7 Secrets For A Great Stitch Fix

I am cheap, especially when it comes to clothes.

My standard uniform comes from the clearance rank at Kohl’s and isn’t exactly inspired.

But, I kept seeing friend after friend on Facebook asking if Stitch Fix was worth it, and with my life getting busier and busier by the minutes (plus my newfound resolve to buy only quality items, even if they cost more), I caved to the Fix.

Yep, I buckled to the peer pressure in an effort to automate a little more of my life, discover some new pieces that would push me outside of my comfort zone.

And I can honestly tell you that I’m a fan.

If you’re unfamiliar with the service, Stitch Fix is clothing subscription box on steroids. You will fill out a thorough Style Profile so that your personal Stitch Fix Stylist can get an idea of who you are and what styles you like, as well as your sizes and fit preferences. You can also set budgets for each clothing category, so there are no price tag surprises in your box. Then, you will be shipped your Stitch Fix with 5 items handpicked by your Stylist, a pricing sheet, a note from your Stylist, as well as a super fun Style Sheet to give you ideas for the 5 items in your box.

I’ve come to love receiving my Stitch Fixes every month because of how easy and fun they are, how they inject new life into my wardrobe, and the personal relationship I’ve begun to develop with my Stylist. I haven’t kept every single piece, of course, I have been more excited about some than others, but many of the staples in my closet are from Stitch Fix. They’re pieces I wear nearly every day, that I wait to was as long as possible because I’m always wearing them, and that are standing the test of time.

I had been resistant To Stitch Fix for a couple of reasons:

My Personality: I’m a control-freak, and that’s putting it mildly, so the thought of giving someone else (even an awesome stylist!) even a little bit of control over my wardrobe scares me. The Stitch Fix Style profile is quite comprehensive, but for a control freak its still quite a big step.

My Budget: I am pretty sensitive to price, so I was nervous about giving up control of some of my shopping. Yep, Stitch Fix is more expensive than the clearance rack, but I was curious about whether Stitch Fix would keep me from shopping as frequently, and help me to be more satisfied with my existing wardrobe + a couple of new, quality pieces each month.

But, what drew me to Stitch Fix was the ability to not only have a personal stylist, but to develop a relationship with that stylist by giving her feedback about my Fixes. The more feedback and inspiration you share, the better each and every Stitch Fix will be.

There were several reasons I decided to take the plunge with Stitch Fix:

A Busy Schedule

In January, I started working full-time. From home, but my schedule got much busier.

Can anyone relate to that?

We’re all busy, so having a personalized service that takes shopping for stylish, fitted pieces is just one more thing that you can get off of your personal to-do list.

I Have No Sense Of Style

It’s true, I’ll own up to it.

We all want to dress like we just came off the pages of a magazine, but doing so isn’t as easy as it sounds. It’s intimidating, even. Stitch Fix puts designer fashion into your hands, but through the eyes of a Stylist, who gets to know you and recommends pieces that will work well for you.

Stitch Fix is really helping develop not only my sense of style, it is helping to incorporate better pieces in my wardrobe.

To Be Pushed Out of My Comfort Zone

Referencing the above point, it is good for everyone to be pushed out of their comfort zone.

#truth

Plus, fun, new clothes can completely change your mood, productivity, and outlook – and Stitch Fix does that.

Less Is More

The best pieces in any wardrobe are those that are excellent quality and that can become a part of hundreds of different outfits. A pair of great-fitting dark wash jeans, a cardigan that goes with everything, or a dress that works for nearly ever occasion can make up a significant portion of your wardrobe if used correctly. Stitch Fix help me to craft a mix-and-match wardrobe full of staple pieces that I can wear with anything.

It’s Convenient

When I got my first Stitch Fix, I was excited, but at the same time did not have high expectations. When I opened the box to see that distinctive, teal Stitch Fix pattern and seal, I started getting really excited.

My husband, who, up until this point had been having to hear about how excited I was for my first “Fix” almost every day, was with me when I opened the box, excited to see what it contained, so as I looked at each piece of clothing I handed them to him. Before I could even say anything, he (the man who knows NOTHING about clothes) commented on how good the quality of the clothes in my Fix were.

From the mouth of a man.

My Tips For Getting Your Best Stitch Fix (The First Time)

1) Take Your Time With Your Style Profile (And Revisit If Necessary)

Take your time filling out your Style Profile. While I thought that I had given it sufficient time the the first time around, I realized after receiving my pieces that there were some things I had neglected to include.

Case in point: Price. I am cheap. I have admitted it to myself. I know this. Logic would dictate that I should have put “As Cheap As Possible” as pricing for each piece, but for some reason I didn’t. I also didn’t really commit to a style, saying that I didn’t really like any of the styles they laid out, rather than choosing favorites.

