to hang over my tush, it clung to my backside and just felt odd.  It’s about mid-thigh length, so for a tunic length,  I feel like it should have enough room to fit over the hips and butt  instead of being quite so form fitting.  I’m also not into  the whole cold shoulder trend even though I know it’s really in right now.  I kind of have wide, linebacker shoulders and thick upper arms, so I feel like adding extra emphasis on my shoulders with a cutout in the fabric there makes them look extra wide/thick, and it draws attention to an area I like to minimize and hide.  The fabric is a polyester/rayon/spandex knit, made in the USA, and it’s a nice weight for spring or fall.  However, this just didn’t wow me.  It’s definitely going back.

Item: Market & Spruce Sawyer Space Dye Dolman Sleeve Knit Top
Cost: $58
Paired With:  Makers Lianne Skinny Jean (this month’s Fix), yellow flats (mine), necklace (mine)
This is another top that just wasn’t a hit with me.  Dolman sleeves are another sort of “in” thing right now that I just don’t like – they add extra fabric and bulk when plus size gals generally don’t need extra fabric and bulk.  I mean, you can see how wide this makes me look in comparison to the photo above.  I think it may be a size too big too, and the sleeve length is awkward – it’s between 3/4 length and full length and it’s just.. odd.  The fabric is a rayon/acrylic/spandex blend and is made in the USA with imported yarn.  The drape is nice, and the fabric is a lighter, open sort of knit that would work well  to throw on for a cool summer evening, but the fit and style is just not working for me.  This one is definitely going back.

Item: Makers Lianne Skinny Jean
Cost: $48
Paired With:  Black heels, necklace, top, cardigan (all mine)
Okay, it’s like Lana read my mind.  See, I’ve always been anti-skinny-jean.  I’ve got big thighs and despite having tried jeans that are more fitted before, I just never liked the way my legs looked – I’ve got thinner  ankles but  plenty of junk in the trunk, so from the side, I just didn’t like what I saw (something about showing off the way my legs get wider and wider  up to my butt just.. ehh).  I was all BOOTCUT4LYFE because they make a nice, straight line from my tush  to my shoes, and it’s totally my jean-shape-comfort-zone.  I was thinking just a few weeks ago  that maybe I should give skinny jeans  another try since there’s no commitment in just trying on clothes at a store, and who knows, maybe I’ll find a pair that will actually work.  Somehow Lana knew!  I love that she gave me a little extra nudge in her notes, saying that they’re super comfy, because wow are they ever.  The length is even just about right!  Maybe an inch too long, but with the stretch, the little bit of extra length is really no problem at all.  The fabric is a cotton/polyester/spandex blend (made in China), so they’re stretchy, but still have enough weight to them that they’re definitely jeans, albeit super nice jeans that I’d even wear to photography jobs.  I definitely like these with a shorter top as in the photo above but with a longer cardigan.  That way I can wear skinny jeans, but still give a little coverage to my thighs and tush  if I’m having one of those super-self-conscious kind of days.  These are definitely a keeper.

Item: Loveappella Tonia Knit Dress
Cost: $48
Paired With:  Heels, belt, cardigan (all mine)
I swear to you, this dress is magic.  The illusion of the lines means the horizontal lines on the top make my bust look bigger (scroll up to the prior photos, because it’s really not – that’s all optical illusion), while the vertical lines on the skirt seem to make me look taller.  MAGIC, I TELL YOU.  Lana  picked this specifically for my love of retro 1950’s style, and then went and suggested it should go with red lipstick, so I was happy to comply and add some more pops of red, because RED.  I think the dress might be a teensy little bit too big, but going down a size might make the skirt not hang as well over my hips.  The belt brings in the waist, making the fit pretty close to perfect.  The top of the dress is an off-the-shoulder sort of design, but I found that it didn’t want to stay put on my arms, so I just let it slide up into a wide scoop neck shape.  The ruffle around the top is really cute too.  The fabric is a rayon/spandex jersey knit, made in the USA, and it’s super soft and drapes just perfectly.  I don’t think I even need to say it, but YAAAS KEEPER.

Item: Gilli Morgen Skirt
Cost: $58
Paired With:  On Left – Top and necklace (last month’s fix), belt and heels (mine).  On Right  – shoes, necklace, tank, and shirt  (mine)
I’ll admit that when I saw this skirt, I knew that it had to have been inspired by a pin I put on my Stitch Fix Pinterest board.  Lana suggested I pair it with the black top from last month’s fix, so I added the necklace from last month too for the photo on the left, and it looks really dressy for a nice night out.  I added that belt since it helps give me a little more of a shape through the middle, though I’m not completely sold on that belt with the outfit (maybe a thinner belt?).  I figured if I had the skirt that matched the Pinterest pin, I might as well try and style it that way too, hence the photo on the right.  It’s a more casual look, but it really gives the skirt a whole new life, paired with flats and a denim top.  The fabric is a polyester/spandex knit with a viscose/spandex lining and is made in the USA.  It feels a little like swimsuit fabric, but it’s got a nice drape and swing to it, and the lining gives it enough oomph and shape to keep it from being too clingy.  The print is a black, grey, and yellow oversize floral design which is just abstract enough to be a little edgy and fun without looking like grandma’s couch.  This probably isn’t a skirt I would’ve ever picked up for myself, but now that I have it here and had the chance to pair it with things from my own closet, I really, really like it,  and can see SO many more things I already have that will go perfectly with it.  Totally a keeper.

