Trying on the Winter Drape Fit

Drape fit is a clothing subscription service that I have been trying out. It is my third fit and we are slowly edging into something approaching understanding. In my last two boxes, I ended up with one item from each, one a dress and the other a shirt. The shirt has in fact become my go to work meeting shirt and I absolutely love it.

This month i am not keeping anything.

One of the reasons I wanted to try out this service was because it was one of the few that had a plus sized section and I thought it would be nice to try. My plan was to go a year on the subscription level as it was and then change a few things in my profile and to play around with the service. While you can get a monthly Fit, I get my subscription quarterly, mostly because I simply don’t need that many clothes. So once a season is fine for me.

I am going to go in after my third fit because I think I am a smaller size than the clothing they are sending me. With one exception all of the shirts they sent me were enormous with no definition and actually made me look heavier than I am. I do actually have a waist and curves. These shirts for the most part made me look like a giant square.

So the size will need to be reconfigured. In addition they have multiple tiers for price range as to how much you are willing to spend on a single item. They do let you go by item. In your profile they will ask how much you would be willing to pay for a blouse versus an overcoat (or outerwear), shoes versus pants. I really like that because there are certain items I am willing to pay more for than others. For this first year of testing I went with the lowest price on all of the items.

The most expensive item in my box this month’s box was $30.75. The garments are pretty much what i would expect in the $28-30 range. They are good basic items. I don’t actually need any good basic items though. Those I can generally find in stores near me. what i want is something I can’t find in stores near me so I think instead of letting this set of settings play out for another month, I am going to adjust things when I go in to adjust my measurements. I’ll keep you posted on what I change and how then we will all see how things play out.

With each fit there are seven items. You can choose accessories as an item. I chose no accessories and this is the first time they sent me an accessory. It is a tennis bracelet. Since I knew I was sending it back I didn’t take it out of the package. It is the first time they have sent me something in a category I told them i didn’t want. I suspect it has something to with the idea of a little sparkle for the holiday season.

with the items comes a bag. As all of the items this month are going back, you can see that they do indeed all fit inside the bag quite easily. In addition to the bag there is one piece of paper breaking out the cost of each item and a slip of paper that tells you how the stylist paired the items. This month there were two pairs of pants and two shirts that paired with each pair of pants.

I have trouble finding trousers I like because I am very picky. I figured a company with the entire world to search would have better luck. Thus far that has not proven to be the case as all of the trousers have been miserable failures. I think because of my weight they assume that I want only jeggings style of pants. The problem with these is that to get the crotch to sit correctly I have to pull the pants up a lot further than my waist which means I can’t really tuck the shirts in because the waist is too high so they have to hang their tent like even though some of them are designed to be tucked in so they don’t make you look bigger than you are. If you lower the waist to the appropriate waist location then the crotch hangs low and your butt looks droopy. Even with the pants pulled up the leg is too long and while I have no problem hemming pants (and in fact learned to sew just so I could hem my trousers) this is not material that takes well to hemming.

So the two trousers were a bust, and yes I do know that high waisted pants are in fashion but I personally do not think that the waist band of your trousers should be touching the bottom of your bra. That is a little too high waisted.

I do like that the trousers were paired with the shirts. This fit they got the colors right for the most part (I didn’t care for the plaid patchwork shirt although ironically that was the only shirt that fit me correctly. I love that they picked up the jewel tones that I like. And finally there were no butterflies or flowers on the clothing. I don’t know why people insist on putting butterflies and flowers on plus sized women’s clothing. A lot oft the time the butterflies end up looking like Mothra and the flowers make me feel like a circa 1970s couch. All of the cloth for the shirts was that cotton rayon blend. It feels soft to the touch and wears well. It is also what most of the shirts I can buy locally are made from.

Like most things I suppose you get what you pay for. in the price range I gave them I got the same moderately priced clothing I can get anywhere. I think that more than anything means I need to increase the scope of the price range. I feel a little better about doing that now that I know how easy it is to return items and now that the stylist is actually sort of edging into things where the color range is more my thing. So we will see how the changes made after this fit affect what is sent to me. I will say that while not unique, the pieces sent to me are all of good quality. As they are similar to pieces i already have though, they are going to be sent back and hopefully soon I will have something I would never have found for myself. which is, in my opinion, one of the benefits to this sort of service.

