My First Stitch Fix Experience

So when you sign up for Stitch Fix, the first thing they ask you to do is create a style profile.

Basically, this consisted of Stitch Fix asking me a bunch of questions whose answers were far more complicated than you would think.

STITCH FIX: What is the size of your jean waist?

AWKWARD MORMON GIRL: Theoretically, the waist is the tapering point of a girl's torso, but in actuality I seem unable to locate my waist. I've measured what I think is my waist with the Seamstress's measuring tape five times, and the result was never the same. So here's the number that seems most accurate to me. Crossing my fingers that it's right.

STITCH FIX: How often do you dress in business casual clothes/for work?

AWKWARD MORMON GIRL: Most of the time.

STITCH FIX: How often do you dress in laid back casual clothes?

AWKWARD MORMON GIRL: Also most of the time. Which makes no mathematical sense yet is somehow true.

STITCH FIX: Is your jewelry mostly classic jewelry or mostly statement jewelry?

AWKWARD MORMON GIRL: Mostly classic, though I have some statement jewelry. I don't know why you call it "statement" jewelry, though. It just seems to be bigger and weirder than classic jewelry. I literally saw a bunch of big, plastic flower jewelry with rhinestones that was being sold under a "Make a Statement" label at Target. But I feel like the only statement those necklaces make is that you think big, plastic flower jewelry with rhinestones is good fashion.

Then Stitch Fix asked me to write a note with any additional information that they should know. I started to tell them important stuff, like my life story, but they had a strict character limit so I just ended up telling them “I'm an endowed member of the LDS church, so I wear special garments under my clothes. Items shouldn't be too low-cut, back-baring, shoulder-baring or too short (just above the knees is probably fine) unless they can be layered. I need business-casual clothes for work, casual clothes for after work, and dressier clothes for church and other events.”

The second thing that I did after signing up for Stitch Fix was schedule my first Fix. To schedule a Fix, I paid $20 up front. This $20 covered the cost of styling the box, but it also went towards anything I decided to purchase. I would only lose the money if I decided not to keep any of the items in the box. I also had to choose what day I wanted my Fix to arrive. I scheduled it for a Thursday so that I could take the weekend to examine the clothes I received. Stitch Fix also asked me to write another note that mentioned any specific items I needed or wanted in this Fix, so I wrote something like, “I am in need of long shorts and some fun date outfits.”

The last thing I did was go on Pinterest and pin a bunch of clothes. I heard that the best way to get stuff you like from Stitch Fix is to create a Pinterest board and then put a link in your Stitch Fix style profile, so I pinned like 54,285,342 pins. I pinned so many pins that whereas Pinterest used to mostly recommend food, quotes, and geeky stuff pins to me, they began to recommend a ton of clothing pins. Not sure how I feel about this.

The next two weeks were spent in excitement. I’m not a super clothes-oriented person; in fact, I usually go out of my way to buy the cheapest clothing possible. However, I once had an institute teacher who said that one of the keys to happiness was to have something to look forward to. Therefore, I always try to give myself something to look forward to. Sometimes that thing is going to New York City; sometimes it’s completing college; sometimes it’s a new movie or a new book coming out; sometimes it’s a special or fun event; sometimes it’s spending time with someone I love. And sometimes, that thing is a mysterious box of fun new clothing picked out for me by a stylish stranger.

For me, the fun of the anticipation alone was almost worth the $20.

Then, the day before my Fix was scheduled to arrive, I received a text…

Little Sister: YOUR CLOTHES ARE HERE!

I zoomed to my parents’ house to pick up my package (because I have all my mail sent to my parents’ house due to my landlord’s philosophy about mail, which is to deposit all the mail into a locked box and open it only when bills are due). Older Sister and Little Sister were excited for me and wanted me to open the box right away, so I did.

Opening the box was like an episode of a soap opera. First the excitement as I tried to rip open the tape on the box with my keys (this failed, because my keys are not pointy enough). Then the agony of the slowness ripping the tape off with my bare hands. Then the panic right before I opened the box.

“What if I hate all of it?!” I exclaimed. But, with the encouragement of my sisters, I separated the flaps and removed the envelope with the stylist’s note.

Here’s what it said:

Hi Awkward Mormon Girl! I had so much fun styling you for your first Fix, and welcome to the Stitch Fix Family!

Oh, so we're a family now? Did not know that was a thing.

Try the Elyott Dress for a fun date night option, I love this dress with the Marianna Layered Beaded Necklace and a cute pair of flats. I did not have any shorts that were knee length but I think the Huntter Cuffed Shorts will hit just slightly above your knee, I hope these work out. The Huntter Cuffed Short look so cute with the Eugene Swiss Dot Blouse- this blouse will be great for date night or casual looks. I can't wait to see what you love in this Fix! Xo Jessica V

I’d seen other people’s stylist notes online, all of which seemed to end in XO. Is that signoff required? No matter. I set the note aside and pulled out the tissue-paper wrapped bundles.

I wish I had taken a picture of the bundle of clothing (next time!). The side view of a Fix is a thing to behold, and mine was no exception. I let out an audible noise of admiration as I looked at the beautiful layers of color and texture.

“Look!” I said, showing my sisters.

“What am I looking at?” Older Sister asked.

I tried to explain the loveliness of just looking at the stack of clothing, but I soon gave up in favor of opening the package. Here's the side view of someone else's Fix:

 

This is what my items looked like collectively: 

 

And individually: 

 

Mavi Huntter Cuffed Short: I had never, ever before considered buying cuffed denim shorts. It surprised me that I actually really liked these shorts. However, they were not only too big (curse you, inexplicable failure to measure waist correctly!), they didn’t reach my knees as my stylist had hoped. They were a longer pair of shorts, but they were still too short for garments. And the final issue—the little rips in the denim also revealed my garments. Verdict: Send back. 

 

Le Lis Elyott Dress: I really liked the fabric of this dress. It was navy blue, which I liked, and had polka dots, which I also am a fan of. The fit was right for my body, but once again, too short for garments. Verdict: Send back. 

