If I go for an appointment with a personal shopper...

[HaventSleptForAYear]

do I need to take along some of my existing clothes?

Am thinking of making an appt at Debenhams when I go back to the UK at half-term.

I am totally out of the loop clothes-wise, only mix with teenagers and fuddy-duddies at work and last time I tried to go and spend a bit of money I was totally lost about what look to go for.

If I want them to find me a couple of work outfits and some weekend stuff, should I take along my work shoes and boots and a couple of other bits to try and co-ordinate with them or do I just start afresh?

thanks - am nervous

Hmmm.

Yes shoes / boots are a good idea, if you know you want to wear them with whatever you buy.

Don't know if I'd take clothes though. Maybe wear a couple of your favourite things? Ie, fave jeans / trousers and top?

I went for one of these - didn't take anything - just wore what I usually wear - didn't try too hard IYSWIM and she told me why what I was wearing didn't work LOL, asked what I liked about my body, went through good colours and shapes then took me shopping Oh and asked me my style icons..

Agree, take shoes with you but don't bother with any other clothes.

I went for one a couple of months ago and it was great. In fact when someone eventually pays me , I am going again for some winter stuff.

Glad to hear positive reports from you all.

Will just take my favourite pair of brown boots and the flat shoes I wear for work.

Not sure I'm up to questions about style icons though - but could definitely do with a stern word about what suits and what doesn't - I spent a whole day wandering round last February and eventually bought some stuff but am not convinced by it.

Fingers crossed they have space for me.

Do personal dresser cost much?

No they are free, they want you to buy all their clothes

re style icons, just try to think about celebrities whose style you like.

For example

Jennifer Aniston-pared down, neutral colours
Kate Moss-cool, edgy, lots of accessories
Victoria Beckham-very glam and groomed, lots of colour

It will give the stylist a real headstart when lookign for things for you to know whether you are looking for a boho/preppy/high fashion etc look

If you can be bothered to go thru some magazines and tear out things that you like, that will help her too.

The more info you give her, the better the service that you will get and teh happier you will be with teh clothes that she pulls for you.

Thanks for the tips. Will try to think about it a bit before going in to save time.

Will report back in due course (but it's not for another 3 weeks!).

I assume I have to give some kind of budget - have no idea what's reasonable though.

My personal shopper didn't ask what kind of clothes I liked - she just pulled hundreds of candidate items off the rails and got me to try them on. Stuff I'd never had considered. It was great.