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Golden Tote $149 Tote Review – April 2016

Haley Faye
ByHaley FayeApr 24, 2016 | 17 comments

GOLDEN TOTE 149 TOTE REVIEW APRIL 2016 - BOX

Golden Tote
4 overall rating
72 Ratings | 8 Reviews

If you aren’t familiar with Golden Tote, here’s a really quick intro: Every month you get to pick out 1-2 pieces, and they surprise you with the rest. (The surprise items are completely different from the pieces you pick from). For the $149 tote, you pick 2 items, and get 3-4 more surprise items based on your style profile.

IMPORTANT to know – Golden Tote has some changes coming May 1st. This specific tote offering goes from 2 choices and 4 surprises to 2 choices and only 3 surprises. Read our post about all their changes here.

GOLDEN TOTE 149 TOTE REVIEW APRIL 2016 - PACKAGING 1

FYI – This is not a typical subscription, each month they release a new collection and you can decide whether or not you want to buy it.

GOLDEN TOTE 149 TOTE REVIEW APRIL 2016 - packaging 2

As far as returns go, you can easily return your entire tote for a full refund. However, you can also return individual items, but any items you keep revert to their boutique price and you get charged the new total.

IMPORTANT to know, this will also be changing soon. I believe this change will also come May 1st, but they are working on streamlining returns so you can go onto your profile and pick which items to return individually, and they plan to change the way the prices are affected by returns.

GOLDEN TOTE 149 TOTE REVIEW APRIL 2016 - alll items

My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

The Subscription Box: Golden Tote

The Cost: $49 or $149 (This review is of the $149 tote)

The Products: Clothing items you pick plus surprises from Golden Tote!

Ships to: Everywhere! Flat rate ground shipping within the US is $9.95. International is $30. Free shipping on US orders of $149 or more and International orders of $149 or more are charged $25.

Delivered via: UPS or USPS

Check out all of our Golden Tote reviews and the Women’s Clothing Subscription Box Directory!

Keep Track of your subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

GOLDEN TOTE 149 TOTE REVIEW APRIL 2016 - info

Golden Tote also includes some styling suggestion cards for the items you pick.

GOLDEN TOTE 149 TOTE REVIEW APRIL 2016 - items 1

Wrap It Up Dress, Navy – value: $60?

(95% polyester, 5% spandex; Hand wash cold, do not bleach, line dry, iron low, do not dry clean)

Ever since I saw this as the first spoiler for April, I knew I was going to pick this and I’m so glad I could snag it. I’m obsessed. The length is perfect on me, the print is classy, and I have always loved A-line, wrap (or faux wrap) dresses. The material is silky and cool, which will be perfect for summertime. The only thing is that it seems like it’s a little prone to static but that’s easily fixed.

GOLDEN TOTE 149 TOTE REVIEW APRIL 2016 - items 2

Wrap It Up Dress, Fuschia – value: $60?

(95% polyester, 5% spandex; Hand wash cold, do not bleach, line dry, iron low, do not dry clean)

This dress was available in 3 prints, and I picked it in 2 because I loved it so much. This print is more colorful and perfect for summer. I love it.

GOLDEN TOTE 149 TOTE REVIEW APRIL 2016 - items 3

Le Lis Striped Jacket – value: $45?

(100% polyester; hand wash cold, lay flat to dry)

This is my first surprise item. It’s interesting – I wouldn’t have picked it myself, but I kind of like it. It’s not my typical style but I think it’s very flattering. Now I’m not sure how I’d style it or how many times I’ll reach for it.

GOLDEN TOTE 149 TOTE REVIEW APRIL 2016 - items 4

Les Amis Crossover Top – value: $40?

(93% rayon, 7% spandex; machine was cold with like colors, tumble dry low)

My second surprise item, and I love it, too. The drape front is flattering and nursing-friendly. It fits great and is really comfortable.

GOLDEN TOTE 149 TOTE REVIEW APRIL 2016 - items 5

She & Sky Floral Dress – value: $38?

(70% cotton, 30% rayon; hand wash cold separately, color will bleed, hang dry)

This dress is so pretty! I love the florals and the style. The swing-style is really easy to wear and I think it’s flattering, too. Not to mention the material is very soft and comfortable. It’s quite short on me, though, but I like it so much I think I’ll try out a dress extender/slip.

GOLDEN TOTE 149 TOTE REVIEW APRIL 2016 - items 6

Gilli Dress with Striped Skirt – value $50?

(self: 96% polyester, 4% spandex; lining: 100% polyester; hand wash cold, hang or line dry)

Gilli makes the most flattering dresses! I feel amazing in this dress. If you read my reviews (or even just this one!) you know I love drape and wrap fronts (and here’s another a-line silhouette, too). This is one of my all-time favorite GT items, I think.

Verdict: This is officially my best Golden Tote ever. I love my two picked dresses and all of my surprises. I think this is the first tote I’ve had styled by KB, and I think she really read and understood my style profile. This was also the first month I added a “style board” collage photo to my style profile so I feel like that helped her nail my surprises, too. If you buy Golden Tote, I really recommend doing so, too!

What do you think about my Golden Tote? Did you get any great surprise items you love?

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Golden tote is a surprise shopping spree bundled up in a cute, canvas tote bag and delivered to your door without doing any of the work. It's a great assortment of ready-to-wear clothing and accessories curated just for you. Select one or two items, and the Golden Tote stylists surprise you with the... read more.
Haley Faye
Haley Faye
Haley Faye first discovered the wonderful world of subscription boxes in 2012 and began writing for MSA in 2014. Over the years, she has found many subscriptions to love. Now a mom of three, her favorite boxes are ones that dress her kids, help her get organized, feed her family, send her snacks, and offer educational fun for her children.

