Tomorrow I have JL style consult...

[Sonolanona]

What do they actually do?!
For context I'm 58 next week and have worn jeans and a long sleeved top pretty much since I was a child, and I'd like to look more 'put together' (but still trousers...I don't do skirts or dresses. I'm a bit worried they will try and dress me up more than my lifestyle demands!!

I’ve never had a consultation but I’ve been considering doing it. From what I’ve heard they focus on finding outfits that fit your lifestyle and personal preferences.

Let us know how you get on.

I’ve done it for a special occasion (so looking for one specific outfit) a few times and they did a good job of finding me something I wouldn’t necessarily have picked off the shelf myself and trying some new colours I hadn’t worn previously.
I would say though they tell you you look fantastic in nearly everything so you will need to be honest and say ‘i don’t like this’ and even better tell them why so that they can learn what looks you like and why you don’t

I had one before going back to work from Mat leave and it was fantastic!

When I first went in we had about a 10 min chat about my style and what I was looking for, the stylist then went off for about 15 mins collecting clothes whilst I sat with a drink. When he came back he had about 12 items, mostly styled into outfits which I then tried on. It was great, stuff I wouldn’t necessarily pick up but nothing wildly out of my comfort zone. Didnt feel any pressure to buy but I did end up purchasing a few bits. I tried on a couple of quite expensive things that I loved but just took pictures of to find cheaper alternatives.

I plan on doing it again at the start of spring!

I’ve done it twice, once for some outfits for a new job and once for jeans.

Both times I’ve really enjoyed it, the stylists were friendly and found me some lovely outfits I wouldn’t necessarily have picked out.

You’ll have a chat when you first arrive and they’ll ask you what you’re looking for and what kind of styles you usually wear.

Be honest if you don’t like something so they can swap in other ideas, you’ll get given loads of options, enjoy!

I've done it a few times now, and it does depend a bit on the stylist (my local store has a few young stylists and one my age who is great). But if you tell them exactly what you are looking to buy then they will focus on that, and you are totally free to say that yes, that looks good on you but is totally not you (last time it was fluffy jumpers) - but have an open mind and try stuff on even if you think it won't suit you

Definitely try on a few things you would usually walk past. It’s liberating. Have fun

A friend had a JL personal shopper session when she was panicking about needing an outfit for a very special occasion.
The lady she had did a fantastic job picking out clothing specific to my friends needs. She ended up buying items that she would never have looked at.
I don't think you need to worry, they'll cater to your exact requirements.

Absolutely this, just try it on, you’ve got nothing to lose.

I also found it really stress free because the stylists were so knowledgeable about how different brands fit I didn’t have to think about what size to pick out, they managed to know exactly what size I needed.

Enjoy yourself - you will have a lovely time. I went for my birthday a couple of years ago and the stylist was so helpful. The experience rejuvenated my wardrobe. I actually talked my husband into doing the same for our son's wedding in the summer. Good luck - let us know how you get on xx

I’ve done it a couple of times. The first time I was essentially looking for the perfect smart black trousers for work with co-ordinating items. The first 20 mins were spent with me rejecting everything for being too loud as the stylist just didn’t appreciate quite how staid my office was. Once she realise I did just mean a very plain pair of black trousers, she was away. It’s almost 10 years on now and they are still
my favourite work trousers even if I have had to size up from the original pair. The next time I did it I had a much broader brief as I just wanted some casual stuff once the DC had got past the surprise body fluid risk stage. With her, it wasn’t so much the items themselves (it was a smaller branch) but the how to wear it tips which made a real difference. I think I’ve worn a belt every day since! Again, it was easier to be quite direct rather than go along with something to please them.

I've been considering doing this so sorry to jump on the band wagon, I haven't bought new clothes in a long time and I wondered what kind of budgets people had for adding meaningfully to their wardrobe? I'm in NI and can't find any decent styling options here so was considering a trip.

I organised one of these for my Mum and it was awful. They selected all the end of season items they wanted to be rid of, despite the fact that they were the complete opposite (colour, pattern) of what Mum had said she liked. They were impatient, rushed, bordering rude. I would never recommend this service to anyone.

My first one, I spent £160. £120 on the dream trousers and £40 on a top. The second time, I spent £500. I’d returned £300 of it within a fortnight but spent a further £200 replacing the items with similar but different (eg I got a dress from Hush but when I looked online, I found it came in different patterns to the ones JL had and I preferred one of those)

Well it was a nice enough experience, but I didn't buy the clothes there!
The stylist was really helpful and actually brought stuff that suited me and showed me what could go together.
However I live with an autistic adult son who likes to be helpful...and puts random laundry in the tumble dryer so I realised spending £150 on a beautiful 'special care' jumper would probably not be a good idea😂 Also there were lots of nice tops and trousers that she showed me that they didn't have in my size (a 10 so not exactly unusual!)
I trotted off to Next, H+M and Fatface and found a few bit similar to the expensive stuff at a fraction of the cost....I simply couldn't bring myself to pay over £100 for a pair of jeans ! I was up for spending a decent amount ..up to £500 on clothes but realised that I want more than one shirt, a pair of jeans and a jumper for that! They definitely push the higher end brands, and I'm a middle of the high street woman!
I did treat myself to some nice new, entirely unnecessary boots tho!

I enjoyed it and think it was worthwhile for getting me to try different looks..I'm going to book it for my DD1 who would like to see what they do with her (she looks like a perpetual surfer girl and is built like a super model and likes the androgynous Cate Blanchett type look!)

Good luck! I’m jealous, the stylist cancelled mine because they didn’t have anything in my size 🙃🙃 (18-20)