It’s a little unfair, and even presumptuous I suppose, to speak on matters in which one is not even a semi- or quasi- expert, but I am prefacing this now by declaring there’s a lot I still don’t quite get about Gwynnie Bee.
Gwynnie Bee bills themselves as a clothing rental subscription service for women sizes 10-32. Which really, sounds pretty fantastic for people who are looking for services which cater to a wider range of sizes. Depending on the brand, I can wear anywhere from a size 10 to a size 14, so I fall at the lower end of this spectrum, but in perusing the selections on the site, I still found a lot of pieces that might work for me, fit wise.
I think how it is supposed to work is that:
1. You open an account. Either by invite or referral? I am not certain. I got an invite. It might be the same thing, and I think either way the person who invites/refers you gets some kind of credit. This post, by the way, is liberally peppered with referral links, so if you decide to sign up, I may get some kind of credit.
2. You choose what sort of plan you’d like -one at a time/two at a time/ three at a time – it’s sort of like netflix, I guess. And then start browsing through their selection and adding things you like to your “closet”.
3. As I understood it, once your closet hit 25 items, Gwynnie Bee starts shipping things to you according to your plan… but I hit a snag when I couldn’t even find 25 things on the site that I liked all that much. So after playing around with it for 15 minutes or so, I promptly forgot it.
4. They send you the stuff, you wear it for as long as you want, you either send it back for more stuff, or you buy it.
Imagine my surprise when, a week later, I received a shipping confirmation! I wasn’t overly concerned because the first month is free and I figured well, ok, they’ll send me some stuff, I will check it out and send it back, and there’s really nothing at all to lose here, right? Alright, then.
Right off the bat I like that although you’re guaranteed that what is being sent to you is something you’ve already expressed interest in, you don’t really know exactly what is being sent to you, so there is still an element of surprise. I mean otherwise, it’s just regular online shopping and while that’s fun, it sort of loses the element of novelty that these services really capitalize on.
The box arrives via FedEx, neatly packed with several cards that I did not bother to read, a return envelope, and the three dresses are contained within.
The IGIGI Francine Dress In Mulberry Tapestry is pretty much exactly the sort of thing I like to wear, even though I do suffer from extreme rhodophobia. There’s something about this particular red that is lush and opulent and I really quite love it. The ornate, scroll-y pattern is right up my alley and the dress is very flattering. It’s long enough that I wouldn’t have to wear it with leggings or tights, although that would look quite nice, too. The tie/sash thing, however, is really long. How are you supposed to tie this? In the front? In the back? Hm. On the model they’ve somehow made it look like an obi, and I’d like to figure out how they’ve done this. They are calling this size a 14-16 and I am not sure why I didn’t just go with the 12, because I think I could definitely afford to size down. It is $53.50 to purchase outright.
When I saw the shipping email listing the SPRUCE & SAGE Eclipse Sketch Fit & Flare Dress I thought to myself “…um, why did I think I liked this?” but in person it’s really great. I love the print, I feel like some manic toddler really went to town on it with some ill-advised Sharpies. The fit is absolutely perfect and I think it’s the first time that a dress waist hits my actual waist, as opposed to right up under my boobs, which is what usually happens. It’s just a smidge away from being slightly snug, but since movement is not hampered and there’s no weird stretching or puckering, I think it is probably fine. I also think I am probably just not used to having things actually fit me. For reference, this is the size 10-12 and $30 to purchase. Which seems like a fantastic deal, since I didn’t have to pay the box fee during this free trial month (otherwise it would be $80 +$30?)
The Karen Kane stripe uneven hem dress is the one that I thought I might like the most and surprisingly it’s the one I am least happy with. I love the white stripes against the black, the asymmetric hem, all of it…but it just doesn’t add up to a very flattering picture. I got the smallest size they offered (0X) and unfortunately, it’s still pretty baggy on me. Which is makes me a little sad, because it really is adorable and it is so soft and comfortable. I checked on the pricing and apparently I can purchase it for $50 which seems kind of strange to me, as this seems to be the most casual of the lot, with the least bells and whistles. Ah well, you can’t win ’em all. And this is not really an unusual style, so I can probably find it elsewhere. Or else gain 20 lbs so that it fits better. Hey, I like pizza and bagels, I can make that work.
