Absolutely, anyone can benefit from a wardrobe consultant or personal shopper--the right one!

I have a wardrobe consultant that came to my house twice a year--spring and fall, and although I have moved away from the large city where she lives and works, I still make an annual trip to visit; she and I meet to shop, since after ten years she knows me well and remembers much of my wardrobe.

I always felt like I dressed well, but was buying clothes and still feeling I didn't have "anything to wear." The main thing this consultant did for me was to force me to think outside the box, to ditch clothes that made me look older (I had a penchant for suits and white shirts and lots of black in my wardrobe) and to mix and match textures which I previously never would have done. She taught me how to add a little fun to my wardrobe, but with my own personal flair.

My consultant has brought out items I'd forgotten I had, suggested different ways to wear them, suggested alterations or tailoring, and different accessories--for formal wear, for cocktails, for lunches, and casual weekend wear.

When we shop, she encourages me to buy clothing that is more colorful and richly textured, and sometimes more than I planned to spend. My "go to" items that I know I'll always look stylish and good in, and more important, FEEL good in--are the ones that my consultant encouraged me to buy. The French really are right--spend more, buy less, and make it your own!

I hope you try a consultant or personal shopper--but I suggest checking out credentials and references first--as with many professions where people sell their advice, many people hang out their shingle and do not know what they are doing.

Thanks demifloyd. It does sound like It could really benefit me.

Any suggestions on credentials to look for? Didn't know there were any. Maybe that would help me find some. I definetly will check references as well.

Do I need to look for somebody that seem more specialized in everyday wear or somebody that does it all, business, etc. I don't do much dress up, but am always at a loss when I do have to for a wedding etc.

Lyfia,

You might look for this certification--of course it does not necessarily guarantee anything, or a great stylist might not have these credentials, but it's a starting point.
You can find AICI image consultants in your area through this website, I believe.

Association of Image Consultants International

Also, these are my favorite books for updating my "thinking" about my wardrobe:

STYLE CLINIC by Paula Reed--How to Look Fabulous all the Time, at Any Age, for Any Occasion

THE STYLE STRATEGY by Nina Garcia--The Less-is-More Approach to Staying Chic and Shopping Smart

EFFORTLESS STYLE by June Ambrose--This book addresses your personal style, figure characteristics and body type in relation to shoes, bags, clothing and lifestyle,as well as makeup and hair.

STYLE RX by Bridgette Raes--a very specific examination of the best clothing types for your figure and coloring, with best and worst photos for these characteristics side by side.

HOW NOT TO LOOK OLD, by Charla Krupp
HOW NOT TO LOOK FAT, by Charla Krupp

Great books, again with side by side photos of what to do and not to do to minimize age and weight with lots of great general advice.

Good Luck--with professional help, or without you can update your look and it will be a GREAT birthday present to begin your 40s--a wonderful time!

Demifloyd - you're a lifesaver! By any chance does your personal shopper live anywhere near Philadelphia? I'd hire her in a minute.

My 25 year old DD is just starting to build a professional wardrobe. In her previous job she only needed casual outfits and only owned one suite for interviews.

She is panicked about what to buy and how much it's going to cost. I'm giving her these titles and I know she'll start off with Nina Garcia. My DD is also rather petite so she is quite concerned about looking shorter. These books could certainly help her put together a functional and stylish wardrobe and help her watch her spending.

Thanks again - and you're so right about the French. They do have a knack of looking stylish. I was flying home from San Francisco and sat behind 8 French women who looked effortlessly chic.

You are welcome, maire cate.
Congratulations to your daughter in her career!
I have a twenty-five year old daughter--she prefers more basic foundation pieces in wool or cotton with one or two accessories--a great pair of boots, one piece of statement jewelry, a pashmina.

She has found J Crew to be a great source of professional suits and separates that she can add an interesting artsy tank or handmade necklace to, to personalize. She also likes to order handmade pieces of jewelry from Etsy and regularly visits vintage clothing stores for 40s, 50s and 60s blouses and skirts. Of course, that's not everyone's style.

Alas, my consultant is in Houston, but I'm sure you can find one in your area. I found since you have to pay a consultant, it's best to go ahead and clean out your closet and organize it before the consultation and have a list of your objectives--it keeps you both focused and that tab lower!

I hope the books help; this topic made me go back and reread some of them last night, as I need a few reminders when I get ready to purge my closet in the next week!

Most bigger stores--Neimans, Nordstrom, have a personal shopping service--for free. You meet the shopper, she combs the store for stuff, you try it on. You don't need to spend gazillions to use the service. Before I paid a wardrobe consultant, I'd check out an instore service.

My SIL uses Nordstrom's (free) personal shoppers all the time - with great success! Marlene is almost 6' tall and is no Twiggy. It's not easy for her to find clothes that fit her. She always looks great.

