Not naturally a S&B frequenter, but advice please

[comixminx]

Hi all, I am far from a S&B natural - I hate high street fashions, hate makeup and never wear it, hate any sort of style over comfort thing. (Apologies if I am making incorrect assumptions about other MNetters who love this topic!)

BUT I am coming to the end of my second mat leave and realising that my work wardrobe is really on its last legs - I think I am a different size and shape from quite a few of my old items, and I'm pretty sure that my skin tone is different from what it was pre first pregnancy or indeed since I was in my thirties. Is it worth doing an image consultation thingy? I ask not because I begrudge the money (if it's worth it I can find the cash and anyway I can understand that it could save money in the long run), but because I have the following caveats/strong feelings:

• I rather object on principle to stuff being ephemeral in the way that fashion often is - I want to buy shoes that can be re-soled and which will last for many years, for instance.
• I don't wear make-up and have no wish to start doing so. I suppose the odd lipstick would be ok at a push, but certainly nothing more.
• After long-lastingness I also value practicality, so I want pockets in my trousers and skirts, and I want to be able to walk and cycle in them (that's how I get to work).
• I don't want to look same-y or, I dunno, mainstream. I work in IT and don't have to look particularly smart on a day to day basis, and in fact would feel out of place and uncomfortable if I did! I'd rather have a few interesting pieces amongst some good basics I suppose.

Is it worth my while (and indeed the image consultant's while) me getting this service or will it just annoy me and her/him? I'm happy to take professional advice about stuff I don't reckon to know much about but at the same time I'm never going to become yer actual style guru or even very interested in fashion.

If people do reckon this is worth doing, does anyone have any recommendations in my area? I'm in Oxford. I have looked in the archives about having my colours done but am not sure that that's what I'd be looking for in any case.

Thanks in advance!

I think a good image consultant would respect your preferences and help you find what you need.

I have a friend who is like you. She'a in academia and has no interest in fashion, but needs to look presentable. An image consultant helped her redo her wardrobe. It used to be horrific poly blends, now it's understated chic, natural fibers and bold colors. She does not need to think about what to wear because everything coordinates. She even got very cool eyeglass frames. She does not wear makeup, but found Lancome Juicy Tubes (lip gloss) and swears by them. She gets all her clothes online, but the image consultant helped her by pointing out where to find what she needed. She also got serious about grooming - her haircuts are good and she has beautiful understated manicures.

If you live near a house of Fraser they offer personal shopping free with no minimum spend. It might be a good place to start and then take it from there? No point throwing money at something if you could get the advice free then spend the money on what you really want!

DonaAna, thanks for that. Your academic friend sounds a lot like me, you're right. I particularly like the fact that the consultant helped your friend shop online, because I've been doing a fair bit of that recently with small kids. I'm quite happy to spend good money on haircuts but I really need a new cut and probably a new style.

Owls, there's no HoF very near but I could travel to one, so that's a possibility. I must say that the extra services that people offer when you start looking online - eg decluttering your wardrobe - do sound very tempting!

As you are in Oxford have you looked in Toast? Sadly the sale has depleted stock at present ( bargains were to be had). If you lilke their clothes they are quite expensive but last forever. I'm still wearing a tweed pinafore dress I got about 5 years ago, a cord skirt of similar vintage and have just treated myself to this, with the top underneathI get my everyday shoes from Shoon, because they are a bit quirky and long lasting.

If you really want to be adventurous in the slightly eccentric but long lasting how about Old Town? I have never bought anything off them but am sorely tempted by the trousers which need an "old fashioned" small waist - which I don't really have.

Hi Travel, I can see that a consultant should ideally work out like that; I suppose partly I'm asking if it does usually work out like that or if people do expect you to be actually interested in fashion and stuff!

Higgle, I have gone into Toast before now but not really got on with it: perhaps I've gone Pre-sale and thought it was too pricey, or indeed post-sale and found it depleted... I love that Old Town website! Very tempted except that really I need to see what I've got, first. Very tempted indeed though.

My technique with Toast is to plan what I want in the sale in advance and bag it on the first day on line. If you sell on when and if you are sick of it you get very good prices on ebay.