So…I am still not sure what I think about this, and at this point I am not even sure what to do? Pack up the one that didn’t work, send it back, and continue to wear the others? During this free trial month will they send me something else from my closet right away? Or do I have to send the other two back/purchase them first?
And I see that a lot of people write on site reviews of the pieces they have received – do you receive some sort of credit for doing this? I mean, I’d be all over that – I have stuff to say about things, and I can go on at length, believe you me! I mean have you read my yelp reviews? I’m just saying – I have opinions and I like to share them.
Needless to say, I still have a few questions that need answering before I would fully recommend this to anyone, but I will say so far that the two dresses I have received in this shipment are some of the most flattering I have ever owned…for what it’s worth.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Gwynnie Bee tips and tricks? Enlighten me – I am all ears!
And hips and bosoms, if you go by the pictures above! Sorry to subject you to that, by the way.
Do you know your tikbalangs from your duwendes? Says Mikey Bustos ““We Filipinos have some really crazy mythical beings. Imagine they were all rap stars!” I have seriously watched this video, like 20 times in the past 12 hours. It’s fantastic.
(h/t Madeleine Spencer)
Though I stumbled across Evi Vine only today, I am fairly certain just from this stunning teaser-trailer alone, that debut album, Give Your Heart To The Hawks, is going to quickly become a favorite.
This Sunday, April 26 2015, be certain to head out to Brooklyn Zine Fest from 11am to 6pm at the Brooklyn Historical Society and visit the Heretical Sexts booth, manned by brilliant mastermind, Tenebrous Kate. Copies of all HS zines plus buttons, stickers, and exclusive mini zines will be available! Also -debuting at the fest is the Witch Women zine, in which I am honored to have been a contributor. (Images via Kate’s instagram)
How to be polite. An extremely worthwhile read. This piece really resonated with me, on so many levels. I have felt this way since always. (h/t Amit)
The soundtrack that made Twin Peaks. I was just trying to explain to someone yesterday that while I love the music for this show, the main theme in the opening credits literally, *literally* made me want to puke. It was such a visceral reaction. I love the rest of the music in the show, and I appreciate the different character’s themes, but there’s just something about the track for the opening credits that plucks uneasily at my guts. I can’t even describe it without sounding like a dummy, but it hits me right in the dummy feels, I think. Not something I can articulate on a higher-brain level. It’s like…bland, benign…yet blighted (?) hold music. And you’re on hold forever. It speaks to some fear I have of waiting forever for the other shoe to drop. The big, doom-filled shoe in the sky that you can’t even see but somehow you know it’s there and it’s a cloudless, sunny day…and you are just waiting…waiting…waiting…to be stomped into oblivion. (h/t Drax)
A role playing game about ghosts, in just 150 words. You and your friends play spirits of the dead, each with something holding you back from crossing over. With a brief, structured question and answer set and a single die, you discover and resolve your unfinished business. That’s it. (h/t John H.)
Helpful Spring Cleaning Advice From Gothic Novelist Shirley Jackson
“You may not know why you do it, but it must be done for it has always been done and so it will always be done. Never question the cleaning, just give in to the gentle sweep of the brush and the delicate glug of the bleach slipping down your throat.”
(h/t Sarah )
After a weekend roadtrip, I arrived home Sunday afternoon to find a familiar package on the doorstep. You’re probably thinking “…good grief, give it a rest, lady! Enough is enough!” And you’d be right! I told myself I would give Stitch Fix 2-3 times to see how I felt about it – and to build up a bit of a work wardrobe – and I think after this box I have hit my threshold. I am probably going to scale it back to every other month, or as needed at this point.
You’ve got to understand, though, that most of my clothing purchases in the past few years have been tee shirts, and I brought practically nothing work related with me when I moved back from NJ to FL. I didn’t bring much with me at all, actually – only what I could fit in my car. “You even couldn’t find a place in your car for a cherry pitter?” my boyfriend will incredulously ask me. Well, no. I’m a terrible packer. And I was never any good at Tetris. So I stuffed everything I thought I could fit into my little car and a lot of it had to go – including work clothes…and the aforementioned cherry pitter. I guess that could have gone into the glove box.
