First, let me apologize for this motley bunch of pictures! I tried to squeeze in an indoor shoot late one afternoon and (insert string of excuses for bad pictures here). So. Sorry. And let me say, this post is Not Sponsored.

On a more positive note, how fun is this alphabet letter blouse! I’ve had this in my Gwynnie Bee closet for a couple months and I was excited to finally get it! I think the all-over graphic print is adorable and I love the use of clashing red and pink letters. So I paired it with my red cardigan from Torrid, which you saw recently here.

However, I actually liked it better when I wore it a second time with my black cardigan. I think the letters popped more with that outfit and aren’t they really the star of the show??

I’ve been trying to include more prints in my wardrobe…florals, stripes, polka dots, plaids. However, I would consider this more of a trend print. Which was perfect to rent from Gwynnie Bee vs. buying, as I bet next year people will be going “letter print who??” And it would just wind up in the back of my closet, unworn. Can you say “chevron stripes”??

I know I’ve talked about Gwynnie Bee for years but I recently had a question about the service and I realized new readers may not know what it’s about or how it differs from all the other subscription box services.

Gwynnie Bee is a clothing RENTAL service, like Rent the Runway (or Netflix for cd’s), not just a subscription company like Stitch Fix or Trunk Club. It started out specifically for plus sizes, but due to its extreme popularity it recently expanded to straight sizes as well and now carry sizes 0-32.

They have thousands of available items on their site and add new items three days a week. They carry well-known and high-end brands so you can wear things you could possibly never afford to buy! You select from the available items and add them to your virtual “closet.” You can put as many items in your closet as you want. I typically have 20-25 but I’m on the low end. I know people who have hundreds of items in their closet!

Their size charts are really good – each brand has its own – and in addition to showing you the items on professional models, they also show them on real life “fit models” – women with bodies that may resemble yours more than a professional model’s does. It gives their measurements, so you can see how they compare to yours when considering an item. There are also subscribers’ reviews (and photos, should they opt to share) where you might read things like “I thought the fabric would be stretchier,” or “colors more vivid in person,” or “it fit my hips really well,” which can help you in deciding what items to closet.

Anyway, when it’s time to send you a new item, Gwynnie Bee looks at your virtual closet and selects something from there to send you. There’s no “stylist” involved, guessing what you’ll like. YOU choose everything you get sent. It arrives in 2-3 days and it’s yours to wear for as long as you like. It’s not just to try on and return if you don’t want it. You can wear it once or once a week, for as long as you like. When you return the item (in the prepaid shipping envelope), then they send you something else.

There are different subscription plans for getting 1-10 items out at a time. And you don’t have to wash the items before returning – Gwynnie Bee takes care of all of that for you!

Oh, and if you fall in love with an item you get, you don’t have to send it back! You always have the option to purchase your “at home” items, at a reduced cost, which varies depending how long you’ve had the item. They also have a Gwynnie Bee store which carries items that have been discontinued from the rental side of the service, but which are now for sale for a greatly reduced price. Realize, though, that these are pre-worn items.

I’ve been a subscriber of the service for four years…and just recently they sent me an “anniversary” email with some stats of my subscription time: In four years I’ve rented 265 items (whoa) and purchased 17. And most of these items have ended up being among my favorite items – because – I use Gwynnie Bee for my “cherry on top” items. I mostly fill my wardrobe with basics and neutrals so I have a good foundation. Then GB is perfect for those more colorful, outside the box, fun, trendy items that spice everything else up!

Some memorable Gwynnie Bee items from my past were:

The Penguin Dress

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The Velvet Johnny Was Kimono

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The City Dress

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The Birthday Cake Top

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And many more (261, to be exact)!

Just so you know, you can do a one-month trial for free…and if you use my link HERE to subscribe I’ll get a commission at no extra cost to you!

Have you ever tried any of the subscription boxes? How did you like it?

This post contains affiliate links, which means that I may receive a small commission if you click on them and/or buy something as a result of clicking that link.