Outfit: Review of Le Tote subscription service

Monthly subscriptions.

What was once a novelty, has become a popular industry. I recall first joining Birchbox, a monthly beauty service six years ago and I know many of you joined, too. I love the concept, whether like Birchbox you get samples of new products each month or like Le Tote, where you get customized items each month that you can test and return. Roxbox is the same for jewelry, which is also a popular service.

I received an email from Le Tote asking if I’d be interested in testing their service, so I jumped at the chance… I keep hearing rumblings of this and other services and I was curious if a real girl like you and me would be down for this. Basically, is it worth it?!

Once I joined, I completed a pretty in-depth style questionnaire so they could get a sense of my personal style, what I dig, what I’d never wear, my body shape and all things similar. It took some time but I can imagine it’s well worth it. Once completed I received a follow-up note that my Le Tote was ready to ship; I had a few days where I could go their their “closet” and modify… and so in true Type A form, I did. There were some cute pieces that were not available when I wanted them so ultimately I selected the following:

It arrived in an organized box, complete with information about Le Tote, and a measuring tape (smart!). I immediately loved the clutch and cuff, and figured I’d see how the rest fit. As a result of mailing, the clothes did feel a little warm coming out of the package. Not dirty and no odor, just warm. Hey, it was June.

I decided to pull together three of the pieces into one look, and love the result. I would have never, ever pulled this tank in a shop — the print is not in my comfort zone — so it was fun to test it out and use other pieces from my closet to complete the look. I could have easily worn it with denim cut-offs, too.

MY SECOND BOX: So I think I missed the email with my chance to swap things out so all of a sudden my second Le Tote arrived on my doorstep. See below for my closet; I must have worn those earrings at least 10 times — LOVED — and the second shirt was a total sleeper hit. The back had a cool cut out detailing that was adorable. I could only see myself wearing it 2-3 times though so I loved how I styled it, enjoyed it and sent it back. The first blouse was just OK, and the dress… a garbage bag on me. Super unflattering, I would have swapped it out as soon as I saw it… that silhouette is never flattering on me.

Each monthly box is $59.99 where you get five curated pieces.  Being able to get five items (three apparel and accessories) that I can wear for a few weeks, style and send back and not collect dust in my closet is kind of awesome. At the same time, I personally think the price would be way more compelling around $39-$45/month. While I had fun for a few months testing it out, I ultimately don’t need this service. However, I would highly recommend to a friend who doesn’t have time/interest to shop or if you’re in a creative rut. Think of the time you’ll be saving by not searching for everything. That’s worth it.
Curious to test Le Tote? Use codeAVERAGE20 for 20% off your first box, through August 13, 20106. If you’ve tried it, or if you test it, let me know what you think.