An Experiment with Stitch Fix - Part 2

You might recall that back in September, I had my first experience with Stitch Fix, the online styling company. I only kept one item from my first 'Fix' and hoped that the second one would yield better results.  When I 'checked out' from my first 'Fix', I left lots of notes and comments for the next stylist hoping to guide them better to things I would love.

And this week, my second 'Fix' arrived. (When I originally signed up, I asked for automatic shipments, every other month.)  I came home to this on my doorstep, a bigger box than last time.

What was inside?  Another cute note from my stylist.

While they really 'got' my style much more in this shipment, it wasn't a home run.  Here's what they sent:

The Asymmetrical Knit Cardigan was okay, but it was huge on me and I have at least one cardigan like this already.  Back it goes.

The Roan Knit Jacket was ok.  It was way more cropped in real life and I'm not a cropped top kind of girl.  Back it goes.

The grey t-shirt fit well, but really?  That's the thing that was great in my box?  Back it goes.  There was a pair of DL 1961 skinny jeans what were ok but fit oddly in the 'rise' area.  And I have about 10 pairs of skinny jeans already.  Back it goes.  And finally, a scarf. Which while fun in concept, was actually huge around my neck.  Back it goes.

So, out of the 5 items, I decided to send all of them back.  It was a little disappointing; I was hoping to keep at least one item.  So much for my $20 styling fee.  Boo.  

I think the most disappointing part of my order was when I ran to the post office (in the very short 3-business-day-return-time-frame) to pop my 'prepaid' envelope with all the items into the mail.  Here's their shipping policy from Stitchfix.com for reference:

How does shipping work?

Stitch Fix clients enjoy free shipping both ways as a benefit of using our service! We use both FedEx and USPS to ship packages to you but don’t worry — you won’t need to sign for your package either way. When you are done trying things on, just pop the items you don’t want into your prepaid envelope and drop it off at any USPS pickup location.

The 'prepaid' envelope was only 'prepaid' for 3 pounds of goods.  My shipment weighed 5 pounds.  I had to pay an additional $5 to send this 'Fix' back!   Honestly, I was kind of outraged.  Not quite 'free' shipping and returns unless you buy something out of the box.

I'm not sure if I'm going to do another 'Fix'.  I did cancel my 'automatic fix' and simply scheduled one for February with more notes, hoping they would be able to do transitional spring clothing then.  But, that's a long time away and I have plenty of time to cancel.  I hope you found my little Stitch Fix journey helpful.  If you have any Stitch Fix journeys to share, please do so in the comments section.  ~ JH  

W2WW News Flash - Worth Sample Sale Monday and Tuesday, 11/17 and 11/18!

Who loves a sample sale?!  We do!  And there's a good one on Monday and Tuesday, November 17th and 18th, right here in Wellesley.  Head to 45 Falmouth Road (home of Jennifer Sleeper) for the Worth New York and W by Worth Fall and Holiday sample sale. All items are 50% off - cash and carry!  

Image from Heather Steele.

And while you are there, there will be some holiday vendors as well like Stella and Dot, Little Graces, and Pam's Pashminas.  Nothing like one-stop-shopping.  See you there at 11am on Monday?! ~ JH

Let us tell you a story about a boot...

...a boot that was SO special that 2 friends went to the ends of the Earth to find that boot.  But what is this mystical boot?!  

Once upon a time, 3 friends went to a Saks fashion show. At that show, they saw lots of exceptional outfits, gorgeous clutches, and tall-as-the-sky booties.  But what intrigued them most of all were the boots worn by the general manager of Saks Boston.  Tall, knee-high, graphite grey boots with a stacked heel.  She wore them effortlessly, so they must be comfortable.  What were they?  Were they available?

Image from pinterest.com.

Jen and Lisa approached the manager after the show.  They complimented her on the show and the store, and then quickly asked about her boots.  She gestured casually - "They were Stuart Weitzman from the prior year.  Maybe they had a pair or 2 floating around.  Maybe not."  Claudine, our fearless personal shopper at Saks, searched the system.  Nothing was found.

