I, An Extremely Picky Shopper, Tried Stitch Fix's Personal Styling Service – Here Are My Thoughts

A shopaholic letting someone pick their clothes for them? This should be interesting...

Hi, I'm Valeza and I LOVE shopping for clothes. Here's me braving the pre-lockdown Christmas crowds to find the *perfect* New Year's Eve outfit:

Valeza Bakolli / Via BuzzFeed

Not pictured: the nine other shopping bags I had with me that, according to my photographer, would have "ruined the candid shot".

I've developed a certain system when it comes to choosing my outfits – some might call it picky, I prefer ~highly selective~.

Paramount Pictures

It's a delicate balance of timeless investment pieces that I know I'll wear for years to come and the occasional on-trend style to help keep my look current.

So when I heard of Stitch Fix – a company that provide expert personal stylists who hand pick fashionable items to suit your style and budget – I was intrigued to say the very least!

Stitch Fix

I figured if they could impress even the pickiest of shoppers like me, they'd be something to write home about!

Their personal styling service is ideal for people who find IRL shopping tedious, never know what to wear, or just need a wardrobe refresh after a year spent in lockdown.

Stitch Fix

Their items range in price from £25-£500, with an average piece costing £55. You can set the amount you want to spend on each category, and the £10 styling fee that Stitch Fix charge for their service will be deducted from any items you choose to keep.

They feature 140 high street and boutique brands (including loads you might recognise, like Whistles, Mango, and Mint Velvet!), as well as emerging European labels and Stitch Fix's own exclusive brands. They carry women's UK sizes 6-18 and men's sizes S-XXL, and W28-W38.

The process couldn't be easier! You simply take the style quiz on their website, receive the box at a time that suits you, keep what you like, and return the rest. They offer free shipping and returns, so it's basically like having an in-store personal shopping experience, but in the comfort of your own home!

Stitch Fix

And the best part? There's no subscription required! You can book a one-off Fix to see if you like the service, then have the option to set up automatic deliveries (ranging from every two weeks to three months) if you like what you see.

In case you needed any more convincing, you'll get 20% off your entire order if you decide to keep all the items sent to you, AND you'll get even more money off if you invite a friend to try Stitch Fix for themselves*!

Stitch Fix

*(£15 credit will be added to your account once they complete their first checkout!). 

✨ My first impressions ✨

The first step in my Stitch Fix journey was to complete a five minute quiz, where I was asked questions such as what kinds of brands I usually shop from, how I'd characterise my proportions, and if there were any fabrics I wanted my stylist to avoid.

Stitch Fix / Valeza Bakolli / Via BuzzFeed

It was super easy and quick to do! I then had the option to choose my five final items from a larger selection picked out by the stylist, but decided I'd rather let them make the final choice so as to get the ~full experience~.

The box of clothes arrived within days of booking my Fix – and needless to say, I felt like a kid in a sweet shop.

Valeza Bakolli / Via BuzzFeed

It was beautifully wrapped – I seriously loved the unique circular wrapping and cute details on the packaging! I mentioned in my notes that I was looking for some nice spring/summer-appropriate dresses and they included TWO of these, which I was very happy about! The styles of dresses were quite different (in colour, print, and length), so I liked that the stylist's selection still offered variety while catering to my needs.

The box also included a personalised note from my stylist Katie, full of tips on how to best style the pieces she selected for me.

Valeza Bakolli / Via BuzzFeed

She made suggestions on how to wear the pieces together and also how I could style them with other items I probably have in my wardrobe already!

✨ The clothes ✨

I immediately knew this flowy pink polka dot dress was (at the risk of sounding like a keen Love Island-er) ~a bit of me~.

Valeza Bakolli / Via BuzzFeed

The quality was beautiful. As you can see, this style of printed midi dress is *precisely* the kind of thing my wardrobe is already full of, so I already knew I'd enjoy wearing it!

I love the wrap design, which means I can style it multiple ways and wear it quite cinched in at the waist (which I find the most flattering on my body!).

Valeza Bakolli / Via BuzzFeed

I wore this piece out to a fancy (albeit rainy) lunch with my grandparents, and it was the perfect piece for the occasion! I paired it with my Doc Martens and a casual mac, but it would also be super easy to dress up for more of an evening look by adding platform wedges and an updo.

Another standout piece for me was this cream cardigan from Stitch Fix's exclusive Editor's Cut label.

Valeza Bakolli / Via BuzzFeed

It's so versatile! I've already worn it with skirts, shorts, layered over dresses, and buttoned up and tucked into wide leg trousers – the possibilities are endless. 

Next up: this simple-yet-stylish green top that I immediately knew could be paired with basically any style of bottoms.

Valeza Bakolli / Via BuzzFeed

The style is very fitted – it clings just enough to tuck easily into trousers and skirts while still being stretchy enough to feel comfortable. While V-neck isn't *necessarily* my favourite T-shirt neckline style, this wasn't an issue due to the flattering fit and lovely colour that'll match loads of my favourite summery pieces!

I'll be honest – these floral trousers weren't exactly my cup of tea, and are the only item in my selection that I probably wouldn’t keep.

Valeza Bakolli / Via BuzzFeed

Unfortunately, this particular floral design isn't my favourite (I usually prefer colourful ditsy prints to large dark florals), plus the size was far too big on my waist. Admittedly the latter issue was on me, as I mentioned in the quiz that I usually wear a size up in trousers – but should have specified that this was for tailored trousers and jeans specifically. Since this particular pair were wide in the leg and elasticated at the waist, I probably could have gone down a size or even two! Luckily, Stitch Fix's exchange system is super simple, so this could be easily rectified if I had loved the style.

I LOVED this green mini wrap dress, though!

Valeza Bakolli / Via BuzzFeed

I'm having a serious ~green moment~ this summer, so when I saw the sage tones peeking out of my parcel I was immediately excited! It looked like a ditsy floral print at first, but upon closer inspection I saw that it was actually leopard print – I thought this was pretty unique for the style, and am totally into it! I'd style this with chunky trainers, boots, or sandals for daytime, and love that it can easily be dressed up with strappy heels and a clutch for evening wear.

✨ Final thoughts ✨

I loved how my Fix came as a cohesive set – I definitely got a 'capsule collection' vibe from the items chosen! The colours and styles were complementary and could easily be paired with each other and clothes I already own.

Valeza Bakolli / Via BuzzFeed

The majority of the clothes sent to me were genuinely true to my style, which I find impressive considering my stylist only had answers from a five-minute quiz to work from! I can really see myself wearing four out of five of the pieces on repeat all summer long – and that’s pretty great, considering how picky I usually am with my clothes!

Valeza Bakolli / Via BuzzFeed

So if you're not much of a shopper, want to create a capsule wardrobe, or are just in need of a lil' inspo in the shopping department, I'd say Stitch Fix is definitely worth checking out!

TLC