Cheryl Shops

One of the many benefits of being a fashion blogger is that you get to discover all sorts of new ways to shop. They don’t call me Cheryl Shops for nothing, so when Fashom reached out to ask if I wanted to try their service, I, of course, jumped at the chance. Fashom is a try-before-you-buy styling service, kind of like the one that rhymes with Pitch Mix: you take a quiz online to determine your style profile, a stylist picks out some clothing or accessories for you, they arrive in the mail, you keep what you want, and send back what you don’t. The styling fee is $15 (it’s free your first time), and you can apply it toward anything you purchase; buy 3 or 4 of your items and you get 25% off, or buy all 5 and you get 30% off. The big difference is that you get to choose which items you want after your stylist narrows it down for you, and for me, that was a huge—and very positive—difference. Here’s what I chose for my Fashom box.



Outfit one 
The fun part about trying these styling services is seeing how a complete stranger interprets your style. I sent my Outfit ideas for ageless style Pinterest board as well as my Instagram to my stylist, and she definitely got my minimalist, classic-with-a-twist vibe. Her first round of picks had only sleeveless tops, however, so—and this is another big difference with Fashom—I was able to email her, explain that summer in San Francisco is actually kind of cold, and request more long-sleeved tops. I felt like I was dealing with an actual human and not with a much-touted algorithm.





I really liked this top: it had a waffle-like texture, and the weight was good for this time of year—heavier than a T-shirt but lighter than a sweater. I was a little worried that I’d have a wardrobe malfunction, but it magically stayed in place. Overall, though, I think it would be better suited for a smaller-busted person.





I decided to pair it with this black skirt, which had a definite French A.P.C.-type vibe to it. I also liked the length—as much as I love miniskirts, knee-length or lower is where I’ve been gravitating lately, as they’re a little more flattering to my 41-year-old legs.





Outfit two 
This kimono was the first item I added to my order. Speaking of which, I don’t know if this is always the case, but I had 7 items to choose from initially, 9 after my stylist added two long-sleeved tops to the mix. It’s not the largest variety (I had kind of been expecting more), but if you don’t like your options, you can always ask for more. I had a hard time choosing which pieces to order—there was a sporty sleeveless hooded vest that I passed on but am still thinking about—but I’m happy with what I did choose, especially everything in this outfit.





These jeans were Sean’s favorite item in the box, because, they’re pretty form-fitting and, hey, he’s a guy. I tend to shy away from skinny jeans in favor of a straighter cut, but these were actually really flattering. I really liked the step-hem detail and the color, which was somewhere between army green and gray. They were actually a size smaller than what I normally wear, but they magically fit, thanks to a generous amount of stretch.




I also really liked this top—it had a contrast panel at the hem, and side slits, so it would work with higher-waisted pants too. But I think the star of this outfit is the kimono. It’s just fun, and I love the colors. It dresses up jeans, as I’m wearing it here, and it would be great over a dress in wine country too. I don’t have anything else like it in my closet at the moment, so it was a must for me to keep. 




While I kept only the kimono, it would have been super reasonable for me to buy my entire shipment—the most expensive item in my box was the jeans, and they were only $55; the gray top was the least expensive, at $28. With the 30% discount, it would have been only around $160 for everything—not bad for two entire outfits. The only reason I didn’t keep everything is that I already have similar items in my closet. That’s a potential challenge with using a styling service like this—your stylist may be able to nail your style like mine did, but they don’t necessarily know what’s missing from your closet unless you tell them. Overall, I’d recommend trying Fashom—I love that you get to choose your items, and that you can ask for more pieces if you’re not happy with your selection. Plus, for every box sent, Fashom donates $1 to Second Chance Rescue NYC Dogs, and you all know how I feel about rescue dogs. Get started with Fashom here.



Full disclosure: I received a Fashom site credit but all words and opinions (and shoes!) in this post are mine.