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Okay you guys, I’m super excited to tell you about Le Tote. They reached out and told me about their service, and I love the concept. I think you will too! If you’ve been reading for awhile, you may already know that I’m totally fascinated by new services that allow people access to products without having to own them — services like ZipCars mean you don’t have to own a car, but you can drive one any time you need. Or, home rental services like AirBnb mean that you don’t have to own a vacation home, but you can still enjoy one. And now there’s Le Tote. It’s a fashion rental service that gives women access to an infinite closet of clothes and accessories.
It’s $49 per month and this is how it works: First, you fill out your size profile and like all of your favorite pieces by clicking the heart. This adds the pieces to your closet. Next, a professional stylist will curate your tote with items in your closet and items that fit your style and ship them to you in a cute little box.
Then, you can wear the items they send (3 pieces of clothing, 2 accessories) for as long or as little as you want — 2 days, 3 weeks, a whole month — whatever you like! When you’re ready, you send everything back in a prepaid envelope and Le Tote will send you a new box immediately.
Isn’t that lovely? For one flat fee, you could have a new tote several times a month — meaning you’ll always have something new to wear!
I received my first tote last week and it really was fun to open — I had placed over 50 items in my Le Tote closet, so I had no idea what was going to be in the box! Inside, there was a blue sweatshirt with zipper details, an army green jacket, a heathered grey wrap, a beaded necklace, and a reversible leather tote (yellow & royal blue). You can see all the items in these photos.
I immediately fell in love with the army green jacket (Maude and Olive loved it too!), and I wondered if I could hold on to it. Turns out: yes. If you fall in love with a particular piece, you can keep it, and send everything else back. This lets Le Tote know that you’d like to purchase the item (at a big discount!). They’ll charge the card on file and send a new tote.
Other things I asked about: 1) How much is shipping? Shipping is FREE both ways. 2) What about laundry? You don’t have to launder anything before you return it! They do all the laundry. 3) What if I want particular pieces sent? This is new, but members can now customize their boxes and get exactly what they want! The stylist chooses items for you, but 24 hours before your box is shipped, you can go in and switch out items you don’t want or need that week.
The other cool thing is that Le Tote carries several upscale brands that you’d find at places like Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, and Anthropologie. Brands like French Connection, and Kensie, and BCBGeneration, and a whole bunch more.
Anyway. I know there are lots of clothes shopping services out there — I’m curious about them, and I’ve covered a few here on the blog. But nothing is quite like Le Tote! If you’re someone who likes to change up your closet frequently, I think Le Tote would be a great fit for you.
Want to give Le Tote a try? Get 20% off your first month when you sign up using this link with the discount code DESIGNMOM. (The code will automatically be applied to your order when you go through the sign-up process through that link, so no need to re-enter the code. Just make sure to click that link in order to access the 20% off!)
Okay. Now I’m curious. What are your thoughts on a service like this? Do you think you’d switch up your tote often? How do you feel about the idea of having lots of new clothes to wear, but not really owning any of it, or having to care for any of the pieces? Is that as appealing to you as it is to me?
Credits: Photos by Katrina Davis. I had so much fun shooting these photos with Katrina. She grew up here in Oakland but has been in New York for awhile and just moved back. I love her work!
Sally from Little Hiccups
October 6, 2015 at 1:32 pmLooking fab!
I’ve been tempted to try out a subscription service like this but given how tiny I am and the fact that I often struggle to find clothes small enough I’m not sure it would be right for me. I do like the idea of being able to just try outfits out and then send them back though.
Oh, and I need to know where that mural in the photos is. I’m always on the lookout for great murals for my kids to pose in front of!
Design Mom
October 6, 2015 at 2:15 pmThanks, Sally! Sizing can be so tricky. I would recommend calling Le Tote with your measurements and I’m sure they can tell you if their clothes would fit or not.
As for the mural, it’s under the overpass on Market and 36th on the Oakland/Emeryville border. It’s one of my very favorites — it was painted since we moved here, and it felt like such an honor to watch the progress.
Did you see the heartbreaking news about the artist, Antonio Ramos, who was shot while he was painting a mural last week?
I heard that he was part of the same group that painted this mural. So awful!
Sally from Little Hiccups
October 7, 2015 at 1:42 pmI heard the terrible news about Antonio Ramos last week. I hope the mural is completed in his honor.
Design Mom
October 6, 2015 at 2:19 pmHere’s a link to a photo of the full mural. It’s really long!
Michelle Glauser
October 6, 2015 at 3:15 pmAll my friends who have tried Le Tote love it, but since I work at home and love to be comfortable, I’m not sure there’s a reason for me to pay $50/month for a bunch of fancy clothes. Maybe if I end up getting a job in an office again, I’ll subscribe.
Design Mom
October 6, 2015 at 8:56 pmI hear you. I’ve tried several clothing “subscription” services, and they all work differently and seem to appeal to different needs.
