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ModCloth Stylish Surprise Box Review – August 2016

Haley Faye
ByHaley FayeSep 10, 2016 | 42 comments

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A few times a year, ModCloth launches their “Stylish Surprise” – mystery items at a deep discount (you get to pick the category and size).

ModCloth Stylish Surprise
4 overall rating
27 Ratings | 6 Reviews

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Here were the categories this time:

  • Stylish Surprise – Dresses, $20, available in sizes XS-4X
  • Stylish Surprise – Apparel, $15, available in sizes XS-4X
  • Stylish Surprise – Shoes, $10, available in sizes 5.5-11
  • Stylish Surprise – Apartment, $10 (FYI – this one always sells out first!)

FYI – this is completely sold out, but make sure to sign up for notifications at the end of this post to get an email alert the next time the Stylish Surprise is available!

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

I got one Apparel Surprise, one Dress Surprise, and one Shoes Surprise.

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Mojo Moxy Bow Heels – value: $45?

I’ll be honest – I peeked at this pair of shoes and instantly thought, “bummer – won’t be wearing these!” However, after trying them on and checking them out I think I’ve kind of maybe really fallen for them. I do not already own blue shoes. I own no shoes with bows on them. I haven’t worn a pair of heels since I was pregnant/early 2015.

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I was convinced they weren’t for me. But after wearing them for review photos (below) I’m convinced I need these girls in my life.

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I mean, how adorable are these bows?

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I am grateful these are designed with zippers on the backs. It took some toe-squishing to get my feet into these but once I did and had them on for a few minutes, they weren’t too bad! I definitely couldn’t wear these for hours on end, but a lot of that is me since I haven’t worn heels in a year or two, plus I think my feet got a smidge wider from pregnancy.

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Lumiere Striped Short-Sleeve Top – value: $30?

My apparel item was this cute top from Lumiere. I love the fit! It’s so easy to wear. The material is thin and breezy but just barely not too see-through (though it is somewhat see-through: you can see the waistline of my jeans). If it really bothered me I could wear a cami with this, especially one with a cute trim to peek out underneath.

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I paired it with a slightly chunky, layered necklace. With a nice basic top like this, I wanted to wear a necklace that was much more of a statement but I realized I actually don’t own any! Regardless, I think these pair nicely together. The simplicity of this top lends itself nicely to bolder accessories – I could see it paired with a longer pendant necklace too.

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Pink Owl Floral Dress – value: $55?

This dress! This is the surprise dress I got and I love it! I lucked out again and the fit is perfect, plus the pretty floral print is so cute. It’s a high neckline and high back with this fit-and-flare silhouette.

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I paired this dress with my surprise shoes! The bows and heels of the shoes with the flowy floral dress just felt so feminine and playful! I wasn’t sure if the shoes quite match since the blue of the shoes is just a bit brighter than the blue in the dress (and blue shoes are also just out of my comfort zone in general since I’ve never worn any before!). But I think they work pretty well.

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The dress also has a slight high-low hemline which is just enough to make me feel more comfortable like it isn’t super short in the back, but not enough to really be a statement or draw attention.

The Verdict: This was a super fun ModCloth Stylish Surprise for me! This time, all three items actually work for my taste (even though I had to warm up to the shoes) and fit me well! I’m really happy. I’ve had mixed experiences with the Stylish Surprise – I tried an apparel in 2013 and it was a huge miss in many ways, but I’ve ordered a shoes, a dress, and an apparel surprise for all three of the sales they’ve done in 2016 and have loved all of them (check out our previous Stylish Surprise reviews here).

The value is fantastic, too – I paid about $50 including shipping for this, and I got what I estimate to be about ~$130 in value! Even with some give-or-take with that value, I definitely got more than my money’s worth.

What do you think about ModCloth’s Stylish Surprise? Did you order any this time? What did you get?