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17 comments

Heather

You look fabulous in everything! The Gilli dress is awesome (I have one of their maxi dresses and it IS super flattering) and the pinstripe jacket looks so polished and classy!

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EC

Love the jacket! This is the only tote review I’ve ever seen that featured more than one longer length/midi dress. They have lots of maxis and tons of super short styles so it’s great to see they’re finally offering more midi length options. I’m also tall so what would be comfortable on someone 5’7″ and under just doesn’t work as well on those of us over 5’9″!

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@allcapsERINN

I’m jealous! I ordered two dresses as well — and even added a pair of shoes — and my surprise items for the $149 tote were a bunch of unflattering tank tops – most of them impossible to wear with a bra as they had lace backs or just giant or weird cut arm holes. I guess they can be layered, but still, I was like, “seriously??”

I’ll try adjusting my fashion profile settings but this seems to keep happening to me. Bummed. I usually end up giving the extras to charity, which makes me wonder why I keep wasting my money. I’m a sucker, I guess.

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Haley Faye

Erinn,

Oh no! I hate when a tote has been disappointing… my best advice is to really go into the highest priority details in your style profile. In fact, I actually have “I must be able to wear a normal bra with all items” as part of my notes to my stylist. Thankfully I haven’t had any issues with racer backs or weird cut outs. Also, try making/adding a “Style board” collage of your style and add it as the photo you can upload to your profile. Also, like Kim said, try trading and swapping your items! The swap site let’s you swap your subscription items for any other subscription items others have, and Golden Tote has a buy, sell, trade Facebook page! I recently joined and have had fun buying extra surprise items from other girls on there.

Good luck! I hope this helps!

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Kim

Hi! It’s great that you give so much to charity. But have you ever tried to swap out the tops with anyone else on their swap site (on Facebook)
(I love lacey tops, are they mediums??)
I have 2 medium tops that I have not taken the time to post on their trade site or this trade site..

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Lily

I object to these reviews! You’re so tall, shapely and pretty you could wear a flour sack and make it look good 🙂

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Kim

I know! Her reviews are the reason I am a Golden Tote Addict! Why both with the mall!! I bought 2 Totes. Loved everything except one thing! I must confess that I added on the maxi dress which is perfect for those who are 5’4″!!!!!!
Finally!!!!! A maxi dress for the rest of us who are not 5’8″ tall! (Or at least don’t have the legs that go with the ht of my 5’4″ Torso!!! (LOL!!!)

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Haley Faye

Thank you, Lily! That made my day =]

And Kim, I’m so glad to hear it! I love when that happens. It’s been a good month for surprise items! Well, at least to my taste I think.

Caligirl

They all look great on you!

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Teresa

With the short dress, think cute capri legging, white would brighten it up too. Never to old for that, I am 40 and still wear leggings under anything to cute not to wear but too short to comfortably wear without something under. A cute pencil skirt might also be cute under.

the Gilli dress makes me want to order but I am odd sizes so not sure that wold work. Is super cute on you though. And the wrap dresses, the 1st one is soo beautiful on you and the 2nd so cute. The pink top is WOW, and I think that jacket would be fun for dressing up a casual outfit for a date night.

Your golden tote this month was made of win!

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Kim

I’m 45 now, 46 in August.
My 15 yr old son and 23 yr son’s gf ganged up on me several years ago (3 to be exact), to remind me that age is a number that you apply to yourself. You can wear these type of dresses from Golden Tote without any issues with not being too old looking for a 40 yr old.
Only 1 or 2 on their site is “above” my comfort zone. Each dress is labeled with the length of “waist to end”. And you can request to not be sent certain items. Such as mini skirts or (ever impossible to fit online) jeans.
This is an excellent way to get clothes that you would normally pay 3×’s or more the price!
Almost every dress has been lined, they have a lot of Made in the USA stuff, and it’s mostly high quality for low quality prices.
I’ve purchased about 4-5 Totes and only have 2 tops I don’t care for and what you don’t think you will like can either be sent back *in their up coming changes* or they have a swap area, too!

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Beth

Can I ask where your sandels are from? They’re super cute!

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Haley Faye

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MisaMisa

You look gorgeous in everything! This was my first tote (besides mystery ones) and I loved it! I chose the fox shirt and the same Puella swing dress you got last month. I also received that Gilli dress, and it’s amazing! My other surprises were a beautiful Gilli floral top, a Collective Concepts top, and an abstract floral dress that unfortunately didn’t work for me. I’m a little sad that they’re reducing the number of items in the large tote. I’m not sure it’s worth the price for just 5 items.

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Kim

We must have a similar profile! I keep getting a lot of the same things! I even received the same fuchsia pink top AND thought that it would be perfect for you – as a nursing mother (from one previous nursing Mom to another!)
I received the jacket also, but in a more suttle print… Fine stripe, no reverse side. It does look very pretty on you!
I love your Golden Tote post!
Thanks for doing them!
My 3 Tote has helped me go outside my comfort zone – and I have always thought I was comfortable with what is in style! (LOL)

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Shelly

I have seen a LOT of reveals and this is the first time I have seen that jacket. Crossing my finger that the Gilli dress is in my tote! Everything looks great on you!

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