Let’s Talk Drape Fit

Drape Fit is a styling service/subscription. For $20 per box you can have eight items sent to you to try out. The items are based on your quiz and you have the option of purchasing none, one or all of the items. There is a discount if you purchase all of the items in the box (25%). I chose to try them out partially because the price is decent (if you take off the 25% and add in the tax the entire box would cost me $185.68 which would not be bad for 8 clothing items. I also chose to try them out because they have plus sized clothing, so their items fit me.

This is my second fit and so we are in the tweaking phase. I love that when you receive the box, you can go in to the website and review each item individually so the stylist knows what you liked and didn’t like about each item. You can also request specific items. And you can choose how often you want the box. I receive this box every three months, mostly because I tend to evaluate my wardrobe on a seasonal basis and that is when I look for new pieces to fill it out. Because the weather hasn’t turned yet, I haven’t gone into my closet for adjustment yet, I’m waiting to do that when I return from my mom’s house actually. I’m also hoping the weather will have cooled down enough to make looking at my fall items easier.

the items arrayed and awaiting the trying on phase

My first box everything fit me but only one item was really in my style. So I reviewed the items and made a note of the items that I thought I might need. For me, that is heavily on the trouser side of things. I have plenty of shirts and sweaters but tend to lack the trousers. So in this fit I ended up with three pairs of trousers.

Included in the box is also a slip suggesting pairing of the items so I paired the items. While the above photo shows the items laid out this is the items paired as the stylist intended.

The first set is a set of maroon high waisted wide leg palazzo pants that match the short sleeved blouse and the black boho shirt. Of these three items I really only liked the boho shirt, which unfortunately fit me in most places but was too tight across the stomach. I could have made it work, but I know I would simply hang it in the closet and not wear it because it was not comfortable. Which was a shame as I liked it. It was also one of the few items that had the problem of being too tight anywhere. Most garments suffered from too much material.

The short sleeved shirt fit well and actually fell nicely, but it is essentially a t-shirt with capped sleeves and an eyelet back. It is nice but it wears more or less like a t-shirt. And I don’t really want t-shorts in a box like this.

The pants of course were what I was most interested in. I did specify that i like wide legged pants, which I do. And these are. They are also made of t-shirt material which makes them feel (and look) like pajama pants. They have a high waist, which is not my thing. And then there is the length. Here is the thing. If the material is good, I can hem the pants. If they are only a little long I can wear them with heels. These are lounge pants. Which means they are not going to be worn with heels and even if they were they are still too long and it isn’t the kind of material that takes a hem well.

I know that is a lot for a pair of pants, but in previous profile and review I did mention that I liked the color maroon and that I liked wide legged pants. I didn’t say anything about the waist or material. So this time I did mention that and we will see if it inspires change.

The plaid trousers I had the most hope for as they looked nice and they paired with all of the shorts, including the russet colored shirt with the ruffled sleeves.

The pants fit well in the waist, but would have needed to be hemmed. I chose not to keep them because they were a bit tight in the calves. The shirt looks extra frumpy because it is not tucked in, but it could not be tucked in. It was way too long and it was a thick material. While the pants fit, they fit with me inside them. They would not fit the extra material of this shirt. Hence the very frumpy look. The pants were almost but not quite there. I like the color of the shirt but little else.

While the length was a problem for me the ruffled sleeves were a bit of a bust as well. I like short capped ruffled sleeves but these were a bit much. The double layer looks nice on the sleeve, but underneath the arm there is so much extra material that it just felt like bunched up cloth underneath my arm. If they adjusted the under arms it would have been better, but I know I wouldn’t have worn this shirt due to the way the sleeves felt, even if the length and thick material preventing it from being tucked in didn’t send it into frump city.

In this box they included what they are calling a black cardigan. It is open in the front and has pockets at the right height and it is a nice long length. It is however made of t-shirt material. I have a couple of these that are actual knitted sweaters and I far prefer them.

