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Original poster

WWYD - Personal shopper or HoC style day?

24 replies

SmileAndNod · 03/10/2014 21:16

So. I look a mess. I have completely lost my way with clothes, i have no idea of what suits me. Everything looks hideous and wrong. I just can't get it right.

I've done the HoC colours session (I'm a winter) and in the past I've had a bad experience with a personal shopper who picked out some incredibly impractical things (dry clean only silk top with no feeding access for eg) and things that wouldn't fit into my SAHM life.

Where do you think I should go from here? Should I try a shopper again? I only have a limited budget and I really do just need everyday clothes. I find casual clothing really difficult. It doesn't feel like 'me' IYSWIM

Have been out with a friend today, and I can dress her so easily -know things she would like / suit so why can't I do the same for myself I wonder? I came home with shower gel...

I'm at the point where I do feel like giving up. I think it's showing tooConfused

OP posts:
MisForMumNotMaid · 03/10/2014 21:24

Have you tried creating a mood board of things you like on pinterest to see if a sort of theme evolves?

I'd love to do a personal shopper thing and thats got to be worth another try hasn't it? Maybe take your friend so she can be your conscience on practicality.

Am I missing something with the colour day, if you've done it you've done it haven't you?

Original poster
SmileAndNod · 03/10/2014 21:28

Yes, sorry. I've done the colour day, but not the style day.

Just a bit worried about a shopper as I really have no clue. I do see myself as quite middle aged and frumpy and not sure where I should shop

OP posts:
Gillybobs · 03/10/2014 21:31

The only people who "get" the HoC style day are those who have done it.....it's so incredibly interesting and useful. I can't do casual either, I now know it's entirely normal for my style type to feel that way and I got some great suggestions for "looks" and clothes shapes that just make sense to me. I know loads of people who have had the style day and every single one of them enjoyed it and found it really helpful. Shopping is so much easier when you can zone in on the styles and shapes that suit, you are much less likely to make shopping mistakes too

I used to reel at the thought of "rules" but I don't see it like that...fact is it's not a set of rules it's just guidelines that you can apply if you choose to, to make life so much easier.

Original poster
SmileAndNod · 03/10/2014 21:44

You see I'm not sure but I suspect I'm a classic. Just by the things I'm naturally drawn too. Very simple, nice textures etc. How did they diagnose your type gilly? And did you have an inkling anyway, I certainly did with the colours as I'd been wearing winter stuff all along.

If I had to dress for work everyday I'd find it so much easier!

OP posts:
Gillybobs · 03/10/2014 22:35

I'm a romantic classic so mostly classic with a grown up feminine touch. All totally made sense, I was pretty sure I'd be a classic but wasn't sure which type...and it's the "type" part that defines the smaller details and helps you get it just right iykwim. I love dressing for work never a problem there, don't ask me to dress for a walk in the woods. But now I've done the style day I laugh it off, accept that's who I am and don't worry so much

The notes hey give you on the day are really comprehensive , you are bound to have a few "a-ha" moments and suddenly realise why some things you've bought remain unworn! One of the best parts of the day for me was taking along items I had bought and loved, she'd tell me why they were so good for me, and also taking along things I'd bought and never worn...she explained why they didn't work for me and I've not repeated those mistakes since.

QueenCardigan · 03/10/2014 22:37

I'd personally go for hoc style day. Having done it I can say that it's somuseful. I kind of knew what worked and what didn't but didn't really understand why but once you look deeper into your body type and personality it all makes sense. I think do this and get a clear sense if what suits you and then next year/whenever do a petsonal shopper when you're more confident in your own choices.

SorrelForbes · 03/10/2014 23:59

I loved my style day. I too am a Romantic Classic and I now understand why I look scruffy in jeans and tshirts as opposed to looking effortlessly sexy. I can't do casual at all rally but now that I know that, I dress up more and consequently look and feel groomed most of the time.

grumblepuss · 04/10/2014 09:19

I'd do neither...
I'd go my nearest department store... John Lewis? With a free afternoon, wander about, have a cup of coffee and a slice of cake, have another wander, this time picking up anything I like the look of.
Try every thing on, if its the wrong size summon someone with the magic button to get it in another size.
Purchase the winners.

midnightmoomoo · 04/10/2014 09:20

Definitely do the style day, it's really interesting and if there's a group of you it helps to see how the different personalities work too. I'm a Natural Gamine, which is quite a laid back relaxed style, but not scruffy or fussy. They gave some examples of celebs to help to visualise. Sadly, being told Julia Roberts was the same as me didn't give me her figure or budget! Took a while to get used to 'the rules' but over the years I've relaxed into it and rarely think about it now, I know what I like and what suits me but as another poster said, it's not rules that are so strict that you can't not follow them if you want! No one will tell you off if you fall in love with a handbag that's not your style, it's up to you how rigidly you follow the advice you get.

DH is a Full Natural which in his mind translates as 'tramp' and gave him the excuse to never iron anything ever again! Except for being suited and booted for work, then he looks lovely. Unfortunately being made redundant a year ago means the tramp has definitely taken over! Ah well. At least the colours suit him........Hmm

Oly4 · 04/10/2014 09:32

I'd go for personal shopper!