 

Market & Spruce Soyer Henley Top: At first sight, this blouse was the one item I was sure that I would keep. I loved the colors and the pattern. However, when I put it on, I discovered that the shoulder seams fell really far forward. They reached my clavicle. This resulted in the neckline gaping strangely. I thought about asking my mom to alter the shoulders so that I could keep it, but I decided that if I had to do that much work to get it to fit, it wasn’t worth it. Verdict: Send back.

Brixon Ivy Eugene Swiss Dot Blouse: Initially, I didn’t like this blouse as much as the other one. However, when I tried it on, it fit really well, and I found that I liked the way it looked. I tried it with different undershirts, with jeans, with a pencil skirt, and with my favorite necklace. The more things I tried it with, the more I liked it. There was a button missing, which irked, especially because it was one of the more expensive items in the Fix. But there was an extra button included with the blouse, which I could sew on myself. Verdict: Keep. 

 

Then there was this necklace. I went back and forth on it like every fifteen minutes for the next twenty-four hours.

ME: I don’t really wear beaded necklaces.

ALSO ME: Maybe now is the time to start. The coral and gold is so pretty!

ME: For a necklace, it’s expensive.

ALSO ME: Expensive, but not out of your price range.

ME: What would I wear it with?

ALSO ME: Good question.

What would go with a coral and gold beaded necklace? I tried it with the white blouse, but it didn’t go very well with the neckline. My stylist recommended that I wear it with the polka dot dress she sent, but as I wasn’t keeping the polka dot dress that thought wasn’t exactly useful. Stitch Fix sent me style cards that show different ways to wear each piece of clothing, but the style card for the necklace just had the name of the necklace on it. I guess they don’t give styling tips for their jewelry? Boo. Finally, I remembered that I had 48,258 navy blue t-shirts and probably like 52% as many gray t-shirts. This necklace would be an excellent way to dress those t-shirts up, especially when worn with the Mokey Fraggle that I got for New York. Verdict: Keep.

Once I decided what I wanted to keep, I logged on to my Stitch Fix profile and checked out. In the checking-out process, Stitch Fix asked for my feedback on both the items I kept and the ones that I didn’t. They say that the more specific your feedback, the better your next Fix will be. My feedback was very specific about what I liked and what I didn’t, what worked for me and what didn’t, the missing button, and the pricing of their items. We’ll see how this affects my next Fix.

After I checked out, I put the items I wasn’t keeping in a prepaid envelope and mailed them back to Stitch Fix. Stitch Fix gives you three days to check out and mail the items back. I was worried when my Stitch Fix came early that they would expect me to check out earlier, too, but they gave me three days from when the Fix was scheduled to arrive, which I appreciated.

My overall thoughts? Stitch Fix was a lot of fun. It’s not exactly bargain shopping, but if you hate to shop/love surprises and have a little extra money, it’s pretty great. I felt like my stylist did a great job. Even though not all the items worked for me, I liked everything I got. I could tell that Jessica V. paid attention to my style profile (the tops fit perfectly and it seemed like she tried to accommodate my garments), the note I’d written to go with the Fix (she referenced the shorts and the date outfit I’d asked for), and my Pinterest board (I’d pinned a lot of polka dots and some coral items).

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed exploring Stitch Fix vicariously through me. And if you wanna try it for yourself, go ahead and try it. << If you use this link to sign up, I will receive referral credit.

Fixin' for a Stitchin'

I have decided to try Stitch Fix.

A description of Stitch Fix, as written by Stitch Fix: “Get your own personal stylist. Hand-selected women's fashion shipped free, straight to your door. Try on at home risk-free.”

A description of Stitch Fix, as written by me: “I tell Stitch Fix what size I am and what kind of clothes I like. Stitch Fix sends me clothes. I try on the clothes. I send back the clothes I don’t like. I don’t have to spend the entire day shopping and I get to try on clothes with clothes I already have and I get to be surprised. Fist-bumps all around.”

How did I reach the decision to try this personal stylist service? Well, Shutterbug started Stitch Fix recently. When she mentioned it on Facebook, I was intrigued. When I started investigating other people’s Stitch Fix experience, I was half-convinced. And when Shutterbug showed me pictures of the clothes she got, I was like, “Yup. This is legit. I’m gonna try it.”

So next week, my friends, I will receive a box of five items from Stitch Fix. I will try on all the items, and then I will tell you all about it. Possibly there will be pictures. And you can all have the fun of trying Stitch Fix vicariously through me.

”Gee, Awkward Mormon Girl,” you may be saying, “this is the second time you’ve written about clothes in the past two months. Is this blog going to become a fashion blog?”

Pffft. Heavens, no. This blog is about my experience as an awkward Mormon girl. What I wear is part of that experience, especially now that I’m endowed and have special garments that I wear under my clothes. I definitely dress differently from a lot of the other women my age, and I think I would be amiss not to occasionally talk about the challenges and blessings that accompany my clothes-shopping efforts.

However, there is only so much to be said about clothes. As of now, I’m planning to try Stitch Fix three times and write three correlating blog posts. After that, although I may continue with Stitch Fix, I have no plans to keep writing about it. Unless you people beg me to, or unless something unusual or exciting happens in relation to Stitch Fix.

Should you be interested in trying Stitch Fix yourself, you can sign up using my personal referral link. I get $25 in credit for every person who uses my link to try it out. Not too shabby, if I do say so myself.

My Third Stitch Fix Experience

I scheduled my first two Fixes to arrive on Thursdays.

I wrote like three drafts of this post trying to explain to you why Thursday is the best day of the week for me to receive a box full of clothes to try on, but it was complicated to explain and I couldn't do it justice. To make a long story short, when I scheduled my first Fix I did a thorough internal analysis and a blood test plus a horoscope that led me to deduce that Thursdays would be the best days for my Fixes to arrive.

Because they let you schedule when your Fixes arrive. Which is pretty cool if you ask me.

So. The week of my first Fix, my email told me that Stitch Fix sent the package out on Monday. And I was like, "Excellent." Then on Wednesday afternoon, the package arrived.

Usually, packages arriving early are a good thing. But Wednesday is not a good day for me to receive packages for much the same reasons that Thursday is a good day for me to get packages.

