Holl And Lane Issue 3 | Page 23

PRODUCT REVIEW stitch fix words & images by MICAH CHAPLIN I have been blessed with a few talents, but fashion is not one of them. I do not have a very good eye for putting an outfit together. My style can best be described as comfortable and basic. When I go shopping, I tend to gravitate to a lot of the same things I already have in my closet. A few years ago, I saw bloggers raving about Stitch Fix, a service that uses a stylist to send you items of clothing to try on. I was very intrigued. You pay $20 and fill out your "style profile," and they send you a box of items handpicked for you.  That $20 can be used toward the purchase of one or more of the items.  And if you purchase all items in the box, you get a 25% discount.  That sounded like a pretty decent deal, so I signed up. The first Fix was a bit of a miss, but I tweaked my Pinterest style board, and offered feedback when I sent the items back. Since then, my boxes have gotten a lot better. I’ve now been a happy Stitch Fix subscriber for two years. This is one of my most treasured clothing items. I look for excuses to wear it. The stylists at Stitch Fix have pushed me outside my usual shopping habits. Some of the pieces have drawn an eyebrow raise when I pull them out of the box, but I always give them a shot, and sometimes I’m pleasantly surprised. For example, I’ve always been afraid of horizontal stripes, so when I got a black and white dress with this pattern, I thought for sure I’d be sending it back. But I tried it on, and it was super flattering. It ended up being one my favorite things I have in my closet. I also like the convenience and flexibility of the fixes. I usually have mine arrive on Thursday so I have all weekend to try them on. Since I’m trying clothes on in my own home, I can see what else I have in my closet to complement the piece. I can also see if I already have a similar item. Living room fashion shows can be fun too. I look forward to receiving my Stitch Fix, though I must confess I’m not on a monthly schedule. I skip every other month to help keep the expense down. Stitch Fix offers suggestions on how to style each piece. I liked the color and style of this dress but the cut just didn’t do it for me. HollAndLaneMag.com | 23