Stitch Fix

I follow this wonderful blog, Carrotsformichaelmas , and every so often she posts a review of a shopping service she uses, called Stitch Fix. I read through every post eagerly, looking at the cute styles sent to her by her personal Stitch Fix stylist, and laughing at her husband's comical commentary on each item. However, when I initially looked into Stich Fix, I was out of the size range because they don't carry plus sizes (though I think I read on the site somewhere that they haven't ruled it out forever) so I just followed "Carrots" and coveted her Stich Fix experiences. And then, something magical happened... She mentioned in her latest post that Stitch Fix is now carrying maternity. Ohmyglob. Sweet baby Jesus loves me.
Here are the basics of how it works:

• You go to their website, and create an account, complete with a style profile of your style preferences, color or material preferences, etc. the more info you can give them, the better your chance of being happy with what they send you (so I hear)
• You pay a $20 styling fee to have a box of 5 items sent to you
• A Stitch Fix stylist selects items for your fix based on the information you give them (have a Pinterest style board, etc... Send that to them too!)
• A box of wonderful goodness arrives, including a personal note from your stylist!
• Each item is new, you can try it on in the convenience of your own home, with your other clothes to match outfits etc.
• If you like any of the items and want to purchase them, the $20 styling fee counts as credit toward your purchase. If you do not like any of the items, you're out the $20 fee. IF you like all 5 items and want to purchase, they offer an additional 25% off your total.

I'm sort of on the prowl for a dress for Easter/my shower, so I asked Husby about it and he thought I should go for it. (He is the MOST generous to me!) There was still the concern about sizing, however I have found that, in general, in recent shopping for maternity clothes, I am into a regular size XL, and no longer in the plus size range (pregnancy sickness for the win!). I was unsure about whether it was boutique style sizing (typically running freakishly small, can I get an Amen???), but decided maternity clothes should be a little more forgiving so I took the plunge!

My box arrived today, just as I was headed out the door with Alex to go hang out with him at his work. And, because I couldn't wait, and neither could he, I tried on all the clothes at his work. (He sits at the front desk of a dorm at his university, and it's spring break. So... Crickets!) so please excuse the plain white wall background, and the fact that I had to try on tops with the skirt I was wearing. Here we go!

Item #1- Kerri Maternity Dress ($148)
My stylist sent this sweet note about wanting to send me a dress for my shower, and apologizing for it being out of my requested price point she also offered to order a dress within my price point for my next fix if necessary.

 

I didn't hate it, but I also didn't love it. The back is a drop V neck, which is pretty, but in general I hate wearing black in the spring and summer because it's not one of my colors, and I just feel like I'm trying to hide.

Alex's take: "I like it a lot. It's very flattering. I mean, it's not my favorite of all time, but it's nice."

At $148 though... I think I'll pass.

Item #2- Clarkston Cowl Neck Maternity Top ($48)

 

I love this color. Coral is one of my favorites to wear. I was a little worried about how clingy the fabric would be, but for later in pregnancy it's fine. The cowl is kind of pretty...

Alex gave me a blank stare when I asked him what he thought... And not the good kind. Lol. Then he said he was just trying to process the color. He thought the "neck was kinda weird, but nice."

It isn't too bad price-wise, but I'm not sure if the soft jersey would hold up through washing to wear into future (God willing) pregnancies...will it pill?

Item #3 - Vinnie Open Crochet Detail Cardigan ($58)

My stylist mentioned in her note that she saw a chunky open cardigan on my Pinterest board (which I shared in my profile) so she included this sweater because it was similar. 

It's a very nice sweater, though it feels more like it runs a size small and just works because it's supposed to fit more loosely than it does (added to that impression is the rounded "butt cover" bottom in the back).

I still kind of want to get it because it's such a nice cozy sweater... And the back detailing is very pretty:

Alex's take: "That would be nice for winter"

Oh yeah, that's right. It's Southern California and already 90 degrees. Waaaa.

Item #4 - Kaitland Spade Charm Long Necklace ($36) & Item #5 - Melanie Graphic Print Maternity Blouse ($58)

I love the necklace- it is heavy enough to be a more quality piece of jewelry, but not so that it will hurt my neck (I have issues with an old car accident injury)


I also love the top. I love the colors, and the visual interest of the squared neck, and I love tops with more structure/heavier fabrics like this one (polyester, but really soft) because they don't cling to every sin (as they say). However, it is a little tight in the arms, and it doesn't give me much room for the bump to grow... And I hear it's really going to grow ;)

Alex made a face, and then drew a square on his own chest to match the squared collar on this shirt while he said "I don't like that." He also didn't like the pattern, or the color... I think?

So what are your thoughts? Which items do you think I should or should not keep? Right now, I think I am only sold on the necklace for sure (and I may as well put my styling fee towards it instead of losing the $20 since I do like it a lot).

Help me choose!

Also, if you are interested in trying Stitch Fix for yourself, please use my referral link so that I can get credit toward future Fixes (I promise I'll blog about them)

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Pregnancy Updates

Sorry for the lack of blogs. I have excuses, but... eh. I realized today that you may not remember that I am pregnant because I have been so absent - Heaven forbid! I am sorry, dear readers, that I have robbed you of my pregnancy over sharing.  Allow me to catch you up, and indulge in way too many bump pics. 

Sweet Baby O is still scheduled to arrive June 4, as "scheduled" as any non-surgical due date can be anyway. Let's be honest, babies come when they are good and ready. 

This little peanut is already a snuggly, cuddly, little one! At our 20 week anatomy scan, baby was so comfy and uncooperative that the tech couldn't get the images she needed, no matter how much she tried. Little stinker!

I am finally starting to feel like I look pregnant. Husby is excited for that because I can finally stop asking him if "I look pregnant, or just chubby?" For the record, he has been wonderfully insistent that I have looked pregnant for weeks... God love him! 

23 weeks! More than half way there. The first 16 weeks dragggggggged on. Between waiting every day to see if this little babe would get to stay with us, to the absolute pregnancy exhaustion - which, by the way, NO ONE can fully prepare you for weeks of feeling like you've been hit by a truck! (I've never had mono, but I'm pretty sure that's what I felt like for weeks 7-14ish) - the days dragged (drug? #whocares) on. Oh also, there was this little thing called "Morning sickness" (also not prepared for that) which I had from about week 6 to week 8. And then, at week 8, I stopped just feeling nauseous, and started actually throwing up. Daily. Sometimes multiple times a day. 

I counted down the days until my first tri would be over and I could stop throwing up. And when I got to week 18, I tried to not think about how many weeks I had spent hung over all of the toilets in SoCal (literally all of them). My favorite part (not) was when people would ask how I was feeling, be surprised when I told them the truth, and then tell me "don't worry... You'll be to the end of it soon! How many weeks are you?" I celebrated Week 20 (NOT within the First Trimester of pregnancy, for those of you who have difficulty dividing 40 by 3 #errbody) by "tossing the proverbial cookies" as I shared on el FB (though it wasn't actually cookies, because #gfsfdfsucks ). I actually started to feel better for most of week 22, but don't get too excited, because I celebrated those 3-4 glorious days by getting sick again yesterday. 

People tell me "it will get..." And I interrupt them: "Nope. We're past that point ::SMILE:: looks like we're in it for the long haul." 

And that's okay, because... Baby. (All the heart eyes)

More updates for you- like the story about our scary ultrasound, and MORE! Coming up on the blog... At some point (let's keep it real ;). 

In the meantime, want some awkward bump selfies??? I know you do.