Both Jen and Lisa sadly drove home.  They wanted that perfect, wear-every-day boot.  Lisa turned to the internet for research.  She discovered that the boots were called the 'Molten' boot.  Her intense search turned up only one pair of size 11 on 6pm.com.  Jen too went on an intense search and came up empty.

A few days later, Jen found herself in a waiting room.  Rather than flip through some magazine, she pulled up her Gilt app on her mobile phone.  And what to her wondering eyes did appear?!  A Stuart Weitzman sale!  What would she find there?  She scrolled through and found what she was looking for.  A Molten boot, in black, and another boot that looked suspiciously similar.  Furious texting to Lisa ensued:

Images from Jennifer Houston.

The Toujours boot was a VERY similar boot to the Molten.  So similar that both Lisa and Jen quickly whisked them into their shopping carts and checked out.  But what would happen when these boots arrived?

Image from Jennifer Houston.

They were perfect.  And 2 pairs of Stuart Weitzmen Toujours boots (at 50% off retail price!) came to live happily ever after with Jen and Lisa.

Image from Jennifer Houston.

The end. ~ JH

My November Obsession - High-Waisted Jeans

The annual search for the perfect pair of jeans may have just ended at 7:34pm on Wednesday night.  J.Crew Personal Shopper extraordinaire, Sylvia Gesell, invited me in for a test drive of some of its brand new styles and washes. She had a selection of jeans laid out before me in an assortment of fits and finishes. I immediately bee-lined to the high-waisted jeans. 

Images from jcrew.com.

High-waisted jeans have been on my radar this season so I was curious about their magical slimming powers.   Very 1980s or cool?   You be the judge:

Behold Lookout Stretch Jean in Darci Wash and a more faded wash.  I love love how the Darci fit.  Tencel fiber added to the cotton makes them super comfy, like leggings.  High-waist = no muffin top and a kind of corset-like fit that holds it all together.  No need to suck it in!

Images from Lisa Bida.

Next up, Point Sur High Tower Denim. Ok, they jeans were spectacular!   These brand new beauties are made in LA out of "soft ringspun cotton and all the details are entirely done by hand."  Super flattering, right?

Image from Lisa Bida.

If you're in the market for new jeans, go straight to a high-waisted style.   Stop in on Sylvia at J.Crew in Natick and she'll hunt down a pair that's right for you!   Bien sur! ~ LB

My October Obsession Part 2 - A Black Fall Jacket

When I first wrote about this obsession a few weeks ago, I still hadn't made a jacket decision. I had 4 or 5 jackets to return to a variety of stores and nothing was staying.  Until we attended that Saks fashion show.  And I ran into personal shopper Claudine.  Who put me in a room and made me try on this.

Image from vince.com.

I realize this doesn't really fit ANY of my bullet points...it's wool (thought I didn't want wool) and it's not belted (thought I wanted a belt).  But it is light-weight and it's long enough to cover most of my longer sweaters.  The leather sleeves are edgy, and it looks great over everything from jeans to dressier bottoms.  And it's super cool.  I gave in.  And I love it. ~ JH

What we took away from the Saks "Key to the Cure" fashion show.

Jen and I were off to Saks this past Thursday morning for a "Key to the Cure," a fashion show and shopping event sponsored by Friends of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to support the fight against women's cancers.  Shopping is even more enjoyable and when some of our dollars go to a good cause, all the better!

There were some very fun and very wearable looks for fall/winter 2014.  And you don't have to spend gobs and gobs of money to recreate these looks.  Here are the key themes to work into your wardrobe this season, along with some Cheap and Cheerful alternatives:

Leather in all silhouettes - Yes, this is a trend that is not going away.  If you don't already own something in leather, march yourself out and find something!  You won't regret it.  There are lots of affordable options out there and lots of ways to wear it.  The white shirt underneath this dress by The Row takes this to a daytime look.  Wear it without and you're good for a night on the town.  Note the touch of leopard in the belt and bag.  Which brings us to the next trend....Leopard - high quality, small quantity.  Again, animal prints are still trending and a very wearable neutral.  