To review, or if you are unfamiliar with Stitch Fix: you pay a $20 a month subscription fee (which can then be applied to the items you purchase); if you don’t like any of it, you can send it back in a prepaid bag, but then you are out $20. If you purchase all of it, you get a 25% discount off the total. Whew! I think that’s basically the gist of it! You can read more about my first two fixes here: Fix One & Fix Two.
I got Macy again as my Stylist and she really did a fantastic job with the items she picked out this time. A monochrome palette – black and white and grey. I am starting to think of it as Summer Goth Business Casual. AND was included the very same skirt I had seen someone else receive in their fix a few months ago. I pinned it to my pinterest board and she managed to track it down for me.
Teren Dot Print Dress
The Teren Dot Print dress by Papermoon, size large ($68) was very similar to the dress I received last month, but this one is infinitely more flattering. I think if I had gotten this one first I might not have kept the other one, but eh, that’s just the way the cookie crumbles, I suppose. The material up top has more give and it creates more of a waistline, I think. And the material for the skirt is really interesting. Keeping this for sure.
Lyla Skirt
The Lyla Skirt, by Gilli, size large ($54) was an item that I’d seen another Stitch Fix subscriber receive and although we have totally different body types, I know that this is the kind of swingy-not-clingy skirt I love and it probably looks good on just about everyone. It’s a lovely light grey, jersey-ish material, and though on the card it looks pleated, the pleats seem really soft, not stiff or severe. Super cute with a Danzig tee shirt and a cardigan, right? A keeper!
Astrid Spade Print Tie-Neck Blouse
I am a little unsure about the Astrid Spade Print Tie-Neck Blouse by 41Hawthorn, size large ($54). I love the black and white spade print, it reminds me of elegant lattice wall inserts I saw in a movie, maybe a recurring motif in The Fountain? The fit is fine, and I am really starting to love these sleeveless blouses. Not because I love sleeveless tops or because my arms are attractively toned, but because I am a strong believer in cardigans with everything and in Florida, sleeves on top of sleeves starts to get pretty toasty. It’s nice to forego that extra layer of sleeve. That tie-neck, though. If it’s too floppy, it might start to get annoying. However, with the discount for buying all five pieces, I am thinking it might be worth it to just keep this one.
Esten Split Neck Blouse
People who know me well might be surprised that I am keeping the Esten Split Neck Blouse, by Collective Concepts, size large ($58). Well, that’s assuming that anyone really cares, which I suspect they do not. But I am pretty notorious for never wearing white tops – as a matter of fact, I hate on them pretty openly. But how cool and unexpected is this tiny lightening bolt print? I had to have it. Guess I will need to purchase a nude bra now. At my age I should probably have more than just black underwear, anyway. The fit is almost perfect, except where it doesn’t quite sit right along the bottom. it sort of flaps open. But whatever. There’s going to be a cardigan over it. Definitely keeping this one. Also, I think this will look pretty snazzy with that grey skirt, above, and this mustard cardigan (which I actually ordered this week).
Leticia Lattice Detail Top
The Leticia Lattice Detail top by Fun2Fun (god, I hate the name of that company, ugh) size large, ($44) is probably the most comfortable piece of clothing I have ever owned, except for these yoga pants I am wearing right now that are ten years old and the elastic is totally shot. But this blouse is so light and airy, it’s practically like wearing nothing. The lattice detail gives it a bit of visual interest and I bet you could dress it up a bit with some jewelry. Keeping this one, too.
Speaking of jewelry, I realized after my last Fix that I didn’t have many baubles that I would feel comfortable wearing around the normies, and I also don’t have much in the way of gold, which even though I don’t wear it much, I know it looks nice with my skin tone and coloring. I picked up a few really pretty gemstone necklaces from this etsy shop. I thought the prices were reasonable and they have a nice selection.
Labradorite, aqua chalcedony, green onyx, & chrysoprase
So, getting back to what I said at the beginning of this post – I think this will be it for Stitch Fix for the time being. I guess it looks like I am quitting while I am ahead (I’ve been lucky enough to get a few stylists who really figured me out), but truthfully, I just have everything I need right now. I scheduled my next one for sometime in June/July, as I have a family reunion coming up around that time and I might need a few appropriate summer things to bring. One of the things I love about this service is that in your notes to your stylist for an upcoming fix, you can indicate things like that. Or, as I demanded: “Please send me summery dresses but no gross, bright summer colors!”
