Stitch Fix vs. Thread Up

I’ve written before about my problems with shopping, my love of a small wardrobe.  It’s been awhile now, and I thought I’d update about that whole “KonMari” idea of only having things in my wardrobe that spark “joy.”

I still love it.  It’s a little tricky with a whole pregnancy, and ever-changing-body shape thing that goes with that.  I have my regular wardrobe out again, and it feels completely dull, though.  I don’t for one second want to go back to the crazy mess it was before.  However, 2 of the summer tops I wear a lot are really getting worn out and look very frumpy.  At least 2 of the winter tops I wear also look very worn, and need to go.  Also, while all of the pieces I have in my closet are things that I love, it’s still hard for me to put together an outfit sometimes because the layers don’t always match.  There’s a few extra pieces that would make that easier.

After my experiences with Stitch Fix (you can see here boxes #1, #2, and #3 and #4) I wanted to swing over to the cheaper side.  I heard about Thread Up, which is a used clothing store online.  However, everything there is brand name, it’s in great shape, and they have a very easy return policy.  Everyone seems to have a favorite place to shop, where clothes actually fit.  For me, it’s Ann Taylor LOFT, petites department.  I love those clothes, but they are also more professional-type clothes, and I don’t need to wear suits and blouses all the time.  I have 6 little kids.  I want to be cute, not frumpy.  They do have some nice casual things too.  That’s the goal.

Thread Up is where I found a couple of cute GAP maternity jeans for about $10, to replace my ones with holes in them when I was pregnant with Bjorn.  Also, most of my pregnancies were in the winter, and so I didn’t have a lot of summer maternity clothes.  I picked up a few things there, and were extremely happy with them.  It’s quickly becoming my favorite place to shop online.

However, the inventory is changing there everyday.  Some of these things I want to make my wardrobe make more sense together just aren’t in stock there all the time.  They just get what they get.  Plus, I have to do the shopping.  This means I could buy something like this:

and no stylist would be there to say: “Gretchen, that’s a bad idea.  That’s actually ugly, and it won’t look good on you.”  I like having a stylist hold my hand.  I like the treat of opening up a box like Stitch Fix, and knowing that I will look good in everything in it, and just have to decide on the fit and affordability.

Things on my wish-list:

-a casual skirt.  I have 2 maxi skirts (my kids call them my “fancy yoga pants”), and one of them is about done, I’ve worn it so much.  I find skirts to be pretty comfortable most of the time, and would like to replace that one with something as cute.  It’s hard to find casual dresses or skirts, and yet I’d wear them all the time if I could find nice petite ones that would fit me easier, and were still cute enough where I didn’t look Amish.

-a cream pullover sweater.  I see so many Pinterest outfit pictures with a cream sweater and a scarf, or a cream sweater over a plaid shirt.  I think I’d wear the heck out of a cream sweater with my wardrobe.

-a pair of colored jeans.  I’ve seen these all of the place.  I don’t want “leggings” though, because I’m not that trendy.  I just want a pair of jeans that are not blue, to mix it up a bit.  Right now I have 3 pairs of jeans: one for garden/messy work, one pair of boot cut, and one pair of skinny jeans.  They’re not leggings, though, they’re jeans.

-more sweaters/tops.  Knut laughs at this because he says all I wear is sweaters.  However, during my purge, that’s what I got rid of the most.  I just love sweaters.  So.  Much.  It’s stinkin’ cold where I live, and I grew up in Arizona.

So I ordered a box from Stitch Fix, and I put together a box that I picked out myself from Thread Up, and thought I’d compare which one suited my vision of a small but fun wardrobe the best.  (No items that I would say: “Well, I like this one, and I got it because it was only $5, but…”  No buts.  No, but it doesn’t fit me, or it pulls funny here, or makes me look fat.)

First I’ll show you my Stitch Fix box, where a stylist picked out items for me that she’d think I’d like, based off of my profile and little note I left for her.  (I wrote to her everything on my wishlist.)

Liz Textured Sweater $68

I had some issues photographing this time.  Bear with me.

This is a cream sweater, which had this surprising background of blue yarn.  It is extremely cozy and comfortable, and is a bit lower in the back than in the front, as is the trend.  It’s oversized and I want to live in it forever.

(Notice baby kicking his feet on the floor in the background.)