Your Cheap and Cheerful alternative?...Tahari faux leather dress.  On sale for $84!

Image from neimanmarcus.com.

'Fit and Flair' - as coined by Manager Gretchen Pace,  a fitted dress with a bit of flair can hide the belly and be super comfy.  Yes, it's a little short but this model was close to 6' tall...so don't be put off as the dress will work for us mortals.

Cheap and cheerful...a striking blue knit dress from Trina Turk.  Love it!

Image from bloomingdales.com.

Outerwear - Don't forget about outerwear.  It's what most people see before they see your outfit, especially here in New England where we are full into light coat season.  Think a fun color, like pink or bright red, to add pop to your outfit.  

Cheap and Cheerful....Calvin Klein Notch collar coat available at nordstrom.com.  Look at how it dresses down with a tee shirt and jeans.

Image from nordstrom.com.

Camel - Love the camel coats in the show.  Such a timeless look.  This one is from MaxMara.   We all own lots of black....a drapey, loose coat over a structured column of black, perhaps belted,  is a classic that will take you through the season. 

Cheap and Cheerful...a dark camel dust coat.

Image from chicnova.com.

Slouchy pants - It's time to get on the slouchy pants bandwagon.  We've seen them for over a year now - I own 2 pairs myself - and women love the comfortable + chic combo.  These are gorgeous Lanvin ones paired with a J Brand camisole and jacket with Giuseppi Zanotti heels.  You don't have to wear heels - I wear mine with flats and you can too.

Cheap and Cheerful...J.Crew has a two styles I like.  Here's one.

Image from jcrew.com.

Colored Exotics - remember Jen's new gray lizard boots?  Well this look was all over the runway today...in clutches, shoes and more.  Love the burgundy color of this lovely Nancy Gonzales clutch.

Cheap and Cheerful..Alexander Wang croc clutch in red.  (Cheap as compared to the Nancy Gonzales one.)

Image from barneys.com.

Classic coat - a la Chanel.  Awesome.  Throw it over leggings, wear it as a dress, I love this pieces for it's versatility.  There is not Cheap and Cheerful for this coat. Just be inspired.

This was my favorite look of the show.  Stella McCartney Dress and eternally chic split front sweater from The Row. Effortless.  Comfortable. So so fabulous.  Replicate this look with a neutral shift dress, long swingy cardigan, black sheet tights and your favorite heeled boot.  Another trend to note is the pointed toe bootie. Points are back and are very elongating to the leg.  

And there you have it!  Look into your closet with new eyes, find the holes and get a few key pieces to freshen up your look this fall. ~ LB

Unless noted, all images from Lisa Bida.

My October Obsession - A Black Fall Jacket

As soon as the weather turned cool, I found myself looking for a piece of outerwear that I DON'T HAVE.  Shocking.  And I'm always shocked this time of year that I don't have a mid-weight jacket.  But it's really not as simple as "I want a mid-weight jacket".  It never is.  Here's what I would like:

• A jacket in a heavier cotton or cotton-like material, not wool, in black.
• It has to be long enough to cover the ends of some of my longer sweaters and have enough material in the body to go over these same sweaters while allowing me to still move my shoulders and arms.
• I prefer a belted jacket. 
• Don't really want a hood on it.  I'm ok if the hood is removable.

Is it a trench?  Is it an anorak?  I have a J.Crew trench coat that I LOVE, but at this time of year, it's really too light colored and 'springy'.  See?

Image from jcrew.com.

And I know what you are thinking - you are thinking 'Houston, just belly up and buy a Burberry!'  Oh, if it was only that simple.  That statement alone takes me back...

About 7 years ago, Lisa and I were shopping in New York City.  It was either fall or spring (chill in the air), and it was pouring rain.  I didn't have the ideal outerwear, so I made poor Lisa march to the Burberry flagship, determined to come home with one.  I tried on EVERYTHING but nothing fit right.  Problem?  The shoulders are too narrow on me.  I would have to buy a larger jacket to fit my shoulders and have the body completely tailored and remade.  At that price point, I'm not sure it's a path I want to go down. 

