Sonia tried being my ThredUp stylist! Here's how it went.
Sometimes when I've done Stitch Fix posts, you guys have suggested that I instead hire one of my girls to be a stylist for me.
So, we decided to take your suggestion.
Meet my new stylist!
Sonia, who has always been a passionate shopper, seemed like the perfect candidate for the job.
She'd have done the job for free, but I told her I'd pay her the same $20 styling fee I pay a Stitch Fix stylist.
And that was fine with her.
To switch things up a little, we decided to have her do the shopping on ThredUp.
(Stitch Fix is brand new items, whereas ThredUp is secondhand)
She started on this project in less than 24 hours, which highlights a difference between Sonia and me. I put off shopping; Sonia is enthused about it even if it's not for her!
Sonia picked out 7 items for me...tops and accessories, but no pants because I already have plenty of pants.
If you've missed my Stitch Fix posts, you should know ahead of time that I am not that comfortable being on the other side of the camera.
Which means that you should adjust your modeling expectations accordingly. 😉
First up, we have a gray sweatshirt with two cats on it ($17).
Five years ago, I would have said no to a cat sweatshirt. But times, they are a changin'.
Since Sonia knows I like pink/coral, she picked out this lightweight jacket ($20).
This is definitely more interesting than what I would usually pick out (I pick neutral jackets, almost always!)
Continuing with the coral/pink theme, we have another sweatshirt, this one more oversized. ($11)
This is me, being awkward:
Sonia did also pick out a neutral jacket for me ($15.50), but the style is kind of a fun departure from what I normally wear.
This gray turtleneck should have been my size, but I think someone may have shrunk it. This is a hazard of online thrift shopping.
I could barely get my arms through.
My neck felt very....constricted. Apologies for the blurry photo, but it was too good to skip.
Zoe tried on the top, and it fits her WAY better.
I went to the bedroom to change, and when I came back out, Sonia said, "Mom, would you like to see the photo Zoe and I took?"
Here it is.
I have inspired my children's modeling. I AM SO PROUD.
Finally, we have two accessories. First, a J. Crew scarf for $15.
And then a gray ASOS beret for $14.
The beret was slightly small for me, so Sonia tried it on. And I think it's really just a lot better on her!
How much did this box cost?
The grand total for everything was $122.89 plus the $20 styling fee I paid Sonia.
And that averages out to $20 per item.
Definitely cheaper than Stitch Fix!
And I liked more items in this box than I've like in quite a few of my Stitch Fix boxes. I think it helps that Sonia knows me really well; better than any Stitch Fix stylist could.
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What do you think of my ThredUp fix?
What would you keep and what would you send back?
And should we have Sonia do this again when I need some spring/summer clothes?
Well done, Sonia! Definitely do it again. Way more fun, practical, and thrifty.
My mom is definitely more stylish than I am, so even as a teenager, she would not have wanted me picking out her clothes. 🙂
Congratulations to Sonia on a job well done! She certainly lends new meaning to the term "personal stylist." As a "neutrals" type of person myself, I would not have chosen a coral jacket but, as it turns out, I love the color and think it looks fabulous on you! By the way, great pics! (Wink, wink.)
I agree with the other Mary--coral is very flattering on you. And I love the fun, neutral jacket. That's my favorite item for you!
I love the coral jacket! I would not have picked that color either, but I would have been wrong. This is why it helps to have someone else styling for you. Good job!
Absolutely yes to Sonia! She has a gift! I agree with everything except the turtleneck and think you looked great it all of it!
I loved the neutral colored jacket. Your girls are darling and I would guess from the pix everything looks cute on them!
I think Sonia did any excellent job. Everything looked good and between the three of you, they all found a home. I also really liked the pink/coral jacket. It looked good on you. I have a tendency to stick with the grey/black jacket colors as they go with everything.
You definitely look good pink/coral. Yes she should help you from now on
I shopped thredup before Christmas and really enjoyed it. Not thrift store prices but I found things I really liked for me and my children. I was shopping higher-end brands and have been quite pleased with my purchases.
