Diving into the World of Curated Style Boxes
Okay, so I’d been hearing about these clothing subscription boxes for ages, right? And let’s be real, shopping for plus size clothes in actual stores can be a soul-destroying experience. It’s either all shapeless sacks or stuff clearly designed by someone who’s never met a woman over a size 12. I was just plain tired of the whole rigmarole, spending hours hunting for something decent only to come home empty-handed or with something I wasn’t truly thrilled about. So, I figured, what have I got to lose by trying one of these “we pick it for you” services?
I finally took the plunge and signed up for one that specifically mentioned catering to plus sizes. The first step was filling out this massive online style quiz. And when I say massive, I mean it. They asked about everything – my exact sizes (which, as we know, can vary wildly from brand to brand), what parts of my body I liked to flaunt or hide, the kinds of styles I leaned towards, colors I loved, colors I loathed, patterns, occasions I needed clothes for. It was pretty thorough. I remember spending a good half hour clicking boxes and typing in little notes, trying to be as specific as possible. I even uploaded a few photos of myself in outfits I liked, hoping that would give them a better clue. Felt a bit like creating a dating profile, but for my wardrobe.
The Anticipation and the Arrival
Then came the waiting part. You pay a styling fee upfront – I think mine was about twenty bucks – which they say gets credited towards anything you decide to keep. Seemed fair enough. They told me my “fix” would be curated and shipped, and I’d get an email. A little over a week later, a box landed on my doorstep. I’ve got to admit, there was a definite flutter of excitement mixed with a healthy dose of skepticism. You know, that “is this going to be amazing, or a total disaster?” kind of feeling.
Unboxing the Mystery Items
I brought the box inside, grabbed some scissors, and got to it. Inside, neatly folded, were five items of clothing. They also include these little cards with styling suggestions for each piece, which is a nice touch, I suppose, even if I usually have my own ideas. My first visual scan: okay, not a complete horror show. Let’s see what we got here:
- A pair of dark wash skinny jeans.
- A printed tunic top – kind of a bold pattern.
- A knee-length black jersey dress.
- A lightweight, open-front cardigan in a sort of dusty rose color.
- A silver-tone necklace.
Initial thoughts: The jeans looked promising, fabric felt like it had good stretch. The tunic? Hmm, that pattern was LOUD. The dress seemed basic but potentially versatile. Cardigan color was nice. Necklace was… a necklace. Nothing offensive, nothing earth-shattering.
The All-Important Try-On Session
Alright, this is where the rubber meets the road. I hauled everything into my bedroom for the grand fashion show. First up, the jeans. I wriggled into them and… hallelujah! They actually fit! And not just “fit” but fit well. Good rise, no dreaded waistband gap at the back, comfortable stretch. I did a little happy dance. These were already strong contenders.
Next, the loud tunic. I put it on. Looked in the mirror. Took it off. The fit itself wasn’t bad, but that pattern, combined with the tunic length, just did absolutely nothing for me. It kind of screamed “trying too hard to be artsy” and that’s just not my vibe. So, that was a definite no.
The black jersey dress was next. Slid it on. It was… okay. Comfortable, for sure. But a bit shapeless. It just hung there. I could see it being a workhorse piece with the right accessories, but on its own, it didn’t make me feel fabulous. More like “meh.”
Then the dusty rose cardigan. The color was pretty, and it was soft. Fit was decent through the shoulders and arms. It was nice enough. I could see myself wearing it.
Finally, the necklace. It was fine. A simple little pendant. But honestly, I have a ton of similar jewelry, and it wasn’t special enough to sway me on its own.
Making the Tough Calls: What to Keep, What to Send Back
So, you get a few days to make your decisions and send back what you don’t want in a prepaid mailer they provide. I laid everything out on my bed. The jeans were a YES, without a doubt. Finding good-fitting plus size jeans is like finding a unicorn. The cardigan? I was on the fence. It was nice, but was it “pay full price for it” nice? The dress was a pass. The tunic was a hard pass. The necklace was also a pass.
The thing is, these services aren’t exactly discount shopping. You’re paying for the curation, the convenience. If you keep all five items, you get a percentage off the total, which can make it a better deal. But I was only truly in love with the jeans. I thought about the cardigan again. Did I need it? Not really. So, in the end, I decided to just keep the jeans. The styling fee I paid upfront was deducted from the price of the jeans, which was good.
Packing up the returns was easy enough. Just popped them in the bag, sealed it, and dropped it at the post office the next day.
My Final Verdict on This Whole Styled Box Adventure
So, what’s my overall take? It was an interesting experience. Getting those jeans was a major score, honestly. I absolutely loathe jean shopping in person – the trying on, the bad lighting, the inconsistent sizing. So, to have a great pair delivered to my door was a big win.
But as for the rest of the box, it was a bit hit-or-miss for me, especially for a first try. One out of five isn’t a fantastic success rate. Maybe my stylist needs more feedback, or maybe I need to be even more brutally honest in my style profile next time. It’s tricky. When you’re plus size, you’re already dealing with a more limited pool of options in the fashion world, stylist or no stylist. They can only send what the brands are actually making and what their buyers decide to stock.
I think these services can be really great if you despise shopping, if you’re stuck in a style rut and want to try new things without the hassle, or if you just enjoy the surprise element. But you do pay a premium for that. I might try it again in a few months, update my preferences, and see if the next “fix” is a bit more tailored to me. For now, I’m just happy with my new favorite jeans. That alone made this first attempt somewhat worthwhile.
