Update 5/23/19: After over six months of ordering and reviewing Le Tote, I’ve learned a thing or two about rental clothing! Check out my tips for getting the right fit, styling your items with your existing wardrobe, or even tackling transitional seasons. I’ve come to really look forward to picking out and receiving my Le Tote each month and have discovered a lot about my personal style by trying new things or sticking to my tried and true faves.
Read my first impressions of Le Tote:
I just started Le Tote last month so I'm still getting my "sea legs" and settling into a groove. The first time around I wasn't sure how the fit would go. Shopping online usually frightens me because I don't know how things will fit and it seems like a lot of guesswork to get it right. Luckily, Le Tote has one of the most advanced sets of sizing guides to help! Please join me as I go through my latest tote and check out my tips at the bottom to make sure you're getting the best fit!
MSA has reviewed over 20 individual boxes from Le Tote! Get a summary of the pros and cons of this rental service plus read all of our reviews here.
What Is Le Tote?
If you don't know much about Le Tote, they are a clothing rental service that allows you to wear and hang on to clothing and accessories as long as you'd like with no commitment to buy them (although you will be charged each month, regardless of if you send your tote back to get a new one or not). If you do happen to fall in love with something though, you can purchase it at a discounted rate (and I'll mention that they also have further "tote sales" at times). They offer regular and maternity subscriptions in several levels from 8-15 pieces at a time. You don't have a stylist, but their system will suggest items based on a series of questions when you first sign up and you'll also have full control to swap out anything you don't like before it ships.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Le Tote
The Subscription Box: Le Tote
The Cost: $79/month for 8 items, $99/month for 10 items, $119/month for 15 items. Subscriptions get cheaper with the omission of accessories.
The Products: Rent 8, 10, or 15 pieces of clothing and accessories for as long as you like with the option to purchase with a discount.
Ships to: Contiguous 48 States in the USA (no Hawaii, Puerto Rico, APO/FPO, or Alaska, unfortunately).
How Le Tote Works
If you're curious as to how the signup process works, I wrote a more in-depth article last month when I received my first delivery and walked through every step of the way. If you're super new to Le Tote, that's a great place to start!
When it arrives, everything will come neatly bundled together.
You'll also receive a pre-paid mailer to return any of the clothing and accessories you don't end up purchasing.
This month I didn't get a pamphlet that detailed all the items I got, but it's always available by signing into my account online! You can even see your past totes.
Let's dive on into my tote this month!
What I Got This Month
The tote I signed up for sends me 10 total pieces (broken down into 7 clothing items and 3 accessories every month). The jewelry comes packed in bubble wrap to keep it safe.
Kate Spade New York Ruffle Bangle - Retail Value $68.00 (Le Tote Price: $54.00)
My first accessory is this suuuuper cute gold ruffle bangle from Kate Spade. I love bangles even though they are admittedly hard to wear when you type at a desk all day. I'm a fan of Kate Spade even though many of her designs are preppier than I normally wear. I think this bracelet does a great job of mixing grown-up + cutesy style which is something I'm drawn to. It's well made and seems brand new even though I can assume others have rented this piece before me. The clasp at the side makes it really easy to get on and off when I need to get my arm through a tight jacket cuff or type a long blog post at my desk. Simple, yet fun!
Clement Vertical Bar Ring - Retail Value $22.00 (Le Tote Price: $18.00)
My next accessory is this ah-mazing ring! I've been really into rings the past few years or so and if I'm going to wear any jewelry on the reg, it will be a ring. I normally go for simple bands but this one reminded me of my more rebellious youth when I had my top and bottom lips pierced, as well as my tongue. Basically, it reminds me of a less extreme way to wear body jewelry. I've been wearing this A LOT since I got my tote and have really been falling for it. The bar piece of it is slightly pointy and can catch on sweaters, but overall I love the look of this too much to care.
Debbie Martin Geometric Grid Scarf - Retail Value $42.00 (Le Tote Price: $10.00)
For the last accessory this month, I decided to go for a lightweight scarf since it's no longer warm out and I enjoy a great scarf! Sadly, as soon as I got this, the weather turned extremely cold so I haven't busted it out as much as I would have liked. This is a perfect transitional piece seasonally, but Pittsburgh Fall lasts the blink of an eye these days so we go from Summer to Winter in what seems like a week or two.
Niia Short Sleeve Top, size medium - Retail Value $58.00 (Le Tote Price: $46.00)
This is just a simple black tee but it fits SO perfectly and was soft and had a little bit of stretch to it. The back had two darts which is probably why this fit so well. I'll need to keep an eye out for that for future shirt purchases! I probably wore this item the most while I had it and it worked well with the floral paper-bag waist pants. I was really tempted to keep this one but I already have so many black tees that I decided to let it go to keep my wardrobe minimal.
Love RACHEL Rachel Roy High Waist Paper Bag Culotte, size large - Retail Value $98.00 (Le Tote Price: $74.00)
I adore these pants! I really surprised myself how much I liked the floral print since I usually go for solids. I've been wanting to try paper bag waist pants for ages and this was the perfect way to do so. Although these larges felt a little big at first, I think it was ultimately the right size since a medium may have been too tight and not as comfortable. The only problem with these pants was I found it a little hard to wear them with a short jacket because the hem would battle with the paper bag waist. Longer coats and tucked in tees was really the only way I felt these worked on me. The fabric is lightweight and the legs are cropped so these are better suited for warmer weather but I made them work on the more Fall-like days we had.
