I have never cared much about fashion

[Anonymous]

but I am getting to the point where I think I should care. So - where to start?

[Anonymous]

Start with a goal. What do you want to achieve and how much time, energy and investment do you want to put into it? Posters will be all over the board but they may overshoot or undershoot your expectations. Give us some ideas of your parameters.

[Anonymous]

Buy a few fashion mags (Glamour? Marie Claire? Vogue? Elle?) and get some sense of what you think is pretty or interesting. Then figure out if you're willing and/or able to spend the money that it costs. If you gravitate toward designers but don't have the money, you can usually figure out who's doing something similar for less money. If you know what you like but can't execute it, consider paying a personal shopper to find stuff for you. DC and the surrounding areas have a decent selection of stores - there are some cute boutiques in the city and the chain stores are represented and we have a variety of department stores. if we get a decent-weather Saturday, consider starting at about R St. and walking down Wisconsin Avenue to M & 34th or so (and back to about 28th)- lots of stores along the way.

[Anonymous]

No longer agree with reviewing magazines as it's now more about the phtography art than fashion. Catalogs are better as well as walking through stores.

OP, you need to decide on what stores will make you happy - price points as well as how much "fashion". For example, Macy's vs. Neiman's or a moderate fashion store like Nordstrom's or something that is more fashion forward like Neiman's.

Agree that you need to put some goals and parameters out there for us or you will get ideas from all over the board...which will not be helpful to you.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I am mid-30s, 2 kids, formerly athletic-ish, now just out of shape and tired and staring at a heap of ugh in my closet. Time for some new clothes.

High fashion magazines do nothing for me - it's photos of a bunch of underfed 13 year old girls and not realistic in terms of what I'd be buying (styles or prices).

Nordstrom's is more my speed than Nieman's, particularly with regard to price points. Basically, I'm at least a little bit cheap - can't stand buying something that will be immediately out of style. Looking more toward fashionable in a classic rather than super-trendy sense.

Consultants - what's the story on them? Do they work on commission, charge a flat fee? I know nothing. I have survived for years by shopping at the same handful of stores that ALL of my business casual friends/colleagues shop at, and it's just gotten tiresome.

[Anonymous]

I used a wardrobe consultant last year.

This is not the one I used - but someone who was recommended through DCUM.
http://www.mysignaturelook.com/

I found this to be a valuable process. The person I used was also recommended through DCUM - but did not work well for me as it was not a good personality match.

The cost was reasonable - a few hundred dollars. I know it sounds like a lot but I totally thinned out my clothes and got rid of stuff I didn't wear - and was just clogging up my closet.

Pre-kids I was athletic and my clothing was a lot of BR / JCrew. As my body changed post kids, these lines did not work for me as I looked frumpy in them OR they do not wash and wear well and waking up, getting dressed for work, get the kids out of the house and wind up with oatmeal all over the front of you I just could not dry clean all the time.

Anyway - good for you for making a change!

[Anonymous]

I have also used a wardrobe consultant and it is totally worth the money. You buy less, buy better and end up buying fewer mistakes.

You need to check with each consultant as many sell clothing (sales pitch!) or get commisssions from stores for bringing you in. I wouldn't use the free consultant from stores - they are glorified salespeople. I'd go with an independent one. The one I worked with charged hourly but I think she also had packages available. One of these threads mentioned a website for their association.

Totally agree with pp that you need to find a personality match. You should call at least 3 to find out their credentials, ties to sales/commissions and to find a good match for your goals.