This post is brought to you by Golden Tote.
There are lots of times in my life where I enjoy shopping for clothes — looking for deals, trying on outfits, figuring out accessories, even returning the clothes if buyer’s remorse set in. But 2014 has not been a good shopping year for me. There’s no getting around it, shopping takes time. And I just haven’t had enough time to make it happen. But I had this trip to New York ahead of me, and I knew the weather in NY would be colder than Oakland, and I knew I needed a few fresh pieces. So I was trying to figure out what to do. Then I remembered Golden Tote.
My sister Jordan has written about them a few times over the last couple of years and I thought this was the perfect time to try it out. If Golden Tote is new to you, essentially, it’s an awesome way to get stylish clothing at amazing deals. Here’s how it works. First, you go to the Golden Tote website and choose one of two options — $49 for 2-3 clothing items, or $149 for 5-7 clothing items. The retail value is up to $200 and $600 respectively! Next you choose one or two items to go into your tote, and the team at Golden Tote will surprise you with the rest.
But it’s not just random picks. The Golden Tote founders are clothing designers from L.A. They design some of the clothing you’ll see on the site, and they also work with fashion brands to get deep discounts that they pass along to us. Also, as you check out, you’ll be guided through a little style profile, and the Golden Tote designers will choose items for you based on your profile. It’s like the whole bag is like this fantastic surprise created just for you!
I received my tote last Thursday (it’s an actual tote bag, by the way), and it was such a treat to open — I was super curious to see what they had sent. I tried on the pieces and started putting them together with items already in my closet. At first, I was a little wary — there was one top in particular that I didn’t think I would like and wouldn’t have picked for myself. But by the end of my closet session, it was my favorite thing that they sent! Can you guess which piece it is? The blouse in the very top photo!
Seeing my change of heart about that shirt really convinced me of the value of the whole Golden Tote concept — sometimes it’s really nice to have someone make fashion decisions on your behalf. It gets you to try new things and maybe look at yourself in a new way.
And I was even more convinced when I realized I had 4 outfits ready to go for the trip, and I hadn’t had to run a single errand! Golden Tote is so smart for women who don’t have time to shop, and aren’t sure what to buy even if they did have time.
If you’d like to check it out, new sales launch on the first Monday of every month. I suggest you shop the site as soon as the sale launches — because some of the pieces sell out quick!
Outfit One:
Patterned Blouse from Golden Tote. Pants from Banana Republic. Gold loafers from Sseko. This outfit is so comfortable it’s like pajamas, but I think it looks very elegant. And the top is polyester, which makes it great for traveling.
I only had room to pack one pair of heels, and I wasn’t sure what nights I might be going out, so I tried on each outfit with the heels to make sure it could work. The heels are an older pair from the Jessica Simpson line that I’ve had for years. They’re a shade of burnished red, with a suede finish, that always feels perfect for the fall. They looked great with this outfit!
Outfit Two:
Elbow Patch Sweater from Golden Tote. Jean from Uniqlo. Scarf from FashionABLE. Boots from Chloe (they’re vintage!). This is another really comfortable outfit. I knew I would be walking quite a bit on this trip, so I wanted to have smart shoes for each day. I wore this on Monday from morning through dinner and felt stylish and comfortable the whole time.
Again, I tried this on with the heels just in case. Heels make any outfit feel fancy. : )
Outfit Three:
Black & White Sweater/Jacket by Golden Tote. Turtleneck and Cropped Pants from H&M. Same heels as above. I tried these outfits on Saturday afternoon, and this one was the favorite of Maude. She already borrowed the sweater. : ) It’s a really nice layering weight and has a fun letterman jacket feel to it.
Outfit Four:
Split Personality shirt from Golden Tote. Pants by Les Chiffoniers (found at the same vintage shop where I picked out the Chloe boots!). Scarf by Printed Village. Shoes by Vans. I don’t know how well it shows off in the photos, but I really love this top! The front and sleeves are grey knit, while the the back is cut like a classic dress shirt. It’s super cool!
I planned this outfit for today because I knew I would be traveling this afternoon and this outfit is very travel-friendly. The vans are perfect airport shoes.
And yes, I tried this on with the heels as well!
I really enjoyed my Golden Tote experience — I was glad to have new items for this trip, and I’ll be glad to have them for the holidays as well. What about you? Is the idea of Golden Tote appealing to you? The idea of buying clothes and then being surprised by what arrives? How do feel about having a designer that you don’t know personally pick out clothes for you? And do you feel like this would be a time saver for you like it was for me? I’d love to hear!
Jess.
November 12, 2014 at 10:11 amYour cuteness is very persuasive. I hate shopping so much! I really like your outfits, and I think #4 looks great with the heels! (I do like shopping for shoes.)
xox
Design Mom
November 12, 2014 at 2:27 pmThanks, Jess! I love how heels can transform a look in an instant.
