Le Tote Review

After trying Stitch Fix for a few months and getting some cute pieces, I started thinking about how great it would be if I had a bit more control over what I received and the option to wear things a few times and then ship them back. I was talking about this to a friend and she asked whether I'd heard of a company called Le Tote. I hadn't, but I immediately looked them up and decided to give it a shot. I've been using the service now for just over three months and this is my honest review of the service - the good, the bad and the ways I think i could be better (it's a long post - I had a lot to say!).

How it Works

While similar to Stitch Fix, Le Tote is different in a lot of ways. It's also a personal styling service that sends you 5 items, but you get to keep those 5 items for as long as you want, wear them as many times as you want, then ship them back and get a new box of 5 new items. The cost is $50/month, shipping is free both ways and there's no limit on how many boxes you can get in a month.

Where Stitch Fix uses your personal style profile and Pinterest board to select items that they think you'll like, Le Tote lets you select items from their collections and place these in your virtual online "closet," which is kind of like your wish list or shopping cart. When your box is arranged, the items that you've chosen will get priority if they're available. If not, a stylist will send you something they think you'll like based on your choices and availability.

To build your closet, you can "shop" their website, either by item of clothing (skirts, sweaters, accessories, dresses, etc.) or by collection (denim shop, snow day, glitter, date night, office outfit). You can put as many items as you want in your closet, but that doesn't guarantee you'll receive those items. Each box you receive contains 5 items - three clothing items and two accessories. Accessories include jewelry (necklace, bracelet, earrings, rings, handbags, scarves) and clothing is everything else.

When your box is being styled, you have a window of opportunity to make changes to your 5 items. You'll receive an email (or text if you sign up for that option) that your box has been styled and you can go into your account and swap out anything you don't like for something else. The selections are more limited at that point (you don't have the full range of everything to choose from). But if you know you want a dress for an upcoming event, you can swap out what you're slated to receive for three dresses and matching accessories, giving you a bit more power over your selections.

If you love any of the items and want to keep them, just keep them and ship everything else back. They'll charge your card on file for those items (at a discounted price). If you keep the entire tote (all 5 items), you receive a month free. When you're finished with the items in your box and are ready for a new shipment, just send it all back in the pre-paid envelope. You can rate each of the items you received online in your style profile and see a full list of everything you've received at that point. 

My "Totes" 

Below I'm reviewing my first three boxes from Le Tote. I loved some of the items and I was indifferent about others. Some I hated and some didn't fit. But overall, I liked the majority of the items - not enough to buy them, but enough to wear them a couple times and ship them back to try something else. After doing Stitch Fix for a while, I realize how hard it is to get 5/5 items that you love, so if I get 2-3 items I really like in a box that fit well, I think that's a big win. And the great part about this service is even if I don't love an item, I can wear it (and usually get compliments on it!) and then send it back! It's gotten me out of my comfort zone a couple times, which I think is a good thing.

Box 1

I liked the black bird sweater and the striped dress. Both fit well and were super comfortable, although neither of them blew me away or anything. The sweater was a nice casual piece for weekends with the kids and the dress was perfect for work with leggings. The blue top/sweater was a bit short for me (I like length) and I couldn't really get used to the winged sleeves and cape back. It was fun to wear once or twice, but not something I'd ever keep. I liked the long necklace, but didn't get much use out of either pieces of jewelry. Everything went back within two weeks. 

Box 2

This box was chosen completely by random - none of these items were in my closet and I decided to give them a go, just to try them out. I ended up loving that blue floral jacket, which totally surprised me! I never would have picked that for myself. I paired it with dark skinny jeans and a bright pair of flats. So fun! The purple wrap dress was great for work paired with a cardigan and tights, but it was nothing special. The cobalt blue dress was a really pretty color (and had pockets!), but it was way too big on me, unfortunately. The necklaces were fine, but again, not something I got much use out of (I don't think I wore either one of them). (Sorry I didn't get a chance to take photos in these pieces - naptime did not last as long as I'd hoped.) Everything went back after a few weeks.

Box 3

I loved box #3 and would have kept everything in it, but for a few minor wear issues on a couple things. The black moto leggings were fun and fit like a dream, but they had some obvious wear on them, which was unfortunate (fine to wear for a few weeks, but not if I'm going to buy them). The blue shirt was a nice piece for work that I wore quite a few times and always received compliments on. It was a bit big on me and I wish I could have chosen a smaller size. The blue dog sweater was adorable and fun for casual weekend wear chasing the kids around. The necklace and scarf ended up getting so much wear that I kept them both! The necklace with the feathers is different than anything I currently have and adds a unique touch to plain outfits.  And the scarf is a neutral-lovers dream come true -  it combines white, cream, black, tan, blue, peach and yellows, making it so easy to wear with nearly anything.

Pros:

- You can wear the items in your tote as many times as you want, then ship them back anytime. No commitment, no hassle, no agonizing over price or whether or not to keep certain items.

