John Lewis personal shopper

[TreehouseTales]

Has anyone done this?

I've got rather large do you think they'd manage that? What about the one you pay for with the colours and the style (125 but you get it back if you spend over 500). I rarely spend much on clothes but if they fitted and looked okay Im so short of clothes (got big :( ) that it could be okay. I guess the sting in the tail is spending 125 still even if you dont find clothes you like!

[Secondtimesally]

I highly recommend them. I don't enjoy shopping and have little time to do it in so suits me perfectly. The stylists are lovely ladies so they make it really enjoyable. Go for the older ladies if you can - they seem to have the best eye for it.
You don't have to pay at all - they just offer an optional Colour Me Beautiful type of colour analysis (worth doing though i did it elsewhere).
I buy 90% of my clothes in 2-3 sessions a year.

[Secondtimesally]

And don't worry if you don't like what they pick out. There is very little if any sales pressure, and anyway you can always return stuff if you change your mind. As it's JL it's no problem to get a refund.

[thethoughtfox]

House of Fraser do it for free!!! My husband booked it for me when we had a wedding 3 months after I gave birth. I felt so special and they actually found several options for my comedy sized bosom and mum tum.

[liquidrevolution]

I went to one for help trying to find an outfit for 6mo dds christening. At 13 stone i was the heaviest i had been anf struggling with what suited. Options ended up between 2. A dress like a black bin bag and black jeans with a top like a short black bin bag .

Ended up in house of Fraser with a helpful sales assistant and a lovely Jersey wrap dress that was 70% off.

[mrsmortis]

I've been several times. Once it was awful (I was 29 and going to a very formal wedding, she kept trying to get me to a) dress like I was 17 and b) wear trouser even when I had explictly told her that that was not going to be acceptable to the bride and her mother....) and the other 2 were great. Really helpful and I ended up with beautiful things that I would never have considered even trying on if they hadn't been there to suggest things. I've never paid for the service though.

[whatsagoodusername]

I've use House of Fraser as well - they were great, free, and the only thing she tried pushing on me was a £10 scarf that she thought would look great with a top she had found for me (and was totally right, except I knew I'd never wear it).

[80sWaistcoat]

I had a really good John Lewis one about 15 years ago, went with sister when she had one to dress her to meet the queen - she'd recently lost weight and was v selfconscious and they found her some lovely stuff.

Had a not brilliant one with a friend 5 years ago where I took everything back bar a scarf. I think I'd gone in to that one not really knowing what I was looking for and ended up with some work dresses that made me feel really frumpy and old.

I've booked in again for a couple of weeks time - I need some work clothes and have an idea of what I want and I think that should be better.

[TreehouseTales]

Ah yeah John Lewis do do free personal shopping (which is what I wallowing for) but wondered if anyone had done their £125 thing - colours "done" and style and shape. Are they properly trained or is it like a day training course thing?!

I've really no idea how to dress a rather large figure :(

[TreehouseTales]

I'll definitely do at least the free one then. I think only some collections go up to my size..... I want casual clothes. Don't want anything designer or really expensive. Would honestly love in fatface/weird Fish/white stuff if I hadn't got too big.

If you book online you get option. Of choosing names but I do t know age. Ideally inlet them know I'm huge and ask if anyone is particularly good with plus size..

[user1471441955]

What happens if you spend £500 and end up returning some items? Do they are for £125 back?

[AgathaMystery]

No they don't demand it back. I've had both done and it was fab

[TreehouseTales]

That could be the way forwards if they dont catch me out!

It says £125 or free with £500 purchases. Do you think I could buy kids stuff to bring it up to 500. I honestly don't know if I need 500 worth of stuff....(although I hardly have any clothes that fit) mayve if I add bras... Or do I have to spend 500 on her service..

[BakingBunty]

I did the freebie service six months ago before starting a new job. I have to admit, my heart sank when I saw the frumpy, sixty year old woman I'd been allocated - but she was brilliant. Of course there were some misses, but she pushed me out of my comfort zone and I ended up with some great clothes that I wear all the time. Go for it!

[TreehouseTales]

Or actually if I added a few bras - do the personal shoppers bra fit (and is it mn friendly tm?!)

[AgathaMystery]

They do fit bras.

[TreehouseTales]

Thanks. A couple of bras qould nudge it closer to 500 wouldn't it. Assuming there's 500 worth of plus size clothing I like...!

Thanks

[user1468247110]

I really recommend giving the branch you choose a ring first (phone number usually in the confirmation email, if you book online), to make sure they will be able to offer you the sizes you need.

I had two big job interviews in London and Brussels back in the summer, both at quite short notice, so I booked a personal shopper at John Lewis to find interview gear that would fit. Explained exactly what I was looking for, and that I was a size 22. Arrived on the day (having taken a day off work and travelled in to the Reading store) to racks of clothes, nary a one over size 16!!!

Apparently JL personal shoppers can only work with what they have in store (i.e. up to 16/18), and can't order in clothes for an appointment. I was furious to have so much time wasted without even a courtesy email to let me know they couldn't help. Still fuming!

[TreehouseTales]

Oh :( that may be the end of that then. Id stupidly assumed having seen bigger sizes online they'd carry them but of.course loads of stores don't stock them. I'm probably a 20 on top and 22 on bottoms :(

[TreehouseTales]

Maybe when I've lost weight. The whole plan was to try and find some ckothes that look okay while I'm big :(

[NapQueen]

Oh this is an interesting thread. I've never thought to use a personal shopper before and am totally unhappy with my figure after two kids.

Good to know that they are free and a good service!

[user1468247110]

That was the mistake I made too. In the end, after stomping home, I decided to order a few things online from JL and a couple of other places and try everything on at home. I did manage to put together a set of interview clothes in a hurry that way. Only works if you have space on a credit card to wait for all the refunds though! Mango's Violeta range is pretty good for casual wear, if you ignore the models in weird poses.

[AprilLady]

OP, having spent many years in size 22+ clothes, my experience is that the big department stores are pretty poor at stocking bigger sizes. Debenhams is probably the best, House of Fraser the worst, and John Lewis depends a bit on where you shop. All do personal shopping, so I'd phone whichever branches of the three you can get to, and then see which has the greatest variety of plus size ranges. I have a vague suspicion that John Lewis Oxford Street has some plus size collections, so if you're near London that might be an option.

[TreehouseTales]

Thankyou. No nowhere near London. I did try Debenham lady a fee years ago and she kept putting me in polyester animal print which is so not me :( and it all seemed to come from the Debenham collection or something when I knew I liked mantray!

Looks like even a drive to the Big Town to John Lewis won't help then. I can order on credit card and return but what I wanted was someone to tell me how to dress big. I can dress myself.at size 14 but with a huge stomach I just can't wear the same.clothes.

:( poo.

[ilovecherries]

I was trying to pull myself out of a major plus size funk at the beginning of the summer, and booked a personal shopper at JL. Told them my size and bra size beforehand, and like a PP said, turned up on the day to only ONE item that actually fitted, and it was a monstrosity. Cried in the car all the way home. In the end, as mentioned above, ordered a huge amount of clothes to try at home from Boden, Poetry, Studio 8 etc, and just tried to get all the returns processed before the bills came in.

[TreehouseTales]

I guess that saves a drive :( I wish I could.just go into shops.liek fatface and weird Fish and just try a load of things on and.see what suits/fits.

Surely lots of people are plus size....