Le Tote seems perfect for someone who likes to change up their wardrobe frequently, and likes to shop at high end department stores. Any one of the pieces they sent in my box would be priced well over $50 at a store like Nordstrom, but I was able to try 5 items. And if I keep sending the tote back — I might try 15 or 20 items in one month. Not bad!
I work at home too, but I end up going to lots of meetings and events. There are often cameras around at those events, and I like the idea of having something new to wear. So I guess Le Tote appeals to me for those specific reasons.
Amy
October 6, 2015 at 7:58 pmI also work from home (as a mom and a graphic designer) and I hardly ever wear “real” clothes – unless they’ve change the rules and yoga pants now count and real Ha ha ha. That said, I’m just not that into paying $50 for clothes I don’t own or have to return eventually even if I do like them. I’m happy to have read about it though because their ads keep showing up in my IG feed and I was curious so thanks for the post.
Design Mom
October 6, 2015 at 8:57 pmI’m the same! I’d seen the ads but didn’t understand how it was different than other subscriptions services.
Anna
October 6, 2015 at 7:59 pmI’m curious what happens to the (perhaps dirty) clothes that you send back?
I have tried StitchFix and have liked some of the pieces that I’ve gotten! I’m still trying to figure out if I like it enough to keep doing it, but I do like that I get pieces I wouldn’t otherwise have found.
Design Mom
October 6, 2015 at 9:00 pmGood question! The clothes you send back are professionally laundered.
I can tell you that the items I received didn’t have tags, but felt new. There was zero sign of wear-and-tear. Which makes me think that if the items sent back have any damage, they must be taken out of the rotation.
I haven’t tried Stitch Fix yet, but I keep meaning to! I like getting to know these services — some are perfect before a conference or a big trip, others seem just right for everyday wear.
CeeBee
October 6, 2015 at 9:51 pmI recently tried RentTheRunway for my girlfriends’ trip to Vegas. You rent high end dresses for a few days at a fraction of the cost, or basically the cost of an “affordable”/on sale dress you might get for an event but never wear again. My dress, and my other friend’s dresses, showed no sign of wear and didn’t have any weird smells and they were highly rated dresses on the site so I’m sure each dress saw a lot of business. I think company’s like this were able to zero in on their sink/swim moments before they hit the ground running. This sounds like a great service and I can’t believe how low the cost is compared to a few similar subscription clothing services. I will definitely take a look!
Bethany
October 6, 2015 at 8:55 pmThat actually sounds amazing!! I love to shop but I do hate the upkeep of dry clean only or hand wash clothes… I also love having new things to wear but of course can’t afford to be updating my wardrobe all the time. I like that you can purchase something if you find it to be something you love… what worries me is that I would always be falling in love with things, haha!
Design Mom
October 6, 2015 at 9:02 pmI know! I’m getting attached to the reversible leather bag. But then again, if I send everything back, I’ll be so excited to see what comes next!
Kelley
October 6, 2015 at 9:18 pmOh this is so tempting! I moved to NYC about a month ago, and this sounds like it would pair well with my limited closet space and lack of laundry in building! My current wardrobe needs aren’t quite so upscale, but I’d definitely keep it in mind.
Rosalynde
October 6, 2015 at 9:39 pmI’m curious — how is Le Tote’s concept different from other clothing subscription services? I haven’t looked into any of them at all, but I’m intrigued.
Paige
October 6, 2015 at 9:56 pmI’ve actually been wanting to try Le Tote. I had tried Stitch Fix previously but I don’t like the idea that you basically lose $20 if you don’t like anything that they sent you. I love with Le Tote that you get basically unlimited new clothes every month, especially when a lot of women probably spend $50+ on clothes per month and a lot of pieces only get worn a few times before they never see the light of day again. That doesn’t really apply to me since I try to be very intentional about the things I buy, but I do think this is a great service for people who do buy clothes a lot, but want to save money!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Cathie
October 6, 2015 at 10:11 pmOh my gosh! This looked so exciting to me that I quickly hopped over to the website and began shopping to create my closet. Once I was done I read the fine print…ONLY AVAILABLE IN USA!!! Wahhhh, we need this service in Canada!
Jana
October 6, 2015 at 10:36 pmSo the clothes you get aren’t necessarily new? You didn’t mention anything about that in your post but I saw your comment about them not having tags but feeling new. What is the standard they use for keeping their clothes in rotation? How many people will have worn the clothes before me? I get that they are laundered but not sure I would want to purchase a subscription at such a high price if the clothes aren’t new or have been rotation for more than a few wearings. Also, if you did want to keep the piece, what is the average price per clothing item?
Design Mom
October 6, 2015 at 11:16 pmGood questions, Jana. I don’t know if the items they sent me are new. They looked new, but there were no tags, so I’m not sure how I would tell. Based on reviews I read, I don’t remember customers mentioning that anything “worn out” came in their tote, so I assume they don’t send out anything that isn’t as good as new. If they did, it seems like they would risk losing a customer, so it wouldn’t be worth it.
