October 2, 2024 New Research from Stitch Fix Reveals What Shoppers Struggle With Most Posted by Debbie Woloshin, Chief Marketing Officer, Stitch Fix

We've all been there. We have an important work meeting, an exciting family event or a highly anticipated trip. We head to the mall to find something new to wear only to discover that…nothing fits.

At Stitch Fix, we solve this problem everyday. We passionately deliver on our mission - to help people discover the styles they will love that fit perfectly so they always look and feel their best.

As we head into "spooky season," one thing no one should be scared of - this month or ever - is getting dressed. Yet for many, that fear is all too real.

We recently surveyed nearly 1,500 consumers to uncover the most common challenges people experience when trying to find clothing that looks and feels great, and discovered that:

• 88% - yes 88% - of consumers experience stressful or self conscious feelings when trying on clothes or searching for items that fit well.
• Seasonal changes amplify that struggle. 1 in 5 shoppers experience heightened fit frustration when shopping for a new season.
• Life and body changes contribute significantly to fit frustrations. 45% of consumers report added stress when navigating a significant size change. Shoppers in the Midwest are more likely than those in the Northeast to say they experience fit frustrations related to size transformations.
• Issues with fit can lead to missed opportunities. Nearly half (49%) of those surveyed canceled plans because they couldn't find something that fit properly or an outfit they felt good in, with those in the South most likely to cancel plans.
• Alongside fit fears, people simply do not have time for traditional shopping. 91% have felt overwhelmed shopping in stores and 66% have bought the same item in different sizes to avoid check out or fitting room lines (with shoppers in the Northeast being more likely than any other U.S. region to do so). And, 76% have kept an item that doesn't fit because they didn't want to deal with the return process.

To further tackle these fit fears, we've teamed up with Body Acceptance advocate Katie Sturino. With her confidence boosting tips, we're helping people make getting dressed even easier. You can check out her advice here.

At Stitch Fix, it's a privilege to be our clients' trusted style partner. With 92% of clients saying we get their fit right, we're continually evolving to meet their style needs. By offering personalized solutions and addressing fit challenges head-on, we make getting dressed the easiest part of their day.

Methodology
All insights shared in this post are from Stitch Fix data, including a survey fielded to our U.S. adult clients and general consumers in August 2024. Total responses: 1,488