Golden Tote Review – July 2014
In Golden Tote miracle news, I ordered my July tote on Monday and it arrived today! (I always pay for their fastest expedited shipping option, but I’ve never had a tote ship this quickly!)
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. 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.
The Box: Golden Tote
The Cost: $49 or $149 (This review is of the $149 box)
The Products: Clothing items you pick plus surprises from Golden Tote!
Ships to: Everywhere! Shipping to the continental US $7.95. AK HI $15 and international is $25
Check out all of my Golden Tote reviews and the Women’s Clothing Subscription Box Directory!
Day at Sea Striped Dress – Value $45
This is one of the two items I picked out for my tote. I love the red striped skirt (and it has pockets!) but the top is pretty sheer, I’ll definitely have to layer it. And I’m hoping I can shrink it a little in laundry too!
Fitted Tee Dress by Potter’s Pot – Value $44
This dress was my wild card item – something I normally wouldn’t buy but was curious about. (I figured if it was too short, I could still wear it over leggings in the fall). I’m happy to report that the tee has a lining so it isn’t nearly as sheer as I was expecting, and the black skirt is a thick quilted pattern). It’s probably a little too short for me to wear with bare legs, but it’s a great basic piece I think I’ll get a lot of use out of in the colder months!
Hourglass Lily Strapless Dress – Value $50
This dress is stunning – I love it! I have another Hourglass Lily dress, so I was pretty sure I would love this maxi. (I think the fabric in this dress is slightly thinner than my other Hourglass Lily dress, but it’s not see-through). (Instead of buying two totes this month, I added this dress to my tote at a discount).
FYI – Hourglass Lily maxis are on sale today for $35 each at HauteLook!
Now on to the surprise items:
This boatneck blouse is really cute, and it’s a little short for me, but I think it will look great with high-waisted skinny jeans.
(I thought the tag was cute too – I love Golden Tote exclusives!)
Miss Love Pocket Shirt – Value $35?
This is the one item in my tote that was a miss for me. It’s really wide and boxy, and just a look I can’t pull off.
Priddy by Puella Dress – Value $70?
I am in love with this dress! Sometimes Priddy dresses can end up looking like tents on me, but this one drapes beautifully and the fabric has just the right amount of stretch!
Plus I love an open-back detail that still lets me wear a normal bra! (FYI – Based on this Puella Tunic, I’m thinking this dress will also come in blue).
super b Maxi – Value $60?
Well, I love maxis, so this was an instant win! I love the detail on this dress too. The back is gorgeous:
Verdict: This Golden Tote was so great it’s making me want to buy another one! I love the Priddy item this month, and I think I’ll try to swap for the blue version if it exists too! What do you think of my surprise items?
Written by Liz Cadman
Okay, I am confused. In most of your reviews, you talk about “swapping” items that you don’t like for other ones. Yet the Golden Tote site says that it is an “All or nothing” service and that you cannot return single items back- you must return everything or keep everything. How is it that you are “swapping” items out?
Please answer,
curious george
When I mention swapping I’m talking about the swap site! Hope that helps! 🙂
It’s a Golden Tote Trading Group on facebook with a bunch of girls trading and selling their GT items. A great bunch of girls!! If you join, it will be helpful if you read the pinned post with the rules, it explains how to maximize your experience with the group 🙂
Wow, I am totally disappointed in my tote this month. I choose the Gone Yachting Top which I LOVE but that was the only item that fit and looked nice. I also got the Day at Sea Dress which is cute in pictures but on is totally sheer and a bit frumpy on the top.
The surprise items ALL were a miss:
1. The Gold Tote Top? Mine came in a different pattern that your but with the same detail on the bottom. Boxy, short, and not a great pattern…ugly.
2. Priddy Red Dress? I thought it looked kinda cheap and then when I turned around and saw the drape in the back…NO….i is not flattering at all. It looks like a mistake.
3. Ellison Coral Top? Totally shear…too big (its a small) and the arms are 3/4 length and fan out like bell bottoms. Yuck!
4. Jolie Linen Pants? They are okay but since most everything else is not something I would wear…I am returning the entire bag.
I had high hopes for Golden Tote but looks like I will be sticking with Stitch Fix where I can return without a hassle and keep the items that I like.
July was my favorite tote ever! I chose the Puella swing dress, the red dots tee, and added the orange oversized blouse. My surprise items were the Priddy dress in blue, the Cut and Sew top from their fb page, a cute white blouse (luckily not the boxy one), and black linen crop pants. I tried on everything and immediately loved it. And usually there’s at least 1 item I have to talk myself into.
