So you're fed up with shopping? You can't seem to find the time, and, quite frankly, come Saturday you'd rather stay at home than stand in a stuffy clothes shop. Considering the ambivalent - possibly even hostile - attitude many of us have to shopping, help is definitely needed. Enter the personal shopper, to grateful applause. Previously the recourse only of those who were unable to make decisions for themselves, this service has recently come of age. As most people's lives become increasingly pressured, it's likely to be in greater and greater demand.
There are currently two types of personal shopper available: the in-house consultant; and the independent one. Generally, consultants within a department store operate on a no-fee basis, whereas if someone is specifically employed, then naturally a charge will be incurred. Who should use a personal shopper? Anybody, as long as you're serious about what is involved. As a rule, personal shoppers find businesswomen the easiest to deal with because of their no-nonsense manner. Yet any woman who is willing to trust someone else's opinion and who wants to try something new can benefit. The trick is being prepared to put your trust in another person's taste. You should also be someone who appreciates constructive criticism. While personal shoppers are unlikely to tell you that your rear looks gargantuan in those trousers, you do need someone who will give you an honest answer to the "does my bum look big in this?" query.
Where? Brown Thomas, Grafton Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-6795666.
Personal shopping consultant: Joan Murphy.
Cost: No fee. Consultation by appointment only.
Service: Following a brief consultation on the phone, clients are brought to a private space at the back of Brown Thomas's designer rooms, where an array of outfits is waiting. The private changing room is quite glamorous with a red chaise longue and a hassle-free atmosphere which tempts you to stay for hours. Brown Thomas's consultant Joan Murphy has been working as a personal shopper for over three years and her sense of style is impeccable. Immediately on looking at me, she'd decided that labels such as Miu Miu, Whistles and Press & Bastyan would suit, and I was more than comfortable to leave things in her capable hands.
I wanted a wedding outfit that was smart but slightly avant-garde. After trying on several dresses, we both decided that the bias-cut, tweed-lurex-mohair dress, £315 by Joseph was the best. It is from the autumn/winter collection so makes the perfect choice for an August wedding.
Verdict: The dresses which Joan picked out for me to try were all suitable to my taste but they weren't ones I would have picked out for myself. A full-length orange John Rocha dress gave me the biggest surprise, not least because it is the kind of colour which usually makes me look horribly pasty. Still, trying to keep an open mind, I put it on and couldn't believe that both the shade and style actually suited me. Joan was an enormous help, not only with regard to the task in hand, but she was also quick to offer other bits of advice and suggestions regarding tailoring and coordinating outfits.
Where? Arnotts Department Store, Henry Street, Dublin 1. Tel: 01-8050400.
Personal shopping consultant: Pamela Price.
Cost: No fee for Arnotts cardholders, £25 for non-cardholders which is redeemable against any purchases.
Service: An initial "information" phone call is followed by a meeting in the store. Then, while Pamela whips round the extensive array of labels currently stocked by Arnotts, clients are encouraged to follow her, offering a "yes/no/maybe" at suitable moments. What's chosen is then brought into a changing room for the all-important trying-on session. There's currently no private changing area in Arnotts. However, the store does intend to redress this in the near future, as the service is only in the early stages. If you're taking the plunge, opt for a morning session during the week. I was looking for a formal wedding outfit. A predictable preference for black had been expressed by me but Pamela was keen to steer me into creamy colours which I was also willing to try. After an hour spent scouting, the complete outfit included: a dress, £40, by Richards Petite; long jacket, £90, by Principles Petite; hat, £60, by Balbo; silver necklace, £35, from Principles; and shoes, £10, by Nine West. Some of these are sale prices.
Verdict: Having worked as a consultant for Colour Me Beautiful for over 10 years, Pamela's knowledge of colour is invaluable for those who are looking to escape from their perennial favourites. Yet, while she made some excellent suggestions, I felt she was more comfortable with conservative collections like Principles and Kaliko, while she shied away from younger, trend-conscious labels such as Mango and French Connection. Subsequently, I ended up with an outfit which was certainly very suitable for a wedding but not quite suitable for me. Having said that, we were pressed for time, so a few decisions were made under pressure. I enjoyed the couple of hours spent with Pamela; she was kind and helpful and would be an enormous boon to women who favour a classic look.
Where? Anywhere and everywhere
Personal shopping consultant: Trysha Fitzmaurice, Simply Shopping. Tel/fax: 014937884 or mobile: 086-8430993. Email: simplyshopping@indigo.ie
Cost: Average £40 an hour for personal shopping consultancy (fee negotiable, depending on time).
Service: Trysha meets clients for a preliminary getting-to-know-you cup of coffee, during which she asks the usual questions: What do you want the outfit for? Where do you normally shop? What do you hate? Do you have any complexes? Trysha is easy-going and personable, and her straightforward, common-sense approach to fashion is complemented by a keen sense of style.
Outfit: I was looking for a younger wedding outfit, so we decided to forgo a hat and keep it simple. First choice: Full-length crochet black dress, £84.95, and crochet cardigan, £64.95, both reduced in sale at Karen Millen, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin 2 . Shoes, £39, at Principles, Grafton Street, Dublin. Second choice: Dress, £160, by Helmut Lang, and satin-edged top, £65 (both sale items) at Whistles, Balfe Street, Dublin 2.
Verdict: An enjoyable few hours which ended in an unexpected success. We started off in Richard Alan but the not-quite-up-my-street look on my face led us swiftly out of there and into Whistles, where I instantly gave the thumbs-up to a Helmut Lang number. After opting for simple shoes in Principles I was ready to retire, but Trysha insisted that we have another quick scout. Despite my objection to super-tight, body-conscious clothing, we ended up in Karen Millen and before I knew where I was squeezed into a glam, full-length, black crochet dress. It wasn't something I would ever have chosen myself, but I was really pleased with it. It was also great to see myself in something full length, as considering my height (or lack of it), I usually steer clear of anything past my calves.
Other stores with personal shopping services:
Where? Debenhams, Jervis Centre, Dublin 1. Tel: 01-8781222.
Personal shopping consultant: Ena O'Rourke.
Cost: No fee.
Service: There is a private changing room where Ena consults clients, and she can be booked for up to two hours. While you may be able to get an appointment without booking, it is advisable to phone ahead to avoid disappointment.
Where? The Design Centre, Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin 2. Tel: 016795718.
Personal shopping consultant: There is no specific consultant on hand, but all staff are able to help.
Cost: No fee.
Service: There is a private, spacious changing room allocated. Consultation by appointment only.
Where? Marks & Spencer, Grafton Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-6797855.
Personal shopping consultant: Beatrice Marcroft-Falvey. However, if she is not available then there are other shopping consultants who can help.
Cost: No fee.
Service provided: No special changing room allocated. Consultation by appointment only.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/SJQTLMCMMRC2PLALXUKEWWS6HU.png)