Finding it hard to do any real shopping these days? You can still update your attire and create a capsule wardrobe you love with the help of Stitch Fix.
So, Here’s My Situation . . .
I have the hardest time shopping. Ever since I quit my office job about ten years ago and started working from home, fashion hasn’t been a priority. I didn’t think it was important to spend a lot of money on clothes if I was home most of the time.
Then, I added motherhood to the mix.
Not only has my body changed, but so have my fashion needs. I have a closet full of work clothes that either don’t fit me anymore or don’t make sense to wear while taking care of kids or going to the grocery store.
I’ve been wanting to update my wardrobe, but — I know this may be shocking — kids don’t always make the best shopping buddies.
Ah… shopping. What used to be a fun and leisurely form of entertainment has now become a chore that can only be done on the fly. Going to Target to buy more pull-ups? Why not throw one of those t-shirts into the cart and hope for the best?! (I’ve got about a 30% success rate on this.)
As if all this wasn’t challenging enough, now we have COVID thrown into the mix. And, while my state is opening back up again, some of my go-to stores have shut down and or are only open for limited hours. At this point, shopping for clothes has become nearly impossible.
What’s a mom to do?
Wardrobe Refresh, Step #1 | Clean up the closet space
Before building a capsule wardrobe, I wanted to give our closet a little love. We’ve lived in our home for about a year now, and I love it. Our closet is spacious and has plenty of space for hangers. However, it had zero drawers and no usable space for a dresser. When we moved in, I just put all my socks, underwear, and pajamas into some wicker baskets. There was also a funky clothes rack right in the middle of the closet, which just ended up being a landing zone for clutter.
We knew we could make the space more usable if we removed that clothes rack in the middle of the space and replaced it with a dresser. We found a used IKEA Hemnes 9-drawer dresser on OfferUp and it has been working perfectly! I can’t even tell you how happy I am to have drawers again. 🙂
I love how simple and gorgeous this space has become. I plan on hanging something on the wall above the dresser… maybe some pretty floating shelves, a mirror, or some artwork. If you have any ideas or suggestions, I’m all ears. 😉
Wardrobe Refresh, Step #2 | Do a complete edit of all clothing
Just like Marie Kondo would suggest, I dumped all my clothes on the bed and went through each item. I had already done this a few years ago, but since my life has changed so much, it felt good and helpful to go through the process again.
I now have a couple bags of clothes ready for donating in the back of my car. This has left my closet neatly arranged and full of items I love that all go together.
After completing this step, it was easier to see the gaps in my wardrobe. For example, I realized I have plenty of Target t-shirts (of course), but not a lot of blouses to wear to church or on a date night.
Wardrobe Refresh, Step #3 | Shop for key pieces, slowly and with intention
Since I have such a hard time doing actual shopping in stores that aren’t Target or Costco, I decided to give Stitch Fix a try.
Stitch Fix is an online personal styling service that uses data and algorithms on style, budget, and sizing to make clothing recommendations for users. I wasn’t planning on writing a post about Stitch Fix, but everyone I mentioned it to seemed curious about it and wanted to know how I liked it.
Using Stitch Fix to Create a Capsule Wardrobe
Step 1. Set up a profile. The Stitch Fix website takes you through a series of questions about your style, your size, and what you’re looking for. I had fun going through the style quiz and it took me less than 10 minutes. Your profile will give your stylist information on everything from occasions you’re dressing for, colors you wear, types of shoes you’re looking for, the price range you want for each type of item, and how frequently you want your “fixes” delivered.
After setting up your profile, take a minute to pin some outfits to your style board. This will give your stylist a visual of the kinds of outfits and pieces you like.
It costs $20 to have each “fix” delivered. This is your styling fee and it is applied toward any purchases you end up making. If you don’t end up keeping any items, you will not be refunded the initial $20 charge.
Step 2. Try on each piece and decide what to keep. I received my first box yesterday. I was so excited to see what the stylist had chosen for me. There were five pieces inside: a pair of skinny jeans, a sleeveless top, a sweater, a blouse, and a dress. After trying on each piece, I ended up keeping three.
If you’re trying to create a capsule wardrobe, consider how the pieces you keep will go with what’s already in your wardrobe. Try to stick to one or two color palettes (e.g., a mix of neutrals with some deep greens and navy), and consider what you already love to wear. For example, I do love wearing leggings and skinny jeans, so I made sure the tops I chose would work well with those.
My Stitch Fix box also included outfit ideas for each item. I used these ideas as a guide for how each piece might be incorporated into my existing wardrobe.
Step 3. Complete your purchase. If you log into Stitch Fix, you’ll see the pieces that were delivered, along with a feedback form where you can indicate which items you want to keep, how you liked the fit and pricing, and anything else you liked/didn’t like about them.
Here’s an example of what you’ll find on your check-out screen.
Note on Pricing: I was very pleased with how well the stylist stayed within my price range. While I was tempted to have her find items that were “as cheap as possible”, I really wanted to build a wardrobe with a few higher-quality pieces. With that in mind, I set my budget at $50-100 per item.
Step 4. Make your returns. This was a super easy process. I put what I didn’t want in the pre-labeled bag Stitch Fix provided and dropped it off at the post office. Done!
Conclusions | What I liked about Stitch Fix
In all honesty, this seems like the perfect way for me to shop right now. Here’s why:
- It is a time saver. I just don’t have time to go to the mall and spend hours searching for items. And that’s what it would take for me. Hours. After being immersed in motherhood for the past six years, I don’t even know what’s in style anymore, and I don’t always know what I like either. I’m also older (duh) and my body is different now. Ultimately, the shopping patterns I had several years ago aren’t working for me anymore.
- It gets me out of my rut. I am completely indecisive about fashion these days. I talk myself out of just about any purchase that isn’t under $30. And, even if I spent a day at the mall without kids, I would probably end up with the same things I already have.
- I can stop my subscription at any time. I won’t always use Stitch Fix. My plan is to have a new delivery every month or two until my capsule wardrobe is built. I’m not a “fashionista” and I don’t think I will ever be. But I do want to look somewhat put together sometimes. 😉
TL;DR – I love Stitch Fix. It’s great for people like me who: a.) need a wardrobe update; b.) don’t have time to do real, intentional shopping; c.) are crippled with indecision when the time actually comes to make a purchase.
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