I tried the surprise only tote when in first came out and I just don’t think I’ll do it again. I kept it because I felt like the 2 items I liked were the “bigger” items, but the other two were things I requested not to get. They will be giftable, though.
Have you ever tried to return a tote? I bought 2 surprise totes earlier this month and want to return both. There was a card in the box explaining that it was ‘all or nothing’ with returns and an email address to send questions to, so I assume that surprise totes can be returned as well. However, I sent an email to that address Wednesday and here it is Saturday morning and I have heard nothing back. I’m afraid if I mail them back my box they may act like they didn’t get it either! The other thing that concerns me is that on the website it says returns should be within 14 days of purchase. Well, since I ordered on June 20th and didn’t receive it until July 9th that’s just not going to be possible! Does anyone have any experience with returns to Golden Tote?
Their customer service (replies to emails and comments) is pretty awful actually. Try posting to their FB to see if that helps
I don’t subscribe to this box but, I’m pretty in love with the Cut + Sew Golden Tote top. Do you think anyone wants to sell theirs or will it be available in the Golden Tote shop later?
The Cut + Sew top won’t be available in their shop but I’m sure you could find it on the swap here or on the Golden Tote swap facebook group.
I received mine today too (west coast) and I chose the Puella swing dress and green polka for top for my $149 tote. My surprise items included the same red Puella dress, a black and white floral Golden Tote brand top, a super cute bright pink top with lace insert in the back (I think its my favorite thing in the entire bag!!!) and a pair of beige linen pants that I’m very iffy about. I’m not really a fan of pants with elastic waists…so the pants are going up on the swap. I’m jealous of your black maxi, it’s super cute! I want that instead of my linen pants.
Your tote is awesome! I love it all. I did not pick the first two dresses you did, but I do like the red striped skirt one – I am just worried about the top being too tight across the chest, otherwise I would have picked it too.
I got a $149 and 2 $49 totes. I also did an add on of the same Aphrodite Hourglass Lily dress. The surprise tote was somewhat of a miss for me and I think I will pass on future surprise totes (I had a micro mini and a damaged Hourglass lily tunic but I liked the other two items I got). I get mine on Tuesday and got the 3 day shipping. I think I will get the 2 day shipping next time!
If you were to compare the sizing to a store in the mall who would you compare it to? I am very nervous the sizes I ordered.
Emily, I cannot compare it to any store because I stopped shopping at stores since I started getting Golden Tote. I find that it runs true to size. I am 8-10 and I prefer clothing to be looser so I opt for large in GT, but some medium fots as well. It sometimes depends on the brand. If I were to compare it, I would compare it to Anthropologie 🙂 The best part is that there is a community on Facebook called Golden Tote Trading Group. It’s just a bunch of girls trading GT items. They are amazing if I had to summarize them in one word. Whatever does not fit you, you can sell or trade there 🙂 It literally takes a day and all my stuff is gone 🙂
Since they send different brands it really depends as far as sizing goes. I’m a size 4 and receive mostly smalls and they all fit well. I have an X-Small Puella top that they sent me once that fits me perfectly too.
I’m starting to regret buying a tote. That Puella dress – as much as I love Puella – is a total miss for me. And they seem to be sending maxi dress surprises and I’m only 5 foot tall. I’m sad, lol.
I have a note in my style profile requesting as many maxis as possible, so that may have something to do with it 🙂 You should also be able to request no maxis.
That fitted tee dress looks a look cooler than I thought it would, I’m sort of wishing I picked it now! Love that black maxi too.
Love that maxi! I really hope I get the red in the Priddy dress; if I get the blue, we can trade! 🙂
I just love your tote!!! OMG, the tote design is gorgeous this month!! I hope that I get the same one (pretty sure everyone gets the same). I will TOTEally (ha!) take it with me on my upcoming trip to St. Petersburg, Russia, which is a port city and therefore this tote will be perfect to carry my stuff around. I also ordered the Day at Sea striped dress, but in navy. I just might order the red one as well if it is still available next month. I am a little scared, because instead of reg. totes I just ordered the DoS dress, a couple of belts, and a “surprise tote,” but I am hoping that the surprise tote will contain the surprises that the other girls are getting this month… Ha, otherwise I will be forced to order yet another, regular tote this month!! (Did you see some of the Super B dresses circulating the Golden Tote Trading Group? They are to die for!!)