My June Wardrobe and Quarterly Stitch Fix

 

When it came to pulling summer clothes I was looking at a whole lot of nothing really.  I said I had ten tops with two that Bess had gifted me that were too large for her and of the ten, five of those were kimono cover-ups.  I wanted something new pretty badly but I made myself a promise.  I'd wait until my summer quarter Stitch Fix box arrived and I'd see if I liked any of that.

Well it arrived a few days earlier than planned and I am keeping it all.   Again, the stylist picked tops for me.  I've got loads of bottoms so I'm not in the least sorry about it being tops.   I  got five new pieces and then I went right to my closet and culled out six tops.  I moved one to the house drawer for wear around the house.  I put three in a donation box (a cowl necked sweater I haven't worn in two years and two of the kimonos), a shirt Bess had given me that is literally slit at the neckline (raw edges) and which I need to determine how I shall make it wearable or move it to house clothes drawer) and a tank top that is similar in color to one of the Stitch Fix box tops.

Again, I was pleased to see that the stylist had really paid attention to my Pin board on Stitch Fix and to my personal note about what I'd like to see in the box.  I am so happy I was paired with the very same stylist this time.  She's done a great job at choosing items I'd like!  

Just like last time there was one top I just wasn't sure of but after trying it on, I could see that the fit was spot on, the style more flattering than I'd supposed it might be and that it could be a transitional piece since it's a little heavier than the other three tops.    This blouse has a softly blurred print in blues and pinks that reads purple in places.  It's a sort of ivory white.  

I tried the shirt on and was pleased with how it looked on me.   That changed my mind.  I was pretty sure when I first picked it up that the style was all wrong for me but the soft pleating, the placket that rests perfectly at the bust line and the way the waist kind of nips in all just made the piece fit a lot better than I'd imagined it would.  I think too because the yoke of the blouse is so heavy the rest of the material hangs better.

This kimono is lightweight and the perfect cover for summer temperatures when indoor temps can be chilly after being outdoors.  I love the soft floral look.  The colors are olive, creamy white, deep mango yellow and coral.   It will easily go over three of the four tops I was sent so it shall be very versatile.

The cards with  outfit suggestions  are  always helpful.   I'd not even considered the kimono to go with my olive green jeans at all but it will!   I noted that it would also go well with my khaki pants so I'll get a good bit of wear from that kimono.

This coral top and the two below it have one thing in common.  The front of the shirt is a light weight silky type material but the back piece is stretchy knit that perfectly matches the front piece in color.   This is a bonus for a larger woman because I tend to spread a bit across the hips when I go to sit down.  That often means that blouses made of the same material front and back that has no give strains uncomfortably or even splits unless I size up.  No need with this style blouse.  I sit, it stretches across the back and the front doesn't strain.  I stand and the front hangs nicely because the back's elasticity allows it to ease right back into perfect shape.

You can't tell by the photo but this piece has a textured fabric on the front.  It's overlaid over a stretchy piece of fabric that is just like the back fabric so there's no sheerness to worry over.  John took one look at this top and said "That's a date night shirt or for when you're dressing up!"    This shirt has darts that hit perfectly at the bust and gives it added shape.  

This Mango colored top is not on Stitch Fix so it must have sold out.  Like the other pieces, it has the stretchy fabric at the back and the silkier piece for the front.  The little flutter sleeves are so pretty to me.

A few weeks ago I was scrolling on Instagram and came across a dress from Catherine's that I thought could work both dressed up a bit and toned down for casual comfort and would go well with the olive cardigan I got from my first Stitch Fix box.  It was reduced to a pretty low price.  I impulsively went right ahead and ordered it.

I really dislike the shoes the model is wearing...I thought for summer, I'd pair this dress with my white tennis shoes or my calf colored sandals.   

John doesn't like horizontal stripes (or any type of stripe really) but he did grudgingly admit that the dress fit me well, despite his dislike of it.   As for myself, I was pleased enough with it.  I don't mind stripes at all.  That's his dislike, not mine.  I think the dress will be a bonus for my wardrobe.   I do believe it is a little big on me but not so much so that I appear to be drowning in it.  I'm thinking a belt would be a good accessory for this dress,  even though I will tell you I've never worn belts as I always felt I was too big for a belt,  but I'm willing to attempt a belt with this dress   I might hem it just slightly.  We shall see.  

I ordered this dress because it matches the Olive green cardigan I got in my last Stitch Fix box beautifully, but could also be worn with my jeans jacket for a bit more of a casual vibe.   The sleeves are the right length and the weight of the dress comfortable for even summer heat, despite my husband's assurance that I should never wear the dress without a jacket or sweater over it to 'tone down the stripes'.  Rolling eyes just a wee bit here...

I will say that while I'm pleased enough with the dress, I won't be ordering from the company again.  Catherine's has apparently aligned themselves with Roaman's (always an awkward fit for me) and Woman Within.  I find that often the items in both are advertised on the thinnest models and with all the plus sized models out there surely they could show us what a real woman of size looked like in their styles.  That point aside,  my  reason for not ordering from them again is that it took a long time to fulfill the order.  I didn't expect it to arrive in two days but I did think having to wait four or five weeks was a bit much.   The order was accepted right away but it took them three weeks to send a note saying they were delaying shipping due to C-virus restrictions. It took another two weeks before they sent me a 'shipped' status notice.  Had this been the same time last year, I might well have bought that excuse for delayed shipping but not at this point in time.  

I think with the dress, these tops, the navy top from last shipment and the pants I already have that my summer wardrobe really only needs a few accessories to be complete.  I'd like new  sandals, some new necklaces or bracelets, a belt, possibly a hat and perhaps a summer purse in a fun color. But even without those things, I'll get a lot of wear from these pieces I think and I plan to utilize them all through these summer months.   

Here's how I've pieced things together for June.  Some of these I gave myself a choice of necklaces.  I really like the dress.  I did go ahead and order a belt for it, so we'll see how that works when it arrives.

The textured white top paired with pearls which are supposed to be trendy this year.  I also added a glass bead necklace that I like in soft aqua and blue and green, which I also used on the olive stripe dress above.

This coral sleeveless top with the kimono from Stitch fix and a wood and navy bead necklace.  

This is an oversized scarf and I thought it might be nice folded into a shawl for a cool church or restaurant to keep my arms warm without being heavy.  

I tried both a multi-color predominately red/blue/purple necklace with this top and a string of purple beads.  Not sure I really like either one.  The length of the necklace detracts from the placket design in my opinion but I'll see how I like it when I go to wear it.

This top is from Bess.  It's so bright and colorful I thought just a simple bangle would be a good accessory.

And this Kimono is a Bobbie Brooks piece that Katie picked up at Dollar General.  She'd seen one on the rack and thought it reasonably priced and when she got to the register it was half off.  She told the clerk, "Hold on a minute...I want to get another one for my mom."   I think it's a pretty Ikat print, don't you?  Since all my kimonos are florals it's a nice change of print.  The necklace I've paired it with here is about 20 years  old, but I love the milky white glass beads mixed with the gold and the turquoise.  It's a good pairing for this kimono I think.