Since I have them in sweater versions I didn’t see the point in adding the t-shirt material one. It is thin enough to be relatively pointless.

The striped pants I liked with the exception of the waist. They were a little long, but they were the sort of long that could easily be worn with heels, so i was happy about that. The legs were also wider and they didn’t much anywhere. The material was of decent quality as well. It was a sort of light weight cotton.

It is just the waist. I don’t mind the tie, but the bag waist just adds mass to my midsection that really doesn’t need to be added. It fit well but I just didn’t like that extra bulk. Trust me I have plenty of bulk on my own and don’t need clothing adding more.

I know about this time you are asking yourself if there was anything I did like and the answer is yes. The final item in the box was a dress. It is a simple black dress that fits really well. I pulls in at the waist to give form to the garment and it has a loose skirt. the material is also of good quality.

Clearly when I actually wear it, I will put some shape wear underneath, but i do like the way it fits. I also like the length. It comes to just above the knee which is a good length for me, especially when I am in heels. I like the black because it suits me and i can always use a simple black dress.

It is the one item I purchased from this box. Despite the fact that there were issues with most of the garments, I feel I am getting better with each box. The suggestions that I had from my first box were taken into account here and the second box was better than the first. I am a little disappointed that it wasn’t more fall themed in the item selection. I suppose the maroon and russet, as well as the plaid paint were kind of fall-ish. But short sleeves and t-short material isn’t really going to be helpful once the weather turns. In truth this dress will only see a little bit of use right now.

Once the weather turns it will be set aside until the spring because of it’s length. (I don’t like cold legs.) heavier materials for the season would have been preferred. However I am over all pretty happy with the box, even if I am keeping only one item. Everything more or less fit, even if it wasn’t my favorite. And it is better than the last box. If this trend continues I will be happier with each box and who knows in the future, I may end up keeping the entire box.

So I took out the dress, packed everything up in the provided bag and sent it back. I paid for what i wanted to keep, even before I sent the provided bag through the mail system so I don’t have to worry about when the charges might come. I like having that control. I have also sent in detailed reviews and am awaiting the changes Drape fit makes to my next box.

The Daily: June 27th, 2022

Good afternoon my darlings. Today has been a day of waiting. Or at least it feels like it has been. It is my birthday today so I deliberately adjusted my workload so today would be a light one. Tonight will be a fabulous dinner from one of our favorite local restaurants (i.e. not one I have to cook) and there is an ice cream cake waiting in the freezer for after dinner.

we get it from the local ice cream place. It is a once a year thing and each year they always looked stunned that we don’t want a message written in caramel for the small child it is no doubt for. They always look shocked that it is a birthday cake for a grown woman.

Personally I think my babydoll likes going in there and watching their surprise. I told him the cake wasn’t necessary this year and he looked so crestfallen that I recanted and planned to just do a little extra working out this week to make up for the extra calories.

So now it is waiting for after dinner.

The truth is though, despite the birthday treats waiting for the end of the work day, it feels like a waiting day because of the weather. It is looming. The air is heavy, the wind is low and feels like something big is holding it’s breath. There are clouds massing, but still holding back. We are supposed to get rain, there is an 80% chance of it, but the rain is biding it’s own time.

I always find it vaguely amusing at this time of year. In Spring it always feels like I should be building an ark and I generally find myself wondering how many cubits my back yard can hold. Then the spring rains trickle off and all the moisture hangs in the air with rain a distant memory and the world withering to a crisp around me. So I am waiting for the rain to actually break, if it will, and I am waiting for my birthday celebration.

I went on a walk because the temps have dropped a smidge. I came back drenched from the 90% humidity though and ended up taking a cold shower. My hair always looks a little crazy after that and my bangs are just misbehaving. Nonetheless, I am relatively happy with the way I look today, and that is not a bad thing on a birthday.