Status: Kept

Dolce Bootcut Jeans $78

They fit, they were comfy.  I just don’t need another pair of jeans right now…unless they are colored and bringing something new to the mix.  If I’m paying this much, it better be something that I really could use.

Status: Returned

Ellis Elephant Print Infinity Scarf  $28

This is actually a super-cute scarf with elephants on it.  I just don’t need an elephant scarf right now, and I find them cumbersome to wear when holding/wearing a baby often.

Queensland Dolman Jersey Top $48

So, I’ve been wanting one of these dolman (batwing) tops for awhile.  It’s just this one is black.  I have a slouchy black shirt that I have already, and this will just show lint and spit up like crazy.  If it was in a different color, that would be another discussion completely.

Status: Returned.

Deandra Textured Aline Skirt $78.

You can’t tell from the photo but it’s a houndstooth pattern with burgundy and black.  It’s cute.  It’s surprisingly quite comfortable.  It’s not what I had in mind for a casual skirt, and it’s pricey.

Honestly, this whole outfit reminds me of an outfit my Barbie wore when I was a girl.  It came complete with slouchy black boots.  No kidding.

Status: Returned.

Items kept from Stitch Fix: 1

Pros: They know my size and what I’m looking for, and I get a “surprise” in the mail which is more fun than it should be.

Cons: The price.  I’ll be honest, it’s pricier than I normally spend.  But I buy so very little these days, and the quality is so good that I think it’s worth it if I’m getting something that fits me and is on my list.

If you are interested, here’s my affiliate link that will direct you there.

Onto Thread Up…

Athleta Wool Dress $30.99 (retail: $89)

This sweater dress looked cute in the picture, and was in my size.  I figured it would be cozy to wear to church in the frigid months.  It ended up being a lot more frumpy that I would like, and the color was just okay in person.  Knut loved the color and said the dress was “fine.”  I don’t want fine.  I want to love it if I’m going to buy it.

Status: Returned
J. Crew Wool Pullover Sweater $23.99 (retail: $98.)

This caramel colored thin sweater is 100% soft merino wool, fits like a glove, the neckline isn’t too wide or too tight.  It’s a perfect layer piece or by itself.  It’s in like-new shape.

Status: heck yea, I’m keeping it.
Banana Republic Factory Store Pullover Sweater $16.99 (retail: $60)

This is were I was sick of the lighting and my messy, just washed hair, and all of that.  I started getting goofy.

But other than that, I love this sweater.  I could wear it all the time.  It’s a fun design and it’s in great shape.  It’s a nice orange that will look great this fall.

I moved the photo shoot to the room where Ingrid was napping.  The lighting is better in there.  See? I’m getting a dolman-cut top after all.  Oh, sweetie, her mosquito bites.  Sigh.

Status: Kept.

Meadow Rue 3/4 Sleeve Henley $29.99 (retail: $119)

This looked like a cool shirt online.  Wearing it, though, felt fussy, like I would have to adjust it often.  It was a nice casual fabric, but I couldn’t see myself living in it, and most of all, I wasn’t excited about it once it was in my hands.

Status: returned.

Also, Ingrid woke up, veeeeeery slowly.  It’s sad to wake up.

Ann Taylor LOFT Pullover Sweater $19.99 (retail: $60)

Isn’t shopping with 6 kids fun?  This is why I’m not in a store right now.

The tags are still on this.  The color is my favorite and the design is pretty but not fussy.  It fits loose, but cute.  Perfect.

Status: kept.
American Eagle Outfitters Wool Pullover Sweater $12.99 (retail: $50)

This was very cute.  Plus it’s wool!!! (Did you notice I love wool?) The shoulders were falling off, though.  I can’t wear a sweater falling off my with all the tugging and pulling I get in a day.

Status: returned.

Items kept by Thread UP: 3

Pros: It’s so cheap, and the quality is so good.

Cons: I’m guessing at what will fit, and I pick them out myself, and I really need help picking out clothes.  Also, I have to devote a lot of time to picking things out, and I couldn’t find even one pair of pants or a skirt or dress that I liked this time.  The stock is always changing, and I have to check back frequently to find something…and that takes time.  I didn’t even have time to put on make up on for these pictures, so time isn’t exactly something I can spare.  I just want clothes that are cute and fit me put in my closet.

For those who are interested in looking into Thread UP, my link for that is HERE.