Spring was just around the corner—now it’s almost summer already! New seasons (and weather, if you live somewhere like Seattle) mean it’s time for a new wardrobe look. This spring, I partnered up with Material World, a styling service that repurposes pre-owned designer clothing (YES!) in a monthly box personalized just for you. It’s not technically a subscription service, so you can try one box and be done, or keep it going as long as you like. Each month, you receive 5 items to try on for a few days. Then, you are free to send back what’s not so great and pay a discounted price for what you love! There is a styling fee of $29 per month that is credited back to you when you buy one item. They know how to make me justify my shopping tendencies! You also get a 20% discount if you keep all five items.
I received my first Material World box this month, and I’m excited to share what my stylist chose! Here’s how it works. The stylist chooses around 10 items based on a styling quiz you fill out when you sign up. Then, you choose the 5 items that you like the most to try on at home. The best part is that you can send feedback and notes directly to your stylist, so I only expect my future boxes to get better as my stylist gets to know my style. And hey, I don’t mind giving these designer pieces a second life in a new closet anyways. That’s one way to reduce clothing waste! Read on for all the details about my first Material World box.
Rachel Zoe Black Lace Dress
The first item I received was this pretty lace dress by Rachel Zoe (retails for $80 on Material World). Rachel Zoe was one of the designers I said was my style, partially because I watched her show way too much back in the day and partially because I have no idea what half the designer brands are about! Disclaimer: I think this is supposed to be worn with a slip? Or a bathing suit? Or something? But I chose to wear it without anything since it covers up the important parts anyways. I love the lace with bare skin for the contrast. Even though this was super cute (check the flare sleeves!), I decided to send this one back because it wasn’t a practical dress for Seattle weather, and I didn’t want to have to buy a slip to wear this dress out. Next!
Somedays Lovin Pinstripe Jumpsuit
The next and maybe my favorite piece in my box was this pinstriped Somedays Lovin jumpsuit (retail $85 on Material World). Being a petite girl under 5′ 3″, it’s practically impossible to find a jumpsuit that will fit me without tailoring. I’m thrilled that my stylist chose this piece for me with my height and size in mind! I went back and forth on keeping this piece because I adore the pinstripe material and the little cutout in front, but the legs felt a bit wide for my frame. Luckily, when you return items, you get to leave your stylist notes! So I can’t wait for them to take this month’s notes and find even better styles for me next month.
AllSaints Distressed Denim Shorts
I actually forgot these AllSaints denim shorts (retail $50 on Material World) were one of the items I chose until they arrived! Since I basically have two months where I can wear shorts, I buy most of my shorts at thrift stores. I wanted to know what the difference would be with a pair of designer shorts versus my usual finds (because every girl knows that a perfect pair of shorts is a rarity). These shorts have cute star stud accents on the side and some gentle distressing. I styled them with this new long sleeve I got from Forever 21 and my Reebok Classic ATI 90s sneakers. The quality was definitely there, but they were pretty tight across my hips, so back they went!
BB Dakota Velvet Burnout Dress
Here’s another dress that was hard to send back—a BB Dakota dress with a pretty floral pattern (retail $70 on Material World). I’m obsessed with the off the shoulder peasant style and the tier at the bottom. The fabric is a nude mesh coupled with black velvet. I wasn’t a fan of the fabric up close, but it looks way better as a whole! I paired it with my black mules from Madden Girl (which are under $20 on Amazon right now!). This one was another one that was hard to let go of. I just own too many black dresses to justify another, especially for spring and summer. I definitely left my stylist a note that I am a black clothes hoarder and I need help!
J Brand Flare Ankle Jeans
I’ve been dying to try this flare jean trend, but it’s SO hard to find anything remotely petite. Ankle jeans = jeans that actually fit normally on me. These J Brand flare jeans (retail $76 on Material World) were a great, low-risk way for me to try out a new style! I paired them with these cute chunky heels and this top I’m obsessing over. Unfortunately for these jeans, they were probably my least favorite in the box. Despite being super comfy and almost an exact fit, even in length, the fit flare style felt too matronly on my more petite figure.
Final Thoughts on Material World
So, if you’ve been keeping track, I did send all of the items from my first Material World box back. Even though my first box didn’t have any clear winners, I loved the service and I’m stoked for my next one! I can tell that the Material World stylists really care—all my items fit basically perfectly (especially in height). They also took my survey answers into account. Like, I specifically mentioned wanting to try different cuts of jeans than my regular skinny jeans. Trying on new styles also gave me some things to look out for next time I’m shopping for myself. Now I know that fit and flare jeans aren’t my jam and I prefer a narrower fit on wide leg pants. I’m so ready for next month’s box to see how my feedback goes into action! If you’d like to
Note: I received my Material Box with the styling fee waived. All opinions are 100% my own. This post may include affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission with each sale.