AnEmilyB
November 12, 2014 at 10:18 amYou sold me. You look adorable! I usually shop exclusively at Target and the Goodwill, so this is really stepping out of my comfort zone, price-wise and otherwise! But i just had a birthday and it was really pretty lame birthday, so I just went for it. So I’ll be looking out my front window, waiting for the UPS truck, if anyone needs me…
Design Mom
November 12, 2014 at 2:28 pmHow fun! I hope you love your first Tote.
Tamara
November 12, 2014 at 10:27 amI’m curious how they handle sizing and how their sizes tend to run.
Design Mom
November 12, 2014 at 2:28 pmI ordered my usual sizes and they seemed to fit the usual way. When you fill out your profile they help you indicate size.
Abby Doyle
November 12, 2014 at 11:41 amThis is kind of like a dream come true. I really don’t care for shopping but sometimes really need some new pieces. I’m definitely going to try it….love the thought of being surprised!! I am 6’0″ tall though so we’ll have to see how it works out with my long limbs. Do they do pants or just tops?
Design Mom
November 12, 2014 at 2:29 pmI know the site asked for my pants size when I filled out my style profile, but I didn’t receive any in my Tote, so I’m not sure. I’ll go see what’s on the site and get back to you.
sarah
November 12, 2014 at 11:47 amSounds awesome, and your outfits are adorable! Curious as to how Golden Tote compares to Stitch Fix. I can already see that the concept itself is slightly different–i.e. you get to choose a couple of items with Golden Tote whereas the entire shipment from Stitch Fix is a surprise…
I tried Stitch Fix for several months, but ended up pausing my shipments because I was keeping very few items. I feel as though my body can be difficult to fit, and my taste unpredictable. That said, I don’t have a lot of time to shop, and still love the idea of these services. The notion of getting to choose a couple of items myself is very attractive. Perhaps time to give it another go, this time with Golden Tote. Would love to see if anyone out there has tried both and has thoughts…
Design Mom
November 12, 2014 at 2:30 pmI haven’t heard of Stitch Fix, but now I’m curious how they compare as well.
Catherine Hoskin
November 12, 2014 at 12:27 pmDear Gabrielle,
Sassy is the word that comes to mind!
I love the concept.
Design Mom
November 12, 2014 at 2:30 pmThanks, Catherine. I totally felt sassy during the photoshoot!
Heather
November 12, 2014 at 12:41 pmGabrielle!! You are such a BABE!!! Hot mama with 6 kiddos!! I think Golden tote would be a fun Christmas Gift!! No?
Thanks for sharing!!
Design Mom
November 12, 2014 at 2:31 pmThank you, Heather — you made my day! And I love the idea of Golden Tote as a gift. So fun!
Franca Bollo
November 12, 2014 at 12:42 pmI have to ask, how does Jordan feel about you adopting her signature look (long dark hair with bangs)? ;)
Design Mom
November 12, 2014 at 2:33 pmIt’s so funny, because no one has ever told us we looked alike until I got her haircut, and now I get comments about how twinsie we are all the time. But I’ve got my going blonde appointment on the calendar, so our twinsie time won’t last much longer!
Alysa Stewart
November 12, 2014 at 1:09 pmThis. Looks. Awesome. Thank you for posting about it!!
Design Mom
November 12, 2014 at 2:33 pmYou’re welcome, Alysa.
Karen
November 12, 2014 at 1:18 pmUgh. But you have to create an account just to learn more. I’m over sites that do that. It’s marketing gone very, very bad, in my opinion.
Design Mom
November 12, 2014 at 2:34 pmI hear that. I get annoyed too. Maybe just unsubscribe if you’re not into it?
Celeste
November 12, 2014 at 1:38 pmLove this idea. That B&W sweater is gorgeous.
My husband just cancelled his FiveFour account, which is a similar service for men, after six months. It was a really great service that sent him unique statement pieces as well as more interesting basics. I was so jealous every month! The only reason he stopped the service is because he felt he had built up an interesting enough wardrobe and was good to go for awhile.
Just a quick grammar note (because you are normally such a clean writer and I’m sure it was a glanced-over typo) but you have “I new I needed” instead of “I knew I needed.”
Design Mom
November 12, 2014 at 2:35 pmOh my goodness. Thank you for the heads up on the typo! I’m about to board a flight back to San Francisco, but will try to fix it before I shut down my laptop. : )
And I know what you mean about building up a wardrobe. I think services like this are a good way to do it.
Ceridwen
November 12, 2014 at 1:45 pmmy third golden tote is due to arrive any day. I get the larger order and have yet to get an article of clothing that haven’t loved! I’ve tried stitch fix a handful of times and each time I have been more and more disappointed. No so with GT. It just gets better and better!
Design Mom
November 12, 2014 at 2:35 pmGood to hear!