- Flat rate of $50/month, no matter how long you keep things, how many times you wear an item or how many times you exchange things.

- Prompt shipping and great customer service.

- Good variety of basics to shop/choose from in a lot of different styles.

- Your items are chosen for you based on the "closet" that you choose for yourself. Great for people that like having more control over the items they receive and know the types of clothing, styles, colors, accessories and types of items they want to receive.

- The items you select get priority, but you might receive different items as well. However, after your box is styled, you get the opportunity (a few hours after receiving an email) to switch out any items you don't like for others before your box ships, giving you even more control.

- You can choose to purchase any item from your tote at a discounted price just by keeping the item. If you choose to buy the whole tote, you get a month free.

- The totes seem to get better over time. I'm currently on my 4th box and my last two boxes have been homeruns. I don't know if the selection of items is getting better or I'm getting better at making selections.

- Great brands! I love that I can try out these pieces from some really awesome labels and not have to pay full designer price. There are so many labels/brands that I recognize and love on Le Tote, compared to so many unknown brands on Stitch Fix. 

Cons:

- The items you receive are not new and have been worn by others. Everything's been washed/cleaned, but the clothes are not new. Be advised there may be some wear and tear on the items.

- Most of their items are pretty basic, with lots of staples and plain pieces that you can find nearly anywhere. While I like basics as much as the next person, I wish there were more hip/trendy/colorful/bold/unique items available. Staples are great, but those aren't the items I tend to want to wear one time and switch out. The selection of items does seem to get better over time (I think recently added a bunch of new inventory), but I wish there was a lot more variety in the clothes and the sizes available.

- A few of the items I received had obvious wear/tear and damage. A bracelet clasp was broken, a sweater has a serious snag and a pair of pants had a ripped hem. The pieces were all still wearable, but not in pristine condition. I emailed customer service and they apologized and discounted my subscription, but I wish those items would have been more carefully inspected before they shipped them to me.

- Your 5 pieces are split between 3 clothing items and 2 accessories. I would much rather have the option to choose all 5 (or even 4) clothing items, as sometimes I just don't love the jewelry/accessory selection available. Although, I will say that the only two items I've kept from my totes have been accessory items, so maybe I like them more than I realize.

- When you choose to switch out an item before it ships, you don't get to choose from the full variety of options - you only get to choose from a limited selection of pieces that are currently available for shipping in your size. There's still a good variety, but much more limited.

My Suggestions for Improvement:

- While I love being able to swap out items I don't particularly like from my box online before it ships, I do miss the element of surprise that you get with Stitch Fix. I wish there would be one "mystery item" per box that you received, specially picked for you, that you couldn't swap out and didn't know what it would be until you opened the box. 

- I wish there was a better way to rate/review each item you received and leave feedback. The current rating system asks you if you like the style and if it fit, but there's not a way to leave comments about each item. Specifically, I'd like a way to let them know that perhaps a certain item was damaged or needed a hem fixed or a button replaced. There's no where to make comments like that on items. 

- I love that you can choose to purchase any item in your tote at a discount just by keeping it, but I also wish there was an option to purchase it brand new for the full retail price. I loved the tuxedo moto leggings, but didn't want the pay that much (I think it was around $60) for leggings that you could tell had been worn quite a bit. Absolutely not happening. However, I loved the fit and would have kept them for full price if I had the chance to buy them brand new. 

Overall

I really like this service and plan to keep using it for a while. I'm currently on my third month and 4th box and have loved quite a few of the items I've received. If you're someone that loves getting new clothes, wears them a few times right away and then quickly loses interest in them, this is perfect service for you (guilty). I admit that I get bored with things after I've worn them a few times (particularity if I've been photographed in them or seen by a lot of people). I like variety! Also, I work in a corporate setting and have tons of work clothes in my closet that still don't quite fit my post-baby body so I feel like I never have anything to wear to work that fits. However, I don't want to spend a lot of money right now on boring work clothes, so this has been a great way to have some fun new professional pieces to wear to work without the price tag of purchasing a new work wardrobe. Plus, it's always nice having a new item to wear out to dinner with friends or on a date night. 

If you're interested in seeing my next couple totes/boxes (Box 4 above that I ordered with winter weekends in mind), let me know! I'm happy to keep posting these types of updates, but only if you guys are interested. I know I'm not a fashion blogger, but  I think sometimes it's nice seeing these items on average people. Or maybe not! No worries either way.

Anyone else tried Le Tote?

*This post contains affiliate links. If you click the link and choose to sign up for the service, I will receive a small referral fee. Please don't feel like you have to use my referral link at all!

My Little Hearts

Roses are red

Cows go moo

This is real life

Pass mama a brew.

Happy Valentine's Day from us to YOU!! 

