Duchess Catherine Middleton wowed the crowds on her tour of North America, and it wasn't
just her enthusiasm to put on a cowgirl hat … She had an endless supply of lady-like designer and high-street dresses coming out of her suitcase, looking fashtastic at every possible opportunity (bar said cowgirl hat incident).
But, Kate didn't do it alone… In steps: The Personal Shopper. "It's the way most members of the royal family tend to do their shopping," explained a senior staff member at Buckingham Palace.
Now, thanks to Westfield — the average non-royal, non-celebrity gal (or guy — yep, boys do it too) is able to utilise the services of a personal shopper.
The candidate: Grazia's online editor Emma Ciufo
The challenge: To spend two hours with Westfield fashion stylist (and designer, whose clients have included Sophia Loren, Peaches Geldof and Jennifer Hawkins) Donny Galella at Westfield Sydney City and report back on what a personal shopper can offer.
The experience: Every personal styling session starts off like a shopping trip with your girlfriends, over a latte at a café.
But, talk turns immediately to determining body shape — "everything starts from body shape," he says. I'm a "pear" (surely they've thought of a better name for this "bigger around hips, petite up top" shape by now!). This means I should follow a basic guideline of: wide leg pants, A-line skirts, drawing attention up top with bold blouses, statement shoulders and necklaces, and steering clear of anything too fitted on my bottom half. (Note to self: throw out all pencil skirts).
With the studious part of the session done, we get to go shopping! Donny asks where I'd like to go first, and we decide to browse the centre's 'high street' stores like Sportsgirl, Shieke, Review, Saba and more (although not Zara, as we both concede we'll never come out!) as well as a short stop to try on Kate Middleton's Thurley dress she wore to Wimbledon for kicks (not so good on a pear but Donny insists it looks cute on me nonetheless).
The case in favour: I didn't come out of the experience with
huge shopping list, which was surprisingly satisfying — okay so I did buy this blouse and an A-line skirt from Sheike — but more so a really, really, really good understanding of what kind of trends this season I can buy up on and the sort of basics that need to be injected into my wardrobe.
No matter what your budget, these stylists know the
huge shopping centres inside-out and can take you straight to that perfect necklace/dress/pair of jeans you've been looking
everywhere for, saving you hours of wondering aimlessly.
The case against: If you've spent the amount of time I have pouring over fashion magazines, discussing body-shape with your gal pals and occasionally guilty of pointing out stuff like: 'Scarlet Johansson soo shouldn't be wearing that pencil skirt with
those hips' then you might feel like you don't have as much to gain from a sesh as someone who would count themselves sartorially challenged.
The verdict: If you have any doubt what the season's trends are, know trends inside out but have trouble deciphering what looks good on your body or like your shopping short, sweet and productive, then 100% worth the tutorial.
Donny put it this way: you go to your hairdresser and beautician how many times a year, so a stylist is just another way of investing in your image and fashion intelligence.
If you have a wedding, new job or say royal tour of Canada coming up, go into your session with a strong agenda. You'll save yourself loads of starring-blankly-in-front-of-the-mirror time in change rooms and money buying a million things you have to return (and never do in time). The perfect 'occasion shopping' power shop. Trust us, your BF and even BFF will thank you for it!
The nitty gritty: One-on-one sessions with a Westfield stylist start from $90/hour. To book in your session or for more information visit a Westfield concierge desk or go online
here.
If you're not sure the service is for you, why not try out their 'Ask a Stylist' service? Simply submit any burning stylin' Q's you might have
here and someone will get back to you with an answer.
westfield.com.au
Like Grazia on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, right now!
HOME