Money details: my merchandise total was $278, but minus the upfront styling fee of $20, and another $25 credit I had for referring someone, PLUS the 25% discount for buying all five pieces, I paid $168.50. I think that will probably seem more budget friendly once I start doing this every other month, or every three months.
My conclusion with this particular subscription box experiment is that it was absolutely worth it, and if you hate shopping and trying on clothes under florescent lights in unflattering changing rooms – I highly recommend that you try it out, as well. Again, if you do sign up for Stitch Fix, please use my referral link!
Ah, so here we are. Spring break. Which is a funny and deceptive phrase in the semi-tropics where I live, because truly, by the time the spring months roll around, it is already starting to feel like mid-summer.
I like the idea of being outside and going to the beach and so on, but I try to do it before the sun has risen or just as it’s beginning to set, for as a pale skinned person who hates to sweat, that evil day star and I are not exactly on the best of terms. Also, I like being outside in the dim and dark hours because I am super weird about people looking at me.
So how does one pack/prepare for a melancholic holiday at the seashore? I have put together an etsy treasury to get us started!
21 Dresses, a story of the discovery of an an exquisite cache of dresses from atelier “Callot Soeurs”. Though barely remembered now, the fashion house was one of the great names in Belle Époque fashion. h/t OTB
Marina Bychkova, of Enchanted Doll, had a 2015 birthday contest, in which the participants are requested to design a tattoo for an Enchanted Doll!
”
“Somethin creepy goin down at da crib called 124,” indeed! I wish Thug Notes had been around when I was in 11th grade AP English. I have a sense that Beloved was a book I might have loved…had I understood it better. Thanks for breaking it down, Thug Notes. h/t Jack
For fans of creepy dolls, trulyrealro is the most magnificent instagram account you can hope to find.
In Episode 7 of Under The Knife, Dr Lindsey Fitzharris discusses how a pot of pee used to be a crucial diagnostic tool in the past. Learn all about piss prophets and medieval urine wheels!
Last month I received my first shipment, from Stitch Fix, a monthly subscription box that sends you five curated pieces of clothing/accessories picked out just for you by a “personal stylist.” At that time, my sister told me that she tried to read my post about it but she gave up because I was too wordy (which is rich, coming from HER) and she got bored and quit reading and probably started looking at pictures of kittens or monkeys instead.
To review – and I’ll keep it short – you pay a $20 a month subscription fee (which can then be applied to the items you purchase); if you don’t like any of it, you can send it back in a prepaid bag, but then you are out $20. If you purchase all of it, you get a 25% discount off the total. Whew! I think that’s basically the gist of it!
I received my second shipment today and I am pretty happy about it. Although, if I were not, I don’t think I’d publish a youtube video about it. Those ladies get pretty melodramatic about this. I am not going to link to any of them because I don’t want to come across as tearing other women down, but Jesus – get it together, ladies. It’s just clothing. No need to record yourself in front of the world doing a weepy unboxing video.
I had a different stylist than I did last time (I think that was Emily?) but this one seemed to get me pretty well. She mentions checking out my pinterest board and found a blouse somewhat similar to something I’d asked for, and she also included a few pieces for a business trip I’d mentioned in my notes/request for this shipment.
Kristah Ruffle Knit Blazer
The first item was the Kristah Ruffle Knit Blazer, size L ($78). I don’t own many blazers and there’s a reason for that. I work from home in my pajamas all day. I do have a business trip coming up, however, during which time I will be representing my company and expected to look like some sort of professional individual and so I thought a blazer might be a good start. This one is a lightweight, somewhat stretchy material, fitted, and has a cute little ruffle in the back. If I am going to have to wear a blazer, I’d at least like it to be interesting, and this one fits the bill. Keeper.
Harriet Geo Print Fit & Flare Dress
I believe the Harriet Geo Print Fit & Flare Dress, size L, ($64) was meant to be paired with the above blazer, so that’s how I tried it on and it was super cute and fit quite well. On it’s own I am not sure this would be dressy enough for the cocktail reception I am going to be attending as part of the aforementioned business trip, but with the blazer and some pumps, it will probably be perfect. Otherwise, I would probably wear this with a cardigan and dressy sandals. Keeper.
