Styled by Susie - anyone done it?

[Alanis41]

Hi all, I've been following the tribe group on Facebook for a while but just wondering if anyone here has tried it. I can't seem to get to the bottom of what they advise, seasons etc. Is there something similar closer to London. And she keeps advising chunky trainers, is this a thing now?

@evilharpy Despite my views on her and her business model and approach to client feedback, I'm not actually that surprised she's expanded so much. It's cheap, formulaic fast fashion for the masses.

@weareyoung good point, there was definitely a gap in the market for something like this.

I’m on the Facebook group, though just a lurker. When I first read through some of the posts it was so gushy I thought it was some sort of MLM enterprise!

Whether the expansion is sustainable, though, is another question altogether. It's happened fast and she's brought a lot of new people on board** in a very short space of time.

@Coniferhedge

I’m on the Facebook group, though just a lurker. When I first read through some of the posts it was so gushy I thought it was some sort of MLM enterprise!

Agree it has a definite MLM vibe with the gushing praise and ‘positive only’ group. I agree with others, there is a gap for this and I was initially attracted to it. I feel she has over expanded and I’m not sure if Susie’s eye has moved away from the initial idea and is trying to carve out a media career for herself now.

@sophiestew sorry if that sounded nasty I understand some people need a bit of help with style , I think the styled by Susie thing is very much , each stylist just tells you to wear stuff they choose for themselves . It’s like a hairdresser can’t just cut everyone’s hair the same way and give them what they fancy I don’t believe any of these stylists are trained to the level they can be objective and I don’t think any of them are stylish enough to do that . I know loads of women in real life who are better qualified to style people .

The course that Susie did (and some/all of her stylists?) cost about £3600. No idea whether the "qualification" it gives you is worthwhile. But it does seem a bit yuck that the members of the facebook group who can afford that have become "stylists", when there are others posting about how their "hubby" has given them "pennies" to go shopping.

I had an analysis a couple of years ago, and joined the Facebook group. The analysis was full of lovely compliments (mine was done by Sarah) and although just reinforced things I already thought about myself, did have one or two pointers that I've stuck to. Not statement necklaces though. I said in my form that I hated big and chunky jewellery. Still do and suspect I always will. Statement necklaces and chunky trainers are two phrases I'd be happy to see that back of on that group!

One thing I really dislike is the non-approval of posts that they see as negative about body image. You diagnosed me as an apple, let me ask for recommendations of things that skim my tummy! I understand a certain level of not allowing really negative posts, but surely we all want to emphasise our good bits and hide our not so good bits? I don't have great body confidence, and not being allowed to ask for recommendations of clothes to help me feel better about my body, on a fashion page, doesn't help that!

I also don't like the cultishness. It was fun at first, and interesting to read. Now it's a bit culty and a bit too try hard. I stay for the odd time I see something I like. I hate shopping so I do have a read through periodically.

This thread is getting a bit mean... Not that I want it to be only positives but I think the sbs has its place. I definitely don't get the impression that she's preying on the vulnerable as a pp implied (can't remember the wording sorry) I agree that the stylists themselves mostly look garish but I don't think it's nice to go on about that as they are people too. Yes I totally agree there should be transparent feedback - a customer satisfaction form at least. I also think it's right that there shouldn't be any negative body stuff on there, it's so rare to find a group like that. Although I left the group a long time ago, mainly as I don't like anyone's style on there. I totally agree with you all that most people don't look good and the commenters should be more honest about that. But they're not. And I wonder if they have learnt much about style at all when they can't see how awful others look... I hate all the samey chunky shoes, cheap jewellery, fast fashion.

My comment here went a bit mean too didn't it!! What I mean is, I agree with all your points but please let's remember that they are real people too. I'd be interested in a stylish positive group where we can also be honest like a pp said!

And I'm not Susie I promise

I have to disagree (respectfully ), I don't think it's getting mean.

It did previously, when pictures of the stylist(s) were posted. I do not agree with that and it was right that those posts were removed.

However, when someone puts themselves so willingly out into the media they need to accept that not everyone is going to fawn over them. People will have negative things to say - and that's not being mean. It's just life. And if someone isn't capable of handling that (I don't think Susie is, hence the heavily moderated cult Facebook group and ignored unsatisfied customers) then they should reconsider whether a career with that kind of profile is for them.

It happens with all kinds of 'influencers' (sorry, I hate that term). They create echo chambers on whatever social platform they use, which is then reinforced by the huns. Eventually anything outside that echo chamber which is removed from what they want or are conditioned to hear becomes so hard to bear that it just doesn't enter their world.

That's what SBS has done; completely eliminated any way of any 'negative' comments or feedback from entering the bubble. She limits comments on insta, moderates the FB group to within an inch of its life and tries to get threads like these shut down.

