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My work wardrobe was completely transformed.
My daily wardrobe is relatively simple. It mostly consists of black or white T-shirts, straight-leg jeans, and the occasional silk midi skirt or dress. There’s no color, nothing too far out of the box, and a lot of neutral tones. But as I prepared to enter a new job, I wanted to try something new—that’s where Stitch Fix comes in.
I decided to review Stitch Fix to update my look and add a bit of color. Stitch Fix is a clothing subscription service that carries 1,000+ brands and makes a wardrobe refresh easy with the help of a remote human stylist. “Stitch Fix’s human-to-human styling is a real benefit,” says VIP and commercial stylist Kathryn Hamed. “As a stylist, my favorite aspect of styling clients is when they feel confident in the outfits I style for them.” She says there’s an aura that a well-styled outfit adds to your appearance, and I was hopeful that Stitch Fix could provide that boost to me through the mail.
At a Glance
- Base Price: $20/box
- Free Shipping: Yes
- Delivery Frequency: On demand and recurring every two to three weeks, month, or quarter
- Number of Items Per Box: 5
- Size Range: XS-3XL, plus sizes 14W to 24W, petite, and maternity
How I Tested
Stitch Fix’s detailed but streamlined styling quiz and remote styling helped save me hours of scrolling through retail websites at the risk of not finding anything I liked, which I appreciated, especially during a supremely busy time in life that consisted of starting a new job, moving to a new city, and graduating. You know, no big deal.
The styling quiz starts with basic questions, including sizing, color, and pattern preferences, before moving into the fun part—building your StyleFile profile by answering detailed questions and giving items and outfits a thumbs up or down. I appreciated being asked how adventurous I wanted my selections to be, ranging from “not at all” to “very.” I chose “very.” After all, I wanted Stitch Fix to help expand my style horizons and office outfit ideas, and to see what my stylist would pull without limitations. After finishing the quiz, I paid the $20 styling fee and chose an arrival date for my “fix,” the nickname Stitch Fix has given its boxes.
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Stitch Fix Unboxing
A few days later, my fix arrived. Despite my incredible pickiness with clothes (don’t get me started on work pants), my stylist, Cheri, found some different but approachable items for me to try. I appreciated that she included some color, mostly shades of blue, that I could easily work into my existing wardrobe. She also stayed within the price ranges I gave for each category, sending me two tops under $100, two pairs of jeans, and a pair of Dolce Vita ballet flats. I was impressed by her on-the-nose footwear selection. I already owned two pairs of the brand’s flats, as it’s one of my favorite places to buy shoes.
My only issue with my items was that the sizing didn’t work out in the jeans department. I was somehow sent two pairs of Free People denim, each one size larger than what I marked on my quiz. I hadn’t worn Free People denim before, and I was hopeful that the size discrepancy was due to the pants running small, but they were true to size. At checkout, Stitch Fix asks for feedback and gives the option to exchange your items for another size, so I could have easily swapped these out should I have wanted to keep them.
Stitch Fix offers a standard three-day trial period before charging for your entire shipment, but it is easy to request an extension of up to 30 days, should you need one. I tested my fix over a weekend, and the extension came in handy, especially because the clothes I chose not to keep sat packed in their mailer for a couple of days before I finally made time to venture to the post office.
About Stitch Fix
Founded in 2011 by then-Harvard student Katrina Lake, Stitch Fix is an on-demand styling service that brings women’s, men’s, and children’s styles right to your doorstep either on demand or at the subscription interval of your choice. It offers several different five-item boxes and styles for a wide range of prices and events. The style quiz asks you to specify the type of clothing you’re most interested in receiving—clothing for special occasions like weddings, work, casual wear, or maternity. Stitch Fix also recently began offering themed fixes, specialized for vacations, date nights, athleisure, and more. No matter your style goals, the quiz asks for details about how much you’d like to spend on items in each wardrobe category, making the service as expensive or inexpensive as you’d like after the $20 styling fee. This fee is put toward the cost of any item you keep from your fix. Shipping and returns are free and easy with the prepaid shipping label and mailer included in each box.
The well-rounded styling quiz asks for basic info like sizing and height before prompting you to give whole outfits or individual parts of those outfits a thumbs up or thumbs down. The quiz also includes more detailed questions, like the colors, patterns, styles you’d rather avoid, features you enjoy showing off, favorite denim styles, and so on. These questions help Stitch Fix identify your unique StyleFile personality, a feature added to the site in 2024. This personality type gives language to your style and helps guide your stylist’s selections to your taste.
Every fix arrives with a note from your stylist that details why they chose each specific piece and a couple of styling ideas. While your Stitch Fix stylist may not see you in person, Stitch Fix gives several opportunities for feedback on individual items and your fix overall during the checkout process. Honest, detailed feedback can help your stylist’s suggestions become more personalized over time. You can also ask to work with a different stylist on your next fix if yours isn’t a good fit.