Anyway, I have started the pilgrimage yet again.  I am obsessed and determined to find something that fits without major reconstruction!  Where has that left me?  Here.  In my dining room.  With piles of black jackets from late night, online shopping.

Image from Jennifer Houston.

I've tried the Burberry quilted (too small or too big, depending on the size).

Image from saks.com.

I've tried to get away from the dreaded it's-Burberry-and-it-doesn't-fit, and tried this Elie Tahari jacket.  Which I loved but fit weird again.  Shoulders!

Image from bloomingdales.com.

There are a few others in the mix too.  I will continue my quest - hopefully there will be a 'My October Obsession Part 2' post, and I'll happily be showcasing my new jacket.  But until then, the hunt continues. ~ JH

An Experiment with Stitch Fix, an Online Styling Company

Last spring, a reader had asked us to look into online styling companies, specifically, Stitch Fix, see how it worked, and maybe 'experience' it and write a post.  I told her that I would in the fall.  

Image from stitchfix.com.

Well, it's fall, so here I go. About a month ago, I took the "scary" step of signing up for a 'delivery' and completed an online 'Style Profile'.  Here's how this online styling company works:

• You fill out an online style questionnaire called your 'Style Profile'.  They asked a TON of questions - sizing, style, brand, pricing, item preferences.  For example, I said that I wasn't interested in them sending dresses, but tops, pants, and accessories were ok. And I wasn't into bohemian style.  And, and, and.  And I included a link to one of my my Pinterest pages for their review.
• You then schedule a delivery (monthly, every other month) - mine was for September 25.  5 items are sent and the client has 3 days to decide what, if anything, to keep; everything else must be sent back in an enclosed, pre-paid, US Postal Service bag.  You are charged a $20 style fee, which is applied to anything you keep.

Sound good?  I have to be honest, I kind of forgot about signing up until this email arrived:

Egad!  It was on it's way.  So on September 25th, this is what I found at my door.

It's a tinier box that I would have expected, especially since it contained 5 items.  Let's look inside.  I was happy to see the 'rules' printed on the box - I needed to refresh my memory!

There was a packet of information on why the items were picked, and how to style them.  I loved the information and the personalization.

I loved the styling cards, detailing how to wear each piece.

And then, I unwrapped the items.  The Alec Split Neck Mixed Material blouse was fun and different (like), but the fit wasn't great and I didn't love the material (boo).

The Watercolor Zip blouse was WAY too young for me, and the Meg Chiffon trim silk blouse was a wrinkled mess.  Neither were going to stay.

The Bar Necklace was fine, but the chain was about 14" long, and looked weird on my neck.

But, the Liverpool Pull-on Skinny Ponte Pants were pretty fabulous.  The material was great, they fit well, and they really 'sucked you in', if you know what I mean (wink).  They are staying!  Interestingly, the Liverpool Jeans Company (maker of the ponte pants) is carried online at Amazon, Dillards, Lord and Taylor, and Nordstrom.  In stores, apparently Bloomingdales carries the line along with a host of smaller boutiques (in the Boston area that is).  This pair has a tag that claims they were designed exclusively for Stitch Fix.

After assessing everything, I went online to say what I was keeping, and what I wasn't.

The ponte pants were $98, from which the $20 styling fee was taken, resulting in a final charge of $78.  Not bad.   The other 4 items are snug in the return envelope and will head back to Stitch Fix tomorrow.  (If I were to keep all 5 items, I would have received a 25% of discount on the entire 'fix'.)

Overall, it's a very interesting experience.  I went back to my Style Profile after 'checking out' online and tweaked my preferences to better fit my style personality.  My next 'fix' is scheduled for November 20th.  I'm curious to see how my adjustments to the Style Profile will play out as well as how what I kept versus what I returned will adjust the algorithm of what was sent to me.  Stay tuned. ~ JH

Unless noted, all images from Jennifer Houston.