At first, I was all, "Whatever. This is how it goes with packages. They never get here when you want them to." But then I noticed a special 2-day shipping sticker on the Fix box. And I was all, "Huh. How about that? It took exactly two days to arrive! What precise shipping! Surely, with shipping that precise, they really can control what day my Fixes arrive! I bet this time was just a test run to see how long the shipping to Hometown took. Surely when they see that my Fix arrived early, they'll sent the next one on a Tuesday so that it arrives on a Thursday!"

So I scheduled my second Fix to arrive on a Thursday. Again, it was sent on a Monday and again, it arrived on a Wednesday.

So I was all, "No worries! It looks like Stitch Fix sends their packages out a day early to be extra careful! So from now on, I'll schedule my Fixes to arrive on Fridays! So they come on Thursdays!"

So I scheduled my third Fix on Friday, expecting to receive an email on Tuesday saying that the Fix had shipped. But this time it was shipped on Wednesday and actually arrived on Friday as scheduled.

Okay, Stitch Fix. You get one point for getting the Fix here on the scheduled date but minus one point for foiling my plan! Which is zero points, Stitch Fix! Zero points for shipping!

So this is what my stylist said this time:

Hi Awkward Mormon Girl! I hope you had fun at your high school reunion and were able to rock one of your Stitch Fix Dresses! his Fix isn't as colorful as last time, but I still think you will love it! I did not have any polka dot jeans in this time around but I will definitely keep an eye out for next time, so I decided to instead send you a pair of the colored pants we just got in that everyone seems to love. Try the Liverpool Skinny Pant paired with the Ijoah Top for work or an event, it's a great dressy casual outfit. I also noticed some fun bangles on your pinterest so I knew you would love the Zad Arrow Bangle, just a great simple piece to stack with other bracelets like the Bay to Baubles Bracelet in your last Fix. For some warm autumn shirts i thought you would like the Staccato Sweater for a easy and fun layered piece. Xo Jessica

Maybe if I start signing my notes to her with Xo, Jessica will recognize me as one of her own kind and ship my Fixes on the day I want.

Also, what happened to the V in Jessica V??? Did the other Jessicas quit? Or maybe Jessica V. quit and they replaced her with another Jessica. But they didn't tell me because they hoped that I wouldn't notice.

I'm on to you, Stitch Fix. Super on. It's on.

Lest you be confused, allow me to explain that in this Fix I specifically requested some polka dot jeans and warm autumn shirts. I know of other people who have gotten polka dot jeans in their fixes, so I was pretty disappointed not to get some. I could use another pair of jeans.

Anyways, I opened up my Fix and saw lots of navy blue and a bit of olive green. I like navy blue. My American Girl Doll Molly came with a navy blue sweater outfit, so when I was a child every year I tried to find myself a navy blue sweater "like Molly's." Since then, I wear so much navy blue that my mother refuses to buy me navy blue clothes anymore. Conversely, I dislike olive green with a passion.

With those thoughts in mind, I began to try on the clothes.

Everly Lexa Dot Dress: I liked the pattern. However, I don't really like boxy dresses. Also, this was too short for me. Also, I'd bought two dresses in my last Fix and didn't need another at the present time. Verdict: Send back.

Zad Marigold Arrow Bangle: As Jessica mentioned, I had pinned several bracelets like this on my Pinterest board. This one was actually better than the ones I'd pinned. Verdict: Keep.

Liverpool Anita Skinny Pant: These pants fit perfectly! Since the shorts and skirt they've sent me before were too big, I think finding well-fitting pants is a small victory. And they did look great with the Ijoah top. However, over the summer I'd obtained forest green pants and did not need any more colored pants. Especially because, again, I'm not wild about olive green. Also, somebody please explain to me why these were called "pant" in the singular. Verdict: Send back.

Ijoah Nial Lace Overlay Top: I liked this immediately. I tried it with an undershirt, and it looked great, particularly with my forest green pants. Verdict: Keep.

Staccato Aleia Mixed Material Pullover Sweater: I could tell that my sisters would love this sweater, but it wasn't really my style. I usually don't like wearing baggy clothes. However, it was, as I'd requested, very warm. I decided I would branch out and buy it. Verdict: Keep.

Okay, everybody. I've tried Stitch Fix three times in rapid succession to see how I like it. Overall, I've really enjoyed it. I've decided that it's not sustainable to get a Fix once a month, because a) it gets to be expensive and b) I really don't need that many clothes. But I think it is something I will enjoy doing quarterly.

I will probably also continue to document my Fixes on this blog. Some people I know who can't seem to get into my normal sort of post have mentioned that they enjoy the Stitch Fix ones.

If you want to try Stitch Fix, try it! If you use my referral link, I'll get $25 in referral credit. Once you've signed up, you'll get your own referral link that you can use to get credit, too. Just get fifty of your closest friends and family members to sign up and then you'll have like a bajillion dollars in credit (actually $1,250, but same thing) and then you can get all the clothes you want!

My Sixth Stitch Fix Experience

Between my fifth and sixth Stitch Fixes, Pepper decided to try Stitch Fix. Except not really because she decided to go through another box company that she felt would better suit her needs. When said box came, she followed my usual Stitch Fix tradition of reading aloud the note to me and the Seamstress and then showing off the clothes. Except, as she read the note, instead of referring to the company by its name she simply called it "Not Stitch Fix."

"Hi Pepper, thanks for trying Not Stitch Fix! We'd like to welcome you to Not Stitch Fix!" etc. etc. I found this to be hilarious, although I may be the only one.

Anyways, my sixth Fix of Stitch came, once again, not on a Thursday (it came on a Monday which ???). This time, in my note I had tasked Jessica V with the dubious honor of finding me cute clothes to wear in New York City.

Here's a photo of all she sent, bundled nicely on top of my Peter Pan puzzle:

Hi Awkward Mormon Girl! Your upcoming trip to NY sounds like a fun one, I took a look at the weather and it looks like it's going to be pretty warm but the possibility of rain so make sure you pack a light jacket!

A) I don't think I actually told you what days I would be in New York, you stalker you, but B) thanks for the tip, Mom.