IsItFridayYetPlease · 04/10/2014 09:57

I did the style day as I thought a personal shopper may be too intimidating in the pushy sell. If I had the information from a style day I could make the decisions of what to buy, within my budget and not just restricted to one store. Plus I would have the information permanently rather than just the personal shopper showing me a few outfits that would work for me.
The plus of a good personal shopper would they would do the leg work around the store. I know what shapes and styles I should be wearing, but actually finding them when I'm in town shopping or browsing the internet is a totally different matter! I do find searching for people's pinterest boards really helpful, but often the items are no longer in stock by the time I discover them.

Floisme · 04/10/2014 13:47

I should start by saying I've never done any of these! However, if money were no object, I'd go for the style day because, however much they dress it up, a personal shopper is there to sell the store and its products. With a style day you'd have to pay a fee upfront but I assume they'd be independent and it might save you more money in the long run.

Letitbee · 04/10/2014 15:03

The style day is good but I must say I find lots of HOC advice very old fashioned and even with a 'style type' you may have to do a lot of work to interpret it to a modern look

SorrelForbes · 04/10/2014 16:04

Hmmm, none of my HoC advice was old fashioned at all. I saw a young (30s) consultant) and she was certainly more on-trend than me!

Clackety · 04/10/2014 16:10

The problem with the advice re trying everything on John Lewis is you can only take 8 things in a changing room at a time then you have to get dressed again to find another set of 8. Either that or take a mountain in and ask them to ferry in 8 at a time and keep swapping them out.

Style day is brilliant. I learned I'm a natural classic so I have permission to not struggle over looking casual or floaty. Neat and tailored suits me on all occasions.

Original poster
SmileAndNod · 04/10/2014 16:47

Oh I've read all the replies and I'm still dithering.

What puts me off the style day (as well as the cost) is the local consultant. The lady I saw for my colours was nice enough but probably in her 60s and wore very garish make up and she was all very formal. some of the colours she said were best on me I just couldn't see. I think I didn't 'get' it and was too afraid to ask. I am pretty old, but I'm not quite ready for the clothes my mum wears just yet and I'm worried this is how I will end up. If anyone has any consultant recommendations in the Wilts / Hants / Dorset area please PM me. Clackety, do you dress up all the time as a natural classic then, how do you do casual for say shopping?

Similarly with a personal shopper, lots of the clothes at for example John Lewis are quite formal aren't they, and I just can't envisage a time whereby I would wear them. This was the problem I had before and I ended up returning the lot.

I see clothes recs on here, order them, try on and its all all wrong. I have a weird saggy melting body which looks bad covered and uncovered. I'm not sure that style is for people like me Sad. I've reached that 'giving up' point haven't I?Shock

OP posts:
MisForMumNotMaid · 04/10/2014 17:44

Don't give up. You've inspired me to start investigating both a full colours, style and makeup session and/ or a visit to a personal stylist.

My wardrobe is very bare. I've just lost lots of weight and I have a way to go but I'm planning to invest in what i hope will be a classic capsule wardrobe.

I haven't a clue about my style or colours. I was wondering if a thread about how you work out your colour group,and style could work as the cost of a clour/ style/ makeup day is close to my current new wardrobe budget.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 04/10/2014 17:46

Can't you do both? Personal shopper at JL is free...

Kundry · 04/10/2014 17:48

Personally, I shop with a personal shopper. She's independent so we can shop in any shop, gets what I tell her I need (so no impractical dryclean only stuff), understands what I want to look like and raises my confidence massively. She actually saves me money because I don't buy stuff I don't wear.

And I can just pick what I think looks good without having to follow any colour rules.

grumblepuss · 04/10/2014 18:06

I think I find the whole idea of someone holding up coloured hankies to my face and giving me a colour palette a bit daft.
I know what colours suit me, I can see when I put a petrol blue dress on it makes my skin and hair look great, the same in cream makes me look sallow and grim.
A friend with a high boredom threshold is helpful too... Especially if they can be bribed with lunch.

Clackety · 05/10/2014 14:46

My most casual is jeans a tee and a crew neck cardigan. My jeans are straight or skinny or even a gentle bootcut and black or deep indigo.. No boyfriend jeans or cardigans. Cardigans are fitted and neat.

Clackety · 05/10/2014 14:47

Lucky you grumble puss - I can't tell what looks good or bad on me!

KittyB52 · 05/10/2014 15:11

Another vote for the HoC style day. I've used personal shoppers at Debenhams before and while I thought they were good, they were limited to what was in the store (obviously - durr!). I was under no pressure to buy, I did try on clothes I would never have picked out myself, and it did take the pain out of getting some clothes for a new job.

However, one year on I am feeling very frumpy and 'un-me', and the style day has highlighted that I style-wise, I am a mess, and need help which suits my shape/lifestyle a bit more. Like Clackety, I can't tell what looks good or bad on me - I couldn't really see which colours were bad on me when I had my colour analysis. I'm hoping that will change when I do my colour review at HoC.

If you can find a personal shopper who will take you to several different shops, then that might work.

IlonaRN · 05/10/2014 22:44

I would go with the HoC style day.

I have had my colours done too, and couldn't "see" all of them at the time - but I could see how well the others in my group looked in their colours, and they could see it on me, and I have come round to my new colours since then, and can now "see" that they're good on me.

I am waiting for the friend I did my colours with to lose some of her baby weight so we can go on the style day - if it's even half as helpful as the colour day, it will be money well spent!

If you do the style day, you'll always know what to look for. If you go for a personal shopper, you might get some good things this time, but may get equally stuck again another time.

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