DEPENDS ON HOW YOU DO IT

Are you on the fence about trying out the ever-popular personal-styling trend?

Yeah, I was too. You definitely aren’t completely missing out if you decide not to dabble in Stitch Fix… but it could also really work in your favor. Let me lay it out there in terms of how it works, the pros and cons, and the best way to get the most bang for your buck.

[All photos are from my personal Stitch Fix experiences!]

HOW DOES IT WORK?

You set up an account, optimize your Style Profile, and then schedule your Fix!

On or before delivery day, you’ll receive an adorable box of 5 carefully wrapped, hand-picked items.

Along with the clothing, you’ll find:

a personal note from your Stitch Fix Stylist

an itemized list with details and prices of each item

outfit suggestions for styling each item with things you might already have on hand

a prepaid, pre-addressed return envelope

You then have 3 days to decide (aka Check Out, described below) which items you want to keep. The rest is put into the prepaid envelope and dropped into the mail.

You then go online and “Check Out,” where you indicate which items are being returned and kept. Then you pay and are on your way!

I regret returning this poncho sweater from my 1st Fix. At the time I felt it was too much of a style risk. Silly me!

WHAT IS THE RI$K?

The whole process costs $20, and that’s what you’re truly risking when scheduling one Fix. (Notice I didn’t say “that’s only what you’re risking.” I know $20 could be much better spent if you walk away from a Stitch Fix experience empty-handed.)

If you decide to keep anything, that $20 goes towards that item. 

For example, while my first Stitch Fix experience was great in terms of the style choices being perfect, only 1 item fit well enough to keep. It was a $50 item (the blouse below). I packed the other 4 items up, dropped the package into the mail, and then checked out online. My total was around $30, because they charge you whatever you keep minus the original $20. Not bad for my first go-around!

Another note: If you love 4 items and just kind of like the 5th one, consider keeping it or giving it to someone as a gift, since you’ll receive a 25% discount for keeping all 5 items. Many times this is cheaper than returning the reject. (I did this with my 2nd Stitch Fix experience.)

WHAT’S THE PROCESS?

So you’ve decided to take the plunge. Now what? Set-up is actually incredibly simple:

Step 1: Go to StitchFix.com and click on “Get Started” to create an account.

Step 2: Sign up with your name, email, zip code, and dress size.

Step 3: The site will prompt you to fill out your Style Profile. *Take your time!

Once you’ve answered the questionnaire, you should definitely consider creating a Pinterest board of clothing items that display your desired style. To ensure that your stylist completely understands what you want, edit the Pin descriptions with little notes to emphasize certain details.

Step 4: Near the end of your Style Profile page, copy the link to this specific Pinterest board for your stylist’s easy reference.

Step 5: Don’t be afraid to leave a note to your stylist about any other specifics.

Step 6: Schedule your Fix with their calendar system!

Step 7: Once you receive your items and decide what you’re keeping, pack the rejects into the envelope and drop it in the mail.

Step 8: Check out online within 3 days of your delivery date!

WHAT ARE SOME TIPS & TRICKS?

If you’ve made it this far into this blog post, then let me just say that you and I are a lot alike. I read numerous articles, reviews, and insider information before deciding to take the plunge. I also chatted with many friends and acquaintances who had tried the service before.

Here are the best 6 pieces of advice I found to be true after implementing them.

1. Choose the “The cheaper, the better” option for all items*.

Stitch Fix buys items wholesale and then turns around and sells them retail, at a marked-up price. This is standard business practice, but it means that, by nature, these items aren’t going to be Good Will-hunting bargains. By choosing the least expensive option, you’re not going to feel complete sticker shock (unless you’re looking for more adventurous, higher-end items that you might never choose for yourself!).

*IMPORTANT NOTE: I have since changed my mind on this piece of advice. Read more about that here: My 3rd Stitch Fix Experience: What I Learned.

2. Create a Stitch Fix board on Pinterest and link it to your Style Profile.

Those “What do you think of the style below?” collections on the questionnaire are just hideous, aren’t they? At best, you’ll like one or two individual items. I think I chose “Hate It” for almost all of them!

Instead, create a Pinterest board of any and all items that strike your fancy.

3. Leave notes to your Stylist as much as possible.

Edit the descriptions to all the pins in your board, and to make it extra clear, start each note with “Dear Stitch Fix Stylist.” Also, take advantage of the Leave-a-Note feature on the Stitch Fix Style Profile.

4. Pin actual photos of yourself in the Stitch Fix items.

Take long-mirror-selfies of your items. Show your Stylist exactly why you loved a piece (“Love the way this color complements my skin tone!”) … or why you sent it back (“These pants were a bit saggy in the bottom. I think I might be the next size down for high-waist jeans.”)

5. Take full advantage of The Feedback feature when checking out.

There’s a theme here: Communicate clearly and specifically with your stylist. Instead of saying, “It was too big,” try narrowing the problem down: “This dress would have fit perfectly if there were a clear waist; maybe steer away from T-shirt dresses for me next time.”

6. Share your experience and referral link on social media.

Tweet it, share it, post it, email it! Link to it in blog posts! 🙂

I posted photos of all my items to my personal Facebook page, originally because I had friends and family dying to see what I got. Instead, I got loads of Facebook friends inquiring about how to get started.

Enter the Referral Code.

When your friends sign up and then schedule a Stitch Fix through your unique referral code (made easy to find and share when you’re signed into your account), you receive a quick $25 Stitch Fix credit!

I had so much word-of-mouth referral credit after my first Fix that I decided to schedule another one. And then another one. It’s honestly the only reason I keep coming back for more. That and I hate dressing rooms.

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