Golden Tote Review | May 2015

Yup, I am bringing you ANOTHER subscription service review. =P

Golden Tote is a fashion subscription box that ships to your door every month. Each box includes a "golden tote" with a different design each month filled with clothing items. 

How it Works

1. Choose your Tote

New totes go on sale the 1st Monday of every month at 9AM PST. It takes 2 weeks from the purchase date to be shipped to your door.

 2. Pick your Favorites

Golden Tote gives you the option of pick one (for the $49 tote) or two (for the $149 tote) items from their boutique to include in your tote. If there are other items (ie, jewelry, accessories, other clothing items) that you love you can also purchase them as an "Add-On" to your tote.

3. Create Your Style Profile

Since every tote is hand-picked it is very important for you to complete and be as detailed as possible. Your style profile describes your body type, sizes, how you like your clothes to fit certain areas of your body, things to avoid (clothing types, colors, prints, etc). It also tells the stylists your style from these choices: 

The Negatives

Golden Tote is not like other clothing subscription services like, Stitch Fix, where you have the option of trying on the pieces and sending back the ones you did not like. Golden Tote is an all or nothing subscription service. So, you can be stuck with some items that you don't like, but can not return them. This caused me to return my 2 previous totes because I did not like enough items to justify the cost.

Golden Tote DOES have a Facebook trading group where you can sell or switch items with other people. Unfortunately, I think Golden Tote makes it too difficult for this neat idea to work. First, they make it a closed group which took me a long time to be 'approved' to join. Secondly, they have SO MANY RULES about how to post and sell items to other members. So I didn't even bother and just returned the items. 

I suggest when returning, to have a tracking number just in case. One of my returns was left in a funky spot but my tracking number helped the employees find it.

 My Experience

I'll be honest, my experience with Golden Tote has not been the greatest. I just happened to buy my 1st tote the same month they totally redesigned their website. They have had many problems ever since. Golden Tote must be incredibly popular because every 1st Monday @ 9AM a flood of people hop on the site to purchase their totes causing the site to crash.

This is my 3rd Golden Tote I have received and the 1st one that I will NOT be returning. I purchased a $149 tote in March and was only in love with a few pieces, so I returned it. I then tried the $49 tote in April and received only 2 pieces that were...just okay.  I checked out the May boutique options and saw 2 dresses I liked so I knew I would have to purchase the $149 tote and give it ONE last try. I was quite happy with this one so I wanted to share it with you! =)

Your bundle of clothes come nicely folded with an elastic inside your tote. **I had already opened the tote excitedly before taking these photos so this does not do it justice.

These are the 2 dresses I chose from the Boutique.

 Dress: veryJ

 Obviously this dress looks silly just laying down flat, but I knew it would look really cute with this wide belt I purchased from Anthropologie (link). And it has pockets!

Dress: Puella

This dress is very interesting. I loved the colorful panels down the sides. This brand is known for its wide, flowy dresses and tops that can also be purchased at Anthropologie (link). I will most likely wear this dress with a more simple loose belt.

Now for the surprise pieces!

 Tank: misslove

 Tank: Le Lis

T-shirt: style loft | Dress:Skies are Blue

Bracelet: Jules Smith Designs

I was also sent this bracelet as bonus gift from Golden Tote as a thank for sticking with them during the website issues they've been having. So, that was nice of them!