I Tested Stitch Fix's Plus-Size Options—Here's My Review

Whether you’re looking to freshen up your wardrobe or need a new outfit for an upcoming event—or you simply don’t have the time to go shopping—clothing subscription boxes are a fashion godsend. They also let you try on clothes and accessories at home, which is a major plus for anyone who’s ever experienced the garish lighting of a department store dressing room.

In the world of clothing subscriptions, Stitch Fix tends to dominate every conversation. The company has been making waves for over a decade, thanks to its personalized wardrobe options that are handpicked by a team of stylists. I have many friends and family members who have raved about the company, so I decided to try it out for myself. I was particularly curious to see if its plus-size clothing options were actually cute—and to see if it had a variety of styles beyond the preppy and business casual outfits I had seen my friends rocking. 

Read on for my totally honest review as a first-time Stitch Fix user.

How I Tested Stitch Fix

After signing up for a subscription, I tested out the app and customer service options, in addition to trying on all the clothes in my first box before writing my Stitch Fix review. I wanted to test how well the team incorporated my profile into their stylist picks, how well the plus-size clothing actually fit my body, and how helpful the live chat option was on the website. I also tested how easy it was to rate the products and return anything I didn’t want to keep.

Other factors I considered in my review were packaging materials, the experience of signing up/canceling my membership, the quality of the products, and the overall value of the subscription service as a whole.

How Does Stitch Fix Work?

Stitch Fix is both a clothing subscription box and an online personal styling service, and with more than 4 million customers, it’s by far one of the most recognizable names in the fashion delivery industry. Its core concept is this: Share your personal style preferences, and a stylist will pull some pieces for you and mail them to your doorstep either every two to three weeks, every month, every other month, or every three months. You can also opt for a one-time “Fix” for special occasions or sporadic wardrobe refreshers.

Stitch Fix has a very impressive inventory, with clothing from over 1,000 brands, including DKNY, Kate Spade, Calvin Klein, Free People, Michael Kors, and more. The company also prides itself on its inclusive sizing with sizes ranging from 0 to 24W and XS to 3X, as well as maternity, plus-size, men’s, and kid’s clothing.

To get started, customers go to Stitch Fix’s website and take a fun—and incredibly in-depth—style personality quiz that will eventually help the team pull your looks. The quiz starts by asking you to click on photos of outfits that match your personal preferences (or your style goals), then delves into even more specific questions regarding your measurements, what events you’re dressing for (work, date nights, etc.), how much skin you’re willing to show, which fabrics and patterns you’d like to avoid, and any other notes you think your stylist should know. You can even paste links to your Instagram profile or different Pinterest boards to give the stylists additional insight into your personality. After you complete the quiz, you can choose to either sign up for a subscription or manually schedule a one-time Fix.  

Once your Fix arrives, you have three days to try on your clothes and accessories (each box comes with five items) and decide whether or not you want to keep any of the pieces. If you feel three days aren’t enough, the website offers an “extend your return date” option. Each box comes with a huge prepaid envelope that you can use to send back any items you don’t want to keep, so just drop everything in the mailbox when you’re ready to make the return. You can then go to the app or website and rate each of the products you just received so your stylist can improve your personalized looks for your next delivery.

Stitch Fix Cost

Stitch Fix charges a $20 stylist fee for all boxes, whether they are part of a subscription or a one-time delivery. If you decide to keep any of the clothing or accessories, the $20 goes toward the price of the products; and if you decide to keep all of the items in the box, they’ll knock 25 percent off the final price.

You can state your cost preferences when you take the style personality quiz, so the price range of each product is really up to you. For example, you may decide that you’re willing to spend less than $50 for shirts, between $50 and $100 for dresses, and over $100 for shoes. All in all, the site’s inventory stretches between $25 and $500 per piece.

I found that the items in my first Fix were all exactly within the price ranges I asked for, with some of the shirts even coming in at a slightly lower cost than I expected. Unfortunately, I didn’t end up keeping any of the clothes they sent me, as the styles were not exactly to my taste this time around. Essentially, I paid $20 to try on some clothes and then return them. But that’s the risk you take with these types of services.

Delivery and Packaging

My first delivery arrived in a simple cardboard box with some cute “Stitch Fix” branded tape sealing it shut. The clothes were folded neatly and wrapped in a single layer of tissue paper, which I was able to recycle (along with the box). The package also came with some cards that had instructions and trend reports, as well as a prepaid envelope for returns.

I did find the slightest hint of what I suspect to be deodorant stains on one of the shirts, but overall the clothing was very clean and wrinkle-free. I also appreciated how the box came with a card that described each of the items (including brand names and prices), as well as a card that showed photos of how to style the pieces with other clothes and accessories. I’m not exactly intuitive when it comes to cleverly pairing different items in my wardrobe, so the visual aids were very much appreciated.

Product Quality

As expected, my box contained five items: a blush-colored cardigan from Love Ellie, a black knit top from CeCe Sportswear, a white button-down blouse from Calvin Klein, a navy zip-up tank from Papermoon, and a pair of olive wide-leg pants from Mason & Belle. I was very pleased with the quality of the clothing (especially since I skewed toward more inexpensive price ranges) and the fact that they fit me well—something that’s always a bit of a concern when trying on plus-size clothing.

Despite the good quality and fits, none of the five pieces in my first Fix matched my personal preferences at all; they were all very preppy and business casual, which are two styles I try to avoid at all costs. I even specified that I never wanted to receive pants in my deliveries (simply because I’m very picky about pants) and wanted shoes and accessories included as frequently as possible, so I was surprised when I received items that went directly against the notes I submitted.

I will say that when I reached out to customer service to voice my concern (I used the live chat option on the website, which is available to anyone with an account), they were very quick, kind, and accommodating. They even offered to waive the styling fee on my next Fix to make up for my disappointing first box, explaining that their inventory is constantly shifting, so it’s not always possible to find five pieces that perfectly match everybody’s style personalities. 

Stitch Fix also gives you the option to rate each of the items you receive in each box and leave notes for your stylist, so presumably, each box gets closer and closer to your perfect style match. I’m certainly willing to give the service a few more tries for this reason. Plus, I look forward to shopping for some of the personalized outfits my stylist suggested for me!

Who’s Stitch Fix Good For?

Given its massive inventory, diversity of brands, and inclusive sizing, Stitch Fix is honestly a viable option for almost anyone looking to refresh their wardrobe or buy a new outfit for a special occasion. It’s also perfect for people who either hate trying on clothes in stores or simply don’t have the time to drive to their favorite stores, as the clothing is delivered directly to your door.

Having said that, the styles do tend to skew toward preppy, clean-cut, work-appropriate attire. While that is certainly not bad, it may take your stylist a few tries if you prefer your clothing to be a bit more casual and/or funky. 

Final Thoughts

While I didn’t end up keeping any of the items in my first box, my experience with Stitch Fix was overall very positive. I had a blast taking the style personality quiz and was very pleased with the quality and fit of the plus-size clothing I received. The pieces didn’t quite fit my personal preferences, but I’m willing to give my stylist another few tries to get it right.

I was also delighted with the quality of customer service, which is a huge consideration for me when determining whether or not to continue a subscription. All in all, I’d recommend Stitch Fix for anyone who wants to have a fun time with fashion and potentially add some unexpected new items to their wardrobe.