I saw the denim skirt on your Pinterest and was excited you pinned that because I thought the KFTK shirt would be a great piece for your trip, this will look cute with the 41Hawthorn Blouse that has a similar fit to the pink blouse in your last Fix. Try out the Skies are Blue blouse with the pink pants from the last Fix. I had two great dresses to send you, they are both sleeveless but I think they will pair well with a cardigan or a denim jacket. I had no luck with the hunt for polka dot jeans, I will stay on the lookout! Have a great time in NY! Best, Jessica V

Kut From The Kloth Miley Button Front Denim Skirt: I was excited to see this skirt, because as Jessica V noted, it is very similar to one that I'd pinned. It was a little loose on me, coming to my hips instead of settling at the waist. But my sisters assured me it was flattering regardless, and I so wanted it in my possession. Verdict: Keep.

41Hawthorn Canda Split Neck Blouse: I liked this blouse well enough. It was very similar to the one I purchased in the last Fix, but I can always use more short-sleeved work shirts. Also, the pattern and color were very fun. Verdict: Keep.

Skies are Blue Highland Lattice Detail Blouse: I wouldn't normally go for something like this, but after trying it on I found that I really liked it! I didn't like the flamingo-colored blouse with the denim skirt, but I did like this one with it. And, as Jessica V recommended, this blouse went really well with the pink pants from last time. Verdict: Keep.

41Hawthorn Sugar Dot Print Dress: This dress had a spinny skirt and was excessively flattering. I was worried it would be too short, but it squeaked by at the minimum length I can and would feel comfortable wearing. Also, it looked very good with a red cardigan that I've never known what to do with. Verdict: Keep.

London Times Rilee Lace Dress: This delicate periwinkle confection tied with the denim skirt as my favorite item in the Fix. I wish I could show you a picture of me wearing it, because I think it looked oh so elegant. In any case, because the top was sheer, when trying it on I had to wear a white tank top t-shirt versus a cardigan. But I was pleased nonetheless. Verdict: Keep.

Yes, another five out of five Fix! With my buy-five discount, the prices on the items worked out to be satisfactory. I've already worn some of the clothes at work, and I'm excited to take them with me to the big city in a few weeks! Jessica V deserves a medal. Maybe an Olympic medal. If that could be contrived.

The Seamstress said that this Fix made her want to try Stitch Fix again. If it's having the same effect on you, go ahead and sign up with my referral link. It would be an exaggeration to say I'm having the time of my life with Stitch Fix, but it's been very exciting nonetheless!

My Fifth Stitch Fix Experience

After my last Stitch Fix (which was a bit of a disappointment), Stitch Fix started emailing me constantly reminding me to schedule another Fix soon. Because Stitch Fix is super needy, apparently. #ohmygoodnessstitchfix #werenotevendating

Sometime in February, I scheduled my spring Fix for the middle of March. St. Patrick's Day, to be precise. I asked for brightly colored, short-sleeved tops for spring...and that's it.

As usual, the Fix was scheduled for a Thursday. And, as usual, it shipped out on a Monday. But not as usual, it didn't arrive on Wednesday. Was this finally the Fix that would come on a Thursday?! The answer is no...no, it was not. By Thursday night I was wondering what was taking my Fix so long. I checked out the shipping link and lo and behold, apparently my fix had spent the last seventy-two hours ping-ponging between three shipping centers in Phoenix. I have no idea why this happened, but, anyways, it arrived on Friday at last!

Hi Awkward Mormon Girl! Welcome back, glad to be styling you again!

Aw, Jessica V, I...wait, welcome back? I never even left! Geez. One bad Fix and you and Stitch Fix are acting like I want to break up with you or something!

I know we have been on the hunt for polka dot jeans and since those are yet to be seen I am sending the Pixley Polka Dot Skirt that I know you will adore.

You know that I will adore it? That's a pretty strong statement, Jessica V. We'll see.

I went down a size in this one since i think the S would be a little to roomy, pair this skirt with the Fun2Fun Blouse for a vibrant pop of color--try out this skirt paired with the Pixley Top for a fun unexpected pattern combination. Also sending along the KFKT Pant that will be great for spring as well, love the pants paired with the Daniel Rainn Blouse.

I still think that "pant" in the singular is pretentious.

Looking forward to your thoughts on this Fix, and have fun trying it all on!

Since my thoughts on the last Fix were very honest, I feel like saying "looking forward to your thoughts" could possibly be passive-aggressive. Is Jessica V mad at me?

Best, Jessica V

No Xo??? She must be mad at me!

The first look of Fix #5 was pretty great:

I mean, seriously. Look at those beautiful spring colors! 

Pixley June Polka Dot Skirt: Obviously, I had to start with the polka dot skirt that Jessica V was so sure I would "adore." I put it on, and my first thought was, "If this is an extra small, I'd hate to see a small!" If the extra small had been any bigger, it would have been too big for me. Anyways, Jessica V was right...I did adore this skirt. Cute pattern, super comfy, and even though there was a slit in the back, it fell in such a way that it hid my garments. Verdict: Keep.

Fun2Fun Walden V-Neck Blouse: It's hard to find a modest short-sleeved blouse. I loved this one! I've never seen a cut quite like this, and the color was gorgeous! Here it is with the skirt (from a strange and semi-awkward angle): 

 
Verdict: Keep. 

Pixley Lingley Crew Neck Top: I tried this with the skirt as Jessica V suggested. I did not care for the combo, but I did like the top itself. I liked the blue and orange combination especially. There was a small cutout in the back, but my mother offered to stitch it up for me. Verdict: Keep. 

Kut From The Kloth Siena Cropped Pant: It's been ever so long since I had pink pants. I really liked the color and the fit. Verdict: Keep. 

Daniel Rainn Anders Heart Print Split Neck Blouse: I could tell right away that I was really going to like this blouse. However, it took awhile for me to confirm this, because this blouse was the kind of blouse that has a little undershirt loosely connected on the inside. Since I have to wear an undershirt with sleeves with blouses like this regardless, I hate when they put the little undershirts inside because it makes it impossible to get the blouse and the undershirt aligned and then get the whole thing on my person. The moral of the story is, it took about fifteen minutes to get the blouse on and I was very frustrated. But not so frustrated that I refused to buy it. Because it looked really good with the pants (excuse me, pant). And also because if I bought it, I could then have the pleasure of cutting the undershirt out. Verdict: Keep.