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ModCloth Stylish Surprise is a once-a-quarter mystery box. ModCloth offers their apparel, shoes, accessories and sometimes apartment items at a huge discount, but you don't know what you're going to get - you can only pick the size. This isn't a typical subscription, so if you want to make sure ... 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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42 comments

Kathryn

I’m in Australia, so only got my Stylish Surprise package yesterday. Disappointed to get two of the exact same navy blue tunic! I emailed Mod Cloth customer support last night, and this morning they came back saying that they would refund the cost of the second tunic and I could “dispose of it as I wished”. Looks like one of my sisters will be getting the second tunic – better coordinate our clothes when we get together to make sure we don’t match!!!! 🙂
I also ordered one Shoe Stylish Surprise and got an interesting pair of grey shoes that look like lace-up shoes at the front but are open at the back – I’m not sure how I feel about them, but they fit and feel okay, so I might try them out when the weather is a little warmer here.

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Orlee

Those shoes really are spectacular! Love love love!

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Pilar

Have anyone got any of the apartment surprise before?

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jmd

You look really cute! For the first time ever, I loved every item I got in my box! I ordered one dress and 2 apparel. I cannot find any of the items anywhere on the website (or even anywhere on the web). I got a tank with elephants on it, a wonderful gray athletic zip up jacket (the sleeves even have thumbholes), and a beautiful blue and white stripe maxi dress.

I am envious of the poster who got the diagonal alley coat – I have been looking at that one on and off for a while but never clicked the buy button.

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AquarianFire

I got a sweater that’s so thick that only people who live in Iceland would wear it – AND I’m in Phoenix. My boyfriend laughed so hard at it and said “Did they not see that you live in Phoenix, AZ?!”. And the I thought… maybe they did and played a joke on me. Sigh.

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Britt?

Hi, Neighbor! I’m in Phoenix, too! I’m always wondering if anyone else on here is from AZ. xo?
ps. You could wear it those 2 weeks in Dec/Jan when it gets cold.. late at night.. some years… well, that one year.. LOLOLOL!?

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Jessica

Is there a trade/swap forum for this box? I dont like the dress I got, its just not my style.

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Ks

There’s a Modcloth BST on FB. I bought a few times on there without an issue.

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Kristen

I don’t know if I’ll be doing this again. My stylish surprise dress was one of their wedding dresses. That’s not something I can’t really ever wear anywhere!

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MyMilkShake

It’s pretty amazing that every order you get suits you… pretty interesting. I don’t even want to list what I got. LOL Congrats on yet another great mystery box.

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MyMilkShake

put it to you this way… my stuff isn’t even searchable on the site. so it’s fantastic that you seem to get items that are just up your alley.

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Brandi

So glad you love yours. I get the worst SS when I order. The first time it was a Dr. Who sweatshirt and a purple formfitting dress. This time around it was a white dress and white button up tank and denim and leather (?) sandals. I don’t wear sandals nor do I wear white. 🙁

Hope it’s better the third time around.

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Stacie

Doctor Who?? I’m actually jealous of that!

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Tracy Shapley

I ordered two apparel and got two plain gray t-shirts. So disappointed.

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jmd

Sometimes if you email them about getting two of the same thing, they can do something for you. It’s worth a try!

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Deborah

I never am able to get in on this deal. Is there an email alert I can sign up for. I really like that you can get such cute things for very little money. Help please

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magoosmom

I’ve tried looking at the ModCloth site and can’t find the way to sign up (searching on the site brought zero results and searching on google took me to old pages but I didn’t see a way to sign up for alerts). I tried signing up for MSA alerts but I’m not getting the confirmation code in my email. I checked all filters and it still didn’t show.

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Carolann

If you head over to the Modcloth site and search for Stylish Surprise, you can signup for email alerts there. I was signed up for their alerts and also had Modcloth alerts here on My Subscription Addiction but received an alert from Modcloth a few minutes before MSA.

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Ks

Your SS items look like they were made just for you! I totally get not having a love-at-first-sight moment. The shoes I got are not my style but after trying them on, I’m in love. A gal needs a cute pair of statement heels.

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Carolann

This was my first time with Stylish Surprise. I ordered 3 shoes and 2 apparel. I got a cute pair of black pointed flats but they are really tight and uncomfortable. My second shoe was black stiletto booties (they are a bit uncomfortable too, like low quality shoes with little lining). My last pair of shoes were super cute, nude sandal wedges. For my apparel, I am pretty bummed as I got 2 t-shirts.