Grey and Black Striped Knit Top, size medium - Retail Value $66 (Le Tote Price $54.00)
Boy- is this sweater ever cozy! I got a lot of wear out of this one, especially with the chambray joggers it's pictured with here. I was really into the boxy fit and found it to be really soft and comfy which is perfect for cooler weather. Black stripes cross the light grey background color of this knit top with the exception of a single blue line near the bottom. There are also short slits on either side which makes this easier to wear for those of us with hips. I prefer wearing this tucked in with the sleeves rolled for optimal comfort.
Hayes Tencel Jogger Pants, size large - Retail Value $78.00 (Le Tote Final Sale Price: $58.00)
I was really excited that these joggers fit me right! Pants can be a big gamble fit-wise but I learned last time to trust Le Tote's sizing. Since I have wider hips and a bubble butt, I went for the large and they worked out well. Breaking away from skinny jeans has been a challenge for me and I've been open to trying other styles of pant lately. These have an elastic waist which is super comfy and also have elastic cuffs at the legs as well. The chambray material is quite thin, so like the floral pants, these are better suited for warmer weather than the 30 degrees we've been hitting. I did manage to still get a handful of wears out of these though. I love the jogger cut while the material made them more socially acceptable in public than sweats. 😉
Scotch & Soda Collared Sweater, size medium - Retail Value $124 (Le Tote Price: $94.00)
A piece that was out of my usual color palette is this bright tomato red sweatshirt. Even more, it has a built-in chambray lace color which is odd for me to be drawn to, but here we are. Something about this really made me want to try it and I'm glad I did! When I wore it to work I get immediate positive comments, probably because it isn't black or grey. I think the collar really dresses up the sweatshirt and the back (though somehow I cannot find the photo we shot) has a zipper about 1/2 down the back which is cool. The word "Blauw" is embroidered on the left breast as well which means "blue" in Dutch. The fit is oversized which means it's cozy and you can tell it's really well-made. Taking a look at the Scotch & Soda brand makes me realize they have some great stuff!
Hayes Chambray Bomber Jacket - size medium - Retail Value $72.00 (Le Tote Price: $46.00)
Much like a few other items I chose in this transitional season, this lightweight jacket was much too thin to wear. I barely got to wear it at all but it'd make a perfect spring jacket. I love bombers and chambray so this would be a win in a warmer climate. There's also a cute little floral print piping inside like a secret treat. The material is smooth and soft and it looks like it was crafted well although it doesn't have a lining. The fit was right with this one as well!
August 1 Eight Bell Sleeve Mini Dress, size large - Retail Value $94.00 (Le Tote Price: $62.00)
Sadly I did not get to enjoy this dress at all because it was way too tight across my hips (story of my life!). It fit great everywhere else except there. The photos look almost like I could pull it off but there's no way I was able to walk or sit in this. It has pockets at the hip which I love and even though I'm not normally a bell-sleeve person I kinda liked these. They have a cool black lining as well which made for a little surprise as you move. Sad I wasn't able to wear this out anywhere because I really liked it.
How to Get the Most Out of Le Tote
- Pay attention to the size charts. Each item has measurements below for each size, so I can check the one for hips since that is a point that will make or break dresses and pants for me. They also have measurements listed for the model pictured.
- Trust in their size suggestions. They're not always right, but they are a great place to start and I've had pretty good luck with them.
- In addition to the size charts, take a peek at the "Fit Ratings" for each item too! I just realized this existed and can't wait to put it to use for my future order!
- Browse the photos & reviews that other Le Tote users have uploaded and written. Their height and the size they're wearing are listed and that may really help you decide between sizes!
- Be conscious of the upcoming weather. Of course, you can't know what it will be like for the next month, but I should have remembered that Pittsburgh goes from warm to suddenly cold in a week and chose warmer items to wear for the time ahead.
- Take advantage of the commitment-free rental model to try some new pieces- you might be surprised and find a new color or silhouette you were too scared to go for in the past. You'll get to wear these items for at least a month before you need to decide to buy or simply return.
My Le Tote Review
Verdict: I really enjoyed my Le Tote items this month, but need to remember how drastically and quickly the temperature changes here in Pittsburgh. I got the most wear from the pants and warmer tops, as well as the ring that was maybe my fave. The jacket and scarf were a bit too lightweight and the dress, unfortunately, didn't fit me properly. All in all, I was really pleased with the large selection I had to choose from and I was stoked that I got to try some new styles that I otherwise wouldn't want to gamble on. Even though I did end up being tempted to keep a few of the items, I'm trying to consciously downsize my permanent wardrobe, so getting a new set of pieces each month without any guilt of adding to my closet is pretty nice.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Le Tote deliveries are based on personal style preferences and will be a totally different experience for each person. Sign up today to see what you could be wearing in a few days!
Value Breakdown: The total retail value of the 10 items inside is $722 with an average of $72.20 per item but I got to rent them all for a month for just $99.00.
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Have you tried Le Tote? What did you think?
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