Comments on: Save time and effort with a personal shopper

By: Anita

Anita — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:52:30 +0000

I’m one of the (apparently few) people who have trouble comprehending the utilitarian shopping method. I like dressing well, and having many different types and styles of clothes to suit my taste on any day. That being said, I also have my distinct style and adapt trends as I see fit. To me, shopping for clothes is a way of expanding the range of my wardrobe, not just replacing what’s worn out.

Even so, one thing I despise buying is dress pants; especially when I have to go through 14 pairs of virtually identical black dress pants to find one pair that fits properly and looks decent. For that, I wouldn’t mind a personal shopper, if they had one at any of the stores I like. But… they don’t. Sigh.

Also: as long as you manage your wardrobe well, keep it in good condition, purge frequently and organize it in a way that makes sense to you, trendiness and clutter have nothing to do with one another. If your definition of uncluttering means reducing your wardrobe to neutral, timeless pieces, so be it. But to me, that would make wearing clothes deeply, deeply boring.

By: Danielle

Danielle — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:31:09 +0000

Loehmanns has personal shoppers, too! For men and women for every bugdet.
I work at a store in down town San Francisco, and I helped a young woman pick out an outfit this weekend that suited her style and body type. She could not BELIEVE how young I was. She asked me several times how long I had worked there because she had never had an experience like that where someone fit the clothes to her body, and gave her sizes that looked perfect on her.
That made me feel like I’m doing my job right!!! (But I know I am because my clients always look awesome!)
So, I suppose I’m a personal shopper, too.

By: Courtney

Courtney — Sun, 24 May 2009 19:20:39 +0000

I think “classic” clothes are good. They’re usually inexpensive, conservatively cut, go anywhere, blend well with others, and never go out of style.

By: Stylist

Stylist — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:22:14 +0000

nice post, thanks for sharing!

By: Moxie

Moxie — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:40:12 +0000

I’ve found that the clerks at Ann Taylor Loft (and probably regular Ann Taylor) are *extremely* helpful! They do know their merchandise well. Not only have they helped me not only put together some great outfits, they’ve helped me focus on the right size and cut for my body shape.

While they aren’t technically “personal shoppers”, they have always been glad to help put together outfits and also help me evaluate the options in the fitting room when I try them on.

By: AW

AW — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:56:53 +0000

I don’t know what stores offer this, but let me tell you this works. I’m not a big shopper nor am I really into clothes. But, I needed to buy an outfit for a wedding I was attending. I went into a small boutique in my neighborhood and basically said “help”. Before I knew it, the shop girls placed 15 dresses and several top/skirt combinations in a dressing room. They picked out great items that I wouldn’t have even noticed. I ended up with a great dress that received tons of complements. I will definitely do this again.

By: JustMinn

JustMinn — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:51:16 +0000

Where the hell do I get that job. I love to shop, it is not about the buying stuff it is about the hunt for the stuff and the successful purchase at the best price possible. I would actually like my job. pity.

By: Denise

Denise — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:43:36 +0000

I’ve become more “utilitarian” in my dressing as I get older. I think a person can be really fashionable and uncluttered and it’s probably makes for the most creative designs. I’ve also used sales people a lot for shopping, asking their opinion and putting together outfits, because I’m usually in a hurry and really don’t enjoy clothes shopping for me.

For me, though, as I’ve grown older life has become less about “me” physically. Like I don’t really care if people look at me and think I look great but I don’t really want to look bad either. It’s difficult to keep that balance between paying for haircuts and clothes for me, or buying a new computer or yarn, or buying toys and video games for my son. (All neatly organized.) Somehow spending money on me always comes last with what is leftover (not much).

By: Tara

Tara — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:32:52 +0000

I have experienced style-coaching from a personal style coach, and it made a big difference to my approach to buying clothes and over half my wardrobe went to the charity shop or friends. It has made the whole shopping experience easier. Now I know what suits me in colour and shape I’m more confident about buying and I don’t end up with things in the wardrobe that I hardly or never wear. Also I am still wearing many of the things I bought at the time – 3 years ago.

By: MM

MM — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:21:40 +0000

Do they do this for men as well?

By: Pixie

Pixie — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:01:16 +0000

I loathe clothes shopping, so I also do it once a year. I go to one of the two snobby malls in Scottsdale, and generally end up at the same three stores.

Walk in, find bubbly sales girl, tell her I have 1/3 of X dollars (ie: if i’m going to spend 600 total at 3 stores, i tell the person i have $200) and need 2 or 3 outfits i can mix/match.

Next store, same deal, but I’ll whip out what I bought next door and say “and it needs to work with these”.

They’re always willing to help, and love that you’re there to spend a chunk of money, rather than just get one thing.

However, I do NOT throw away clothes when I get home. My sizes fluctuate, so I’ll only toss or get rid of clothes that just don’t suit me/were leftover from highschool. And you never know when you’ll gain or lose weight, so a lot of it gets kept for future.

By: Erin Doland

Erin Doland — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:17:00 +0000

@Jason and @C — It may depend on where you are in the country, but where I live in the DC area, all the department stores I’ve ever called have them: Bloomingdales, Macy’s, Nordstroms, etc. If your favorite store doesn’t have one, just go in and ask a sales associate to help you. Only twice have I had a sales associate dismiss me.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:12:51 +0000

@C: Nordstrom’s, Saks, I even think Bloomingdales. Usually on staff at the nicer stores– just ask. Keep in mind that they don’t just shop the expensive stuff– they will shop the sales rack for you too, and can even give you advance notice when things are going to be marked down. So if it’s within your budget to shop the sale rack in one of these stores, you can definitely use a personal shopper there.

By: C

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:32:21 +0000

I, too, would be interested in knowing which stores offer this. Anyone know?

By: Erin Doland

Erin Doland — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:03:26 +0000

I have to agree with @Kate and @Sue, being uncluttered doesn’t mean looking unhip. The two don’t have much of anything to do with each other. I tend to dress plainly, but I still want clothes that are well tailored and good quality and reflect my personal style. If something in my wardrobe is damaged or ill-fitting, then I’m going to replace it. Living without clutter has very little to do with the clothes I choose to wear.

By: Sue

Sue — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:53:06 +0000

It’s possible to be current, even trendy, and not be cluttered. The key is to edit and purge often, and store what you have in a way that’s efficient and tidy.

I’d argue that just about everything goes out of style eventually. The cuts change. For example, if I were to try to wear a classic black turtleneck from the 80s it would look dated today.

By: Peregrin

Peregrin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:42:39 +0000

I’m tempted to try this (after I have baby #4 next April), but I worry that I won’t like anything they would choose for me! I’m rather picky, not to mention kinda hard to fit, and I have a really hard time finding anything I like in stores like Penney’s, Sears, or even Macy’s/von Maur.

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:33:11 +0000

Meghan — my thoughts exactly! Even though I want my closet to be uncluttered, doesn’t mean I can’t wear clothes that reflect my personal “non-classic” style!

By: Meghan

Meghan — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:10:42 +0000

Being uncluttered and hip are not mutually exclusive.

P.S. All clothes go out of style eventually.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:57:33 +0000

Which stores have an “official” personal shopper position? The only one I know of is Nordstrom and they seem pricey.