Shivan Split Neck Blouse
This Shivan Split Neck Blouse, size L ($48), was the piece I was most excited about. I know dark florals are trendy right now, but I have loved them since I was 8 years old and adored all things “flowerdy”. In my notes, I had asked them to send me this blouse, if possible, (I had seen it in someone else’s Stitch Fix review, and that’s how I knew it existed) and while what they sent isn’t quite it, it’s still beautiful. (Though some – like my late mother and my grandmother – would accuse it of resembling “Aunt Maude’s Curtains”) Unfortunately, the fit is so weird – it looks like it would be loose and flowy, but it’s strangely tight around the bust and hips. I kept it anyway because I am a nutjob and I just like looking at the print. Maybe one day it will fit. Don’t laugh.
Meryl Tulip Print Sleeveless Blouse
Another sleeveless top! But I really like it. The print, the navy color, the split neck, all of it. The Meryl Tulip Print Sleeveless Blouse, size L ($54) almost had the same fit issue as the floral print blouse, but not nearly so severe. Definitely workwithable. Probably will wear it with black jeans and a black cardigan. Although…what about a mustard yellow cardigan? I don’t have one of those, but for some reason the idea appeals to me. I don’t like most colors, but the ones that appeal to me sound pickled or sour or bitter: mustard, olive, etc.
Anyway, this is a Keeper.
Emory Swallow Bird Charm Necklace
Now I was fairly certain that when I filled out my profile I specifically opted out of accessories. I always carry the same bag, I am not a lady who constantly switches out purses. If I want a scarf, I will knit one. And as far as jewelry goes, to quote an absolutely odious fictional character, “my tastes are very singular”. I prefer unusual pieces made by independent artists who have a certain vision and aesthetic. I will never find these sorts of things through a service like Stitch Fix. No offense, Stitch Fix. However, when I checked, I apparently did not opt out of the accessories, and they sent me this Emory Swallow Bird Charm Necklace ($28). Which, all things considered, it’s not too hideous, unless you are the sort who cares about trending motifs and would say something like, “Oh, well, swallows are so 2006”. Not that that crossed my mind or anything. I am considering this a Keeper because quite honestly, it’s something I can wear to a family dinner or work function that will dress an outfit up, but no one’s going to ask me an questions about it. (“Is that satanic? Are you a witch? ARE THOSE REAL TEETH?”) Also, if I keep everything, I’ll get a 25% discount on the total and it’s basically free anyway.
So, I am keeping everything. I had a $25 credit because someone used my referral link(thank you!) and with the 25% discount for purchasing all five pieces, my total came to $184. That’s probably kind of expensive, but everything here feels high quality, and I didn’t have to leave the house or spend time humiliating myself in a dressing room, so that’s kind of worth it to me. You mileage may vary in that regard.
Also, a few tips, if you decide to sign up!
One – You can change the frequency on your deliveries. For example, I just changed mine to every two weeks because I am hoping to amass a few more pieces before my business trip in April. After that I will probably change it to once a month, or maybe once every other month.
Two – The more specific you are in your notes to your stylist and your feedback on the items you receive, the better. I have stressed over and over that I am dipping my toe into colors and so far I have not seen one brightly colored item. This time around I mentioned that although I love dresses and skirts, I’d like them knee length because my bum is so sizeable that it makes everything shorter in the back. I also mentioned I am on the hunt for a mustard yellow cardigan! Tune in next time to see how they deliver on my weird requests.
Three – If you’ve just signed up and are expecting your first delivery and you don’t want to be totally surprised by the contents of your box, here is what you do. You’ll get an email noting that your Fix has shipped. They don’t include a list of the items, HOWEVER, if you can locate within the email the link to the checkout survey, it will take you to a list of the things that were shipped -“Kristah Ruffle Knit Blazer”, for example. If you do a quick internet search for that, you will no doubt find some imagery and you’ll get an idea of what’s coming to you.
