Affatshionista’s 5 Posts You Loved the Most in 2014!

I just want to close out 2014 with a review of the posts you loved the most on Affatshionista this year. Over the course of the year, more than 90,000 readers visited our site. So what were the most popular posts of 2014?

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Gwynnie Bee Review 2014 – Plus Size Rental Clothing

I subscribed to Gwynnie Bee for several months and I wanted to give you my impressions. Gwynnie Bee is a monthly subscription service for size 10-32 clothing, yes they go to a size 32. How cool is that?

Is Gyynnie Bee a Scam?
I sometimes get questions as to whether Gwynnie Bee is a scam to get your credit card number, or to create charges and not send you the clothes. That is NOT my experience. I received the appropriate number of clothes, there were no unauthorized charges to my credit card, AND they have now been in business over two years. I think they are a legitimate alternative to buying clothes.

Quanity and Quality Selection of Clothing
I continue to be impressed with the both the quantity and quality selection of clothing, even in Sizes 28 -32. You get to shop lots of different brands and you get to keep the clothes as long as you like.

Pricing and Plan Selection
You pay a flat monthly subscription fee for access to the entire collection. For three garments out at a time, the monthly fee is $79. The subscription also covers unlimited free shipping and exchanges.  I LOVE this idea and I LOVE that they are focusing on plus size.

They offer a 30 day trial period for $10: I love this! Read more about it HERE.

How it Works
You sign up for a plan (between 1 and 10 garments out at a time) and they ship you items from your “closet” (a list of items you choose) to wear for as long as you like. It may feel somewhat similar to Netflix, in that it is a set price, but the HUGE difference is that if you have the “3 at a time plan” you have to have chosen 8 garments, and you cannot specify which of those garments you will get. Gwynnie Bee can send ANY item from your “closet”, not the next ones in your “queue”.

The First Box
Gwynnie Bee shipments come in a super well sealed box and include the clothes along with care instructions, etc. The clothes themselves are labelled clearly so you don’t accidentally wash a dry clean only item and so you can easily find the outfit again on their website. (although you only need to clean it if you want to wear it again, they will clean it when they get it back). The clothes look great and are clean and pressed.

It took my first box 4 days to arrive, but in reading other reviews the timeframe may be shorter or longer than that, and once you have them in rotation it would not be an issue, but Amazon 2 day delivery has spoiled me.  They have VERY responsive customer service, I asked some questions and within several hours I had my answers.

Should You Get It – Should I Get It?
I think if you’re a person who shops regularly, Gwynnie Bee could be AMAZING for you. The most expensive plan is $159 a month but with 10 items out at a time, you could wear something different every time you go out. I can see if I did not like an item I would just return it immediately. And, they have made it REALLY easy to return the items with pre-paid bags. I wanted to try it because I wanted to try several brands of clothing to see how they fit. I am always reluctant to buy something if I do not know anything about fit.

A lot of us will get the smaller package – the 3 items out at a time plan for $79.  I think it is a great deal if you like wearing a variety of clothes, and for many of us, over a year we might spend about that amount, and the variety is endless.

Plus Size
It is SO exciting to have access to such a range of plus sizes and brands.  In my first box I tried Mynt 1792, which goes up to a size 4X, An ASOS Curve sequin pencil skirt that I did not think would work, so I never would have bought it, and a Style & Co 3X shift dress that I would not expect to work but looks okay.

This sort of rental service has existed for a long time in smaller sizes, I am thrilled that we now have all these choices. AND, it you like some variety, it can be fun. Give it a try, you will be glad you did!

A tip for increasing to odds of getting the item you want: 
If you subscribe to three pieces of clothing, they require that you have 8 or 10 pieces of clothing that you have requested (your closet wish list) before they will send you any pieces of clothing. If you keep your closet wish list to the required minimum (as opposed to 20 items on your wish list at any time), your odds of receiving what you actually want increase. BUT, it will slow down the process of them sending you something because you have given them fewer options to chose from. A conundrum.

I gave up my subscription because I am not working anymore I did not need this variety of clothes. The clothes are occasionally delayed, but if you keep more items in “your closet wish list”, as opposed to my suggestion that you limit your closet to get more of what you want, then they have more options of what to send you. Have Fun!