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Marion

Everything in my size was sold out except for the apparel by the time I got there, so I ordered 2 from that category. I got a baby blue mid-length tulle skirt that’s definitely not something I wouldn’t have bought at full price, if at all, but I like it & I can make it work with my style. The other item I got was ::drumroll:: a white t-shirt (that is on clearance for only $10). It’s a tunic tee that is way too big on me.

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Deborah Gilliam

How do you know when they go on sale? I would love to ee on their mailing list.

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Vanessa

I love your reviews Haley. And you are really rockin that outfit!

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Anna

Haley you look gorgeous that’s such a pretty dress and the shoes are perfect! Love that necklace too ?

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Jennifer V

You look great in everything! So cute!

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Katy

The shoes are adorable and look cute paired with the dress. I haven’t worn heels since my pregnancy either, which was over 5 years ago. Lol. I did try once but it just didn’t work out.

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Danielle Marie

You lucked out! I loved almost everything I got BUT I went by their size chart and every single item is at least 1-2 sizes too big!!! One of them is even marked as an XL on the companies site instead of a L. Customer service was horrible. I will never ever ever be purchasing from ModCloth again. 🙁

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meg.lynn.87

You look so cute, and those shoes are absolutely adorable. I also bought one of the dresses, apparel and shoes this time around. I received a dark green, form fitting heavy knit dress which I’ve been debating on (it makes me really look really large chested) and a red, tan, black and white color blocked trench coat. The one thing I love are the shoes I received. They are a pair of blush colored laser cut flats. So even if I don’t keep the first two pieces, the shoes are still worth the purchase.

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Nicole

Hey, I got that trench coat, too! I’m on the fence about it. I wanted to like it a lot more than I actually do…it just sort of fits me strangely. http://www.modcloth.com/shop/coats/colorblock-your-world-trench#reviews_header

The other apparel item I received was the Diagonal Alley coat in black, which is fabulous and without a doubt the best item I’ve ever received as a Stylish Surprise. I feel like I hit the SS jackpot with this one, since previous surprises were really hit or miss (helloooooo taupe poncho from the last round). Probably should stop buying them while I’m ahead! http://www.modcloth.com/shop/coats/diagonal-alley-coat-in-black

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Britt?

Wow! Super cute!!! That black coat is a total WIN! You for sure, hit the jackpot. I love how you added the links to each item. I always wish I could see the items people are talking about in the comments. Probably because I’m extra nosey!?? lol! xo?

Traci

Depending on the sizes of those colorblock coats, I may be interested in taking one of of your hands if you don’t like them 🙂

Teresa

What sort of things are the household items?

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Nicole

I managed to get two apartment surprises a few years ago, and when I received them, they were the exact same white unglazed vase. At first I was miffed that I received two of the same seemingly-nonfunctional thing, but they actually look great on either side of my mantel with some dried or paper flowers in them.

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Jerilynn

I love those shoes! For $10 dollars what a cute surprise. I also like both the top and the dress. You look great in everything you model.

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Quinn

I love the stylish surprises! I’ve never been fast enough to get an apartment surprise, so I just order dresses and shoes.

I do have to say I’m disappointed in what I got this round, but it isn’t going to stop me from trying it again next time! I ordered 4 dresses and 2 pairs of shoes, only to get an email on shipping day that they oversold dresses in my size, so they didn’t charge me but “don’t worry, we didn’t charge you for them” (I would hope not, since you aren’t sending me any dresses…). So, okay, two pairs of shoes for $20.

I got a pair of boots and a pair of heels. Side note, I always order shoes up (a 9, I typically buy an 8-8.5 in stores). I got a pair of peep toe cork heels that were too tight, and an identical pair of boots to the last time I ordered a stylish surprise! The boots I loved the first time, and really I just thought it was funny to have that coincidence, but it’s a little annoying to have none of my order work out!

Like I said, it won’t keep me from trying next go-round, especially seeing such cute orders other people got!

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Kayla

Definitely keep those shoes – they look so cute on you!

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