I Tried a Thrifted Surprise Box

I have been a long time fan of ThredUp ever since I made the commitment to only buy used clothing this year. Fast fashion is a huge contributor to climate change and we can all do our part by buying less or buying used. Subscription boxes have been all the rage lately, so when ThredUp came out with theirs, I knew I had to try. To start the process, you simply tell your stylist your sizes, what types of clothing you want (shoes, jeans, blouses), the occasion (work or everyday casual), and lastly, you can put additional information. I used this opportunity to get pretty specific about what aesthetic I was going for. I asked specifically for clothes that felt summery and feminine, yet sophisticated. I also added that I was looking for more quality pieces as I am working towards a long-lasting, sustainable wardrobe. Then, I just selected my price range, deposited $10 that would go to anything I kept, and I was off to the races. My box was shipped in a day, I received it maybe 2 or 3 days later. (Pretty cool!) Below you can see all the clothes I got and my feelings on each item. I also scattered some general thrifting tips in, if you’re new to thrifting and need some help navigating it.

Allison Stewart Skirt

This skirt was really cute and fit me pretty well. At the end of the day, the length felt a bit too grandmotherly to me, so I didn’t keep it. The fabric was also very heavy as it was 100% denim, so I didn’t think it would be a good piece of clothing for the climate I live in. I wasn’t super disappointed as this definitely fit the style parameters I gave the stylist.

American Eagle Top

I loved this top! It felt very trendy and fit my body very well. It was made from a wool-like fabric, so not very summery, but overall a very cute top. In the end, I didn't keep it as I already have a top very similar to it, made from a lighter fabric.

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Free People Dress

Ok, I totally understand why I was mailed this dress, but I didn’t like it. I love the brand, Free People and the dress fit me like a glove, but I just couldn't see myself wearing it anywhere. It felt too formal to wear casually and too casual to wear formally. Maybe I’m weird, but it just wasn’t my style.

Vince Camuto Top

This top was not it. I mostly didn’t like it because it was way too large on me. I didn’t find it flattering at all. I really dislike tops with the little tie in the front. They have always seemed pointless to me. If anything, I liked the pattern. It definitely had the vintage, summery vibe I told the stylist I was going for. Maybe if it fit better, I would have kept it.

Sam Edelman Sandals

These shoes were super cute and fit me very well. I really love the look of wicker/cork (whatever you call it) on sandals—it really feels summery. I ended up returning these because I couldn't come up with a reason for why I needed them in my wardrobe. They didn’t really fit in with the rest of my clothes, which is a good sign that I didn’t need them. Also, I didn’t feel the asking price matched the condition of the shoes. They were pretty worn, so I thought they should have been a bit cheaper.

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Reformation Casual Dress

I have always wanted a Reformation dress, which is why the stylist sent me one. This dress fit me well, but I just don’t find horizontal stripes flattering. As soon as I put it on, I immediately felt like it wasn’t quite my style. I was still very excited and grateful to have tried it on because it had been on my ThredUp Favorites list for some time, so I was happy to give it a test ride before buying it.

Madewell Jeans

Yeah I don’t like low rise jeans—at all. I am a high rise girl all day! I was still appreciative to the stylist because they did listen to my wants, which included the brand, Madewell. Overall, I just didn’t like the fit of these jeans.

Zara Top

As you can see from my face, I loved this top. It was the perfect summery top I was looking for. The puff sleeves felt so dreamy and I loved the neckline, which is pretty trendy right now. This is a top I probably wouldn’t have found myself, but I loved its simplicity and elegance because I could wear it with many different pieces. I kept this one for sure.

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J. Crew Dress

This dress again fell in line with the parameters I gave the stylist. Personally, I felt like this dress was cute, but not right for my body. It had no shape and felt a bit like a sack on me. I love that the stylist put something J. Crew in my box—it’s a brand I love.

The East Order Dress

Y’all…this dress was EVERYTHING. The print, the silhouette, the fit, the length! Oh and the sleeves! I was getting a Victorian-era vibe from the sleeves. I loved how the dress hugged my hourglass shape. This was a total winner and I was so happy to try it as it has been on my ThredUp Favorites list for a while. If anything, I might sew a piece of fabric to give me more coverage on the neckline, but I think it is totally worth buying as is.

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Anthropologie Dress

Lastly, I couldn’t even get this dress over my head. It wasn’t really a dress I would have kept anyway because I prefer dresses with thicker straps and preferably not in this color. So this was not a keeper.

While I only kept two items of clothing, I was pretty happy with this subscription service. Even when things didn’t really fit me or my closet, it all fit the wants I communicated to the stylist. It was also really cool to try on clothes that I had favorited, but wasn’t sure I wanted to buy yet. I already loved ThredUp, but this feature only made me love it more!

If you’re interested in giving ThredUp a try, I highly recommend! Whether it’s using the Clean Out service to move towards a more minimalist lifestyle or using the Saved Search feature to always be updated about specific brands (I do this for Reformation and &OtherStories), ThredUp does not miss!

Give ThredUp A try*

*This post is not sponsored, but I do get a small amount of referral credit when you click the above link.

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