Personal shopping is a term most of us are familiar with, but have you ever actually tried it? Many people are dubious when it comes to booking a personal shopping session. Why would I pay for a service that does what I can do myself? Is it really worth the time and investment? The answer is yes.

Let’s discuss the financial element first. Sure, personal shopping comes with an initial price tag, but it will save you money in the long run. Rather than having a bunch of items in your wardrobe that you bought but don’t wear (because they don’t fit correctly or just aren’t ‘you’), your racks will be full of gorgeous pieces you’ll take out time and time again. Stylists have a keen eye for quality, and will guide you in the direction of better fabrics and well-made garments that are long-lasting and won’t shrink or fade easily – within your budgetary constraints, of course. On this vein, stylists have extensive knowledge of fashion labels across all kinds of budgets, whether your price range fits with brands like Portmans, Seed Heritage and Country Road or high-end designer labels. They also usually have connections with local stores, which can sometimes result in an extra discount. 

So yes, personal shopping is worth the cost and will eventually result in money saved. It also results in time saved, and this is the most frequent reason people book a session. Some of us love shopping, but for others it can be a real struggle. Maybe you’re a busy parent or a hard-working corporate whose days are taken up with work – if this is the case, wasting hours at the mall trying to find fashion items that work for you is both stressful and unproductive. Or maybe you simply find shopping unpleasant – trying on garment after garment and never quite finding the right one can be disheartening to say the least. But once you know exactly what you’re looking for, shopping is a breeze.

A personal shopping session will help you choose the right clothing for your body shape, lifestyle and look. Your stylist will take you through the kinds of pieces you should be wearing to best flatter your body shape, and advise your colour palette so you do your features justice. They’ll also let you know which styles don’t work so well, which means you can ignore them next time you’re shopping solo. They’ll listen to the types of outfits you need, depending on your job or day-to-day activities, and use this information to choose items and plan entire outfits made just for your lifestyle. This includes accessories, and even makeup if you wish.

Often they will also walk through your current wardrobe and select garments to keep, and garments they recommend donating to charity. Friends might be fun to shop with, but a stylist is a professional and you can respect their honesty for what it is. They want to help you feel and look fabulous, and truth-telling is the best way to reach this point.

When you know what to wear and what not to wear to highlight your assets, and what outfits work for different occasions, you’re style is going to improve – and as a direct result, so if your confidence and self-esteem. A personal shopping session can also be helpful if you’re starting a new job, moving overseas, making a fresh start in your personal life or simply looking to change up your wardrobe.

In short, personal shopping is a valuable investment that will save you both time and money going forward. It might feel like an indulgence at the time, but it’s really an investment in yourself. I created my Personal Shopping Package to help people who need help choosing the right kinds of clothing for their body shape, and who find shopping overwhelming (or simply dislike it!).

During a one-on-one session, we will uncover your personal style, plan outfits that flatter your body shape and fit with your lifestyle, and fill your wardrobe with affordable pieces you’ll wear for years to come.  Whether you’re short on hours, find shopping overwhelming, or need help finding your personal style and planning outfits, a one-on-one session will tick the boxes. Visit www.angelastone.co.nz for more information.