Personal shoppers have come a long way from the days of straight-talking stylists like Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine – the feared TV style duo who had no qualms about telling their cowering charges that their bum looked big and their bingo wings and muffin tops should definitely not be seen in polite society.
Some may have viewed the semi-parodic Sloane Rangers’ brutal honesty as refreshing; others, no doubt, could do with a little less scathing sartorial candour.
Taylor Armstrong, personal shopper at Victoria Square, will definitely give an honest opinion if something doesn’t suit a client. “I wouldn’t want you leaving here in anything that isn’t top notch,” she says, though she’ll deliver her verdict a little more diplomatically than the aforementioned pair of caustic-tongued poshos.
“It’s a personal shopping session, but I treat it as a styling session as well, so it’s my job to make sure that you look good in what you’re wearing as well as feel good. If I have an opinion on something that you’ve tried on that I don’t think looks good on you, I will tell you. I wouldn’t want anyone leaving here not looking their best or feeling their best.”
With Christmas imminent and a packed diary of work and social events requiring him to be nattily dressed, the time-pressed Irish News Business Editor, Gary McDonald, made an appointment with Taylor to discover if the services of a personal shopper really do make the process of buying clothes less stressful.
Like many men (and a good few women), Gary admits he hates schlepping round the shops, especially navigating the frustrating vagaries in sizing.
“A 36in pair of trousers might fit me in one shop, but from another shop, those trousers will be too tight,” he says.
The idea, therefore, that he could make an appointment, email his measurements to Taylor, along with the styles and colours he likes, and let her do the hard work of selecting potential outfits, was music to this accomplished bagpiper’s ears.
The personal shopping room is located on the lower ground floor of Victoria Square. It has comfy sofas, plenty of mirrors, flattering lighting and, best of all, clients get the changing room to themselves – no negotiating the ‘three items only’ rule or giving an inadvertent flash of one’s intimate apparel to others through a flimsy cubicle curtain.
When he arrived, Taylor had pre-pulled a selection of clothes aligned to Gary’s likes. She had understood his tastes well and had a selection of shirts, a casual jacket, a jumper, some suits, casual trousers and shoes ready for him to try on.
However, should Gary like something but prefer it in a different size or colour, Taylor was only too happy to dash off and get the item (clothes are from all stores in Victoria Square).
“We start with some items, and the client can try on anything they think they might like, and from there I’ll get to know what they’re comfortable with, what they like, what they don’t like, and how the sizing is from the different stores. This is the basis for us to work off,” says Taylor.
Personal stylists and shoppers have been around for a long time, helping the rich and famous navigate the treacherous waters of buying fashion, and the indignity of shopping for clothing alongside the masses.
One would expect, then, that paying for their expert eye and impeccable taste would come with a hefty price tag – but that’s an old-fashioned (ahem) assumption.
Two hours with a personal shopper at Victoria Square will set you back £35; three hours is £50 – which is good value for money, especially if it saves time and a serious crime against fashion. There is a virtual personal shopping option for £30 but, according to Taylor, the in-person sessions are the most popular.
“You can book for yourself or gift the service,” she says, “and a lot of people will also purchase a Victoria Square gift card if they are booking a loved one in for personal shopping.”
According to Taylor, a wide mix of people use the service.
“I’ve had clients as young as 16 come in with parents, right up to people looking for a new wardrobe in retirement. It’s definitely useful to people of all ages and incomes. Some people spend £50, and others will fork out thousands.”
As someone who spends his working life interviewing Northern Ireland’s top business movers and shakers, Gary knows the power of first impressions.
He was looking for clothes that would reflect his outgoing personality but also his professionalism.
“I like bright colours; I like nice snazzy shirts. I tend to wear suits during the day, but I like to be smart-casual when I’m at work-related events or out with my friends or family,” says Gary.
“I don’t have a particular style, but I do like nice clothes, and I have a propensity for shirts that have cufflinks, and when I’m wearing a tie I do like tie pins.”
But the Banbridge man says he is “definitely open to suggestions” when it comes to clothes.
The first outfit Gary tried on was a gorgeous navy Boss suit, with a pink Tommy Hilfiger shirt and a pair of very smart Reiss shoes. He looked a million dollars in the suit: the trousers were a great fit, but the sleeves of the jacket were just slightly too long. The pink shirt, though, was a winner.
Next up was an oatmeal-coloured suit by Frasers’ label Without Prejudice. Again, he looked very dapper. And, once more, he took a shine to a stylish navy shirt by Scotch & Soda.
This is a perfect opportunity to get what you want in a lovely setting with professional help in the background. You’ll love it
— Gary McDonald
For a more casual look, Gary tried a green jersey and a green checked shirt with a pair of white trainers, and looked not unlike he’d stepped out of a fashion catalogue.
We were both struck by how well Taylor had interpreted Gary’s tastes and how well the garments fitted and suited his needs.
Gary said he found the whole experience slick and professional. He loved the well-selected items, the ease of it all, and found it a much more fun experience than ordinary shopping for some new threads.
Unsurprisingly, he bought the pink and navy shirts, and, as an added bonus for using the personal shopping service, got a welcome 10 per cent off the price.
Read more: Unwanted jumpers and scarves? Gift Aid at Christmas – The Irish News
Returning to The Irish News office, with bags swinging from each arm like Alicia Silverstone in Clueless, it would appear Gary’s definitely in the market for more Taylor-made personal shopping experiences.
“Taylor chose all the clothes in advance, and everything was perfect in terms of colour, in terms of style, look, etc. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and they have cracked it in the sense that I made a couple of purchases on the back of the experience.
“I’d never done anything like this before, and I have to say I treated it with a little bit of trepidation, but what an experience. I would certainly consider it again – and to the male folk out there who are maybe like myself and don’t like traipsing around shops – this is a perfect opportunity to get what you want in a lovely setting with professional help in the background. You’ll love it.”