The bill for the whole fix comes to $266.  If I kept the whole fix, the Buy 5, 25% discount would bring the total down to $199.50.  I’m definitely sending back the first two tops, so that means my total is $154, minus the $20 styling fee brings it down to $134 for the dress, skirt, and jeans.  They’re all pieces I feel like I can wear a bunch of different ways, are quality fabrics, and they’re new staples to my wardrobe instead of being cheap, trendy pieces that I’ll only wear for one season.  Plus, for every new piece I keep from Stitch Fix, I make myself remove something from the closet that just doesn’t work anymore.

Final thoughts:  I like being given little nudges  outside of my style comfort zone.  I have a pretty good  idea of what silhouettes/shapes/cuts work best on my body, but it’s great to have someone give me a poke and say, “Hey, I have this idea for something I think will work for you, let’s try it, and if it doesn’t work out, no big deal, just send it back.”  This is great because I don’t have to fight traffic and parking and then dig through racks to find the right size – it all comes straight to my door.  The callbacks to previous fixes in the styling notes are helpful too, and make the best use of items I already have in my wardrobe.  I do think I need to tweak my style profile a little since I’m getting all items with sleeves even though  we’re rolling into summer.  I think the mighty Stitch Fix computer algorithm is only giving Lana so much to choose from and changing the “arms” preference from “keep them covered” to “sometimes I’ll flaunt them” will give her more options to choose from.  I may not like to show off my arms, but I can always throw a cardigan or jacket over something sleeveless.  I may have two items going back in this fix, but there was absolutely no doubt on the three keepers!   In case you’re thinking about trying Stitch Fix and want to give me a little love, here’s my referral link!

Stitch Fix recently started offering plus sizes, and since I had been wanting to try Stitch Fix for a while, I jumped at the chance to give it a go since they finally carry my size range!  My first month was not great, and while I posted it on Instagram, I didn’t want to blog about it.  I don’t quite have the confidence (or fashion sense) of all the gorgeous plus size ladies who blog about plus size clothing, and, let’s be honest, I haven’t had that confidence at any size, whether it was a 10 or an 18.  But hey, sometimes if we do things that seem scary, after a while they feel  a little less scary, so, here goes nothing.

My second Stitch Fix arrived today and I was eager to see what was in the box.  My first box was styled by Angie, and this one was by Lana.  The styling fee was waived for this box since the last one was a disappointment, and  I thought was a nice gesture by Stitch Fix!  I did keep the jeans from the first box, and I’m finding that even though they’re a little outside of my comfort zone in terms of fit (they’re more fitted through the thigh), they are so damn comfortable and look pretty stellar on.  For this month’s Fix, Lana added a note on the styling card:

Welcome back for your 2nd Fix.  I loved looking on your Instagram and your Sheetar website for inspiration!  I’m sorry to see you were disappointed in your last Fix.  I was sure not to include any pink this time.  Since you are looking for more figure flattering tops, I thought you would love the fitted style of the Ink Love & Peace mesh detail knit top.  Pair it with jeans and your favorite boots or black flats and add the Bay to Baubles fan necklace for a night out.  The Gilli Rinna dress will give you that 50’s retro style you’re looking for and will look amazing with some heels and red lipstick for your next special event or wedding.  The Skies are Blue split neck top is an easy style you can pair with jeans on your more casual days.  The Loveappella mesh detail knit top will also look chic paired with a fuller skirt.  Enjoy!

Well, Lana nailed it.  She clearly got a good sense of what I like by browsing around my social media accounts, and NO PINK!  (a friend likes to joke that I’m allergic to pink, I dislike the color that much)  So, let’s go piece by piece..

Item: Loveappella Normen Mesh Detail Top
Cost: $44.00
Paired With: Yellow crochet flats (mine), Jeans (last month’s Stitch Fix), necklace (this month’s stitch fix)
I LOVE this top.  It’s a great navy blue color, and the mesh detail on the sleeves is just on the top of the sleeve, so the mesh won’t irritate under your arms.  Super smart.  It’s also a piece I can wear without a cardigan which I almost never do because I like to hide my arms and tush, but I honestly would feel comfortable wearing this without a cardigan.  The fabric is a mid to light weight rayon/spandex knit – it’s not so light that it feels like tissue weight, but it’s just right for spring and fall and feels like a decent quality.  I even have a yellow fuller skirt that may go really well with this – I tend not to wear a lot of skirts since I have a short torso and I feel like they look weird since my waist is so high, but it’s worth trying it out!