That's right, folks! Fifth Stitch Fix...five out of five. Which meant I got a 25% discount. Which meant that, with my $25 in referral credit, the items were quite well-priced.

If you want to try Stitch Fix, too, you can use my referral link to sign up. It's very fun!

Remember How I Force Someone Else to Pick Out My Clothes?

My Stitch Fix posts are some of the most-read ones on the entire blog. Which I guess means that a lot of my readers enjoy my lovingly mocking reviews of clothes that I forced a hapless Californian stranger to curate to my exact specifications.

I guess it also means that not a few of you have noted the dearth of Stitch Fix posts recently. I haven't indulged in a Fix in almost six months. Why? Well, I didn't break up with Stitch Fix or with Jessica V or even with newbie Jill, if that's what you're wondering. I just a) am trying to be financially provident since I just paid for an appendectomy and some other large purchases and b) don't need enough new clothes to justify getting a Fix. I'm planning to buy some new sneakers and maybe a light dress for summer, but other than that, I'm good!

I do plan to get another Fix eventually, especially since I have some referral credit (and FYI, Stitch Fix changed their referral structure; if you use my link, we both get a $15 credit). I just don't know when that will be.

After I started Stitch Fix, the Seamstress came home one day all excited. She had a coupon for a dinner subscription box—kind of like Stitch Fix, but with food. She proposed that I try this subscription service and review them, too. More fodder and fun for the blog, right? I was amenable...until I investigated and saw how much it was even with the coupon.

You may find this hard to believe (since I routinely talk about my clothing and vacation splurges here), but I'm stingy. Like, really stingy. I hate buying things, even when I need them. My mom hates that I hate buying things. It's not uncommon for her to buy things (makeup, clothes, various household items) and give them to me since I won't buy them for myself. That's why I took one look at the dinner subscription box price and was like "ha ha NO." The price of a couple of meals a week far exceeded my entire seven-day grocery budget! No way. No way, no way.

Now that we're on the subject of my dinner habits: I cook once a week and eat that meal all week long. There are respites (I have dinner at my parents' on Sundays, and I usually eat out a couple of times a week), but for the most part, I eat the same thing for seven days straight. This can be problematic when I'm trying a new recipe and it turns out terribly, so I don't try new recipes as often as I'd like. (Sadly, after at least six tries, I still haven't found a good curry recipe.) And some weeks I don't have time to cook before last week's meal runs out, so I end up ordering a bunch of takeout food to tide me over. Weeks like those make me wish I did have some kind of food subscription box (or someone at home to cook for me, preferably of the male variety).

Happily, this week over at Ask a Manager, the awesome Alison Green advertised a steep discount on two weeks of Blue Apron. The steep discount makes it affordable enough to try, so I signed up. There's no way I'll be able to continue using it after the discount expires; even with the discount, it's still just over half my week's grocery budget to get two two-serving meals. But I thought it would be a fun adventure to experience and blog about. (I'll just be eating super cheaply for the rest of those two weeks!)

Another FYI—my mom once suggested that if I was going to blog about Stitch Fix, I should get paid for my reviews. Though I get where she's coming from, I'm really not an influencer! No one pays me to review anything; I just do it for fun and because I'm a snob who thinks she has discriminating tastes. Sometimes I do get referral credit for Stitch Fix, but it's nowhere near enough to write reviews solely for gain. If by some wild chance anyone ever does pay me to review something, though, I'll let you know.

My Eighth Stitch Fix Experience

I didn't do a Stitch Fix last quarter. I spent all my Stitch Fix money on Disneyland.

Did I regret it? No. Did I worry that Jessica V would think I'd abandon her? Yes, I did worry about that. The last time I waited a longer time than normal to schedule a Fix, she acted like I'd come back from the dead. Or she wrote like I'd come back from the dead, since technically I couldn't see what she did. I just read her note. Hmm. Now I'm wondering what Jessica V even looks like. I'm picturing...auburn hair? And hazel eyes. Or maybe she's Latina, and the "V" stands for "Valdez" or something. Yeah. That would be cool.

In the last six months, my life has freed up considerably, so I didn't even schedule my Stitch Fix on a Thursday this time! I scheduled it for a Friday, and it arrived as scheduled. Apparently Stitch Fix is only Thursday-impaired.

I mentioned that I need new jeans (because my favorite jeans now have several holes in them), that I could use some cute tops for various upcoming bridal and baby showers, and that I wanted a jean jacket (solely for the purpose of pinning my Over the Garden Wall pins to said jacket, but obviously I didn't tell Jessica V that).

Jessica V's response went thus:

Hey Awkward Mormon Girl! I have missed styling you, I hope that you are having a good year so far.

Jessica V, honey, if you're reading this, it's perfectly normal for a stranger you've never met to not contact you for six months. We both have our own lives. Okay? Okay.

I was excited to send you some jeans in this Fix since I have only sent you pants in the past. I choose the darker wash of the Liverpool jeans so that you could dress them up with a cute blouse when attending parties this spring. Try the jeans paired with the Papermoon blouse, this piece is similar to the top that you had posted. Add the Zad necklace from your first Fix to complete the look. I thought you would be a fun of the colors and print of the 41Hawthorn dress, it kind of reminds me of a top that I sent you. Perfect to throw on with flats and then layer with the KFTK jacket. If you need to exchange for different sizes please let me know, otherwise have fun trying these on! Cheers, Jessica V

"Cheers?" Jessica V done gone British, everyone.

Le Lis Sutherlin Contrast Print Knit Top: I liked this right away. It's pretty cute, no? Neutral, but cute. Although I'm in need of more short-sleeved tops that are neither blouses nor t-shirts, and although this shirt did not fill that need, I decided to take a chance on it. Verdict: Keep.

Liverpool Kay Skinny Jean: Kay Skinny "Jean"? "Pant"? Is there a requirement that you can't be a Stitch Fix brand unless you weirdly refer to things in the singular? "Skinny Jean" sounds like a person. I wish Stitch Fix had a field in the feedback form where you could critique the clothing names.

