John Lewis personal stylist - any good reviews?

[Firstaidnovice]

I've just booked a session at the Oxford St store - it's my fortieth birthday weekend, and I've also booked an expensive haircut to sort out my terrible mushroom hair (also on a MN recommendation...), so thought I'd do a mini wardrobe overhaul at the same time. I've fallen into a huge jeans and sweatshirt/trainers rut, and I'm also on course to have lost about 2 stone by the birthday.

Anyway, I generally like John Lewis, especially some of the more interesting brands in Oxford St, although every review I have since read of the service, including multiple old MN posts have been saying the stylist tried to get them into styles and brands that they weren't interested in, and were fairly conservative in style.

Does anyone have any positive experiences, or should I cancel and look elsewhere? Is House of Fraser any better?

One word: awesome

Debenhams PS has much worse reviews than John Lewis

I guess some of it is down to luck and who you get (and to a certain extent how picky/ fussy you are about colours/ fabric/ patterns, they only have access to so many clothes).

Well done on the weight loss! I have used them twice in Oxford Street and both times was very impressed.

Thanks both! I think it's just the first two threads I found were full of terrible reviews about grumpy stylists bringing unsuitable clothes, it got me worried I was going to waste two precious hours of my child free weekend.
Do they get in touch beforehand to discuss what you want at all?

OMG - amazing!
Can’t speak highly enough!
Never done it before, but like you wanted sometime for my 40th. Rocked up to JL exeter with my 4&2 years olds in tow, they didn’t bat an eyelid. Welcoming, understanding, non-pressuring, really listened to me. I really enjoyed it, came home with some items that I would not have thought about, but which I love. So pleased.

Wear a good bra - take variety of colours and styles, take Spanx if you wear them, no-vpl knickers and shoes that you’d like to coordonate with so you can see the whole thing in action.

Have a fab time, it’s all about you!!! Really un-pressured. Enjoy

Another good review, thanks! I'm not looking for any special occasion clothes, so no spanx or shoes for me, I just want to be dragged out of my Sainsbury's jeans and boring t shirts really. While I was several stone overweight it just never felt like it was worth buying anything nice or really making an effort, which I know is stupid. But now there's no excuse.

I do one very 18 months or so to shake up my look, so I've done about 6 over the last few years. Only one bad experience - I bought a couple of bits for appearances sake and returned them to another store the next day. But in the whole I've found them very useful. I've got one booked for early next month.

Great, I'm now really excited. And it makes my birthday presents very easy, vouchers all round.

Glad I've found this thread - I've just booked myself into JL Birmingham for a personal shopper next week - complete spur of the moment decision (though I have considered it in the past) Similar circumstances in that I'm pushing 40 and feel my style is just a bit dull. I'm excited now!

I think it depends a lot on which one you go to - I had one of the most depressing experiences of my life in Peter Jones/John Lewis in Sloane Square (shopper didn't bother to read the email I'd sent explaining what I needed or what styles I liked, brought me a load of unflattering clothes in colours I didn't want, then more or less told me I was a heifer and should cover up my fat arse. Never again. I left feeling so mortified I nearly cried in the cosmetics section.)

But I still like the idea of personal shoppers, esp in John Lewis - if the Oxford Street ones are nice I'd definitely give it another go!

Interested to read this, I’ve a couple of weddings coming up amd having lost 5 stone this past year, having been very overweight for 20 years, I’ve no idea what will suit me. I’m planning on going to JL in Glasgow or Edinburgh

I went with dh to update his newly needed business casual wardrobe - the stylist was useless, didn't listen, I ended up going on to the shop floor to pick up most of the stuff he bought - but the changing room was great.

dialm, it was reading about an experience like yours that put me off! Do they contact you at all between booking and you going in? I didn't put much info on my form. I had a stylist appointment at Topshop years ago and it was great (I feel waaay too old for Topshop now, otherwise I'd do it again).
Did you complain after yours? Sounds dreadful

Don't be put off by my experience! I've heard lots of good things about other personal shoppers, and in fact had a much better experience a few years ago in John Lewis (needed an emergency dress for a work event that night - stylist found the perfect thing in about ten mins), which was why I booked in the first place.

The personal shopper I saw had fantastic style that really worked for her, and plenty of Thank You cards on the front desk, so she's clearly helped a lot of people. Maybe I got her on a bad day, maybe if she'd been more prepared she'd have found suitable clothes for my fairly average body shape. And yes, I was contacted in between emailing and the appointment which is why I was surprised to have to explain all over again what I wanted. But I guess part of a personal stylist appointment is having your style rut challenged - on that occasion, though, I needed a flattering outfit to make myself feel great, whereas it sounds as if your amazing weight loss is the perfect reason to have someone appraise the new you and give you some fresh ideas.

And no, I didn't complain because I go into Peter Jones a lot and didn't want to have to swerve the Personal Styling area every time...

Reporting back on my session today... it was great! Definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone (which was what I wanted) and I've come away with some things I would never have chosen on my own. I didn't feel pressured to buy, there was one thing the stylist suggested I think again about when I'd said no, but I think it was because she genuinely thought it was a good choice (and she was right, I just wanted to check I didn't have something similar already).

I've decided this is the only way to shop!

I’ve just come out of my appointment in Glasgow John Lewis in tears-“we don’t keep much in stock in your size and it’s all very casual, you’d be better to order a few things online and try them on at home “
Would have been good to tell me that before I drove 80 miles to get there-given that I’d given a lot of information about my size and what I was looking for 😡

That's horrible SheSparkles - I wouldn't be happy either. The personality of the stylist themselves must be key - as well as their ability to assist with style! She clearly wasn't good at her job.

Don't let her bring you down.

Sorry to hear this @Shesparkles, I doubt they thought about how much this meant to you.
Maybe if you start a post, describing your size and shape, the wonderful women on this forum will help you find something wonderful.

Just wondering - has anyone got any experience of a personal shopper for someone in their twenties? Or any thoughts on who might be appropriate. This would be a great birthday present for DD, who needs some new work clothes.

Sorry for the hijack OP!

Seems like mixed experiences. I was excited to do this but basically learnt about why lots of things don't fit me! It almost felt like I was being told, sorry no dresses in store for you. It was dispiriting and a bit blunt, you have big shoulders (not something I'd ever thought before!) Def not Tam France vibes

Hi I did the online experience and thought it was very good. I will definitely use it again.

Zombie thread I know. After a generally good experience in 2019, went again this weekend asking for floral/patterned blouses and skirts (very smart for work) and was brought xs tee-shirts (I’m a size 12), elasticated waist trousers, some which looked like track suits, and trainers. Pretty much the opposite of what I requested. I was advised to ho to another shop for skirts! All in all a waste of time, especially as I felt I had to buy something and then spent more time taking it back. I think the experience depends very much on the stylist and what stock they happen to have in (not much in my size when I went, it seems).

JL in bluewater stylists are really good

My sister had a great experience at JL a few years ago. Great pieces in flattering colours. I'm trying to encourage her to go again as she feels a bit stuck at the moment and fashion has moved on a bit.

I think it depends on the stylist. I've had great success with one particular stylist who I've seen about 4 times. But I've also had a stylists who were less successful.