Used the Personal Shopper service at Debenhams today

[northender]

I'm sure it's not for everyone but I loved it . I'm not a natural shopper and my winter wardrobe was almost non-existent. Despite having lost a fair amount of weight I've still got more to go. My health hasn't been great over the last 12 months. My self esteem was not the best.
I now have an empty wallet but a bag full of lovely clothes which look good on and have made me feel better already and I feel ready to get on with losing more weight.
Just wanted to share my positive vibes!

That's great, sounds like a brilliant boost for you, and well done on the weight loss!

HOw does it work with the personal shopper, do you have to pay them? Are you railroaded into coming out with loads of stuff, or are you really left to your own devices on that score?

Thanks MTB. It's a free service. I booked a 2 hour slot for "a complete wardrobe review". She chatted to me and then went off for about 15 mins finding a rail of clothes for me to try. She said from the outset that she wouldn't stick to styles that I normally go for but challenge me a bit which I definitely wouldn't have done on my own. If sizes weren't right or whatever she would go off and try to get an alternative. I was left on my own for about 15 mins to decide what I wanted to buy so no pressure at all.

northender well done with the weight loss, I can also second the positive experience in Debenhams. I loved it and got a few lovely things which I would have never picked myself but now wear all the time.

When I went I asked for the lady to pick bright or patterned tops to go with basics I already have such as black trousers, jeans etc that I could wear for work or smart day/evening wear. I wanted her to steer me away from my usual grey, black, navy colour palette. She did an excellent job, brought about 20 tops into the trying on area plus a couple of bottoms to try with. The things she brought weren't the most expensive in the shop so I ended up with 3 day tops and an evening top for about £150.

She also threw in some freebie beauty samples. I didn't have to pay for her services, although i did give her a hug at the end of my appointment - felt a bit silly afterward but I was just so pleased. I will definitely be going back, if they will allow me after the hugging incident, as I am not a good shopper and this was a great treat to have someone else do it for me.

Sweetie at the hugging "incident". I felt like hugging her at the end too. I was happy for her to bring different things, some were good, some pushed my boundaries too far and she accepted that. I'm still smiling inside and this from someone who has never ever posted on S&B threads before. I'm 40 next week and going away for a night with dh at the weekend. I now have a lovely outfit to wear when we go out at night.

Thanks for reporting on your experience, it wasn't a Gok style thing was it where you stand in your underwear? Please reassure me! could you give me a clue how much you spent, I am so tempted by such a service but also a little scared. Well done on your weight loss, glad you have had sucha great shopping experience too.

No definitely no nakedness, I'd have run a mile. I bought 3 pairs of trousers, 2 tops, 3 long line cardi type things (??waterfall style ish I think) and a scarf. It totalled £270 which I was a bit at, it's the most I've ever spent on clothes in one go. But I had not very much in my wardrobe and now this will easily see me through winter (along with the bits and bobs I already have). She didn't bring anything for me to try that was more than £45 I don't think although it was all separates. Hopefully by next year I'll have saved up to do it all again but then a couple of sizes smaller

Thank you so much for replying, I am so tempted but still scared, reassured by no nakedness though :)

I went to the Debenhams shoppers (in Cardiff) when ds1 was 1 and I was turning 30.

I had a similar good experience, with them bringing things that I wouldn't normally have looked twice at on the hanger, but that looked great on me.

I felt no pressure to buy anything as I'd been very honest about why I was there and what I wanted (to give me some inspiration about what might suit me (I'd lost all sense of being me since having ds1 and bf him), but did end up buying several things which I had a great deal of wear from.

I would highly recommend using their services.

Thanks for this thread. I'm going to give this a try as soon as I've had my baby. I loathe that postnatal blobby time, so maybe she'll help me feel a bit more attractive while I lose my tum (hopefully)