Name aside, these jeans were problematic from the start. They were so tight that it was a devil of a time to get them on. Once on, though, they were so comfy and so cute. I took them off and put them on several times before making any decisions. At one point, I noticed that the tag on the jeans bragged about how slimming the jeans were and how they make you look a size smaller than you are. I was taken aback because I don't feel like I need slimming jeans! If anything, I sometimes feel like I have the opposite problem. So that was weird, but in the end, my desire to not go to a store and try on a bunch of pairs of pants won the day. Verdict: Keep.

Kut From the Kloth Callie Denim Jacket: I tried this jacket on. I also pinned my Over the Garden Wall pins to it to see how they looked. (I wasn't lying when I said that was the only reason I wanted a jean jacket.) The jacket passed the pin test. Verdict: Keep.

Papermoon Abbott V-Neck Blouse: Jessica V was right; I did pin a blouse in a similar color to my Pinterest board. That blouse was a kelly green version of a pink blouse Jessica V found me last year. However, despite the similarities of this blouse to the pinned blouse, I struggled. The blouse in the Fix had a weird, silky texture. It was also strangely low-cut. In short, it seemed like a blouse unaware that it wasn't actually the top of an evening gown. I was having a hard time justifying its existence much less its existence in my wardrobe. Verdict: Send back.

41Hawthorn Renesme Geo Cube Jersey Faux Wrap Dress: I had five thoughts about this dress. 1) Jessica V knows me well; I love the color. 2) Jessica V was also right about sending me a similar top in the past. And a somewhat similar dress, too. 3) Wait, not only does this look kind of like that dress she sent me in the past, it's a knit dress like the one I got in my last Fix! 4) Hmm, and this wrap dress just isn't as flattering on me as it could be. 5) Also...is this dress named after the baby in Twilight?

Verdict: Send back. There were just too many strikes.

That was a few weeks ago. I'm loving my jeans and my new jacket! I'm still trying to figure out the best time to wear the blouse and what to wear it with. Apparently I should have tried it on more and with more things before buying it, because the neckline is not working super well with the stretchy t-shirts I usually wear under white shirts. But I'm sure I'll figure it out.

As always, if you want to try Stitch Fix, help a girl out and use my referral link. I'll get $25 in credit! Also, Stitch Fix is not just for ladies anymore...it's for guys, too!

My Fourth Stitch Fix Experience

Okay, everybody. First off, this is my three hundredth and first post, so kudos to me for that.

Secondly, I got a Fix the week before Christmas, so I suppose I should tell you all about that thing. Get ready for badly lit photographs of clothing and my professionally baseless, unfounded opinions about them.

Last time I talked about Stitch Fix, I mentioned how my Fixes never ever come on Thursdays but I desperately want them to come on Thursdays. Well, this Fix actually came on a Thursday...probably because it was the week of that huge snowstorm. The storm undoubtedly slowed down the mail. So...yay storm?

For this Fix, I asked for something festive to wear to Christmas Eve lunch with my younger sisters. Here's what my cute little note said:

Hi Awkward Mormon Girl! I can't believe it's already December, this year has flown by! For a festive Christmas Eve outfit I thought you could wear the Amy Matto Swing Skirt paired with the Market & Spruce Sweater- I am assuming it might be chilly around then so wear this look with tights and a pair of boots. Still no luck on the polka dot jeans but I did have the Margaret M Pant with the polka dot print, these pants are great for work and can be dressed up for the holidays. Since you loved that cobalt blue color from the skirt in a past Fix I thought you would love the Collective Concepts blouse for a bold colored piece to wear with the Margaret M pants along with the Bay to Baubles Necklace- you can never have enough sparkle! I am looking forward to styling you in the New Year! Have a great holiday! -Jessica V

No Xo??? That's new.

My first reaction when looking at the stack of clothes was that none of it looked very festive. When I said "festive," I was thinking more along the lines of "red and gold and sparkly." Which means, therefore, that in the future when I'm looking for red and gold and sparkly, that's what I should specifically ask for. Lesson learned.

Amy Matto Bonnie Lace Detail Swing Skirt: The moment I pulled this skirt out of the box, I was like, "Hey, wait a minute!" The Seamstress got a Fix of her own back in November, and I was pretty sure that this exact same skirt was in her Fix. The Seamstress found this skirt to be a) not flattering, as the waistband was extremely tight and stretchy, as well as b) a little bit short for comfort as well as c) vastly overpriced for the quality. I concurred with her findings. I suspect this was a skirt that had been hanging out in Stitch Fix's inventory for a long time which they were desperate to get rid of, which made me feel like this Fix was less tailored to my taste and more impersonal. Verdict: Send back.

Market & Spruce Fierro Elbow Patch Crew Neck Sweater: This sweater did not go well with the skirt as suggested by Jessica V, mainly because of the way the skirt waistband settled. However, it had fun teal elbow patches, and I really liked the color, and it was super comfy. Plus, it was green, which is festive. Verdict: Keep.

Margaret M Emer Printed Knit Straight Leg Pant: First off, I still think saying "pant" instead of "pants" is pretentious. Secondly, I already have blue polka dot work pants. Thirdly, even if I didn't, I didn't like these enough to buy. Verdict: Send back.

Bay to Baubles Brinley Flower Gemstone Necklace: I really liked this necklace with the sweater. However, I knew I would never wear it with anything else. In the end, I decided I could find something just as good or better at Target. Verdict: Send back.

Collective Concepts Albert Button Down Blouse:: Pretty color, strange fit. I have a similar (red) blouse that I got at Ross for ten dollars, which made me less-than-eager to buy another, more pricey one. Verdict: Send back.

All in all, this Fix was a little disappointing. On the other hand, I got what I needed, which was something festive to wear on Christmas Eve. I wore some red jewelry with the green sweater, and it turned out to be a really fun look.

In other fun Stitch Fix news...over the weekend we had another storm around Hometown. On Saturday night, I had to cut short a fun evening with Viola so that I could make it home before the storm got too crazy. Getting home proved to be more difficult than I thought, and in the middle of making phone calls to family members I noticed an email from Stitch Fix that said, "$25 Credit is Yours!"

At first I didn't pay much attention to it, but when I opened it up later it said inside, "Haley's first Fix just shipped, so you've received $25 in credit!"

