Would you use/have you used a stylist/wardrobe coach?

[dresseronfire]

I'm thinking of trialling a shop-your-own-wardrobe service for women over 40: identifying gaps and overlaps; organising/decluttering; helping make wardrobe and style changes (due to life transitions, changing roles etc) as well as really nailing an individual look that works for you and makes you happy. I'd offer personal shopping as an optional follow-up service with an emphasis on sustainable, vintage, UK-manufactured and natural-fibre clothing.
Would anyone like to chat about this? :)
Does this sound interesting and/or useful?
If you had access to this service, specifically what issue would you want to tackle?
What if anything would you want to know about me before you'd consider hiring me?
(Btw I've been a regular MN user of several years but have NCd to keep my personal stuff separate.)
TIA!

Do people with only 5 tops do washing constantly? I’ve never seen the appeal of a capsule wardrobe.

OP, would you include a basic tailoring service - eg if women need something taken in/hem taken up/button sewed back on, would you include that? What about organising shoe repairs (getting heel tips put back on, for example). I have a few lovely items I don’t wear because they need a minor repair.

Would it be the sort of thing where you tried everything on? And threw out anything tatty/stained/holey/too small etc? Then organised what was left?

I do think it’s a very niche service and would probably work best on people with lots of decent clothes, not a wardrobe of Primark and New Look.

Doob yes, I'm not sure what could be done to avoid that. It's my top priority to 'get you' fwiw, but there's always that risk.
I couldn't offer the email service you describe, it's just not what I do and so much of that sort of thing is sponsored, but it sounds so similar to what I see on IG every day tbh. I'm not sure how I'd know what trends you'd want to skip, only you would know that. If, say, you like a very tailored look and suddenly show an interest in a trend that's oversized/casual/sporty (are we still saying athleisure?) I think it would take a lot of styling and you might feel sloppy/frumpy in it, but if you fancy a change there's always a way to dip your toe in the water.
I'm skipping the dad trainers thing because I'd look like Larry David, but that's my lookout.

I think if I added up all the random shite I buy online and don’t wear or have to return because I can’t get to the shops with children and I have no idea what suits me and not really much of a clue what looks current.. i’d probably save a lot by investing in a session of this kind.

BUT I’d want to mood board the hell out of it in advance with you though with absolutely no commitment. I’d need to really know your style to trust you weren’t forcing me into your style. You’d have to get my references and me yours.

It probably wouldn’t be very cost effective for you if you had to have this whole warm up routine before someone like me committed to hiring you.

Defo would like to see real life ‘before and afters’ with your previous clients with them in their own various different styles, mix of body types etc.

Statistic I can't wear pencil skirts either! (A-line is magic on me.) For a bigger wardrobe you could book a bit more time, or just address a specific part of the wardrobe, book another sesssion etc. I agree that we can get stuck at any stage of our lives (I remember first interview outfits in my 20s were no easier) but over-40s is where I'm best placed.

Swede isn't it interesting how the things we're good at aren't always what we should do for a living? Your friends must feel lucky though!
I like your formula for a capsule wardrobe but I want to be led by the needs of the client. For me a capsule wardrobe would be a recipe for buying more stuff, and I have a collection of vintage clothes I wear regularly and wouldn't want to get rid of. Horses for courses I guess.

TooExtra I do know an excellent seamstress and I could offer that service but I'd have to think about liability and that kind of thing.
Everything would need to be tried on at some stage, whether I would need to be there would depend on your confidence. If your weight has changed a lot you may find a second pair of eyes helpful (and I find a lot of people just never learned how to tell if their clothes fit). There are hardworking clothes (t-shirts, leggings, jeans) that quietly get bobbly/faded/stretched and you may not see it, and if you're telling me you never feel you look smart then maybe that's why. I think many of us have a garment we like in principle but never wear, which may mean you need a single appropriate element to make it into an outfit, or it may mean you'll never feel happy in it so you might as well get rid and move on.
If your wardrobe is nothing but Primark this probably isn't for you, but it's interesting, I've read a number of posts on S&B asking how to upgrade a high street wardrobe with a few longer-lasting additions, or how to look smarter without buying a whole new wardrobe, all of which can be addressed in a wardrobe session. It isn't for everyone, that's true, but I don't see it as an exclusive boutique option either.

Date 'BUT I’d want to mood board the hell out of it in advance with you though with absolutely no commitment. I’d need to really know your style to trust you weren’t forcing me into your style. You’d have to get my references and me yours.' Yes, I think this is getting to the heart of it, you need to know there is some shared point of reference, you need to connect on some level for the relationship to work.
I think a mood board is a great idea actually, it would be a nice unstructured way to feel and see things about someone you've not yet met, and also to find out how comfortable the prospective client is with that kind of thing or if they have something more rule-based in mind. I'm not sure it wouldn't be cost effective. At the very least it might be a nice way to start out.

Dresser I guess I would have to finally teach myself how to use Pinterest

Date funny you should say that, after I read your reply last night I thought 'I'll have to find a site/app that isn't Pinterest or Pinterest will become the default.' I'm trying to find a less negative way to say 'I loathe Pinterest' but I do.