Best Fashion Box Service of 2019…Kinda

I’ve always loved helping people. I have always been interested in fashion. We all could have guessed I would end up pursuing personal styling. But, This post is not about how I started styling or why I think it’s important. This is my personal theory on personal styling and box services and why I think I have figured out a solution to the barrage of choices out there.

Stitch Fix, Allume, Trunk Club, Glam Hive, Dia and Co, Le Tote- Have you used any of these services? Whether just once because you had a discount code or monthly because you love when someone picks stuff out for you. These are just a few of the numerous companies that offer personal styling services and I am NOT knocking them. I love that people can find help with their fashion needs and can do so affordably. The idea of having a personalized box of clothing sent to you or a trained stylist to help you pick out a look is amazing. I’m a big fan of bringing fashion to everyone. Here’s my beef with it.

We aren’t addressing the deep root of our intrinsic need for more stuff. We aren’t looking deeper beyond “It’s a new season, so I need more clothing” or “I have a special event so I need something new”. I’m not disqualifying either of those ‘needs’. I get it- like for real get it. I go to weddings. I have events. I like new stuff. I also really, really get it because I have always worked in retail or on a photo shoot set where I am seeing current trends or upcoming trends presented in front of me like a dang Thanksgiving feast and I LOVE THANKSGIVING.

So we all have this need for more, but what are we doing about it? Are we stopping ourselves and asking if we possibly already have something we could wear to our cousin's wedding? Will we really wear those 'Dad Sneakers' for more than 2 seasons tops, and thus, truly need them? Sorry y’all, that one’s almost over. Sister, the stuff you own or the desire for new fashion is not the problem. The problem is what’s happening on the inside of your cute and fashion lined heart.

About to get deep,-you’ve been warned.

We all have holes and hurts in our heart. Maybe it was caused by a family member who said the wrong thing too many times. Maybe a situation arose that you could only cope with by buying more. I don’t know your story. But I do know that humans are always trying to fill these holes and heal these hurts. Have you analyzed where your desire for a certain garment or being able to buy a new Fall wardrobe comes from?

Are you thinking "Sheesh Meghan, it’s not that deep. I just wanted a new dress because I like feeling trendy and stylish.” I am not saying your motives aren’t pure. I am just asking you to THINK about them. You know the saying "think before you speak"? Well, I am going to insert a new platitude into your arsenal “Think before you shop”. Nothing earth shattering. Simple. Just think a tiny bit about why you’re signing up for these services. Why are you shopping weekly? Why can’t you pass up a sale? Just think about it, sis.

Now that you’ve taken a few seconds to process and analyze your behaviors, which I’m sure you did, you might be saying, “Ok, I thought about it and I truly do need a wardrobe update. I don’t feel like I'm shopping for my body type very well on my own. AND, I cannot wear that dress to my cousin’s wedding because I told my sister she could borrow it.” Great. I have an idea.

I offer my own version of a box service. DON”T FREAK OUT. It’s not the same. Let me explain:
This is what I think we should do, whether “we” is me and you or “we" is us as fashion-kind. First, let's revitalize your closet. Closet revitalization is a fancy way of saying let’s make outfits out of what you already own. Let’s shop your wardrobe and find pieces that maybe you’re unsure how to style. Maybe you’ve never worn that blouse and now hate but don’t know how to get rid of properly because, ugh, polyester doesn’t decompose. Once we go through your closet, make outfits and document them for you to have at your disposal, then the box comes into play. Ok it doesn’t have to be a box…maybe it will be a cute reusable bag-gosh that’s genius.

In this perfect bag would be items that I curate for you based on the holes left in your closet. No, not because I took a sledgehammer to your closet walls in revitalization excitement. Holes like you don’t have ANY jeans because your size has changed. Holes like you have so many holes in your white v-neck, mending is no longer the answer and it has to be made into t-shirt rags, thus you need a basic white v-neck. Get the idea? Then, I will create your personalized bag with sustainable and ethically made pieces in the categories that we deem “necessities” and maybe we throw in a fun trendy-ish item also. Because we are NOT boring or blah just because we shop ethically. If you’re interested in this we’ll talk one on one about the logistics of how this works. No need to bore the readers who just wanted to know what the best box service is.

There you have it. My solution on how you can get your box service fix while being far more intentional and possibly changing our behavior. Big stuff? Illuminating? Not really-it’s just what this humble stylist feels is the next step. In anything we do, it’s about progress not perfection. If all you do is just begin thinking before you shop, I’ll be one happy camper. Not really camping right now though because it is Summer in Texas and I want to live to see Fall.

All my love
Xx,
Meghan F.F.