Peace…affinity

MYNT 1792 Plus Size 4x Jacket

I had wanted to try something from MYNT 1792 for awhile but I had been concerned about whether anything would fit because their size chart makes it pretty clear that a size 4X is a size 26 and I am really more of a size 26 -28. BUT because of Gwynnie Bee, I was able to give it a try. I loved the jacket, it looks great unzipped.

MYNT 1792 Moto Jacket zippedBut as you can see, zipped up it was a tiny bit little snug. But, I would love to try something else from MYNT 1792 that is not quite so form fitting, I think it might just work.

To compare my measurements to yours, to see if this jacket might fit you, click HERE.

PEACE…affinity

ASOS Curve Midi Skater Skirt Size 24 – Review

Skirt – Jacket – t-shirt – Boots – Jewelry – Belt

SkirtBootsJewelry – Belt  – Jacket/Similar – Top/Old 4X Torrid

ASOS Curve Midi-Skater Skirt

ASOS Curve Midi-Skater Skirt

What was I thinking, a midi skirt for me? So what did I do? I immediately rolled it up so it looked like a regular skater skirt, and wore it with stockings and boots! The definition of a skater skirt is: high-waisted, short and flowy with a hemline that hits above the knee. This is what the midi skirt looked like on the 5’10” tall model. I should have known that a midi would look draggy on me. LOL!

This skirt, via Gwynnie Bee, is a U. S. Size 24, to compare my measurements to yours, to see if these clothes might fit, click HERE.

As you may know from this review, I have a membership to Gwynnie Bee, and if you are interested in trying it FREE for 30 Day please read more HERE. Full disclosure: if you sign up after the free month, I get a month free.

Peace…affinity

Kiyonna Chameleon Convertible Skirt & Dress Plus Size 5X Review

kiyanna dressWe are in Palm Springs this week because a friend was kind enough to offer us her timeshare that she was not going to use.  So in anticipation of being in 90° weather I went to my Gwynnie Bee account to have something light and deserty to wear. It turns out that this Kiyonna skirt/dress is incredibly heavy and I would NEVER be able to wear in warm weather, even though, since it is strapless it looks like it is designed for a hot day.  I was quite disappointed.

kiyanna descriptionI did not pay attention to the size chart (my bad) and the 5X fell off of me so much that I could not really even take a photo of it.  My measurements are HERE if you want to compare your size to mine and see if this would fit.  The sizing is good to know, since I have never worn Kiyonna before, that this skirt/dress it runs true to size, since I usually wear a 4X. This dress not longer appears to be for sale but you can still find it on Gwynnie Bee.

As you know from this review, I have a trial membership to Gwynnie Bee, and if you are interested in checking it out please read more HERE (full disclosure) if you sign up I do get a free month free.

Peace…affinity

ASOS CURVE Sequin Pencil Skirt Size US 24 – Review

asos curve sequin skirt LG2As you know from this review, I have a trial membership to Gwynnie Bee, and if you are interested in checking it out please read more HERE (full disclosure) if you sign up I do NOT get a free month free since I am not going to continue my membership beyond the trial.

I would not have bought this wild multi color sequin pencil skirt, but when I saw it was one of the choices I could “rent”, in a US Size 24 no less, of course I had to try it. It is a little snug, but after all it is a pencil skirt. The entire skirt is made from a stretch poly blend. (ASOS does have a free/easy return policy, which makes it easier to take chances) You can see my measurements HERE if you want to know how this might fit YOU.

I probably would not buy this, even if I needed a sequin pencil skirt, because sequins are not very comfortable to wear, but oh is this SO gorgeous.  When I opened the box my husbanded was blinded and loved it. And guess what, it is on sale right now. I saw another blogger had belted the top and I wish I had thought to do that with a thin belt in one of the colors found in the skirt (lots of choices), it seemed to give the outfit more definition.

The top I am wearing is several years old INC International Concepts Size 24 made of a stretchy knit, which is very comfortable and fits quite well.

Lots more Gwynnie Bee outfits to come, watch this space.

Peace…affinity