Personal shoppers: are they worth it?

[Downandoutnumbered]

I desperately need new weekend/ casual clothes. I'm in a real style rut - endless jeans and shirts or T-shirts. I haven't bought a thing since before DS was born, and he's now nearly 2. I have very little time and I need someone who can suggest some slightly different things but will listen to what I actually want (i.e. won't try to persuade me to wear skirts, which I never do because I hate my legs and feel really self-conscious if I have to expose them). All the central London department stores seem to have personal shoppers these days: are they any good? If so, can anyone recommend a particular shop?

I had a Personal Shopper this week in Debenhams (not in London though). It was great, no obligation to buy anything, and having someone else trapse round the store picking things whilst you sit comfortably is fantastic. Everything that was selected for me mixed and matched with everything else. I did get a couple of things out of my comfort zone, and now I'm pleased I did. If I changed my mind about anything I could return it. Usually I can find absolutely nothing in Debenhams, but it just seems I can't see the wood for the trees! Go for it, you've nothing to lose, you don't have to buy anything!

Interesting, I was thinking of Debenhams (on the grounds that they sell a fair bit of stuff I can afford!). Thanks.

I have also used the personal shopper in debenhams ( also not in london) and she was fab! I would definitely recommend :)

I use the personal shopper/style advisor in Topshop.

Brilliant, would recommend it to anyone. It has really changed the way I shop - I used to buy a couple of bits a week/month that I was never really that keen on but now do a big shop every few months and love it all!

umiaisha, do you mind my asking how old you are? I think I'm a bit past the age of Topshop...

I also used Debenhams (not London) and it was excellent. I took along the basics, (jeans, leggings & work trousers) I wanted get tops to match with. She did bring a few things out of my comfort zone but on the whole just a great selection to choose from. Also the things varied in price and she even brought a few sale items.

Apols for hijacking thread Downandoutnumbered, I wondered whether anyone had used John Lewis for personal shopping?

No worries, LadyEmmaHamilton (good name, by the way): John Lewis would definitely be a possibility for me too so I'm interested in the answer.

I did the Debenhams one a couple of years ago and I was impressed, got me thinking a bit more about what I was wearing.

I have lost a bit of weight and this time going to try the John Lewis one on Tuesday. No idea what it will be like, I dont think that I have ever bought clothes from JL but I hadn't from Debenhams before my personal shopper experience.

My mother and aunt (65 and 50) had a great time at JL - as you'd expect their personal shoppers are very good and they have a wide range of brands including a fair few for the 30-40 age range - I'd expect that you could easily rack up a huge bill though.

Downandout - I don't mind! I am 32.

I can definitely recommend John Lewis on Oxford St. I took my mum there last week to find her an outfit for my wedding. My mum hates shopping, and the personal shopper was brilliant, had a good talk about what sort of things she liked/didn't like & got together a good selection of things to try on. Some of it my mum would have never looked at, including the dress she ended up buying, which was lovely!

Hmm, toss-up between John Lewis and Debenhams... I will ponder. Thanks for the thoughts.

I have done John Lewis and debenhams in the last week. Both were great. John Lewis was better, more selective and I liked almost everything she put me in. Debenhams was more them bringing in anything and everything so some was awful, but I got a few bits I love from both places.