Recommendations for personal shoppers

[Guest]

I have to get a load of work clothes and I'm exhausted just thinking about it. I've used the personal shopper service at House of Fraser in Oxford Street in the past, which took a lot of hassle out of the process, but it was a bit hit and miss depending on who you got. One woman was great, but I'd rather not repeat the experience of feeling trapped in a changing room while a bored, unfriendly guy foisted unattractive shapes onto me because he wasn't interested in what I wanted.

Before I hurl myself back into the fray, I wondered if anyone out there happens to know a good personal shopper? Ideally someone who's calm and supportive, friendly to those of us who are 40+ but still want to look nice, in a department store that covers tailored clothes plus shoes, and free of charge or deductible against what you buy there.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[Undisputedtruth]

Ms B

Buying clothes is pretty much straightforward once you understand how your body shape relates to cuts and how your skin tones relates to colour. I'll probably could offer an expert shopper service for men given my knowledge of fashion but I often wondered if I could do a similar service for women. However, speaking to one senior stylist last year, the principles behind clothing selection are very much the same.

Personally, I'll give the departmental shopping assistants a miss as they are nothing more than glorified sales assistants on commission.

[snowboarder]

There's someone who posts in the family room - queen bee styling? On this thread - http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,937848

[Ukjoncollins]

My friend Ruth Keel does this. She goes under the name Super Styling: http://www.superstyling.me.uk/. She's very easy going, friendly and definitely worth speaking to. 07967360520 / [email protected]

[Guest]

Thanks for the suggestions. Not sure about the stylist recommendations though; my own fault as I didn't make it clear that I'm not looking for styling advice - I've done all that in the past and know what works for me so I just want someone who knows all the current collections and can put their hands on what I want. I'd also prefer to avoid an independent shopper as they will certainly charge and probably spin the process out into something more than I have time for. I guess I'll try HoF again.

[Huguenot]

I didn't know this kind of person existed for free, I'm intrigued.

In a shop isn't that the job of the sales assistant?

If it's a dedicated sales assistant just for you, I wonder how they justify the cost, or how they justify giving some shoppers precedence over others?

Is there a minimum spend?

[Guest]

I've only tried HoF. I imagine the idea's to encourage you to spend more with them, but there was no minimum spend, no time limit, they didn't push the expensive stuff (they included things that were in the sale) and any alterations were FoC.

I took my (gay) sister there when she had to buy a wedding outfit. She finds clothes shopping seriously traumatic and she loved being in a large, private fitting room with a nice cup of tea while they ran around. As far as I remember the personal shoppers were buyers rather than shop assistants, so much more clued up and quick at seeing what works (with the exception of the guy I mentioned). You give them some details in advance and they have a rail of clothes already waiting when you arrive.

I think some stores charge but it's usually deductible against what you buy. John Lewis does an express version where you get an experienced sales assistant for 30 minutes; good if you know exactly what you want as they do all the legwork.

[palore]

Debenhams in Bromley provide a wonderful service. I have used them several times for different occasions and have always been pleased. After you have discussed likes / dislikes etc you can sit and drink coffee whilst they bring you clothes to try on until you are happy. They also help with underwear and accessories. Jeanne I particularly like but anyone I have used has been good.

[longyagh]

Thanks for the suggestions. Not sure about the stylist recommendations thoughhttp://www.forexchartingsoftware.info/iPhone.gif

[Gidget]

Harvey Nicks and Selfridges have them.

[Undisputedtruth]

@Ms B

In my experience most shop staff (99%) are pretty clueless about what they sell in any case. I've also been asked to leave a couple of shops just because I showed too much knowledge. Talking about low self-esteem issues, hey ho. However, there are a few knowledgeable individuals who know their stuff and it's a pleasure having a conversation and exchanging information with them. In some cases, conversations stretched well past shop closing time. And I usually get a 15 to 20% discount some of these shops. A substantial amount as I usually spend anywhere between ?100 to ?280 on jeans. It goes to show that I click with people in the know but not with the don't know betters.

Last year, I was asked to model by a stylist teaching one of her students. So I got a low down in the work of a stylist. Amazingly all the colours that were suggested for me, with the exception of pink, were already in my wardrobe. I already knew the link between cuts and body shape, texture weights, etc.

Not sure why people are so obsessed with the latest collections. Basically, there is nothing new in fashion and latest collections are just a marketing tool to sell more clothes. I bought an unknown brand of jeans for ?280. I didn't need label hype or anything like that. The jeans were very high quality. Six months later, fashion late comers David Beckham & Brad Pitt also bought the same pair which have now pushed up the prices to ?450. Deep down, I suspect these celebrities really want to dress like me! Still, my jeans collection is better than David Beckham's though I do admire Brad Pitt's taste in jeans.

[Otta]

UDT I'm genuinely not trying to take the p!ss, but why would you want to spend ?280 on a pair of bloody jeans?

If that is your thing then fair enough, but if I had ?280 spare to spend on myself, I'd be buying something to enjoy, not a pair of jeans.

[red devil]

I've just realised who UDT is, he's that bloke off the telly - Gok Wan.

Or, as all the fashionistas in Nunhead like to call him - Go Wank...

[Undisputedtruth]

Pure enjoyment Otta. If you look good, you feel good.

