| Having been an Image Consultant for nearly eighteen | | | | If we're stopping to try there are usually a few |
| years a large part of my job involves taking clients | | | | items to try as I like to present my companion with |
| shopping for an outfit or a new wardrobe or just a | | | | a complete picture. For instance if I've found |
| few items to update his or her look. Quite often | | | | someone a good jacket I may well select trousers, |
| when a person shops with me once they will book to | | | | skirt and a couple of tops to build up an idea for the |
| shop again because of the results. | | | | client on how it will work in her wardrobe. Also I very |
| What does it involve? Sometimes a shopping trip is | | | | often take advantage of having my client in a |
| preceded by a wardrobe planning consultation in the | | | | changing room to trawl the sales floor for anything |
| client's own home to sort out what to keep and | | | | that will be useful to them so that they can try. |
| what to discard. This gives me an idea of the client's | | | | Generally the shopping trips are successful - the |
| current tastes and style and what I think is missing | | | | clothes we purchase, sometimes from differing |
| from their wardrobe. If I haven't done wardrobe | | | | stores and ranges will fit together and mix well with |
| planning I may have advised the person on their | | | | one another because I'm pretty specific in what I |
| colouring or make-up or indeed their style and how to | | | | select. So the leather jacket bought in John Lewis |
| dress, so I may have an idea of them from that or I | | | | may well go beautifully with the top from Kaliko and |
| may be meeting someone from fresh just to shop. | | | | the trousers from Country Casuals. Often it's not until |
| If I've not seen the client for a while or am meeting | | | | the client has worn and worked with the clothes for |
| them for the first time, we tend to spend the first | | | | a few weeks that the true value of this type of |
| half hour or so having a coffee and allowing me to | | | | shopping, for ease and simplicity of dressing comes |
| build up a picture of the client, what they do, their | | | | across. (Male clients particularly like the idea that |
| leisure interests, their current style and what they | | | | several shirts will work with several ties with two or |
| want from the session - also useful is where that | | | | three suits as this gives them confidence to mix and |
| person has shopped before. Often I make a few | | | | match without feeling they're "getting it wrong"). |
| notes and a list of that person's requirements for the | | | | Do I have to stick to a budget? Can I stick to a |
| day. And then we start shopping: | | | | budget?- Sometimes and yes is the answer to that, |
| What am I looking for? Good question! Wherever we | | | | however one thing I've noticed is that the budget |
| decide to start our search for clothes I'm looking for | | | | grows when the client is happy with his or her |
| good colours - if the client's been analysed that's | | | | choices and it is only then that they buy. No amount |
| helpful but not always necessary as I generally have | | | | of persuasion will ever make someone purchase |
| a good idea of what shades I would like to seen | | | | what they don't believe suits them - there are two |
| them in. Once I've spotted the colours I will be | | | | of you on the trip - not one. |
| looking at the shape of the garment to see if I think | | | | Why do people book? Many reasons - a lifestyle |
| it is the right one for my client (so details like | | | | change, new job, new partner, a wish to upgrade the |
| turn-ups on long legs might be fine - but not on short | | | | items they buy, a wish for a co-ordinated working |
| legs all come into play). I'll also be considering if I think | | | | wardrobe and a sense that you can make them look |
| the garment will suit my client's personality and | | | | good and for some a necessary evil, in that they |
| project the type of look they want. Only if all these | | | | have to wear clothes, still want or need to look good |
| details are favourable will I suggest that the person | | | | and shopping with an expert can be the best use of |
| tries the item of clothing on - so I am quite capable | | | | their time and money. Personal shopping - will it work |
| of walking through a few stores before I suggest | | | | for you - you don't know till you try it - it could be |
| that we stop and try. | | | | the best money you've ever spent on clothes! |