Personal Shoppers?

My daughter has and found it really helpful. I'd give it a go.

Thank you Kitty I think I need to!

Yes. I did this once when I needed outfit for a couple of graduations. It was at John Lewis. I had to book but it is a free service + it was excellent. The personal shopper collected a rail of clothes many of which I would not have thought to pick out.
There was no pressure + I didn't feel rushed. I would really recommend it. Good to take a friend if possible to give extra feedback.

Another thumbs up for John Lewis. I had this service when DS2 was to be married, in 2010, and got great service. Do they still offer this?

Me too! I just used JL service to find an outfit for DD's wedding. Stylist was really helpful, even running round shop to find possible jewellery and accessories. There was no pressure to buy. In fact she advised me to buy on line so I would have a perfectly fresh outfit and wrote me a list of names and sizes. Which I then ordered when I got home. We were even given a voucher for coffee and cake in their restaurant. It is great to have a large changing room and good mirrors too.Much recommended!

I treated my daughter to a personal shopper experience at the House of Fraser in Norwich. Very relaxed, refreshments provided. No pressure. No bags to carry around and lots of space to try things on. We had a very pleasant couple of hours.

When my son was both hard up and needing to 'look good' he took his Xmas & birthday money into Selfridges and asked for a personal shopper. He only had enough money for one pair of trousers, 1 shirt & 1 jumper at 'non-designer'prices.
The shopper was brilliant, spent a couple of hours with him, and he learned a lot about his personal style that he still uses 20 years on, with more money to spend.

House of fraser offer this service too, it is fantastic to be able to try clothes on in a normal size room and also to be able to only take and put on your own clothes once is sheer bliss

Debenhams do it. Or on line shopping ?

I won a persona shopping trip and I would recommend it to anyone

Fumanchu, hope you are feeling in better health again soon.

Plenty of recommendations here for good services. JL free! Wow. I shall definitely keep that in mind for the next time I must find a suitable outfit. Thanks everyone.

Another vote for John Lewis (Glasgow) too. I won £250 vouchers and a personal shopper experience 2 years ago...just after I had bought outfits for 2 family weddings.
I asked for help to update my casual style and can't recommend the stylist highly enough. Very relaxed atmosphere, lots of space, good lighting and mirrors. The stylist brought in lots of things I would never have looked at in the shop (I am even wearing one of the tops at the moment).

fumanchu - hope your health is better soon.

I find it easier to buy online. You can send them back at no cost if they don't suit you.

Yes, I'd recommend it Fumanchu. You need cheering up apart from anything else so I hope it's a happy experience.

I buy a lot of Mint Velvet clothes. Easy to wear, mostly stretchy, lots of room. Relaxed glamour. I don't look in all round mirrors. I imagine how I want to look and then wear with confidence. I am far too critical of myself. I hope you feel better soon.

Another vote for John Lewis. Free service, no pressure and a very helpful and pleasant personal adviser. Delighted with the clothes I bought. I get overwhelmed by the amount of clothing on display and I would never have found the things she brought for me to try. I did say in advance what I was looking for - straight, classic trousers, two summer tops with sleeves etc.

Not for me .Well for the personal shopper who would be climbing up the wall in frustration.
I know what colour suits me, and tend to stick with it adding accessories that can cost more than the outfit itself and turn a nothing on its own into a something.

I had a very frustrating experience just trying to book the personal shopper service in Debenhams in Leeds before my daughter's wedding. I gave up in the end and went to Harvey Nicks, where one of the sales assistants gave me great advice and help, looked for something in my budget, and found me the perfect dress .

I hadn't booked it, but an assistant in John Lewis helped me for ages when I was looking for a dress to wear to a daughter's wedding.
I had been in despair at ever finding anything that wasn't typical 'mother of the bride' stuff in salmon pink, or too formal, or that screamed staid older woman, or anything that was pretty, but too short, or sleeveless. Or too hot to be suitable for a warm, largely outdoor wedding.
Sadly she couldn't find a bloody thing, either.

I found something online in the end.

I did this in Debenhams for my sons wedding and also, sadly, for his funeral in a different store. On both occasions the personal shopper was amazing. Brought me things that I wouldn't have looked twice at and were endlessly patient. No pressure at all and I got well suited at a price I could afford. I would def use again.

Barbarae Wed 24-May-17 15:29:31 That is so sad...

fumanchu Go and book yourself a personal shopper try and book mid-week when the store of your choice is not too busy and the PS has loads of time for you,think out of the box and you will be plesently surprised,as someone suggested try and take a pal with you then you can both make a day of it by following up with a nice lunch.

Before my mother died, she used me as her personal shopper, would park herself in a cubicle and have me running around like a blue bottomed fly bringing things to her.

Of course that was before she died (silly Phoenix) she couldn't have done it after, although my son not asking me, meant she was buried in the wrong outfit. Oh well.

Oops, pressed too soon!

I would love to get some independent, professional advice, as the weight gain since giving up smoking (15 months now) plus the colour change in my hair means that I really should be re thinking what I wear.