By all means people should try the in store personal shoppers.

The last two times I've met my consultant, most of my purchases were made at Nordstrom--their consultant of course works with independent wardrobe consultants and they save us a lot of time when we shop together.

I like that my consultant has known me a long time, knows by body, my lifestyle, and the pieces I already own--and she's not trying to make a sale.

She has been able to find petite suits at Ann Taylor. I'll have to remind her to try Nordstrom's. One opened last year fairly close to us.

She also likes vintage clothes and unique pieces of jewelry. We like to go to the vintage shops in New York - I got a great buy on my Chanel bag there. She needs some help in putting everything together - that's where the books you recommended will come in handy.

thanks again

oops - that last post was mine!!

As soon as I hit submit I realized that I posted under my daughter's name - she was on the Fig forum trying to find out how to overwinter our new fig tree.

Maire

Demifloyd, after having recently seen pictures of your living room (O M G! your fabrics are beyond gorgeous....they remind me of the fabrics I would chose and ask my decorator if they were in my budget and she would say yes, for a pillow!...oh, and your bullion fringe...well enough about your exquisite taste), I can't imagine your not always looking elegant.

At 62, I find it more and more difficult to "pull it together" and really need a personal shopper. I'm not complaining, but being a small size, it's easy to wear the wrong thing and look like I'm trying to be 30...something I never want to do. The body may say 30 years younger, but the face shows every day of my real age.

demifloyd - thank you so much for the link. Although I'm not trying to change my image or anything. Just need somebody to shop for me and pull my wardrobe together or it will all come from one place and be the same thing in different colors. I don't have time to run around and do it myself, however it seems the image thing would at least be a benefit.

I wonder about the personal shopper from a store - I think the only choice I'd have around here (Austin, TX) is Nordstrom. If somebody have used a store shopper - I'd be curious to hear your experiences.

I may have to try it, but don't have much time to do it. Does it take a long time? Can you do just a quick try? Also will they follow such things as I don't want anything high in polyester, and don't want anything that is dry-clean only, and easy care is a must. Curious to hear what the limitations are besides just limited to brands the store carries.

For more casual clothes like you are looking for, have you thought about online shopping? I know some folks don't like it, but I LOVE it. I have my favorites for certain types of clothes and just send for things. If it doesn't work out, I send 'em back. Nordstrom has great online selections. So do most other retailers. Omigod, don't get me started about Zappos for shoes...free shipping both ways. Try on in the comfort of your own home. I've ordered obscene numbers of shoes and every pair I wear now comes from there.

Lots of places include a return shipping label with postage, so you don't even have to stand in line to mail, just drop off at a UPS outlet and you're good to go.

olychick - I buy all my shoes from zappo's and have yet have to return any. Love that place.

I've tried buying clothes online, but I don't have a particular brand favorite and it doesn't appear any brands are the same sizes so at least 3 sizes of one item needs to be bought and then 2 returned - and more if it is pants as in some I wear a tall and in others I can wear regular length. Nevermind they say the same in-seam and none keep the zipper and pockets in the same place.

Clothes is just the main issue. I buy everything online otherwise and rarely have to return. Returns are a PITA to me as I have to go out of my way to drop something off at a UPS store or pay the $5 p/u charge.. Plus there is a lot of time involved in searching for clothes even online that I'd rather spend with family.

The other part of this is I look at buying clothes as a chore and not something fun. Which you can tell from my wardrobe unfortunately.

Lyfia, my consultant goes out of her way to determine what your personality is, learns what you like, what you do not like, your body type, and respects who are you. She knew that I made safe, conservative choices but that I liked more interesting clothes, so she encourages me to trying a different shape or color or more embellished item than I normally would. "Image" changing isn't necessarily part of the deal unless one wants it to be.

I have family in Austin and visit several times a year, so I'm familiar with most of the Nordstrom stores--I would definitely try a personal shopper there. As I said, I would be specific about objectives, and no, it does not take that long. I think an initial meeting, or a phone call explaining what you like and don't like would be beneficial--the consultant can pre pull items for you and have them waiting in a dressing room for you to try on--it shouldn't take more than an hour or two if you and the consultant have an understanding about what you are looking for. Yes, they should respect your wishes about fabric and style, no dry cleaning, etc.

My consultant will and has shopped with a client anywhere--from Neiman Marcus to Target!

Marlene, thank you ! I'm glad someone else appreciates my "old lady" fringe and fabrics. I'm a tactile person so have always been attracted to rich and luxurious fabrics.

As I age, I am trying to pay careful attention to the quality of the fabrics I wear, as well--I have a lovely friend several years older than me that has beautiful, short, stylish gray hair and she's always dressed in rich turqoise, raspberry and deep brown velvets, silks, and other sumptuous fabrics. She's beautiful.