Then I realized that some delightful blog reader named Haley must have used my referral link to sign up for Stitch Fix! Thanks, Haley! When I get my springtime Fix in March, I'll think of you! As well as I can, anyways, since I don't think I actually know you.

My Seventh Stitch Fix Experience

Well folks, it's that time again.

What time, you ask?

The time where I demand that a stranger in California find clothes for me instead of finding them for myself like an actual adult!

Leading up to scheduling this Fix, I was ransacking the Internet for pictures of pretty clothes in pretty fall colors. Last year, Jessica V sent me three navy blue items for my fall Fix. I love navy blue...a lot...but I was hoping to get a wider variety of colors. Particularly red. It ain't autumn without some red. I pinned all sorts of gorgeous things to my Pinterest board to give Jessica V some guidance.

In my note, I said that I was looking for cute fall clothes. Dresses and shirts and skirts, maybe jewelry...probably not pants.

My Fix came on a Wednesday. Here's what Miss Jessica V said this time:

Hey Awkward Mormon Girl! Cute fall clothes are coming your way! I thought the Collective Concepts blouse was a cute piece similar to styles you have pinned so far. Plus this piece is going to mix well with previous pieces. Try this top with the Le Lis Skirt, I went with an XS in this skirt again since skirt sizes seem to fit you better in an XS.

Which has been consistently true in my Stitch Fix experience, but which is very odd because I don't think I've ever bought an extra small skirt when shopping for myself.

How fun is the Le Lis dress?! Great piece for upcoming fall events, such as a pumpkin patch outing with friends. Pair this dress with tall brown boots and maybe even throw on the Market & Spruce cardigan for a Zoey Deschanel inspired look-- I love her quirky but chic outfits. The Market & Spruce pullover is so cozy, I think this piece would be great with black ponte pants or even paired with the Le Lis skirt. I hope you had a great time in New York, and cheers to a cozy fall! Xo Jessica V

Back to the Xo. I have to say that I've missed it.

Collective Concepts Sayer Ruffle Detail Blouse: It's hard to see in this picture, but this blouse is a really pretty teal color. I immediately liked the style, and it was very flattering when I tried it on. And...

Le Lis Serena Belted Flare Skirt: This is a longer skirt of thicker material in a pretty burgundy color. I put it with the blouse as suggested, and voilà! A super cute outfit in gorgeous fall colors. Verdict (for both): Keep.

Market & Spruce Chuckie Textured Stripe Pullover: How pale am I? Very, very pale. Does gray go with my coloring? No, no it does not, unless I wear the right makeup. This pullover is also a lot looser than I normally wear. However, it's super comfortable, and the looser sweater I bought last year from Stitch Fix is now one of my favorite sweaters, so it seemed worth the gamble. Verdict: Keep,

Le Lis Cambrie Knit Dress: I tried on the dress and, well, it was super elegant and well-fitting and pretty. I then tried it with the cardigan, as seen below. I was a little surprised at Jessica V's suggestion to wear it to a pumpkin patch, though. I could definitely see wearing a dress and a cardigan and boots to a pumpkin patch...just not this style of dress. Unless I was, like, doing engagement photos in said pumpkin patch. Verdict: Keep.

Market & Spruce Bri Knit Cardigan: I liked the look of this cardigan. It was a very pretty color, similar to the blouse's color but a little lighter. It did look super great with the dress. If I'd seen it sitting in a store alone, I might not have bought it, but as a companion piece to the dress and other items I already have, it seemed like a good investment. Verdict: Keep.

Once more, I had such a satisfactory Fix that I bought all five items.

Now, you've heard it before: if you decide to try Stitch Fix, please use this link. I will get referral credit. But (and here's the exciting part) Stitch Fix recently started a line for guys. So men, you could use my referral link if you wanted! You too could have a stylist of your very own. I don't know if  the guy stylists are other guys or what, but if not, and if you think that Jessica V's a stylin' person, maybe she could be your stylist, too.

If You're Interested in Stitch Fix...

I am extremely surprised by how popular my Stitch Fix blog posts are.

Apart from Blogger's stats indicating that those posts draw far more views than most, I have several times been approached by friends and acquaintances in real life. They tell me excitedly that they're going to sign up for Stitch Fix, or they tell me wistfully that want to try Stitch Fix but can't afford it, and so they get their Fixes vicariously through me.

If you're one of my readers who think Stitch Fix is neat, then you might like some other things I'm trying out:

1. theSkimm
Apparently, I am reliant on Shutterbug's impeccable taste. Shutterbug recommended Stitch Fix to me, and this week she introduced me to theSkimm through a Facebook post.

theSkimm is a free service that sends you an email every weekday. The email contains a synopsis of the current events headlining the news that morning. For someone like me, who dislikes reading about the strife in the world but who feels wholly uninformed if she doesn't, it's a great way to get a handle on the news without having to dig through or wallow in it. You also probably remember that I prefer neutral journalism when possible. So far, it seems to me that theSkimm's political slant isn't terribly overt. They don't make many definitive statements; instead, they seem to be fond of asking questions like, "Do potatoes cause cancer?" Then, instead of actually answering the question, they drop a piece of evidence that could be taken with either regard or disregard. Such as: "One thing's for sure—scientists are pushing for potatoes to undergo more thorough radiation testing!"

In some circumstances, not giving a straight answer is cowardly. In this case, though, it is kind of refreshing. I realize theSkimm is trying to keep a broad appeal for subscription purposes, but just the same I appreciate not being blatantly told how to think...for once.

Also, each email takes me only about five minutes to read. However, there are some sponsored ad blurbs towards the end of the email, which are annoying.

If you're interested in giving theSkimm a try, the link I provided earlier is my referral link. Yes, I get something from referring theSkimm. What? I honestly don't know. That might be the only thing I find objectionable so far: theSkimm provided me with a referral link but is very unclear about what I get when others sign up. In other words I'm promoting theSkimm not only because I like the service but because I'm also curious about what will happen if I do get referrals.

2. Favorite Eats
This is a service where you pay a small subscription fee each month in return for restaurant gift cards. Essentially, after you subtract the subscription fee from the gift card amount, you're actually getting several dollars' worth of free food. You then use the restaurant gift card and leave a restaurant review on social media.

