Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Stitch Fix Subscription box

In my first post I mentioned subscription boxes that I receive.  I get two boxes that I receive each month.
Today I'm going to write about one that I've tested out a few times that I had mixed feelings on.

Stitch Fix is a monthly clothing/accessory box.  I liked this box because you don't have to commit to receive a box every month.  All you have to do is sign-up and fill out a style profile.  You can get more information on what all is involved, just click the linky! :-)

My initial impression:  What a great idea! 

All you have to do is fill out a style profile and "a personal shopper" picks clothing and accessories out for you to try.  The cost is $20 per box.  They will send you 5 "fixes" (articles of clothing or accessories).  You try on, keep what you like, and send the rest back.  Returns are free and a plastic mailer with postage is included with every fix.  If you keep nothing, all you will be out is your $20 styling fee.  Keep one or four pieces, your $20 styling fee will be applied to your purchase.  Keep all 5 pieces and you get 25% off the total as well as your initial $20 fee applied.  They also give you plenty of opportunities to offer feedback.  The more feedback you give, the better your clothing/accessory matches.  You can also pick your price point, which is a big plus.  Prices run from, "The Cheaper, the better" to $200+ per item.  I opted for the $50-100 range with a note to the stylist that I was willing to go outside my range if something OMG fab came up.


The Reality:  At the $50-100 price point, there was more miss than hit.  I only kept the entire contents of one box (March) out of the 3 or so I have received thus far.  Totally things I could wear and use (2 dresses that I can wear for work, and I need to mention that one was a colorblock dress), but nothing that was worth getting super excited over.

The dress was cute, I decided to keep it.

The last box I received (April), was a complete miss.  I ended up keeping a chunky necklace out of that box that I thought was a little expensive for what it was.  I'm not sure they keep track of things that they send you because I got A SECOND colorblock dress in that fix.  The dress was made well, but it was in a medium to heavy knit that made me go, "REALLY?  It's 80 degrees outside and you send me a knit dress suitable for way cooler weather like fall?"  Granted, the dress was sleeveless, but still, nothing I would wear in warmer weather.  The knit was just too heavy, and also, I don't need 2 colorblock dresses.  VARIETY, people!!!

I also did a little internet research on some of the fixes they sent in my boxes.  I received in the March box an asymmetrical zip cardigan in a grey heather color.


I also have it in dark grey (above) from a different website clothing vendor.

I kept the light grey cardigan because I loved the style.  However, the dark grey cardigan bought from the other site cost LESS.

In one of my first fixes, I kept one item.  It was a pair of skinny jeans from a vendor that's new to me called, "Kut From the Kloth".  Searching for the jeans via Google, I discovered them on another website for $20 less...and ON SALE.

Oh, and they also sent me a polyester scarf (granted it was SUPER CUTE and I wanted to keep it) that cost $60.  For real?  I expected at least 100% wool or a predominately wool blend for that price.  The last box also included a $98 100% cotton top (like a light sweater), also cute, MADE IN CHINA.  Really?  Made in China and near $100???

Anyway, from scanning other bloggers who LOVE Stitch Fix, a lot of the fixes look pretty similar to each other.  Some stuff that made me say, "YAY, cute!"  But mainly other items that I thought looked great on the blogger, but would probably not look so great on me.

I googled reviews on Stitch Fix and found only positive review.  No one really had anything bad to say about the service or the clothing.  I think all the clothing I've seen have been pretty good quality.  Worth the price?  Arguable.  You could probably find the same pieces somewhere else for cheaper.

I really want to try Stitch Fix at the next level price point, which is $100-$200 and see if the styles and selections are more up my alley.  But I'm kind of skeptical.

PROS:
Convenience!
Great service
Good Quality

CONS:
Product Price - Way overpriced in my opinion
Hit and Miss

Monday, April 14, 2014

First Post


A few years ago, I had a blog called, "Plays well with yarn...and sometimes others."  I wrote for a few years and then just sort of gave up on it.  I just deleted it a year or so ago and regretted it.  Everything posted gone.  Oh well.

Just to update everyone, I got married in 2012, after having been single for 20+ years.  Yup, TWENTY PLUS.  My husband is a good man.  I really don't know how I managed that! lol  But I guess after twenty years, it was time.  Thank you, God...I no longer have to date!!!  My son is well on his way to being 23.  Where has the time gone??  I'm stepmom to two twin girls who just turned 13.  I still knit.  Got out of it for a few years, but am back into it again, with a vengeance!  I also sew so I've been stashing fabric as well (Amy Butler has been a favorite so far).

Lately, I've felt the urge to write again.  I've had stuff to say, and nowhere to put it.  I've join a few subscription box sites.  Some good, some not-so-good.  At least one of the sites I haven't found anything online that was negative, which is a surprise.  Mmm...service-wise, the site was GREAT.  Product-wise, not so much.  I'll get to that a little later.

We are now in the midst of spring and husband and I are trying to fix up our yard.  For the past 4 years or so, we've planted tomatoes.  This year is more of the same, but he just built us a raised garden bed about 8' long by 4' wide (and about 12" high).  We plan on growing vegetables this year, or at least try!  We decided on a raised bed garden because since we live in a canyon, we have a BAD gopher problem.  :-(  I've lost maybe 4 or 5 rose bushes to gophers.   I fricken HATE gophers!  So our raised bed will have a gopher barrier in it which consists of a metal screen-lined bottom.  

While weeding yesterday, I flipped over a brick and found this little fella.



A friend told me that it was a rubber boa and that they were that shade of pink when they were young.  It was probably about 6 or 7 inches long.  The first time I saw one of these things, I put the rock back over it and called it a day! haha  I'm getting used to seeing them now.  Last year there was a bigger one hanging around, and a few years ago, I think there was one in the cypress tree either trying to eat a bird or trying to get into it's nest.  There was a huge commotion in the cypress and I heard birds squawking and even saw the snakes tail whip out of the tree!  I call it a day on that one too and went inside after that.

We are also trying to get the house in order and fix and update.  Recently we got rid of a HUGE and ugly secretary that husband's ex left behind and replaced it with another secretary desk which was smaller and less clunky.  We just finished bathroom remodels, both master and guest bathrooms (the girls' bathroom).  Next up is the kitchen and it is going to be MAJOR.  All countertops, appliances, window covering, and paint.  We replaced the floor 5 years ago, so we're going to wait another 5 years and re-do again.

So anyway, welcome to my blog!