Back to School Clothes Shopping with Stitch Fix

Back to school clothes shopping can be a hassle, but Stitch Fix makes it much easier! Learn why Stitch Fix Kids is a great option for school shopping, along with some tips and tricks to get the most out of your box.

Back to school is a great time to stock up on new clothes for the whole family. You’re already in a season of transition, preparation, and buying school supplies, so why not add clothes to the list?

I LOVE shopping! But what I don’t necessarily love is shopping with my kids. They whine. They fight. They insist they’re dyyyyiiinnnggg. It totally drains the fun right out of shopping.

That being said, those little ones have some opinions. They’re starting to care about what they wear, and I’m trying my best to give them that independence.

But how can I let them have that independence in picking their own clothes without dragging them to the store, ending in mayhem and disaster for all involved?

Enter Stitch Fix.

What is Stitch Fix?

Stitch Fix is an online styling service that delivers clothes right to your door. They offer services for men & women (XS-3X) and kids (2T-14). They also offer maternity sizing.

How does Stitch Fix work?

With Stitch Fix, you fill out a style profile, noting your sizes, style preferences, fit preferences, and more. You can also create a Pinterest board and submit that link for further insight to your preferences.

Then you select when you want to receive your box. A stylist will put items together for you and send them in the mail. Once you receive your box, you have 5 days to try everything on (kids boxes typically have 10 items) and decide what you want to keep or return. If you need more time, you can easily extend your due date online.

Once you make your decision, simply place everything you don’t want to keep in the provided mailing bag and send back with USPS. You can also provide further feedback online or in the Stitch Fix app for why you chose to keep or return each item.

How often will I receive a box?

You can either choose to receive a single box, or sign-up for a subscription (every 2-3 weeks, monthly, every other month, or every three months). A subscription is by no means required, but it’s a nice feature to have, and you can always skip a box if needs be.

We’re set-up to receive a box every 3 months, which is a great way to update our wardrobes seasonally. Then, if I notice my kids have plenty of clothes, I simply log-in and skip their next scheduled Fix.

How much does Stitch Fix cost?

There is a styling fee of $20 for each box you receive. That being said, if you choose to keep anything in the box, even just one thing, that $20 goes toward that item.

In other words, the service only costs if you decide not to keep anything.

If you decide to keep everything in the box, you get 25% off your entire total, plus you still get the $20 styling credit back.

I find items in the kids’ boxes to be pretty cost-friendly, especially if I keep everything. The items at full-price tend to be around the same as full-price items at Old Navy, give or take a couple bucks. But the items are better quality than items from Old Navy. They last longer and look nicer, which is a bonus. (Note: I do notice that the girl items tend to be a little bit more expensive than the boys).

When I choose to keep everything, and get the 25% off, the prices are even better, especially for the quality I’m getting!

Why is Stitch Fix a good way to do back to school shopping?

1. Your kid can help fill out the style profile and create a Pinterest board to match his or her style. Most kids will find this fun! And even if they don’t, they’ll probably like it more than actually shopping.
2. You don’t have to leave the house–get everyone ready, loaded into the car, out of the car, through the store, back to the car, etc. All while hearing whining, complaining, and needed to stop for several potty trips.
3. You can have a say, while still giving your kid a voice and independence.
4. If your kid doesn’t like the items, the blame goes on the stylist, not on you.
5. You can be as specific as you want in your notes, asking only for the items you truly need.
6. Items are good quality and will last all year–or longer!

How do I ensure I’ll like what’s in my box?

There’s never a guarantee you’ll like everything in your box, but here are some tips that give you a much better chance at wanting to keep everything.

Take your time filling out the style survey when you first sign-up and then update it as needed.

It’s pretty extensive and can take some time, but it’s thorough for a reason. The more time you spend on it, the better your stylist will be at matching your little one’s preferences.

Add notes in your profile.

When they give you a blank box to add in your thoughts, write something there. Take a second to think through things. Does your son hate jeans? Can your daughter not tie shoes yet? Will your toddler only wear pink and purple? Does your son go crazy for anything with animals on it? Note those little details.

Create a Pinterest board.

If you already have one, I recommend starting a new one for each child and only pin styles you (and they) absolutely love. Add somewhere between 15-30 items. My stylist has picked things specifically based off of items on my daughter’s Pinterest board.

Add specific notes for each box.

The more specific, the better. For our back to school boxes, I included that my son needed neutral closed-toe shoes, that his typical school outfit is shorts and a t-shirt, and that he prefers comfortable shorts & I want him to still look nice (read: not just wear basketball shorts all the time). His box was a perfect match!

For my daughter, I said she needed easy-to-get-on-herself closed-toe shoes, and we preferred something that could match a lot of outfits, but still had some fun details. I also stated that she was super into wearing pink and purple. We got LOTS of pink and purple, and sparkly, light purple (almost silver) Toms with bows. Seriously, adding notes does wonders!

Fill out the survey when you send back your box.

Give specific feedback as to why you chose to keep or return each item. This helps with future boxes.

How do I get started?

Click here to schedule your first Fix and receive a $25 credit!

Back to School Clothes Shopping Tips

• Before you shop or schedule your Fix, take inventory of what you already have that fits and is in good condition. That way you can focus your funds on items that you truly need.
• Look at your kid’s lifestyle and make clothing choices that make sense for them. If they’re super messy, light colored clothing might not be the best option for them. Take note of this and mention it to your Stitch Fix stylist. Does your daughter participate in lots of sports? She may need more athletic wear than other kids. Does your son go to a charter school with a uniform? Mention that, too!

Stitch Fix for the Win

We’ve gotten a few Stitch Fixes for each person in our family so far, and we’ve been pleasantly surprised. We’re definitely fans and plan to keep our subscriptions going. It saves time, sanity, and is pretty cost-effective.

If you want more Back to School Tips, check out the posts below:

• Back to School Hacks for Moms
• Tips for Packing School Lunch
• 3 Back to School Routines for Kids
• 10 Products to Help with Back to School Routines

Britney is a wife and mom with a passion for helping other women see the good inside of them. She loves podcasts, polka dots, and dancing around the kitchen with her family.