When I first saw the service description, I thought it was a probably a scam. Then I realized what's probably actually happening: a bunch of restaurants hired Favorite Eats to promote them. Favorite Eats is taking a chunk of that money to essentially hire everyday food enthusiasts to do that promoting for them. Those enthusiasts will be able to reach people who know and trust them and will be able to hit audiences normal campaigns wouldn't.

Pretty smart! I for one would like to be a part of what seems to be a fun experiment. Here's the big catch—the referral link up above is actually for a waitlist. The actual service hasn't launched yet, and apparently it will only accept a certain number of applicants. I'm sharing the waitlist because when people sign up from my referral link, it bumps me higher in the waitlist and makes it more likely I'll actually get a spot to try the service. Remember, since it's just a waitlist, you don't have to be 100% sure you actually want to try the service before signing up. You may not get high enough on the waitlist to get a chance to try it anyway.

My Tenth Stitch Fix Experience

So winter happened, and when winter happened I discovered that I basically didn't have any warm winter shirts that aren't sweaters.

First off, a disclaimer: I love sweaters. I have a small department store's worth of them. But they're darned hard to care for. I figured I needed some easier winter shirts.

Thus I scheduled a Fix (my tenth!) and dashed off a note to Jessica V, explaining that I needed warm winter shirts (that weren't blouses or sweaters) and warm winter dresses, too.

I experienced an avalanche of delight when I opened my Fix and found not one but two bundles of clothes. Better yet, they were wrapped in special holiday wrap!!!

Instead of taking one picture of each bundle, I took two pictures of the same one...IDK.

Then I experienced an avalanche of shock as soon as I opened my stylist's note.

Hi Awkward Mormon Girl, Jessica is not available to style this Fix, but I took extra time today to review your Style Profile and Fix History to get familiar with your style!

Jessica V "is not available?" Then who the flip are you??? (Further perusal showed that this stylist goes by the sketchy alias of "Jill.")

Thank you for leaving a request for warm winter tops and dresses...we've got you covered! I started with the legging-like Liverpool skinny jeans.

Wait...jeans? I'm not really in the market for jeans, girlfriend. I replaced literally all of my old jeans earlier this year.

The inseam should be perfect! Pair the jeans with the burgundy knit top for a cute and casual style. I also added the cozy pullover sweater. It's sure to keep you warm on the colder days ahead.

What did I say about sweaters, Jill? Hmm? I said, "No sweaters!" I'm pretty sure I said those literal exact words, except without the exclamation point. Because using an exclamation point would be rude.

I hope you love the Marc New York Puffer Coat. Both the quality and craftsmanship are top-notch! Enjoy exploring these new arrivals. And as always, please leave feedback. Happy Fix Day :) Your stylist, Jill

Whoa, Jill. Whoa. Whoa. You're not "my stylist," okay? Jessica V is my stylist. You're just filling in while she's gone.

(Also, Jill, you're supposed to end a Fix note in an XO, not a smiley face. Geez.)

Most of the trying-on process was just me having an internal dialogue with Jill. Like so:

Liverpool Elizabeth Super Skinny Jean: "I don't need jeggings, Jill." (In spite of the name, these pants are totally jeggings and not real jeans.) *as I'm sliding the pants on* "Do not want, do not need—oh my gosh, these are so comfy."

I feel like this happens every time Stitch Fix sends me jeans, buuuuut...Verdict: Keep.

Dual Nature Celeste Knit Top: I was actually very pleased with this top. This is exactly the kind of thing I was hoping to get in my Fix, and I didn't direct any irate comments towards Jill while I was trying it on. I recently bought myself a jumper, and I tried the top with the jumper to see if it worked. (I love that about Stitch Fix.) Verdict: Keep.

Le Lis Kano Textured Knit Dress: I liked the look of the dress, but I was irritated that it was short-sleeved. "I said warm dresses, Jill! What part of  'warm' do you not understand—" *tries on dress* "—wow, this really is warm." Sure enough, despite being a winter dress with no actual sleeves (?!), it was quite warm, looked lovely beneath a cardigan, and actually fell below my knees. Verdict: Keep.

I wasn't sure what to think about the last two items.

Evolution by Cyrus Yvonna Mock Neck Pullover Sweater: "I said no sweaters!"

The sweater looked all right on me, but besides being a sweater and not what I desired, it was reeeaaally staticky. It clung to my hair like a crazy hair-clinging thing.

Marc New York Risor Quilted Puffer Coat: "Jill! My style profile says no coats! I don't need a coat; I already have a perfectly good coat." *tries on coat* "Wow, this looks really good on me...especially the color..."

In all honesty, my puffy winter coat is actually pretty old and ugly; I'm just adverse to spending money on a new coat when I have one that's serviceable enough. Plus the coat was (I thought) way too expensive.

When faced with such decisions, I do what any sensible girl would do and text my mom and sisters, asking whether they thought I should buy the coat. If I did, then I would need to buy the sweater as well (since buying all five items and getting a discount was less money than buying the four items I really liked).

I got mixed feedback, but my mom was the one with the strongest opinion (and the most difficult phone to text on).

Mom: Static can be managed with fabric softener sheets. YOU Can Use More PANTS dear. And a cute coat. You need to spend some on yourself. You are such a great saver but you are only young and cute once. I don't tell the others to buy more clothes but you need them.

With that kind of endorsement, I decided to go ahead and buy everything.

(P. S. I also sent a picture to see what they thought of the top-and-jumper combo.

Mom: The jumper is cute with that top. GOOD color on you.love you

I thought that it worked. Older Sister thought that it didn't. Little Sister seemingly abstained. What do y'all think?)

Anyway, in closing, I guess that Jill did an all right job and that I can grudgingly like her and not feel super disloyal to Jessica V. Although...now that I think of it...Jessica V was the one who abandoned me, not the other way round! So I shouldn't feel guilty about having a fling with Jill, right? I think? The ethics of client-stylist relationships are a little unclear to me.

If you've got a hankering to make Jessica V or Jill or some other hapless person pick out a bunch of clothes for you, go ahead and sign up for Stitch Fix using this here referral link! You get a Fix, and I get $25 in credit. It's fun for everyone.