Stitch Fix Cost
The styling fee for each Stitch Fix box, or fix, is $20. This fee automatically applies to any item you purchase from your fix, making the experience (kind of) free if you decide to keep something. If you keep all five items in your shipment, you’re automatically given a 25 percent discount. The styling quiz asks how much you’re comfortable spending on each category of items in your closet—shoes, tops, bottoms, and so on—rendering the service as expensive or inexpensive as you’d like. Each box ships free and includes a return mailer and prepaid shipping label.
Delivery & Packaging
My Stitch Fix package arrived a bit worse for wear, but my items were safely wrapped in recycled paper packaging. My fix also included a note from my stylist with pricing details and the prepaid return label and mailer. The package came a few days earlier than the date I selected, but the option to extend my trial period up to 30 days made it easy to keep the package until I had time to try everything on. When I was done, I simply folded everything up, packed it in the mailer, and dropped it off at my local post office.
Is Stitch Fix Worth It?
I was fairly happy with my Stitch Fix experience. I enjoyed the styling quiz and had fun styling three of the five items my stylist selected. However, the sizing issues I ran into with the two pairs of jeans were a bit frustrating, given that the size I received wasn’t the size I indicated during my styling quiz. Stitch Fix is worth it if you, like me, need a bit of a closet makeover. The items I liked helped inspire me to add more color and vibrance to my mundane wardrobe, and they allowed me to try different styles of clothes I was hesitant about, like barrel jeans and mesh ballet flats. These items helped me escape my comfort zone and discover new flattering cuts and styles for my petite body.
Who It’s For
“Stitch Fix is a little bit more user-friendly for people who maybe don’t have time to go shopping, or maybe know what they like and gravitate towards,” says Selby Kosky, a personal and event stylist. “It’s easier for them to go on the site, fill out the survey, and then stick to the styling they usually shop for.” The service is well-suited to those looking to find a new sense of style. The experts I spoke to recommend Stitch Fix to those entering the workforce, planning for an event or travel, or learning to dress for a new chapter in their lives, such as parenting.
Final Thoughts
I was pleased by the ease with which Stitch Fix made the shopping process. I enjoy shopping for myself when I have the time, but if I ever come into another period when I don’t have the freedom to scroll retail sites or stroll through a store on my own, I’ll certainly use this clothing subscription service.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- A stylist does all the heavy lifting for you
- Can discover new cuts and styles suitable for your body shape
- Box is catered to your taste
- Prepaid postage for returning items
- Simple website
- “Free” styling when you buy an item
- The clothes you buy are discounted
- Fast arrival time
- Can swap stylists
Cons
- Must return items within three days or request an extension
- Sizing might not be accurate
- A lot of trust is put into the stylists
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do you pick the clothes you receive in a Stitch Fix box?
The beauty of a styling service like Stitch Fix is that your stylist picks the clothes for you. This cuts back on the time spent searching for new brands and styles to try, which is especially beneficial for those who may be too busy to shop or don’t enjoy the process. Stylists’ selections recently became even more personalized with the introduction of “StyleFile” in September of 2024. Stitch Fix describes StyleFile as a “snapshot” into each customer’s unique style personality and the many elements that build it. The feature gives language to the styles selected for you in each box or recommended in Stitch Fix’s “freestyle” shopping option. Freestyle shopping allows you to shop for individual items on Stitch Fix as you would on any other retail site.
- Can you return clothes that don’t work for you?
Yes, all Stitch Fix pieces can be returned if they don’t work for you. Every box comes with a return bag and a prepaid shipping label. All items must be returned within three days unless you request an extension, which is easy to do. Extensions are allowed up to 30 days.
- What brands will you find in a Stitch Fix box?
Stitch Fix carries more than 1,000 brands, including well-known labels like Madewell, Free People, Calvin Klein, and Farm Rio. It also carries 16 in-house brands that are only available on the site. Your stylist will choose from brands you already know and love, as well as new-to-you brands when pulling items for your box.
- Are clothing subscriptions sustainable?
The environmental impact of clothing subscriptions is up for debate, due to the shipping and packaging required to send clothing across the country. Despite this, Stitch Fix has taken measures to reduce its environmental impact. According to the company's sustainability page, its boxes and plastic mailers are made from 100 percent recycled material, and its private-label brands use sustainably sourced cotton, recycled polyester, and sustainably made viscose. Partner brands must meet the requirements set forth by its Vendor Code of Conduct. Stitch Fix has also banned the sale of fur, angora, and mohair products on its platform.
Why Shop With Us
Emma Greene is a New York-based fashion, beauty, and lifestyle writer who specializes in product reviews. When writing this review, she received and styled her own Stitch Fix box and spoke with experts to better understand the brand and its potential impact on customers’ wardrobes.
For this article, she spoke with two stylists:
- Kathryn Hamed is a stylist and creative director based in New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami. Her work ranges from editorial to commercial and VIP styling.
- Selby Kosky is a Chicago-based stylist who focuses on everyday wardrobe editing and event styling.