Farm Weekends are the Best Weekends

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away (2 hours by car with 2 kids = an eternity), a defiant young prince and a sassy little princess spent a cold January weekend with their grandparents who lived on a beautiful farm in the middle of nowhere. While the farm was covered in a glistening dusting of snow outside, inside the farmhouse was warm and inviting. Morning sunlight spilled in through the kitchen window, which overlooked a bustling bird feeder, swarmed by woodland birds, squirrels and the occasional opossum. Lazy dogs sprawled out over the couch cushions, and the sound of wind chimes echoed in the background as the cold breeze cut through the air outside on the frozen tundra and made the barren tree limbs dance and sway. 

The prince and princess were very precocious and very adorable, which led to them being very loved (and very spoiled) by their grandparents (and parents...guilty). Toys of various shapes, sizes and colors were scattered all over the hardwood floors of the farmhouse and caused a considerable amount of pain and annoyance to anyone trying to get to the bathroom. But so loved were the children by their grandparents, that they didn't mind cleaning up a plethora of plastic blocks, tripping over multiple tractors and listening to the repetitious grating of “Old MacDonald” on the See 'N Say no fewer than two thousand times a day. E.I.E.I.O.

No, quite to the contrary. The grandparents loved having their little farmhands around as much as possible to help with the farm chores such as digging for worms, mowing the grass, watering the plants, feeding the birds and making sure the golf cart got its daily exercise. And the little prince and princess were happy to oblige, as nothing made them happier than to be on their very best behavior in the presence of their grandparents so as to make their parents’ stories about how wild, unruly and infuriating the children are sound completely unfounded and exaggerated. As part of their reward for being such wonderful little angels all weekend long, the prince and princess received a very special treat from the grandparents. A treat so amazing that at the mere mention of it, the little prince would shout so loud that his glee could be heard across all the land. Lo and behold - Pillsbury™Grands! Cinnamon Rolls with cream cheese icing!

The defiant and willful little prince had a valiant and chivalrous side and insisted upon helping the poor servant girl (a.k.a. his mother) with the baking of the cinnamon rolls. Years of tearing up important papers around the house and ripping up magazines and mail had prepared the prince for the task of peeling the paper off the can. But the brave little prince's very favorite part, much to the chagrin and horror of his mother, was that moment when he whacked the tube on the side of the counter and achieved that desired pop! His mother hid around the corner and waited for it to be over.

When she reemerged from hiding, the two of them carefully arranged the cinnamon rolls on the baking sheet and the noble little prince spent an exceptionally long amount of time counting them over and over and over and over and over and over and over. By the time he finished, even the baby could count to 10 and was now nearly old enough to go to college. Finally, it was time for the cinnamony spirals of sugary deliciousness to go into the oven to bake. The next 20 minutes were quite possibly the longest and most agonizing moments of the young prince's life, and he questioned the cooking process every 30 seconds and repeatedly plead his case regarding his horrific hunger. However, the grandparents were prepared (and not at all annoyed by the whining) and took it upon themselves to groom the child for a future of hostile mathematical takeovers and battled the young child to a game of War. 

Meanwhile, the tiny princess threw a tea party for herself and the small insane one-eyed Terrier with lemon tea and fancy cakes, which the little dog desperately wished were real and repeatedly tried to eat. When suddenly, from across the room, the kitchen time beeped in all of its magnificent digital glory and the little prince and princess squealed with delight, dropped whatever it was they were playing with (left for the grandparents to clean AGAIN later) and raced to their seats! They bounced up in down on their chairs, in a combination of agonizing anticipation and pure ecstasy, impatiently waiting and screaming at the slowpoke chef. Finally, the time had come to enjoy the fruits of their labor - cinnamon rolls for everyone in the kingdom!

At one point the little prince was very disappointed in his mother for not remembering to bring multi-colored sprinkles to the farm to put on his cinnamon rolls (as that's his preferred style of enjoying the delicacy), but at the mere mention of giving his cinnamon roll to his sister if he was going to be so darn picky quickly rectified the situation and his attitude greatly improved.

Even the grandfather himself declared this to be a fine fancy feast and joined the children in a special celebration of love, family and togetherness. He taught the young prince all about the many ways to enjoy the bounty of that magical tube and the proper method of cinnamon roll consumption. The two toasted and cheered, dipped and swirled, laughed and ate like rulers of the kingdom. 

They all feasted and feasted, until their bellies and their hearts were filled to the brim. Recharged with delicious goodness, the children were now prepared to battle the cold winter day and resume the driveway rock pile relocation project they've been working on for nearly three years. In addition, the little prince and princess continued to charm the grandparents for the rest of the weekend, while simultaneously destroying the farm house, harassing the dogs and leaving a layer of stickiness everywhere they went, while their elders were none the wiser (or maybe they just enjoyed every minute of the chaos). 

And they all lived happily ever after. 

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by General Mills through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Pillsbury™ Grands! Cinnamon Rolls, all opinions are my own.