As for price per clothing, it doesn’t seem like there is an obvious average. The items range — leather bags and fancier dresses are obviously more pricey than basic tops. And expensive labels are still expensive. The retail total for the 5 pieces they sent me is $442. The Le Tote price is $336. (Both those numbers make the monthly subscription seem like a bargain to me!) The site lists the original price and then the Le Tote price, so you can see what kind of discount you’re getting if you decide to keep an item.
Christine Koh
October 7, 2015 at 7:00 amG, I’m super fascinated by this and am going to link up your post in my roundup this week! I’m in the process of paring down my wardrobe in a major way and am thinking of just having my basic neutrals in there, but trying Le Tote to amp it up. :-)
Design Mom
October 7, 2015 at 1:24 pmLove that idea, Christine! I hadn’t thought of it that way, but it does seem like a good option for those who crave a fresh, but minimalist wardrobe. You’re a genius!
plum
October 7, 2015 at 7:02 amWhat great shots! The clothes and bags look great, but can we talk about your hair!?! I’d love to get into the nitty gritty formula of your upkeep.
I’m a brunette, recently gone platinum and am struggling to achieve the silver blonde you so exceptionally wear! Do tell, olaplex? wella? what mix of toners do you use and how frequent do you touchup??
Design Mom
October 7, 2015 at 1:29 pmHah! I had no idea silver-blonde was so tricky till I tried it. Yes, my colorist uses olaplex — and that has helped keep the damage to a minimum. But I’ll have to ask her what she uses for toner. As for maintenance, I have it washed and blownout once per week. I use a purple shampoo and conditioner and they keep the brassiness at bay.
Paige @ Tess & Ted
October 7, 2015 at 7:55 amThis has been showing up in my Facebook feed for months, but your post finally pushed me over the edge to sign up. I just reviewed my first tote (shipping out today), and I love the pieces! Seems like a great fit for those of us who love the adrenaline rush of trying something new, but don’t want want to spend loads of money. The “buy it after you try it” prices are amazing! Thanks, Gabby!
Beth
October 7, 2015 at 8:40 amI participate in a similar subscription program called Gwynnie Bee, which is for sizes 10 – 32. The idea of wearing “used” clothes was a bit weird at first, but I’ve done it for almost 2 years now and love it. It really cuts down on how many clothes I buy as I always have something new to wear. When we moved a couple of years ago, and I had to sort through my clothing, taking big bags to Goodwill, it struck me how “disposable” clothes really are. This kind of service makes a lot of sense to me.
Design Mom
October 7, 2015 at 1:22 pmGood to know about Gwynnie Bee! Thanks, Beth.
Summer
October 7, 2015 at 10:04 amThis sounds like a great service (even if you don’t use it every month, maybe just once a season to spice it up). I haaate the dry cleaning necessary for “nicer” clothes, so this would be right up my alley. During my engagement earlier this year, I tried Rent the Runway and I LOVE IT! It’s not new (but it looks new), but it’s so much easier than having to be responsible for a formal outfit that you’d probably only wear a handful of times anyway. Also, their customer support rocks. I can’t recommend them enough!
Design Mom
October 7, 2015 at 1:21 pmI used Rent the Runway when I needed a formal dress for the Iris Awards ceremony, and then again when my daughter Maude needed a prom dress. It’s definitely my go-to for formal wear!
Sheila Kaminski
October 7, 2015 at 9:31 pmI’m interested to know what subscription/box service clothing order companies you have continued with after promoting? MM Fleur? What worked, and what didn’t?
jodi
October 8, 2015 at 1:58 pmYup – this post put me over the edge and my first tote should be arriving soon! I’ve done stitch fix too, but I think that the stylists needed to get a better handle on New York weather – everything I got was perfect for California.
In the meantime, what makes me most nervous about this is the on-going nature of getting charged $50 every month. I’m not sure how easy it will be to cancel (if I want to) or if I feel like I’m getting my money’s worth each month.
Still. Excited to try it. I’ll let you know how it goes.
nikki ricks
October 8, 2015 at 9:45 pmLove this idea! Checked out the site but I didn’t love the selection. Something seems to be missing? It seems like it’s more of a Macy’s demographic. Also, I struggle with subscription services because I feel like I could take that $600 and buy some really nice pieces to keep! It’s hard though when you’re busy and you don’t commit.
ezeeme
October 17, 2015 at 3:34 amit’s very nice, i love this idea!!
Mens Fashion
February 3, 2017 at 11:58 amThis is the fashion awesome , Hats off.
Leanda Bailey
November 28, 2017 at 11:40 pmReally, this post is just awesome! and I love your services. but I can not subscribe your services at this moment because I am pregnant now and this is my first pregnancy and this is just 22 weeks. I am excited about that, so hopefully when my pregnancy period is finished then I’ll subscribe to your services. :)