Today’s Look:

Primer: Yensa Tone Up Primer

Foundation: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Foundation

Bronzer: Buxom Cosmetics Staycation Vibes Bronzer

Blush: Dominique Cosmetics Cream Blush

Powder: Laura Mercier Translucent powder

Eyeshadow: Urban Decay Naked Honey Palette

Mascara: Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir (discontinued, just using the last one up)

Lips: bareMinerals Mineralist Lip gloss

Today’s makeup was chose for a variety of reasons. I chose the primer because I love it, and know how it works with my skin. I’ve used this Yensa Primer for years (off and on) and will continue to repurchase it. I am going through my foundations one by one to see which i like, which shades work now and which I just need to use up and let go. I haven’t used the Charlotte Tilbury in a while so I figured I’d give it a go. It is a foundation that requires a bit of time. It isn’t a simple blend in and go operation. This takes a foundation brush to spread evenly, followed by a makeup sponge to get rid of the lines. I always have to take extra time around my nose as it tends to go streaky there. As much time as it takes though, it ends up looking really good when i am done. I like it and I think I will use this bottle up completely, mostly for days when i have the time to play with it, but takes time to play with so it isn’t an every morning kind of product.

By contrast, I raced through the rest of my makeup. With the nice looking foundation, it looked fine and actually I am really falling in love with this cream blush. It really blends beautifully and I am happy to use it. This shade works for me, but looking at the range I am not sure any of the other shades would work for me. I do like this one though. It is darker in the pan then on the cheeks so that is something to be aware of when shopping.

the Urban Decay I really like. I went super easy today. Mostly because I took so long with the foundation. One dip into the mattes and a tap off is all it takes then blend out and top with a shimmer. That’s what I went for today and then I called it good. The bare minerals lip gloss seemed like a good accompaniment. It is a light wash of color and a formula that not only looks good on but leaves my lips feeling nourished well after it has disappeared.

So that is me today. The shirt I am wearing actually came from my drape fit box. This has been a fantastic shirt for meetings. The material doesn’t wrinkle and it looks dressy but is super light weight and feels soft. it looks good on camera and in meetings. It may be the only thing I kept from my Drape Fit Box, but it has proven to be utterly fantastic. And now it is back to work for me. Have a great Monday everyone.

And if you are interested in Urban Decay, set your calendars as there is a sale coming up It starts on Thursday

Flash Sale! Enjoy 50% Off Heat / Reloaded palette + Lash Freak + Holiday Sets at Urban Decay Canada! No code needed. Valid 6/30 – 7/3

My first box from Drape Fit

I have a confession to make. I don’t like to shop. I do not like going into stores flipping through racks upon racks of clothing only to find nothing. Part of it is my size. While I am working towards a healthier me, I am still a size 22-24, depending on the garment. And most stores don’t stock a wide array of garments in my size. In addition, what they stock might not be to my taste. As a result, I purchase a lot of my clothing on line. So for me a clothing subscription seems like a great idea. It sends clothes that are in my size to me and are presumably to my taste.

The trick is finding a clothing subscription that is in my size. A while ago Drape Fit sent an e-mail to me telling me of their subscription. After seeing that they did have my size (and that in many categories I was not top of the range) I decided to have a go with it. They did send a discount code for anyone who sees this and decides that they want to give it a go themselves. It is just for you. It is DFIS10 and you can get $10 worth of credits from each purchase. And while discounts are nice, the purpose of this post is to go over my first box experience. After all a discount is only of value if the box is worth it. So let’s take a look.

(incidentally I managed to somehow delete the pics of me trying on the clothes. Which I didn’t realize until after the bag was on it’s way back, next time, I’ll make sure there is a try on portion.)

didn’t need denim but it fit perfectly so I was tempted

Drape Fit has boxes for Men, Women and Children. They have an array of sizes including Plus sized women and Big and tall men. I’m not sure how wide an array the men’s styles are but the women’s sizing was pretty broad. The styling fee is $20. They send a pre addressed postage paid bag to return what you don’t like and you have five days to try on and decide what you would like to keep.

the pants fit perfectly but I have three nearly identical pair in my closet

Because any stylist takes a while to learn about you, I never really expect much in my first box. For me the first box involves getting the sizing down and seeing how detailed the style quiz is at the beginning.

