GUIDE TO PERSONAL SHOPPING: HOW TO MINIMISE RETURNS & HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SHOPPING TRIP

In this interview with our newest stylist, Nathalie, I discuss the importance of sustainable shopping, and how to effectively maximise your time and minimise returns when you go shopping for new clothes to add to your wardrobe.

Stefania: Nathalie, welcome to the team! It’s fantastic to have you here. As our newest personal stylist, I know you bring a wealth of experience and passion to the table. Today, I’d love to talk with you about something that often frustrates our clients—returns. We've all been there: you buy something you love in the shop, but when you get home, it just doesn’t work. What are your top tips for minimising returns and making sure a shopping trip is successful?

Nathalie: Thank you, Stefania! I’m thrilled to be here and to share my thoughts on this topic. Minimising returns really comes down to preparation, understanding your personal style, and being mindful during the shopping process. One of the most important steps is knowing your body shape and what flatters it. Before you even step foot in a shop, having a clear idea of what styles, cuts, and colours work best for you can save a lot of time and reduce the likelihood of buying something that doesn’t quite fit or flatter.

Stefania: That’s great advice. What about the actual shopping experience? How can clients ensure they’re making the right choices in the moment?

Nathalie: When you’re shopping, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and buy something just because it’s trendy or because it looks great on the mannequin. But it’s essential to think about how it fits into your existing wardrobe. Ask yourself: Can I style this with at least three different outfits I already own? If the answer is no, it might not be the best choice.

Another tip is to pay close attention to the fabric and quality. It’s tempting to go for a quick fix, but investing in pieces that are well-made and durable will serve you better in the long run. And don’t be afraid to try things on—walk around in them, see how they feel, and make sure they’re comfortable. If something feels off in the fitting room, it’s likely not going to get better at home.

Stefania: I couldn’t agree more. Comfort is key, and it’s something we always stress to our clients. What about online shopping? That’s an area where returns seem almost inevitable for many people. Do you have any specific tips for shopping online?

Nathalie: Online shopping can be tricky, but there are ways to make it more successful. First, always check the size guide and read customer reviews, especially when you’re shopping with a brand for the first time. Reviews often give insights into how an item fits and whether you might need to size up or down.

Secondly, if possible, stick to brands and styles you’re familiar with. You’re more likely to be satisfied with your purchase if you know how the brand’s sizing and cuts typically fit your body. And don’t forget to check the return policy before you buy—knowing you can easily return or exchange an item gives you peace of mind and can encourage you to try new things without too much risk.

Stefania: Excellent points! It’s all about being informed and mindful. Before we wrap up, do you have any final advice for someone who wants to have a truly successful shopping trip, whether it’s in-store or online?

Nathalie: My final piece of advice would be to trust your instincts and take your time. Shopping should be an enjoyable experience, not something rushed or stressful. If you’re unsure about a piece, don’t feel pressured to buy it on the spot. Take a moment to think about it, or even sleep on it if you’re shopping online. Often, that little bit of extra time can help you make a more confident decision.

And if you’re really looking to minimise returns and ensure that everything you buy is perfect for you, consider working with a personal stylist. We can provide that extra bit of guidance and expertise to help you make choices that you’ll love for years to come.

Stefania: Thank you, Nathalie! That’s such valuable advice. I’m sure our readers will find these tips incredibly helpful. And speaking of personal styling, I’d love to share a bit more about your background with them.

Meet Nathalie Bridges – Your New Personal Stylist

Nathalie Bridges is passionate about creating a positive impact on women’s lives through styling. At 55, as a wife and mother of two, Nathalie’s journey into personal style began later in life. During her career in the reinsurance industry, she discovered that her wardrobe was her primary means of self-expression and empowerment.

Nathalie firmly believes that dressing in clothes that flatter your shape and choosing the right colours for your skin tone can transform your appearance and boost your confidence. When you look your best, you feel your best, and this positively impacts everything you do.

Fashion and makeup have always been her passions, and meeting Stefania was the turning point that transformed this passion into a vocation. Under Stefania’s expert guidance, Nathalie has honed her skills to help other women feel and look their best. Now, she’s excited to share this knowledge with you!

If you’re interested in having a successful shopping trip without the hassle of returns, why not book a personal shopping session with Nathalie? She’ll guide you through the process, helping you make the right choices tailored to your style and needs.

PERSONAL SHOPPER TIPS: MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SHOPPING TRIP

If you have already managed to get to your local high street, you will have noticed that many people are making the most of once again being able to shop, eat, and connect with loved ones. But the new normal may feel a little daunting in terms of getting out and shopping for perfect items for your wardrobe, without wasting your time and money.