Lauren
November 13, 2014 at 11:50 amThis is what I was hoping someone would say! I tried Stitch Fix once and was SO disappointed. I ended up sending back every single item and felt like they hadn’t read my style profile at all. But I love the idea of trying items I wouldn’t normally pick up in store, plus the convenience factor of online shopping.
JEn
November 12, 2014 at 7:36 pmso excited to learn about this bc it sounds awesome. stitch fix looked lame and cheap to me, but I liked the general concept. since Golden Tote sounds and looks more sophisticated, I’m in!
Sally from Little Hiccups
November 12, 2014 at 9:37 pmI remember reading about Golden Tote a while back when Jordan posted about it. I loved what she got in her tote and thought about ordering but then never got around to it!
I quite like the idea of letting someone else choose a few of the clothes. But just a few – I don’t think I could completely give up control! Years ago I used to shop at a small boutique in Sydney where I would let the owner pick out outfits for me. She would always pick clothes that I had overlooked on the hanger but they always ended up looking way better on me than the clothes I had picked out myself! I felt like I had my own personal shopper :)
Sally from Little Hiccups
November 12, 2014 at 9:37 pmP.S. I love that first shirt on you :)
Helen
November 13, 2014 at 6:01 amI’m so bummed! When I went to the website it wouldn’t let me view anything until I signed in. That is a massive no-no in my book. I don’t give anything away, even my email address, to sites unseen. Did anyone else get around that?
Deirdre Picadio
November 13, 2014 at 6:07 amGabrielle, I just wanted to say that you look so great (and effortless) in all the outfits! They all seemed so perfect for NYC. Hope you had a great trip!
Patty
November 13, 2014 at 6:39 amPity the sizes are so limited! Might as well have a banner saying “curvy girls need not apply”. Back to Stitch Fix for me! Plus, Stitch Fix lets you return any item you don’t like – it’s not all or nothing like Golden Tote.
Katie Harding
November 13, 2014 at 6:55 amLove this idea, and love the outfits that you came up with!
Dominique
November 13, 2014 at 9:22 amI have not heard of Golden Tote but will check it out. I have recently signed up with Stitch Fix (very similar concept) and just love it. Things that I would never try on are always my favorite ones. It really is like having your own personal stylist. BTW, you look fab!
Aly
November 13, 2014 at 1:37 pmLove this concept! It works especially well for my husband who is signed up with the clothing company FiveFour. He doesn’t like to shop, and when I try to buy new things for him he nit picks the prices and we always end of with stuff for me or the kids :). However, FiveFour has sent him things we normally would not have chosen and they have turned out to be his favorite items in his closet. It’s like christmas once a month for him when he receives his package. I think we pay $60/month package. It’s a great value and service – especially for me since I want him to look great without the headache for me. I’m headed to checkout Golden tote now!
Erin Sikorsky
November 13, 2014 at 5:12 pmCan you send stuff back if you don’t like it? That’s what I like about Stitch Fix. They make it very easy for you to return whatever you don’t want. You’re out the $20 styling fee but that’s it. I was very pleased with my first shipment from Stitch Fix, and it’s low-risk.
Sarah
November 13, 2014 at 6:33 pmThe site is great, but my complaint is that I couldn’t look at anything without creating an account. So, I bogged down their server and created a fake name and email because I didn’t know if it would be something for me or not and I don’t like lots of extra email for things that I won’t look at later.
Gretchen
November 13, 2014 at 8:20 pmI adore Golden Tote! I’ve gotten a tote for the past few months and have really loved what I’ve gotten. Choosing is great but it’s the surprises that are the most fun. Even better, I’ve been pushed out of my comfort zone when I receive items that I wouldn’t have chosen for myself. And those often become my favorites! By the way, your outfits are fabulous!
Calvin Klein baratos
November 14, 2014 at 8:18 amI love your Red shoes, very cool.
Martha
November 14, 2014 at 3:15 pmLOVE THIS.
Emily A
November 14, 2014 at 9:47 pmI love your tall boots so much! I always thought I couldn’t wear over the knee boots because I don’t wear short skirts (they really don’t work on me, one of those things I have long ago accepted). It never occurred to me to wear them with skinny jeans. I’m having a forehead-smacking moment here.
Kristen
November 15, 2014 at 6:40 pmWhat fun! They all look great! I especially love the last one. Those pants are fierce!
lisa thomson-the great escape
November 16, 2014 at 12:00 amOh, how beautiful you are! I love all of your outfits and especially the last one, with the Vans (totally could see myself wearing that). I’ve never heard of the Golden Tote but it sounds great. I would love to have someone pick out pieces for me. Sometimes I end up not liking what I buy and wonder what I was thinking when I purchased it.
Laura
November 16, 2014 at 12:00 pmJust purchased the $49 package! Your outfits convinced me :) Thanks for the suggestion!
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