2) Create & Link A Pinterest Board

You collect the best stuff on Pinterest, so if you let you Stylist know about your favorite fashion boards, she can make your Stitch Fix even more amazing. Here are some tips straight from Stitch Fix:

“Dedicate a Stitch Fix Board: Create a board JUST for your Stylist, so they know where to pull inspiration from. Title it “My Stitch Fix Style” or “Stitch Fix Inspiration” so it’s easy to locate. If you don’t want to create a specific board, try to use general terms like “Fashion” or “Accessories” in the title so your Stylist can spot it among your other boards.
Window Shop: Cruise your favorite shopping sites and pin items to your Stitch Fix board that you’d like to buy. Have fun with it! This gives us a great sense of what you’re looking for and what you’d actually wear.
Pin Stitch Fix Pieces: Check out our Instagram, Blog and Facebook Pinterest boards, and pin Stitch Fix inventory that you like. NOTE: Not all items will be available, but your Stylist will do their best to select similar pieces.
Leave Comments: While you’re pinning, leave notes beneath the item to tell us what you like about it, or if you’re looking for a similar style but different attribute (ex. “I’d love this in red”).
Update It Frequently: Make sure you’re pinning to your board frequently so it reflects your current needs, trends and seasonal preferences.”

3) Treat Your Stylist Like An Employee

Just like you have co-workers that “get you” more than others at work, your Stylist might not be right for you. How Stitch Fix works is that when you start your Fix, they assign you a Stylist, and then unless you request a chance, that Stylist stays with you for years.

But your Stylist will have their strengths and weaknesses, just like any employee, so if after a couple of Fixes (while your Stylist is still getting to know you) you’re not thrilled, request a new Stylist. Just type “NEW STYLIST PLEASE” into the first line of feedback from your Box, and you will be given a new Stylist. You won’t hurt their feelings, because Stitch Fix employs hundreds of Stylists and they know that not every Stylist is right for every Stitch Fix subscriber.

Once you find a Stylist you love, stick with them! Give them lots of feedback so that you can your Fixes are exactly what you wanted!

4) Leave Notes for Your Stylist

For each Fix, you can share specific requests you have, whether you saw an amazing dress on Pinterest or have a special event coming up. If it matters to you, your Stylist wants to know about it. Great special requests include:

Special Events: Going to a wedding? Maybe you have a job interview? Even other events like dates, or work parties are things your Stylist can help you out with.
Fashionable Finds: Have a specific piece of clothing in mind that you saw on Pinterest? Link up your Pinterest board or a specific pin and let your Stylist help you out.
Travel: If you have a trip or vacation coming up, your Stylist can help you find the perfect outfit, no matter your destination. Just let you Stylist know where you’re heading and then let them do the rest!

5) Nix the Polite

Your Stylist really wants to get to know you and your style so that you are happy with your Fixes, so don’t worry so much about being polite when giving feedback and instructions. Instead, be honest, brutally so, even. Don’t be concerned with complete sentence or correct grammar, but instead make sure to communicate EVERYTHING you loved or hated about each piece in your Fix with the limited characters you’re allowed in your Checkout Survey. Your Stylist will be thrilled for the feedback, even if it wasn’t conveyed in the most polite manner!

6) You Don’t Have To Commit To Automatic Shipments

Initially, you may be concerned with signing up for a subscription service. After all, not knowing what is going to be sent each time could make your Stitch Fixes get expensive.

But that’s not the aim of Stitch Fix. Rather, it is to match you up with pieces that you absolutely love and that will fit perfectly with your wardrobe – not to price gouge you.

I was nervous about automatic Stitch Fixes, so I was happy to learn that even though you’ll set them up while filling out your Style Profile, once your first shipment has arrived you can turn off automatic Fixes. Then, when you feel your wardrobe needs an update, just order a single Fix, or more if you need them.

7) Only Keep The Pieces You Never Want To Take Off

If you’re a bargain shopper who is also concerned with purchasing quality pieces, then Stitch Fix could be a trap that helps you wreck you budget. Because of the 25% discount they offer when you purchase all 5 pieces in your box, it may be tempting to keep them all, even if you’re not in love with every single piece your stylist sent.

Use the “love it or leave it” rule to determine which items you’ll keep and which you’ll send back. Try everything on, and it keep it on for at least an hour. Look at yourself in the mirror and make a note of your mood while wearing the item. Also think about how you feel when you take the item off. The item(s) that you never want to take off – or that you forget you have on and stay in for half the day – are the keepers. Everything else, while it may be nice, isn’t a piece you’ll enjoy wearing for years to come.

Yes, you’ll forfeit the discount if you don’t keep every piece, but remember, you’ll still get a $20 credit for the Styling Fee you paid.

Honestly, I love Stitch Fix. It’s making my life easier, bringing quality, stylish pieces into my closet, and when I look at the big picture, it is actually saving me money.

With that being said, Stitch Fix isn’t right for everyone. One of my best friends from high school is very tall – not even the “tall” size jeans from normal stores fit her because she’s so tall – so she found that none of the jeans that Stitch Fix sent fit her either. You may find something like that with your Fixes, but if you tell your Stylist to avoiding sending Bottoms, then you will be able to get more pieces you love, without the frustration of pieces that don’t fit.