I love the idea of your personal stylist! This is a fun story.
Definitely go with Sonia, she did a great job.
This is awesome!
Yes, she should do your next fix...for sure. And then she should market her skills.
I’m thinking Sonia might have “accidentally” picked a couple of wrong sizes, so she could keep them! She’s adorable and very talented.
Sonia did a great job. She is so photogenic and has a beautiful, regal look to her in her photographs.
I think she should give me modeling lessons along with fashion advice. Ha.
All I can say is "Keep Sonia on the job!" Everything she picked for you is perfection. Oh, and the beret suits her very well, also.
Take care and have a wonderful day.
What a fun story, I'm saving this for when my daughter visits! This is definitely one of the best boxes you've had, but even if it hadn't worked, spending time with your girls doing this is priceless! ❤
You look amazing in that coral jacket. It is spot on your color. I say cancel Stitch Fix and let Sonia be your stylist. She has an excellent eye for your style. I loved her own personal style for a long time.
That beret is perfect for her!
I like the grey jacket on you. Zoe should keep the turtleneck and Sonia should keep the beret. These are my suggestions.
Zoe is definitely keeping the turtleneck; I think she's worn it twice already since we took these photos!
My thoughts: take your stylish younger daughters to a department store with you. That way you can have their input AND try on and pick the right sizes and “fits” for you. A salesperson will help for free, if you want. Some of this looks conspicuously big, some small, some just for a different body type. Also some for their age group! Buy stuff on sale! Then bring it home, and try it on for your older kids and husband. Return what you don’t still love. You’ll spend less, save time, and be happier, and so will I, because as you know, some of us think buying clothes online is the worst idea ever! Lol. You are beautiful and many of these clothes are not worthy of you.
I know you hate shopping, but I agree with Jen. The cat sweatshirt looks too small for you and the coral jacket looks awkward. The coral oversized sweatshirt is a better style and I like the neutral jacket. My rule of thumb for buying clothes is ... if you don't absolutely love it, it shouldn't be in your closet!
Sonia has an excellent eye for choosing your fashion and both of your girls are absolutely beautiful!
First let me just say your children are beautiful. Great job shopping, I too dislike shopping! I think she knows your style pretty well. Keep up the good work. I think she could be a professional shopper!
Sonia is an awesome stylist!! Stitch Fix cannot compare.
I would keep the oversized pink sweater and green scarf. Both are great pieces for you.
Looks like lots of fun for you and your girls!
Love the pink and gray jackets and pink sweatshirt. Keep the gray sweater and beret for the daughters.
Sonia clearly bought that beret for herself and pretended it was for you. Smart kid! =) It looks so cute on her!
She did a great job. It sometimes takes someone else to push us to get us to try something out of our comfort zones. I remember wedding dress shopping with one of my daughters. She had definite ideas of what she wanted, but I found a gorgeous dress which had several of her "no way" items. To humor me, she tried it on. And immediately fell in love with it and wore it in her wedding.
I think your homegrown personal shopper was a great idea, and it makes a fun post!
I love this story!!
Your daughters are so beautiful! Yes, let her do this again...what fun!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this post!! the relationship you have with your family is beautiful and fun!
The cat top looks a bit small/short. Love the pink jacket and think it would go well with the minty scarf. Coral sweatshirt ok if you need it as the colour looks great on you. Beret definitely more Sonia’s style!
I’d enjoy seeing Sonia do the styling next time.
Yes!
Love it!
Much better than Stitch Fix.
Loving the pastels and brighter colors that feel like spring. My favorite of these is the neutral jacket that looks both youthful and classy, and can be combined with a variety of colors. What brand is it? The choral sweater looks super comfy, and the other choral jacket looks light and springy too. I remember you said that you are not a scarf person, but this minty one might change your mind? The cat sweater would look better with dark highwaisted pants, otherwise a little short.