Item: Bay to Baubles Zaria Fan Necklace
Cost: $38
Paired With: Loveappella Normen Mesh Detail Top
At first, I thought, eh, more jewelery, but it’s a really substantial, heavy piece, and I like that it’s silver and is more of a larger, statement piece.  It does go nicely to dress up the other two tops, and it’s not something I have anything similiar to already.  I’m kind of a little take-it-or-leave-it on this since it’s more than I’d spend on a similar necklace, but again, it is heavier than your average $12 clearance fashion jewelery.

Item: Ink Love & Peace Welden Mesh Detail Knit Top
Cost: $48
Paired With:  Jeans (last month’s Stitch Fix), black rosette flats (mine)
The top is plain black, but has a neat mesh detail that runs pretty much from armpit to armpit and down  the sleeves a little ways.  This is yet another top that I’d actually feel comfortable wearing without a cardigan (MIRACLE OF MIRACLES, TWO IN ONE BOX!).  It’s a nylon/spandex blend and is just a little heavier than the other top.  The fit is great!  The only thing I’m not sure I entirely like is the shoulder/sleeve construction and how there’s a seam running around the sleeve halfway between my elbow and shoulder, but it’s not enough to make me send back the top.  It’s just a weird design feature.

Item: Skies Are Blue Avena Split Neck Top
Cost: $54
Paired With:  Jeans (last month’s Stitch Fix), yellow crochet flats  (mine)
I’m not entirely thrilled with this one.  It’s a floaty, polyester fabric, and the fit isn’t great.  You can see how long the sleeves are (note that only my fingers are sticking out of the sleeve) and how far the shoulder seams hang down my arms.  The bust is way too big, but the fit is right around the hips, so if I went down a size, I’d be risking it not fitting in the hips.  I tend to have this same fit problem with most clothes since most plus size clothing is cut for  a gal with a larger chest.  I am definitely not that gal, so it means a bunch of excess fabric where my, uh, huge tracts of land ought to be.  I think it’s fixable  by taking up the sleeves a little and pulling in the darts around the bust, but it’s a lot of work for something I’m not terribly thrilled with.  It also still falls into that shapeless-sack category that a lot of plus size clothing ends up being with no structure to the body – I tend to prefer tops with a bit more structure and definition to them, and a good fit means they look better than something that shapelessly hangs.  I’d have liked  this a lot more if it was a cotton blend or a flannel, or a more structured fabric instead of a breezy, light polyester georgette.  This is also the only clothing piece in my Fix that wasn’t made in the USA.

Item: Gilli Rinna Dress
Cost: $58
Paired With:  Cardigan (mine), red heels (mine)
HEYO!  Spot on perfect!  This little number  is a dark navy blue with ivory polka dots and doesn’t it just look great with the red?!  The fabric is I think what they call a “scuba” fabric – it’s a textured polyester/spandex blend.  The wind caught the dress a little for the photo, so you can see it has a nice drape, but it’s still a heavier fabric.  The back is a wide crossed back with a little keyhole opening around the waist.  Again (AGAIN), this is a little too big in the chest.  Fortunately, the raglan sleeves are a perfect spot to nip in the excess fabric.  I do happen to have an anniversary and birthday coming up in about a month, so, hey, nice timing!  I think this could also be dressed down a little with a denim jacket and flats as shown in the styling suggestions, or even go a little less retro paired with nude heels and an ivory cardigan.

The total bill for the box comes to $242.00.  You get a 25% discount if you keep everything, bringing the total down by $60.50 to $181.50.  I was contemplating returning the Skies Are Blue Avena Split Neck Top since there are a lot of fit issues and I’m not too keen on the fabric, but considering that the discount takes care of the cost of that top and then some, I’m probably just going to keep the whole Fix and see what I can do about alterations.   I’m no stranger to altering clothes since I’ve never been an off-the-rack body type, it’s just a bummer that precious little ever fits right without some work.

Final thoughts:  This was a MUCH MUCH better fix than the first by miles, and I feel like Lana definitely paid attention to my notes and preferences.  My favorite piece is probably the dress, but I do like the first two tops as well.  The prices are much higher than what I’d usually spend on clothes, but I also feel like they’re better quality, definitely not things I can find elsewhere, plus most of them are made in the USA which is pretty awesome.  In case you’re thinking about trying Stitch Fix and want to give me a little love, here’s my referral link!