As with my last review, I feel a little bit silly writing about this sort of thing. But, I will tell you why I am bothering. In searching around I see the rest of the ladies who use Stitch Fix are – for the most part – either mommy bloggers, fitness bloggers, or wifey bloggers… I don’t know what to call that last category. They have blogs about being engaged or being married and making sandwiches for their “hubby” and that sort of thing. I am not a mommy or a wifey or a runner/zumba instructor/mountain climber. I’m a single, childness lady with a terribly dark sense of humor, 3 shelves full of ghost stories and a head filled with 38 years worth of weirdness. And the only time you will see me running is ….HAHAHA you will never see me running.
My point is, when I went looking for reviews, there was no one at all like me talking about this and sharing their experiences. Or, if there was, they weren’t coming up in the first 10 pages of a Google search. So this is written for my fellow weirdies who hate shopping but like nice clothing every once in a while. So there!
Allow me to reiterate: I think “how to wear” columns are dumb.
HA! I said it. It’s true. They are dumb. But, as I confessed to my sister the other day: 80% of my daily broodings revolve around how I think I could have done something better than someone else did it (she promised to diagnose me at a later date)… and so I sometimes have to jump into the fray of dumbness just so I can do a better dumb.
Today we have…how to wear DRAMATIC JEWELRY*! And by dramatic, I mostly mean ridiculous. Who else is going to show you how to style a resin lobster necklace, right? Isn’t that why you came here today?
*Please note – some of these selections are more “art” than “wearable accessories” as they are one of a kind, gallery pieces.
A gorgeous SXSW poster for Ted Geoghegan’s We Are Still Here, designed by Erik Buckham and Jesse Vital. Take a peek at the teaser trailer over at Broke Horror Fan.
From Morbid Anatomy Presents: The Phantasmagoria shows of the early 1800s were our ancestor’s equivalent of the modern horror film or spook show. Magic Lantern historian Mervyn Heard takes us through brief history of the Phantasmagories and our cultural need to be terrified through ghosts, demons, skeletons and more… (h/t Ben)
For people “who think entirely too deeply about the absurd things they watch”:Splatstick and the Specters of the Past – insight from the inimitable Tenebrous Kate on Tommy Wirkola’s Nazi Zombies and Killer Witches.
Over the span of a month, Adam Savage designed and built an accurate replica of the hedge maze architectural model from Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. (h/t Yvan)
MA textile student Zsanett Szirmay’s project “Soundweaving” combines the borderlands of folk art, design and music by way of Hungarian and Transylvanian embroidery designs set to music. (h/t Lisa)
Ajuma – a grieving widow – is desperate to stop her recurring nightmares. In an effort to end them once and for all, she explores a forgotten fairytale remedy that leads her to unexpected discoveries. To Catch A Dream is The NEST Collective’s second fashion film project in collaboration with Chico Leco.
Fashion Week Fall 2015! Giles Deacon (top row) and dramatic dark lord Gareth Pugh (bottom row) are my current favorites. I am pretending Gareth Pugh was inspired by Garth Ennis’ CROSSED series. Heh.
Time for a trip to Tokyo! First on the agenda: the Tokyo Ghost Bar. Then we shall stay the night at the Godzilla hotel. Good times! すごい!
And the meek shall inherit Pawnee. I’ve not watched Parks and Rec for a while, but this article made me a little teary. I’m going to make it a point to binge on the last two seasons sometime soon. The meek and the farty, indeed.
Now I imagine most people reading this blog are of an age where they can dress themselves and their wardrobe choices are no longer monitored closely or chosen for them. You’re all probably folks who know what you like and have a snazzy sense of style and you don’t need someone – especially someone whose idea of formal attire is a polyester turtleneck with psychedelic mushrooms dancing all over it – giving you fashion advice. Fair enough.
So don’t consider this a “how to wear” column. Even though that’s what I titled it. I don’t mean to be confusing! I’m simply sharing a few really cool tee shirts here and how I might style them, for folks like me, whose wardrobe is somehow 140% tee shirts and who can appreciate a fantastic, casually cut cotton top with killer graphics on it.
Please note that not everything here is budget-friendly. Actually, there is not a single item listed that is budget-friendly…except maybe the tee shirts themselves. I will not apologize for my exquisitely expensive tastes! And of course, there is a perfume paired with each! I mean why bother even getting dressed, otherwise.
Unfortunately, while at one time I had a listing of every item used in these ensembles, the site that had that information no longer exists. RIP Polyvore.
