Personal shopper experience

[Unionjackie]

I have never fancied using a personal shopper. I imagine being cajoled into buying lots of things that I don't actually like. However, I am looking decidedly in need of a makeover/body transplant and I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to have some professional advice on how to improve my appearance and what to wear. What are your experiences, good or bad? TIA?

*TIA

My mother goes to one in John Lewis from time to time, especially if she has a special occasion to go to. She's always been pleased and never feels under pressure to buy.

Debenhams are excellent. It's a free service and they bring you a really good selection.

I went to one at jl. Terrible garlic breath. Kept one item. But then afterwards I thought "I'm not a John. Lewis shopper l. Go to one where yih would normally buy stuff imo.

I've done well twice at Harvey Nichols, once for work suits and once for a single party frock. I had a clear brief and they brought good things I wouldn't have seen.

Went back for jeans. They knew nothing about jeans. I did buy a pair, and i regretted it. I've heard that selfridges know about jeans.

Gap for jeans. Their staff training in denim is out if this world. If you go to Selfridges you will buy a pair of 7 for all mankind and be £150 down. You go to Gap, you get three pairs for the same price.

I think it really depends what you want. I had a dreadful experience at Selfridges where I definitely did feel pressure and got told that there was no hope in hell of finding a formal-ish dress for under 1,000 pounds.

But had a great experience of John Lewis where I bought loads to restock my wardrobe post baby. No pressure at all and I got the sense that if I had walked away with nothing, then that would have been ok for them.

A lot of positive experiences then. I might give John Kewis a try when I've lost a couple of stone. Thanks everyone.

I use the personal shopping service at Topshop and would highly recommend it. I tend to go around 4 times a year or if I have an occasion I need an outfit for.

Am going on saturday to get bits for my holiday and cannot wait!

did this in monsoon with a really nice lady. didn't book anything - i just walked up to a nicely dressed shop assistant when it was quiet. she was great and i had several skirts that i probably wouldn't have found otherwise.

I also had a terrible experience at Selfridges - was told that they only did designer clothes (having brought out a pair of Reiss trousers for DH), was ignored for around 20 minutes beyond my appointment time, and was then told that my hips were a "figure flaw" and I need to hide them! Now, I do have an hourglass figure, and my waist is a size smaller than my hips, but I am a size 10 round my arse! How does that equate to something I have to hide?

We left without buying anything at all.

I hired a private one - £30 an hour but she took me to some much cheaper shops than John Lewis (Primark, New look, M&S) so that is another option.

That sounds like a brilliant idea, wife. Was she recommended to you or did you take a shot with someone you didnt know anything about? I'd love someone to help me like that

Well, alongside the colour analysis service (which I know a lot of people are iffy about, but I am evangelical) House of Colour do a personal style day, where your 'style personality' is diagnosed, and you are then given advice on what suits and what doesn't. It comes from looking at what you like (you have to take clothes you love and some things you're not so in love with), doing a yin/yan personality quiz and then measuring body proportions. fwiw - I was told I had a huge arse too, Swatchdog I am a size 8. But despite this (it isn't what she actually said) I got a huge amount from the day and am now 100% confident to choose my own clothes, to accessorise and pull outfits together, and also know to run a mile from things I am attracted to, but are not for me at all.