I Tried Stitch Fix as a Petite, and It Totally Saved My Vacation

Signing up for Stitch Fix is completely free—you only pay for the clothing items you keep. There is a $20 styling fee per order (which is waived on the first fix), but since it goes towards whichever items you keep, you’re really not paying extra.

New clients start by taking a style quiz, which helps to nail down your best fit and determine your personal taste. You provide your height, weight and body shape, along with your budget and any notes on how garments usually fit you (are busts always too tight? Sleeves typically too long? Or, in my case, is everything too long?). Then you’re presented with a lineup of different outfits to mark what you’d wear and what you’d skip. This part is super fun—it’s almost like Tinder for fashion.

From there, you’re assigned a stylist who pulls pieces based on your preferences and needs. There is also a space to write notes if you’re looking for something specific or need outfits for a special occasion (this is where I noted that I was looking for outfits for Miami). You can preview their pulls before they ship out your fix and approve or reject any off the bat. I found this useful as it allowed me to nix any styles that looked similar to ones I already own or didn’t really need.

When you receive your fix, you can try on everything and ship back (free of charge) the items that don't work. You automatically have three days to send them back, but you can extend your try-on time via the website if, say, you’re not at home or want some more time to decide. Once you know what you want to keep, you can check them out on the website and provide feedback on each pick, from its quality to its fit to its price point.

BTW, if you don’t want to hand over the reins completely, you can pick out items yourself, or purchase them à la carte, without attaching them to a fix.

I told my Sitch Fix stylists that I was specifically in need of Miami-worthy fits. and boy, did they nail it. Over the course of two fixes, I received fun leopard-print pieces, a neon maxi skirt, a bright, patterned top, faux leather trousers that fit like a glove. I even got strappy block-heeled sandals that—and this never happens—were comfortable from the first wear and left me with zero blisters. Everything was mix-and-matchable, though each stylist was also helpful in their outfit suggestions. (I loved that each fix came with a personal note and explanation of why they picked out what they did.)

I also requested a fix with some everyday winter wear that I could don to the office or on frigid nights out in the city. What I received was one of the nicest cardigans I now own, an ultra-soft cable-knit with a petite-friendly crop, a fabulous (and very Fran Fine-esque) houndstooth skirt and the perfect black mockneck. That fix also included some black jeans that I initially considered sending back since I already have a pair, but then absolutely could not part with once I tried them on—they’re so flattering, feature the perfect flare and hit at the exact right spot on my ankle.

When I first took the style quiz and put in my height (5'1"), the Stitch Fix website popped up with a message asking if I was interested in petite-specific sizing for certain pieces, to which I responded yes across the board. Out of everything I received, only two bottoms were a little longer than I would have liked—but I ended up loving them so much that I took them to my tailor to get hemmed. Otherwise, nearly every piece I was sent felt tailored not just to my height, but also to my torso length, bust size and waist. Even when I’m shopping for my own hauls, it’s rare for so many items to check every box.

The quality of the clothing has been excellent so far, and since I put in my preferred budget for each category (tops, bottoms, shoes, etc.) the pricing was just right when I headed to checkout. (Better yet, you get a 20 percent discount on your total order when you keep everything in your send.)

Beyond the garments themselves and overall convenience it provided, I really appreciated my Stitch Fix experience for getting me out of my style comfort zone. While you can customize your fixes to stick to the styles and silhouettes you’re used to, I was open to trying new things and was not disappointed. I received some pieces I wouldn’t normally shop for myself, so I was pleasantly surprised when I slipped them on and thought they looked (and felt) great.

Don’t get me wrong—as a literal shopping editor, I love perusing my favorite brands and retailers and picking out my own clothing, but working with my own personal stylist has been so much fun. Not to mention the fact that it saved me a ton of time and effort when I needed new outfits fast. I’m totally crediting the service for saving my vacation, and after receiving three fixes, I can solidly say that Stitch Fix has elevated my entire wardrobe.

It’s a great option for my fellow short ladies who don’t want to dig through pages of products to find something that works for their size and height, and just about anyone else who wants to take a lot of the decision-making out of their next closet update. And since you can space out your fixes to send as frequently (or infrequently) as you’d like, I could see Stitch Fix being especially useful at the start of a new season, as it will provide you with a few capsule pieces to build your wardrobe around. Plus, since many personal styling services can cost hundreds of dollars, paying just $20 per session (which ends up getting credited back to you anyway) is an insane steal.

Between the value it offers and time it saves, Stitch Fix is a worthwhile experience in my eyes, whether or not you’re counting down the days ‘til your next getaway.