Yesterday I went clothes shopping to Goodwill with my son for his theater production. It was fun to look for some vintage 1950s clothes. He and Sonia would look awesome together. Thumbs up!
I do actually have a pair of high waisted black jeans; I should try that!
Sonia's did such a great job! LOVE the cat sweatshirt.
Great styling job!
Awesome job Sonia! I loved the pieces she chose for you and that other family members could use those that didn’t work for you. Well done and probably the best $20.00 you have ever spent.
I really like the peach shirt, the grey jacket and the green scarf on you. Sonia did a great job! And the beret on her is to die for.
I like the grey sweatshirt with two cats and the mint green scarf. No on the pink sweatshirt (too big on you)); grey turtleneck (too small on you); beret is a no on you, but yes on Sonja maybe on the olive jacket: how great that you can all share in the good bargains she picked out. Good shopping, Sonja.
IT was very nice to see you out of your usual grays and blacks. You look so much better with some color around your face. Those jeans seem a bit small though. They used to tell us that if jeans "whiskered" they were too small.
But now that’s how jeans are supposed to fit! Lol! I think the ripped up ones are going out of style, and “flood pants” as we called them way back when are “in”! And mark my words, slightly tight knit plaid sweat suits are coming back
Some of the fashions coming back in style I remember from the 80's. Stone-washed jeans, high-waisted jeans, pleated pants, larger eyeglass frames. I guess it's true that everything comes back around!
I KNOW. The glasses. The same ones I look back on and cringe at from my childhood are what the cool kids are wearing.
I cannot get on board with that trend...I lived through it once already!
Hahaha, I agree so much. Those glasses are horrid. I thought we wore those in the 80s because that was our only option. Now they're *choosing* to wear large plastic frames. Why?
I KNOW. I am dumbfounded that people are choosing these frames. Mine scarred me forever!
That pink/coral jacket was spot on! Well done Sonia!
Way to go Sonia!! Hiring Sonia is much better and when you think of it, time efficient. However... I' really going to miss some of the the goofy horrid clothes you got before. i.e. The Little house on the Prairie shirt. Ah, the memories....
Sonia should definitely remain your stylist. She has a great eye. Sizing always runs funny to me so I love the fact that ThredUp has some of the measurements listed. Now if I could just find a Sonia in my neck of the woods...
Yes. My vote is yes! Have her do it again for spring. Great job!
Great job, Sonia! 🙂 Yes, I think she should be your stylist again in the spring (or more often).
Man, does Zoe ever look like you, or what.
Oh wow, that's interesting! People do not usually say that, though they tell me all the time that Lisey looks like me.
It's the middle of the three photos of her that made me think that.
Not the one where she's pretending to choke? Heh.
We would like to know what YOU decided to keep. So interesting and fun. Thanks!
Well, Zoe kept the turtleneck and Sonia kept the beret.
I tried the cat sweatshirt with high waisted black jeans and it still looks a little short on me, so I think I will hand that down to Lisey.
That leaves the jackets, the scarf, and the coral sweatshirt for me. I am waffling on the scarf (will I actually wear it), but I think I will keep the other three things.
Sonia should be a model!! She is straight up magazine worthy. Even better....she seems truly nice
Totally fun! The coral pieces look great. Excellent stylist.
Keep the scarf. It outs color near your face and looks fabulous.
This is adorable all around. Great choices, Sonia, and awesome idea you went with, Kristen! I love it!
Aw, nice work by Sonia -- and your girls are lovely! Agree with choices -- the corals are so pretty and the different stylish details on the jackets make them pop.
Those are all such fun pieces! I love the pink jacket! I think I would send back the grey jacket if anything, but I love all of the clothes and would probably just keep everything... Sonia should definitely do this for you again.
Your daughters are beautiful. Thank you for blogging; it is inspiring and healing in ways you can't even imagine. Blessings!
Melissa, this is super encouraging to hear. Thank you for taking the time to tell me!
I loved this post! Sonia is an incredible stylist and Zoe and you are perfect models as well. Maybe go into business together and model on the runway!