Has anyone used a wardrobe consultant?

[Anonymous]

I am so tired of my mis-matched, multisized, crazy disorganized wardrobe. I'm in my mid-30s, but I have ALWAYS had this trouble.

Not the closet (I have Elfa waiting in the wings to fix that), but just never being able to find the right pieces to put together into good outfits.

Has anyone hired someone to help with this? With success?

TIA!

[Anonymous]

try:

Wendy Pilch of Spendalla Personal Shopping (www.spendalla.com)

she has offered services to a bunch of Stroller Strides moms in DC.
She will come to your home and tell you what to pitch, keep and shop for.

[Anonymous]

a few people recommended my signature look earlier this year - I bookmarked it but have not done anything with the infromation so far.

http://www.mysignaturelook.com/

I did a session with Lynn Glasser and did not clique well with her. I know others have. I felt like she was not telling me a lot I did not know - but I think part of it is what your wadrobe consists of. Lynn is a big jacket person - I am not so it was not as if she had a bunch of jackets to pair with things that I would never have put with it. I believe her strengths are in corporate wear.

[Anonymous]

I used Lana Orloff (www.lanaorloffstyle.com). Love her. I thought it would be a one-time major redo, but she is great and now I shop with her twice a year. She did a complete makeover type of thing for me the first time I used her, including clothes, hair, makeup, shoes, handbags, and more, and we have added to my wardrobe from there.

[Anonymous]

As with any professional service, you should see if the person belongs to a professional association. For stylists/wardrobe consultants, it's www.aici.org.

They are required to have regular, professional training and education. There are different levels of accreditation with the most advanced levels offering more experience and better performance. Many of the people out there are self-professed "stylists" or simply salespeople who masquerade as consultants. Wardrobing is a field of study that requires consultants to understand specific principles and diagnostics.

Choosing someone is a very personal decision - the personalities need to mesh and they need to be able to understand and support your style instead of putting you into a style they are more comfortable with.

You should call a few and talk with them to ascertain the fit. Find out how long they've been in biz, where they trained and whether they sell products. If they sell, you won't get unbiased information and will be subjected to a sales pitch. A really good consultant will ask lots of questions and discuss a strategy and goals with you before working with you.

[Anonymous]

I am interested in finding the same service, but have a very conservative look. Any specific suggestions?

[Anonymous]

An excellent wardrobe consultant will understand your style and be able to work with it. You should call some of them and find out how they diagnose and work with personal style. You don't want one who only does "one look." And the personality fit and communication style is essential for your comfort and learning ability.

There are lots of consultants who can do good work while you areworking with them. The mark of a great consultant is one who can educate you and teach you how to carry on without them as well as develop a strategy that works for you long-term instead of just a couple weeks or months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As with any professional service, you should see if the person belongs to a professional association. For stylists/wardrobe consultants, it's www.aici.org.

They are required to have regular, professional training and education. There are different levels of accreditation with the most advanced levels offering more experience and better performance. Many of the people out there are self-professed "stylists" or simply salespeople who masquerade as consultants. Wardrobing is a field of study that requires consultants to understand specific principles and diagnostics.

Choosing someone is a very personal decision - the personalities need to mesh and they need to be able to understand and support your style instead of putting you into a style they are more comfortable with.

You should call a few and talk with them to ascertain the fit. Find out how long they've been in biz, where they trained and whether they sell products. If they sell, you won't get unbiased information and will be subjected to a sales pitch. A really good consultant will ask lots of questions and discuss a strategy and goals with you before working with you.

Do you have someone that you would recommend and if so, what do you like about them? We would appreciate the help!

[Anonymous]

11:45 - I found a great consultant through AICI but hesitant to give a name as I feel you really need to find the perfect match for your goals and communication style. I really recommend calling several for comparison and to see if you "click."

The website lists their members with their varying degrees of experience and accreditation. If they have websites, those are listed so you can surf before calling.

Fair warning: There are lots of women out there who call themselves "consultants" and have no training or education. Like any doctor or lawyer you call, find out about their experience and whether they can deliver what you want.

[Anonymous]

oh god. wardrobe consulting is not rocket science. don't compare them to lawyers or doctors ever again, please.

i should start advertising myself here for free. i "wardrobe consult" all the time with fantastic results. particularly for men, though, so you might find me a "bad fit."

[Anonymous]

Wardrobe consulting is similar to interior design. While it may not be rocket science, successful results require that a truly qualified consultant know and understand color theory, line/fit/proportion and style analysis - as well as educating on wardrobe principles.

If anyone can do it, why is it that most people we see on the streets appear as if they don't know how to dress? Why do studies show that women only wear 20% of what is in their closets? And why do women always lament about having a "closet full of clothes, but nothing to wear?"

Dressing men is completely different than dressing women. I've seen lots of examples of people claiming to be able to dress women with truly terrifying results.

[Anonymous]

Are there any specific consultants who specialize in plus sized women and/or pregnant?

[Anonymous]

Try Tara Luizzi at Tara Styles DC. I had never worked with a wardrobe consultant before and was quite intimidated at first , but she made me feel so comfortable, and the experience a lot of fun. Not to mention, she's extremely talented.

http://tarastylesdc.com

[Anonymous]

Tara appears to be more "fashion-y" and creative when maybe the OP really needs someone to educate and help with style. There are two different kinds of consultants - the ones who deal more with fashion and the ones who teach about style.

Personally, whenever I hire a consultant, I would want to see their training and education as well as professional accreditation.

OP, do you want someone to do the work for you or do you want someone to teach you how to do it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As with any professional service, you should see if the person belongs to a professional association. For stylists/wardrobe consultants, it's www.aici.org.

They are required to have regular, professional training and education. There are different levels of accreditation with the most advanced levels offering more experience and better performance. Many of the people out there are self-professed "stylists" or simply salespeople who masquerade as consultants. Wardrobing is a field of study that requires consultants to understand specific principles and diagnostics.

Choosing someone is a very personal decision - the personalities need to mesh and they need to be able to understand and support your style instead of putting you into a style they are more comfortable with.

You should call a few and talk with them to ascertain the fit. Find out how long they've been in biz, where they trained and whether they sell products. If they sell, you won't get unbiased information and will be subjected to a sales pitch. A really good consultant will ask lots of questions and discuss a strategy and goals with you before working with you.

Snort. A post from and accredited wardrobe consultant. "Wardrobing" is a "field of study?" Can you get a master's degree in that?