If you aren’t familiar with Golden Tote, here’s a really quick intro: Every month, a new "collection" of seasonally appropriate, trend-conscious clothing is added to their collection. Depending on the subscription level you choose, you can pick out 1-2 pieces from those options, and Golden Tote will surprise you with the rest. The surprise items are completely different from the collections you pick from. Golden Tote also offers a Surprise Tote, where you choose your preferred size but leave all the picking up to the stylists at Golden Tote.
After ONLY offering mystery totes in January, Golden Tote is back to offering all of its tote options! Hooray!
This is a review of the 5-item Golden Tote, which is $149.00.
And for those of you asking, yes, everything does arrive in a literal tote!
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Golden Tote Clothing Subscription Box
The Subscription Box: Golden Tote 5-Item Tote
The Cost: Typically, Golden Tote offers a $149.00 Golden Tote (5 clothing items), or $59.00 Mini Tote (2 clothing items). Both allow you to pick at least one of your items. There's also a Surprise Tote (3 clothing items all picked by Golden Tote) for $89.00. I'll be reviewing the 5-item tote today!
The Products: The 5-item Golden Tote includes 2 clothing items that YOU choose from their catalog, plus 3 items that Golden Tote's stylists choose for you based on your preferences. The 3 additional items don't typically come from the catalog, so they're complete surprises. Golden Tote releases a new "collection" of items to add to its catalog. The items are a mix of trendy and timeless looks, including dresses, casual tops, blouses, bottoms, denim, and third pieces like cardigans and jackets.
Ships to: The US for $5.95 or free on orders $149.00 and over. International for $30.00.
Delivered via: UPS or USPS
Golden Tote February 2018 Review
I've had some really awesome experiences with Golden Tote so far. The January Mystery Tote wasn't my favorite, but I've been so excited for this month to roll around when regular totes would be back in action. Friends, I was not disappointed. The new options for the February tote were right up my alley—think H&M-ish pieces that are both trend-conscious and easy to mix and match for work or the weekend. Better yet, there were new jean styles! If you've read my previous Golden Tote reviews, you'll know that I've had a lot of success with their denim options. They're cute, they fit my body shape, and they've been washing and wearing really nicely. In short, it wasn't hard making my two picks for the tote.
Everything else in the order is up to Golden Tote. I like that this box is a little bit planned and a little bit of a surprise, too!
Fits the Bill Sweater Dress, Size Large - Retail Value $40.00
Here's pick number one! This 100% cotton dress feels like a comfy, breathable sweater that's not too tight, not too thick, and not scratchy in the least. While the silhouette isn't crisp (no matter how I tried, I couldn't get all of the fabric to lay perfectly flat), I love this dress for being totally different from other pieces I have in my closet. Okay, I have a bunch of black dresses, but nothing like this ruffle-accented look. And I can't tell you how easy it is to wear. Most things I own that are this cuddly are couch/laundry-day clothes. This piece, on the other hand, I can get away with in the office or at a special event! I might try looping a slender metallic belt around the middle to help define the shape a bit more. Overall, though, I'm really thrilled with this pick!
Front Seam Skinnies, Size 9/29 - Retail Value $50.00
And now for the jeans! I noticed that all of the jeans I've been getting and loving are by a brand called JBD (for Just Black Denim) if you're interested. I typically wear a size 10-ish on the bottom, and my bigger hips and thighs demand a higher waist and a decent bit of stretch. These jeans check all the boxes for me. The waist sits right where I want it, and the hips/butt area is so roomy (without being slouchy). I think the seams running down the middle of each leg are pretty flattering. I was worried they'd end up looking warped on my curvier body, but they're pretty cute, actually. I'm only 5' 3", so the raw-cut hems aren't super noticeable. I'm not all about the raw hems, but I'm not turned off by them either. I liked these (73% cotton, 14% rayon, 11% polyester, 2% spandex) jeans soooo much. I tried them on and didn't want to take 'em off!
Ellison Fruit Top - Listed Value $40.00
Onto what they picked for me! I've gotta say, I wasn't a huge fan of the fruit print on this top at first, but weirdly enough, it's... growing on me...! I love the cut—it's kind of boxy, so it floats away from my body in a way that's casual and cool. The cuffed short sleeves and cut sides feel fresh. It's outside my typical box, sure, but I can't deny how fun it is!
Moci Ruffle Sleeve Dress, Size Large - Listed Value $40.00
I really like the concept of this dress. It's really a perfect pick for me and my preferences. But I'm not sold on the fit. The dress is 100% polyester, so it's super stretchy and just a little on the thin side. I tend to like a little more structure. Still, I do like the ease of this look—it's so simple to throw on and dress up with jewelry/a belt. And those sleeves are so groovy, aren't they? It's also giving off low-key judicial vibes, which make me feel very powerful.
Fun 2 Fun Ruffle Sleeve Blouse, Size Medium - Listed Value $40.00
Is this the right bra for this top? Eh... no. But ignore that! How nice is this semi-sheer top? I love the petal pink color (blush is the one color that's snuck into my mostly neutral wardrobe), and the way it drapes over my torso is super flattering. And those ruffles!!! I've been dabbling in ruffles over the past few months, but mostly as accents on sweaters and sweatshirts. Sporty ruffles, if you will. This top is a bit more romantic than I usually go, but I really love it! It's just so flowy and delicate. I feel like Anna the fashion princess! It's 100% polyester and obviously super sheer, but I can't wait to wear this over a cream-colored cami to welcome spring!
The Verdict: Well done, Golden Tote! This month's crop of dresses and separates were 1.) very much my style and 2.) felt comfortable and effortless to wear. Some of the pieces could've been a smidge more flattering, but I'm happy to work with that (adding a belt here or some shapewear there...). I loved a bunch of things from this box, but I think my favorite piece was the pink top. If I'd seen it in a store, I probably would have been like, "Oh, I don't know if that's me." But it fits so nicely and feels right, surprisingly enough. $150.00 is a lot to put down on a box, especially when you're not sure of exactly what you're getting. That's, what... $30.00 per piece? I feel like that's pretty fair, being that I could see myself paying twice that for a similar pair of jeans at the mall. But I also know that I feel like the price is reasonable because I was so happy with the items I received. In other words, I feel like the curation and the items themselves gave me my money's worth this time.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Sign up now to start shopping regular totes! There's no telling what pieces Golden Tote will pick for you, but as of writing this review, the two items I picked from their catalog are still available!
Value Breakdown: This box cost $149.00 (which hits the threshold for free shipping). According to the invoice, the items had a total value of $210.00. That means that, via the box, each item cost approximately:
- Sweater dress: $28.38
- Jeans: $35.48
- Fruit top: $28.38
- Ruffle dress: $28.38
- Ruffle top: $28.38
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