Personal shopper made me buy it. Not sure now, Help!

[Howmanytimes]

I used the services of an independent personal shopper last week. She was fab and picked out exactly the sort of things I wanted, in order to make me look a bit more pulled together on casual days.

However, I loved it so much I took more home than I could afford, with the plan to whittle it down once I'd tried the items with things I already owned. There are 3 things I'm not sure about:

fur gilet
[[
www.wallis.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33058&storeId=12557&productId=2070431&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=223048&parent_categoryId=209166&sort_field=Relevance&pageSize=20 leather pencil skirt]]
lovely dress

Problem is, I think I'm shying away from these items because they are just the sort of thing I'd never usually wear and I don't know how to wear them for everyday. The personal shopper did tell me how to "style them" but I don't know.
This was the very reason I paid for the personal shopper in the first place, to get me out of my rut and looking a little more funky. They all looked great on that's why I bought them. All the other items I bought with her have received rave reviews from family and friends.

What do you think? Would you wear them for everyday Mum stuff? I'm 38, 5' 10" size 14 if that helps.

thenightsky, the dress is about an inch above my knees. It's a size 12 and I'm usually a definite 14 but it's not too short.

Can see that they all work.

Keep them, see if you get used to them - you can always ebay.

I like the leather skirt quite a lot, but would never wear the gilet, and any time I've tried a dress on like that I feel very mumsy. Don't really like the print either.

Hate the gilet.

Was a bit at the idea of leather skirt too but actually can see that it might be flattering on (think boots would be fine). However you're going to have to love it and have the perfect outfit ready to wear or it's just going to stare accusingly at you everytime you open your wardrobe.

I wouldn't personally buy the dress but can see it would suit some people and has the advantage of not needing too much accessorising. Yes to boots and leggings. Maybe a long sleeved V neck black top underneath for warmth? Something like this

If you have loads of other nice things she found - you'll get the wear out of them most days.

I'd return the 3 items you are unsure of - what's it about £150's worth? Just think what else you could get for that money in the Boxing day sales - could you use her again in the sales?

I quite like the skirt - but wouldn't say it would be very practical till next spring - and not for day to day - for going out for lunch etc.

Seen nicer dresses and not keen on the fur gilet look.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO to that Gillet.
NO !

Leather skirt ...if it fits well, though it might get a bit..warm for day wear, and perhaps not very comfy?

dress - headache to look at!

Take back the gillet, its going to date really quickly. And it's a bit manky

I love the skirt but if you are unsure, keep trying it on and still not sure, take it back, you'll never wear it.

Keep the dress if you love it, youll get loads of wear out of it.

Tip that might help: take a photo of yourself in the clothes you're not sure of; it's saved me a fortune since discovering it!

You get a more objective view of yourself from a picture than you do from a mirror (haven't we all said, 'I can't possibly look like that!')

Dress is great! Wear with a cardi, a waistcoat or a thin top under.

Skirt is o-k-a-a-y if you have the right things to wear it with (fitted jumper and boots).

Gilet will make you look as if you have been attacked by a giant bird. Were they too mean to put feathers on the back as well as the front??

Thank you everyone for your thoughts, the results are in! Two people liked the fur gilet but an overwhelming 24 of you didn't. It's going back.

Eleven people liked the leather skirt; fourteen didn't. I wasn't sure myself so I'm taking it back.

The dress; fourteen liked and thirteen didn't like so I'm going to keep it and see if I can, in the words of Tim Gunn "make it work"! As you've quite correctly pointed out there's always ebay.

I appreciated your help, thanks

Don't like the dress - now you have fourteen!!

Don't think you can ever learn to like a print like that unless you've immediately fallen in love with it.

The dress and the skirt are fine, they're perfectly normal and ordinary. The gillet is vile and only a blind demented monkey would wear that :)