@Intricate56

I had an analysis a couple of years ago, and joined the Facebook group. The analysis was full of lovely compliments (mine was done by Sarah) and although just reinforced things I already thought about myself, did have one or two pointers that I've stuck to. Not statement necklaces though. I said in my form that I hated big and chunky jewellery. Still do and suspect I always will. Statement necklaces and chunky trainers are two phrases I'd be happy to see that back of on that group!

One thing I really dislike is the non-approval of posts that they see as negative about body image. You diagnosed me as an apple, let me ask for recommendations of things that skim my tummy! I understand a certain level of not allowing really negative posts, but surely we all want to emphasise our good bits and hide our not so good bits? I don't have great body confidence, and not being allowed to ask for recommendations of clothes to help me feel better about my body, on a fashion page, doesn't help that!

I also don't like the cultishness. It was fun at first, and interesting to read. Now it's a bit culty and a bit too try hard. I stay for the odd time I see something I like. I hate shopping so I do have a read through periodically.

This. There is body positivity and then there is pretending that everybody is happy with every single body part. Well, that isn’t realistic or nobody would be interested in having their shape analysed would they? The moderation is over zealous and not very well informed. I also dislike that they see the word ‘fat’ or any other description of size as a negative. It’s not! It’s a description! Saying that you are fat or large or anything that describes your size accurately is simply describing you. It’s does not in any way suggest that you are unattractive or unworthy and banning people from describing themselves or any of their body parts in terms of size suggests that being larger (or really skinny or whatever) is taboo and embarrassing and something to be brushed under the carpet. Fuck that.

Moderation is definitely over zealous. The other day there was a post about how boohoo has bought oasis. Someone posted "boohoo use slave labour" () and the comments were very quickly closed. I suppose the more people in the group that catch on to the ethical issues of most of the cheap brands that are constantly discussed, the more the existence of the group is threatened, given that high street style (and constantly buying stuff) is Susie's USP.

@WowStarsWow

Moderation is definitely over zealous. The other day there was a post about how boohoo has bought oasis. Someone posted "boohoo use slave labour" () and the comments were very quickly closed. I suppose the more people in the group that catch on to the ethical issues of most of the cheap brands that are constantly discussed, the more the existence of the group is threatened, given that high street style (and constantly buying stuff) is Susie's USP.

That's interesting. Susie wrote a blog on fast fashion a year or two ago. I'm still not convinced. They definitely promote fast fashion

Of course they promote fast fashion one of the business models was meeting at the shops and then helping you buy stuff I imagine that was a large part of their income and it would be high street fast fashion shops that are promoted

I don't like fast fashion ethically, but also I think it looks cheap, so not stylish at all

If you can buy a dress new in a shop for £19.50, it means that somebody has suffered, somewhere to make that item of clothing. Hardly something that should be promoted!

@ohmygiddiest I like the idea of sharing style ideas and suggestions.

I wish they would stop telling all these women to get that god awful “speak to the manager” haircut, it’s so dated and ageing.

@Nefelibata86

That's great! I was thinking of making it all about ethically sourced fashion too.

I don't mind starting a FB group for this if people would rather have it in a private group.

She offers personal shops in Primark.

I think that tells us all we need to know about her stance on fast fashion.

And as for empowering women? She gets paid to write articles for the Daily Mail. Enough said.

I saw the Oasis thread, and I’m sorry, I think it’s really bloody important to discuss stuff like that. Boohoo are literally operating slave labour. Leicester is locked down because of practices originating in some of those factories.

I even debated starting my own thread about it, but i knew it would never get approved so what was the fucking point.

Susie, if you are reading, or your ex Daily Mail PR manager, actually conversations about treatment of workers, and slave labour in Britain in 2020 for fashion should be discussed!!!!! So people can make an informed decision if nothing else. And if you feel that has no place in a fashion discussion, then shame on you

And I say that as someone who has had a SBS analysis, and loved Oasis. But now they are owned by Boohoo, I wouldn’t touch if all my clothes went up in flames

The thing is though, 90% of the stuff recommended by SBS is fast fashion. A professional company would have had the foresight to see that people were going to become aware of the dark side of high street fashion and walked away from this business venture.

Urgh yes I did comment on a post the first time I saw that she'd written for the daily fail. I think that's when I left the FB group

One of the issues I have with SBS - and it's a big issue - is that I don't think her or her stylists are umm stylish?

I KNOW this is all subjective but I never see them wearing anything I'd consider a covetable look? I don't like the clothes and I don't like how they put them together

On the other hand, look at the John Lewis stylists as an example of good ones. They actually look properly 'put together' which is surely the basics when you're looking to be styled by someone else?

So I see her putting a t shirt under a summer dress or the other stylist with a leather jacket over a very old and faded denim dress and it just doesn't look stylish at all?