Stylist for 18 year old

[Sunstormyz]

My 18 year old has had a tough year and has lost a lot of confidence. I would like to get her a style consultation as a gift but all of the stylists that I have found seem to specialise in an older age group. Can anyone recommend a stylist for an older teen? It would be for a personal shopper type experience as she needs to refresh her wardrobe and so that she can learn some enduring fundamentals about colours and styles that suit her body shape. Bristol based would be great but we could travel to London. TIA

At 18 I wouldn’t focus on the body shape thing…. It’s all about finding her style - alternative, 90s, classic, what is she into?

Maybe you could get her an online course to learn the skills herself rather than “be styled”? She might even develop a passion for it. https://www.domestika.org/en/courses/4998-fashion-styling-design-your-looks?exp_set=1&gad_campaignid=22717124591&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADmNbwP6UaAM2GJwLtaK3fojUapkq&gclid=Cj0KCQiA_8TJBhDNARIsAPX5qxQPgxL1KyPLFrJ5oJeeIvYgP_Bug_viVMJ6bn7EykRQYZAIsMZHHmIaAuZkEALw_wcB&utm_campaign=UK_PMAX_OTHER&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google

If not, this one seems quite modern? https://www.chrissystylesme.com/?m=1

@Namechangerage The online course is a great idea, I'm going to look into this. I did see that stylist advertised but ideally I would like someone with a younger aesthetic. There must be social media accounts that would work but I have yet to find them!

What a lovely idea.

I know Selfridges offer the service.

I don't think she's too young - my sister studied fashion and styled all her uni housemates when they were a similar age. Taught them how to dress for their body shapes, how to look for cut and quality etc. They all looked and felt amazing!

I agree about looking for someone who doesn't focus on body shape. That particular trend left me unhealthily obsessed with my totally normal hips and thighs, and I was an adult.

I'm pretty sure the big branches of Top Shop used to employ personal shoppers / stylists, so I'm wondering if anywhere like River Island or Zara does the same?

I thought the same, @Floisme - years ago even Gap offered a personal shopping service! So I googled and Mr AI only offered the big stores - which would hardly be appealing to a teen.

Obviously all of social media is filled with of styling advice, but I was wondering whether a subscription to an old school print magazine might not be equally helpful. Reading Vogue every month from my early teens was what taught me about clothes and all the options for getting dressed. (Including interpreting artistic photos, and translating designer runway shows into what I found on the High St.) I don’t know if you think that might be of use to your daughter, @Sunstormyz?

What about one of those colour consultations followed up with a day out in a young feeling shop which provides a personal shopper experience.

@mykindhiker and @Floisme A high street personal shopper experience would be my ideal. I know that John Lewis does them but thought their stock and focus would be an older woman. Zara would be ideal or Asos - something that spans brands and styles. Selfridges might be an option but I fear maybe a bit spendy. It might be a good place to start for some advice though

@MsAlignment I completely take your point re being careful on messages on body shape at this age - the last thing I want is to make her more self conscious! Fashion isn't really her happy place but she has lost all confidence in her own taste and hasn't found much to fit her recently; so her wardrobe needs a serious refresh.

Her main issue is that she is petite and she keeps getting told that she looks much younger than she is. I've been with her in many scenarios and people just say it out loud and directly to her all the time and she hates it. She doesn't wear make up (but has started to in an attempt to look a little older) and likes her curly hair natural and that combined with her petite stature makes her look younger than a lot of people's image of an 18 year old.

Whilst a lot of people think it's nice to be told you look younger than you are it is actually pretty undermining for an 18 year old to be told they look like they're 14. And it means that you have to work harder to be taken seriously - in work and social contexts. So it would be nice to find some 'looks' / outfits that boost her confidence and fit the brief of making her look her age whilst finding her own individuality.

If you have time to research it, what about thinking of a few young Z-list "celebs" that have a similar aesthetic to your child and then investigate their stylists on Instagram or Tiktok.

I'm thinking of ex-Made In Chelsea/reality tv types/publicity seekers - so not fully blown celebrities who would inevitably have stylists that cost a bomb. More the sort of up-and-coming actors/musicians or ex-reality TV try-hards who do have professional stylists but ones that are less bowled over with clients. Most of these people credit their stylists periodically on their instagram or you can reverse search, because the stylists are promoting their work with the Z-lister in it.

@HaveACheekyChristmas This is a great idea - will spend some of my doomscroll time doing this .

I looked ridiculously young at that age op and I agree it can eat away at your confidence, especially if you’re in a situation where you need to be taken seriously.

I’m trying to think of someone / somewhere who will treat getting dressed as something creative and fun, as opposed to a constant battle to hide your arse (or whatever). We need a reboot of The Clothes Show!