My 25th Stitch Fix

You read that right, I've received 25 curated, mystery, surprise boxes from Stitch Fix! That means I've received 125 items. It all started back in December of 2014 just one month after the birth of my 4th and final child. There I was in my mid 30s thinking "Am I ever going to wear clothes I love again?" And I did, thanks to Stitch Fix.

Life has certainly changed since then. I quit my job, I worked for Stitch Fix, and now I'm a jewelry merchandiser! The kids are a little older, I have time to shop and my body seems to have stopped changing. I thought I'd be over Stitch Fix by now, but there are still a few reasons I keep doing it.

1. There isn't a better place for jeans. Having seen their inventory, you'd be amazed how many sizes, shapes, colors, brands, and styles of jeans they have. If you are having a hard time finding the right fit, try it for yourself and see!

2. I still love getting happy mail. I'm a low risk type of gal and really, $20 isn't the end of the world for finding high quality jeans and other things.

Let's get real, if I can carve out an hour for myself these days, I'd rather spend it wandering Trader Joe's or an antique store than the drudgery of shopping for jeans in a store. And I ALWAYS come up empty handed. Add to that, gas money spent + the purchase of other things I don't need from Marshall's and Stitch Fix actually saves me money. 

Keep in mind, the $20 fee goes towards a purchase if you keep anything.

So here's what my $25 Stitch Fix included:

Stitch Fix sends these fun style cards and notes to help you get the most out of your Fix.

I'm sure you're wondering about the prices. I selected "The cheaper the better" when filling out my style profile. I think some of the tops are overpriced but the prices of Stitch Fix jeans, pants, accessories, dresses, sweaters and jackets are comparable to department store prices.

While I find the prices reasonable, moreso with the buy it all discount, I'm a stickler for fit and excitement and decided not to keep anything this time around. I kind of regret not keeping the sweater as the fit was there. I think it was very flattering and feminine, but the color just wasn't me. The burgundy Henley was just a tad short and as usual, the dolman fit lacked the structure I need. The black top was an exact replica of a shirt that hung in my closet for ages, unworn. I think I never wore it because it didn't cover my chest enough.

The jeans were a total win, except on size. The Mavi were a size too big (these run large) and the Studio Blue were several inches too short (which might have worked if they were tapered). I was overall excited that the jeans were so close to perfect and immediately scheduled my next Fix!

If you'd like to try Stitch Fix for yourself I'd appreciate it if you used my referral link: https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/melanierhoades?sod=w&som=c

Love my jewelry? You can find the Blooms of Kyoto necklace here in ivory, red or black, and so much more: https://www.chloeandisabel.com/boutique/melanierhoades

Happy Spring! 

Thrift Sub Box - Say What Now?!

It's been too long since I blogged about subscription boxes, don't you think? It's partly because I'm not doing them often, and partly that I'm failing at it. My last two (Stitch) Fixes were a bust, I've put on a little winter weight. That's a thing, right? I may also be a little disenchanted from my behind the scenes experience as a stylist. I feel the same way about Disneyland since working there.

But look was I just spotted today! Thred Up has a Goody Box which is more or less a sub box, curated thrifted finds with a just a $20 deposit. Keep what you like, send the rest back!

If you haven't heard of Thred Up, I'm so glad you're here. It's the biggest thrift & consignment store online. I'd been stalking them for awhile now, a good friend recommended it. When I spotted 3 pairs of designer jeans (my favorite brand) in new condition in my size, PLUS a coupon code, I jumped in and am so happy I did. This was my favorite pair. After the coupon I paid just $11.40 for them!

It's really easy to use, just enter your sizes, click on categories that interest you and browse. You can even sort to see only items new with tags still on.

Right now I'm stalking jackets, which brings me back round to the Goody Box. There are so many options, I can't make up my mind. I love the idea of a box of surprises at amazing prices.

Check out the fun categories to pick from!

Cold Weather Essentials

Jeans, sweaters and long sleeve tops for cooler temperatures

Office Styles

Pants, skirts and blouses for the office

Night Out

Date night dresses, blouses, tops and jeans for a night on the town

Fancy Finds (Designer Labels)

Jeans, long sleeve tops, sweaters and jackets from your favorite name brands

Each box contains 12-15 custom items based on your preferences, notes and sizes. They ship free AND returns are free! A $20 deposit is collected, which counts toward anything you keep.

I love everything about this idea. I just finished checking out. I picked the Fancy Finds. Blog post to come!

Other great things about Thred Up:

Closet Clean Out

Request a clean out kit and send your gently used or unworn pieces to Thred Up and choose between making a charitable donation or payout. It's the perfect answer to buyers remorse on non-returnable items or satisfying the urge to shop when funds are low. Get cash up front or on consignment.

The current "exchange rate" on Thred Up:

Reduce Recycle Reuse

I've always loved thrifting for kitchen and household items, toys, and games knowing that I was doing my part to reduce waste. However, I found thrifting for clothes time consuming and frustrating. I never dreamed I'd find an online thrift and consignment store full of my favorite Stitch Fix brands in like new condition. The prices are unreal!

As you would imagine, Thred Up receives items that are not up to their resale standards. I was happy to hear they sell this third party sellers or passed on to textile recycling companies.

I hope to use this as an opportunity to teach my kids good habits. That reminds me, I need to check out the kids clothing, too!

If you're thinking of trying Thred Up for yourself, whether it's the Goody Box or just poppin tags on a few new pieces you pick out yourself, I'd love it if you used my referral link. I think there's a $10 off coupon in it for you, too! Click here: Thred Up

Happy Thrifting!