Where to buy Golden Tote Surprise Items February 2015

My absolute favorite thing about ordering a Golden Tote Mystery Tote was learning about the Golden Tote Trading Group on Facebook. From there I was invited to a few other "secret" groups where we could all air our dirty laundry, ie true feelings about Golden Tote.

I've scored some pretty amazing deals on clothes through these trading groups. I no longer feel the need to run and buy a Golden Tote full of surprises for the price of an arm and a leg. I just watch and wait for the items I want to come up on Facebook.

Another cool thing happened. People are sharing sites from around the web where you can buy GT surprise and out of stock items. The prices are sometimes higher, but at least you know what you are getting. No surprises here.

I may be a bit of an enabler. Oh well.

This is how I stumbled upon Ruche. I just scored this dress from a fellow GTTG member, but if you'd got to have it go to Ruche!

Irina Printed Dress

Here's another surprise I see flying around the GTTG

Mediterranean Voyage Printed Dress

Turns out they also have a dress much anticipated in the March 2015 Golden Tote. Possibly not the cheapest, and you will also likely be able to buy it in the Golden Tote boutique, unlike the surprise items. But why wait when you can have it now!

On Safari Embroidered Dress

One thing to keep in mind is that boutique items, when offered in the totes, often sell out, as this gingham dress did. I've heard great things about this one, and seen a lot of flattering pictures of it.

Lakeside View Button-Up Dress

I also picked up this dress from GTTG, available in the GT boutique as the All Seasons dress, or on Ruche as All the Best Printed Dress

If you missed out on the Tis the Season dress on GT you can find it on Ruche as the For Good Measure Striped Dress

And here is the GT Dinner Date dress aka the Acadia Floral Dress

So...you decide. Spend $49/$149 (plus tax and shipping) for a Golden Tote for 2 chosen items and 1/4 surprises in hopes that you get your unicorn, or save your time, money & energy and buy them at Ruche. 

PS they have coupons, including 20% off for signing up. Tops & skirts are also 30% off now until 2/27 with coupon PERFECTPAIR30

Still have Golden Tote fever? You can also find GT brands on Zulily from time to time, such as Le Lis, Potters Pot, Flying Tomato, and Hourglass Lily. The generally do 3 day sales, so it's difficult to post comparisons, but I saw a Le Lis blouse I traded for on the GTTG going for $24.99 plus shipping. This months flying tomato cardigan just sold out, too. They can notify you when an item or brand returns. The prices are fantastic.

PS Ruche also has a jacket that is totally cute that I saw in a Stitch Fix review (Love the Kindercraze Blog!). Ruche calls it the Evette Woven jacket by Tulle.

Your turn! Where do you buy your Golden Tote surprises?

My Latest Fix (Stitch Fix)

My Stitch Fix box arrived, just in time for Christmas (and 5 days earlier than expected)! I had ordered it mid-November and it was the earliest date available. At the time I was very pregnant and home on maternity leave, dreaming of clothes that weren't 99% spandex. I gave a pretty tall order, "make me not look fat" more or less. I filled out their style profile, left a note for my stylist, and wished for the best.

For those of you unfamiliar with Stitch Fix it's a styling service. They send you 5 items for a $20 fee. Keep and pay for what you'd like, send back the rest. If you keep all 5 items you get a 25% discount, if you send it all back they keep the styling fee. The fee goes toward the items you keep. I think what sold me was the not leaving your home part. With baby number 4 and just having finished Christmas shopping I am really over my need to go anywhere. I also have very little time when I do go shopping. When I do get the chance to shop, I always end up in the same stores buying the same style of clothes, if you could call it a style. According to the website the average price of an item is $50, it's more than what I usually spend but there are no additional charges for shipping, just tax.

I seriously couldn't believe I decided to keep everything. So here's what I got!

EZRA

Eileen Striped Dolman Top $38.00

I hate the neckline, it's too low and I never wear v necks. Its also long and frumpy looking. I don't think horizontal stripes are ever going to work for me. I do however like the material and color. Not my favorite in the box, but I didn't give up hope!

Size Just right
Price Just right
Style Hate it
Fit/Cut Hate it

PAPERMOON

Elvina Embroidery Detail Pocket Front Top $44.00

I'm not into boho, seems like a mix up. But I love this top, the small amount of detail, otherwise simple. Great colors for me, goes good with jeans. I don't like that it needs dry cleaning, how is this "easy to take care of"? I'll make it work though, I love this shirt. It was the first thing I wore from the box.

Size Just right
Price Just right
Style Love it
Fit/Cut Love it

EZRA

Isaac Open Cardigan $48.00

Great color for me, soft and luxurious, goes well with jeans, perfect amount of detail, great length. This was my favorite, instantly loved. Do this again Stitch Fix and you'll have me for life!

Size Just right
Price Just right
Style Love it
Fit/Cut Love it

LOVEAPPELLA

Evie Draw String Funnel Neck Sweatshirt $64.00

I wasn't sure about this style and fit, and the pocket sort of falls on my baby bump. The funnel neck seemed odd. But it just works. It's incredibly soft and the color/marl is flattering. 

Size Just right
Price Too high
Style Like it
Fit/Cut Like it

HONEY PUNCH

Mya Plaid & Lace Button-Up $48.00

Returning, small stain. It was too long, very unflattering with baby bump. I don't like long shapeless shirts. I rarely find button ups that work. I also prefer warmer pieces, I get cold easily. 

Size Too Big
Price Just right
Style Just okay
Fit/Cut Hate it

So I liked/loved 3 out of 5 items, this far exceeded my expectations. At first I was a little put off by them sending something they considered boho and saying it appealed to me, as nothing in my profile suggested I like boho. And the really long flowy shirts totally went against the classic, fitted style I prefer. But I did just have a baby and if I'd gotten tightly fitted clothes they probably wouldn't have worked. I'd say their instincts paid off.

Stitch Fix didn't have a replacement for the Mya Plaid shirt but they were very nice and let me have the 25% off the other items (as I had planned to keep them all for the discount). Great customer service was the cherry on top of this great fix! So for about $140 bucks I got 4 new tops. With the discount the price is pretty close to what I'd usually pay. I'm hoping the striped Eileen grows on me, maybe it'll look better as the baby bump does. It is really comfortable either way.

Needless to say, I will be ordering another Stitch Fix box in the future. I may have even sold my sister on the idea! You can go ahead and add a Stitch Fix gift card to my wish list! Be sure to follow a link from my blog to help me get my next fix :)

https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/melanierhoades?sod=w&som=c