Well worth the money as it's one of the best jeans of that type in the world. You won't find anything like it cheaper in this country or anywhere in the western world. I tend to go for clothes that punches above their weight. In fact, I'm rather proud of my denim collection including my favourite ?75 one.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

I recommend ?10 bootcut long leg in Sainsbury's. Best shape and fabric I've had in a long time.

What shall I spend my ?270 on?

[Otta]

Fair enough.

I'd have bought something guitar related, but different folks and all that.

[Moos]

Ms B, understand that you have already said you're not keen on an independent shopper, but please forgive me if I put in a word for my friend Sam Harding who is a stylist, as I wonder whether she could help you save time and hassle.

I have hardly any free time, and she helped me find an outfit for a wedding by taking a detailed brief in an ED pub, checking out some dresses and sending me photos of the things she liked to ensure she was on the right lines, and then had appointments booked for me at 3 or 4 department stores which meant that I got the whole outfit sorted out in an afternoon. Not expensive but not free, so understand if not what you're after. She is my friend (so I guess I would say this!) but she is very unpushy and listened very well to what I wanted and got it for me, rather than pushing for her commission which is what I've felt in the past with departmental shoppers.

[Applespider]

John Lewis do a fashion advisory service that will cover e erything from lingerie to outerwear if you want. They will do occasion dressing, wardrobe refreshes etc. It used to be free but I think became a victim of its own success so it's now deductible from purchase. They don't work off commission though so you can generally give them your budget and they will work with it.

[Undisputedtruth]

@Moos, @Ms B

Fully agree. I would also add that spending money on a stylist can actually save you money in the long term by ensuring that you buy suitable clothing. Most people only wear 20% of what's in their wardrobe. Leaving the other 80% as money down the drain.

@Applesider

The staff from the men's department at John Lewis Oxford St usually gives me dirty looks on my way to the food hall. It all started after I said their clothing line up was complete and utter rubbish.

@Peckhamgatecrasher

Whilst I accept Sainsbury jeans are more than a match for M&S one, mine is expensive because of the amount of man hours involved in the finish, type of cotton (organic and stronger fibres), detailing and import charges. There are also lots of ?100+ jeans that are simply not worth the money so I avoid them.

[Annette Curtain]

By far, the best best post ever (well, in my goldfish like memory)

It made me laugh, squirm & hoot with joy, whilst my jaw dropped

If I ever won the lottery i'd employ UDT as my P.A

He'd be fabulous

Nette

Undisputedtruth Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> @Ms B

>

> In my experience most shop staff (99%) are pretty

> clueless about what they sell in any case. I've

> also been asked to leave a couple of shops just

> because I showed too much knowledge. Talking about

> low self-esteem issues, hey ho. However, there are

> a few knowledgeable individuals who know their

> stuff and it's a pleasure having a conversation

> and exchanging information with them. In some

> cases, conversations stretched well past shop

> closing time. And I usually get a 15 to 20%

> discount some of these shops. A substantial amount

> as I usually spend anywhere between ?100 to ?280

> on jeans. It goes to show that I click with people

> in the know but not with the don't know betters.

>

> Last year, I was asked to model by a stylist

> teaching one of her students. So I got a low down

> in the work of a stylist. Amazingly all the

> colours that were suggested for me, with the

> exception of pink, were already in my wardrobe. I

> already knew the link between cuts and body shape,

> texture weights, etc.

>

> Not sure why people are so obsessed with the

> latest collections. Basically, there is nothing

> new in fashion and latest collections are just a

> marketing tool to sell more clothes. I bought an

> unknown brand of jeans for ?280. I didn't need

> label hype or anything like that. The jeans were

> very high quality. Six months later, fashion late

> comers David Beckham & Brad Pitt also bought the

> same pair which have now pushed up the prices to

> ?450. Deep down, I suspect these celebrities

> really want to dress like me! Still, my jeans

> collection is better than David Beckham's though I

> do admire Brad Pitt's taste in jeans.

[Huguenot]

I like this one...

"The staff from the men's department at John Lewis Oxford St usually gives me dirty looks on my way to the food hall. It all started after I said their clothing line up was complete and utter rubbish. "

It all started???

What, it's still going?

There's 10,000 people a day using this store, you'd have to do something mighty dramatic to be remembered by a sales asistant after an hour, let along a day.

Either the conviction that sales people are still persecuting him is wrong - in which case he's a delusional paranoid.

Or they're right, in which case he must be stalking them.

[Undisputedtruth]

Huguenot Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> There's 10,000 people a day using this store,

> you'd have to do something mighty dramatic to be

> remembered by a sales asistant after an hour, let

> along a day.

I always get good service from the John Lewis store especially when I'm in the food hall downstairs. Staff still remembered me even after I stopped shopping there for a year.

I sometimes get free coffees in cafes and discounts in clothes shops as staff/managers knows my face.

eta: just yesterday I received a free spanner in the post after I complained to the manufacturer that they changed the spanner's finish from satin chrome to polished chrome. Must be my charm.

[red devil]

Spanner + denim = KiwkFit fitter...you can't get better

[El Pibe]

I worked in a hi-fi store many years ago, we had a couple of very knowledgeable customers who'd hang around until after we closed. Believe you me I still remember their faces, and have to suppress my atavistic flight response even picturing them 20 years later.

 

[Undisputedtruth]

EP, is that you in that picture? Need some serious help with your dress sense. This is what happens when you wear too much M&S clothes, you end up looking like a trainspotter.

eta: Get real EP, Comet isn't a proper hi-fi shop!