When I took the style/sizing quiz I was very impressed. While they did ask my general size they also went garment by garment. For me this is important because there are some shirts that I have to get larger depending on the style. (I am a 40 D). However if I get items sized for my bustline then often the pants are too large. With this quiz I was asked what size I took in jeans as well as slacks and then I was asked different shirt and dress styles so they had a better idea of how garment’s fit me as well as what it was I actually liked.

Just didn’t like anything but the belt. Oddly the pants fit really well but the belt was too small. I needed two more sets of holes

And here is the thing. They sent four shirts, three pairs of pants and a dress. All fit me. without a struggle or sagging. Every single item fitted me. Now I didn’t particularly like all of the items, but they fit me. And while I didn’t specifically like each item, they all fell well into the guidelines of what I said I wanted. That I sort of expected. I figured they’d send garments and then i would get to evaluate each item and then with each box it would get better as the categories narrowed slightly.

flared wide at the narrowest part of me making me look like a giant box, but it fit me comfortably

The box included colors I liked, did not include colors or patterns that I didn’t like and the only thing that they included that I didn’t ;like was a pair of jeans. (Technically I suppose they are jeggings but I asked for no denim and they sent denim. And to be fair they might have just thought of them as jeggings instead of denim.)Everything else was spot on.

loved this shirt and ended up keeping it

So did I keep anything? Yes. I kept the white shirt. The dress was fine but the slip underneath was too short and hit strangely when I sat down making the otherwise comfy dress not so comfy. The long sleeved gray shirt I liked except for the waist. I hate elastic on my wasted from shirts. I would rather tuck in a shirt or leave it out, but I just don’t care for the elastic. I also didn’t like the material. But the style was great. The yellow shirt I liked but it needed to either be a little shorter or a lot longer. The olive shirt was nice but the elastic hit right under my bust and the wide flare of the bottom half of the shirt made the narrowest part of me look wider and me a lot boxier.

needed to be either a little shorter or a lot longer but loved the color and it was super soft material I hated to send this back but it just didn’t look good on me.

With pants, the black pants were exactly like three other pairs I already poses making them fit with my wardrobe but unnecessary to add. I didn’t like the capri pants and the one think I really don’t need more of in my wardrobe right now are jeans or jeggings.

So one white shirt is added to my closet.

dress was great but the slip underneath was too short and tight which again was a shame as I liked the dress.

In the questionnaire you could pick a budget. I chose no garment over $50. My most expensive item was $32.75. (I also chose not to add any accessories like jewelry, shoes or handbags.) While I might bend on the jewelry at some point I need to whittle down my shoe and handbag collection before I look at adding to it. The lowest priced item was $25. over all I would say the pricing was spot on. With the white shirt my guess was $30-$35 and it was $27.50.

And the cost was easy to see as they sent a sheet breaking down each garment. In addition there was also a list from the stylist stating which items she saw paired together and explaining why she sent them

I was very impressed with the sizing and the quality of the garments as well as the pricing. If you choose to buy the entire selection sent to you then you get a 25% discount on the pricing. To be honest, while this box wasn’t exactly there, it wasn’t that far off. I could easily see a time when I would purchase the entire box.

And once I received the box and tried everything on, I went onto the website and reviewed each item and in addition to reviewing them I let them know what I was keeping and what I was returning. I then chose to go ahead and pay for the item I am keeping, which meant that I controlled when that charge went to my account. I wasn’t sending in the box and letting them process the return and then realize I kept something and then waiting until they charged my card.

I did that on the site before I even sent the box back. It took less than a day for the charge to appear. As I have had trouble with waiting for charges to go through before, I really liked that aspect of the box. Over all I was very impressed with my first box and can’t wait for my next. This box has the subscription option of once a month, once every other moth or once every three months. I chose every three months, because I think quarterly is about right for me. As I purge some of my older garments from the closet, that might change, but for now I am happy. And if I decide I need more I can always request a style box whenever i want one sent to be regardless of the schedule. It seems very flexible and I am interested to see how this subscription progresses. For now, I am sending most of the clothes back and keeping one very nice new shirt.

If you try this out, don’t forget you can get $10 credit for any item you purchase with the code DFIS10. Happy shopping!