Are You A Victim of Style Boxes?
A few years back, a subscription service catering to the style needs of busy women, or those who disliked shopping for one reason or another, started online. The ads were everywhere — on social media, or tagged on as an ad in an e-mail sent by another party.
After filling out a long questionnaire with all your personal information about your body and what kind of style you like, they say you’ll love the monthly delivery of an outfit picked out just for you.
Years later (and many new services added to the industry) there has been a fall out for subscribers. The customer is told “This is perfect for you!” so they tend to believe it. Why not believe it, you put all your sizes in and favorite looks.
The problem is that there isn’t really anyone on the other end to help you understand how it should look or if it even fits right. So when I go into a client’s closet, I see a bunch of clothing still waiting to be worn. I hear “Oh, I got that through (insert subscription service here) and thought it was cute. I just don’t know what to do with it.”
Many order the subscriptions because it seems very convenient — it comes right to your home and you get to try it on when you want to. But if it’s not what you want, the convenience ends there. Then it’s about repackaging and getting it to the Post Office. Sometimes the box just doesn’t get sent back because a subscriber is just too busy (which is why they tried it in the first place) and they are charged for the whole month’s box.
Part of my Closet Reorganization service is going through a client’s wardrobe with ZERO judgement and educating them on how to wear their clothing. I have clients try on each piece and we discuss the fit and color. Many times they will finally try on that piece from the service and it may not fit correctly or they realize it just isn’t in their comfort zone. It’s a bummer for them, but if it can be resold either online or by consignment, there’s a way to get a little of your money back. If it’s not sellable, it’s better to donate than just letting it sit in your closet!
For me, it’s all about educating my clients so when they’re out on a shopping excursion with friends and see that cute top, they understand how it will fit them and if it is something they will wear rather than collect dust because they don’t know how to style it. As a stylist, I don’t mind getting a text if you’re just not sure about it. I can’t help but develop great close relationships with my clients, so I love getting texts like these:
Style boxes can work for some people — they wouldn’t be popular if they didn’t work! But if you have a hard time finding the right fit or aren’t sure what you really want your style to be, they can cost you more and end up just taking up space in your closet. Take the money you’re spending on clothing you will never wear and hire yourself a stylist. Not only do you have someone to walk you through what works best for you, but you’ll probably find a friend you can send texts to while shopping.