In this article, I wanted to share my guide to maximising your shopping trip to make it enjoyable, functional, and economical. This is so important, as shopping, particularly for fashion, should be an enjoyable experience. For many, it can be overwhelming and expensive, particularly as at the moment, many stores are not allowed to have changing rooms.

Have your technology ready

The first important thing to note for going shopping after lockdown is that many stores will have a QR code to scan for your NHS tracker. Make sure you have that set up on your phone, and can easily check in and move into the store.

Technology can also be really handy too to help you know the items you want to get – so bring your phone with your style board already downloaded (if you’d like your very own style & confidence boosting guide, book my styling session!). This can be a really excellent way to make sure you are picking up the right items for your personal style, without getting distracted by the current trends that feel shiny and new, but may not suit your current wardrobe.

Know what you need, and what you want

What you need and what you want are two wonderfully different things when it comes to shopping. Knowing which of each you would like to get when shopping will help you feel more in control of what you are looking for, rather than aimlessly walking through shops, feeling like you can’t find what you want!

How to know what you need:

1.       Consider the outfits you already have and love – see if they need an update for the season

2.       If you have a go-to outfit that you love, but perhaps an item doesn’t fit, or you have only one so can only wear it once, then see what extras you need to replicate the look regularly!

3.       Know your basics – do you have them? For example – do you have an easy to wear light jumper for spring; perfect jeans you can pop on and feel confident in; a tee that can be comfortable but suitable for seeing colleagues, loved ones, and friends; and if you need an update in shoe options since we’ve been in slippers for a year!

How to know what you want:

1.       If you love a certain style of outfit but your wardrobe doesn’t currently accommodate, you can see if you can make this from items you find while shopping

2.       Non-essential items in your wardrobe, but ones that will bring a little more personality and joy to your outfits.

3.       Special occasion events – let’s be honest, we aren’t going out to lots of parties, so a special occasion outfit isn’t as essential as work, meeting, and networking outfits!

Once you have your “needs” and “wants” lists with you, keep them in your bag so you can refer back to them throughout your shopping trip and tick them off as you pick them up.

Do some research!

One thing my clients find so helpful once we’ve had our personal shopping together is seeing how we plan prior to the shopping trip. I do my research on local shops that offer the colours, cuts, styles, and personal brand options that my client wants.

This helps us to know more than just the right shops to visit, but also that they will be a good shop to go to and enjoy the experience. For example, if you are looking solely for excellent jeans, then you should find the highest recommended jeans shop in your area, or go to a store like Selfridges which has a lot on offer in one easy to visit area. You can then try different brands to see which ones fit your body best.

Within this research stage, you could check out the outfit ideas that are shown on the shop’s Instagram, and website to inspire you for future outfits. It’s also important to know the sizes that fit you in this store. This can be a learning curve, and without being able to try on in the store for many shops, you may want to get a few sizing options and ignore the number – it is different in so many places and is not a reflection of anything other than the shop’s creations.

Enjoy the shopping experience

My most important thing to remember when you go shopping is to enjoy it.

So often we are rushing around, feeling concerned about our timing, other things to do, where to go, and what to find. With your research and list in your pocket, your style knowledge on your phone so you know exactly which colours, cuts, and stores to gravitate to, you have removed the stress element. Then you can make the experience an enjoyable one.

Give yourself time to walk around the shops – don’t have appointments you have to rush to afterwards, let this be a meeting with yourself that you can enjoy.

Find a local coffee shop for a pick me up – I find having some delicious coffee, or tea, stopping for lunch, and knowing the little places you can stop, recuperate, and enjoy the day, is so important to my mindset when shopping.

Bring a friend – when we are able to shop with different households, see if you can bring a friend that is confidence-boosting, who knows you well, and can perhaps bring a different idea to your clothing choices that really reflect you, but perhaps push you to new styles you may not have picked up.

Use a professional – if you still feel overwhelmed by the whole experience, I would love to recommend finding a local stylist who can help you. Whether it’s an online guide, a personalised experience, or just seeing what professionals suggest, will make shopping happy for you.

I hope these tips have helped you feel more encouraged about the shopping experience for yourself. If you have any questions or want to discuss how I can help, please reach out – I love making sure all of my clients get to enjoy their wardrobe and feel confident every day.

PERSONAL SHOPPING TIPS – HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE NEW WAY OF SHOPPING

I have seen with clients recently, and throughout London, that people are concerned and unsure about what will happen with shopping in the future. In Italy, my hometown, they permit you to try on clothes in their shops, with face masks and hand sanitiser required to ensure the safety of shoppers. However, in London, some bigger brands such as Zara, are not permitting shoppers to try on their clothes in their shops. Smaller brands will allow you to try on the clothes, and they will then take these away, sterilise them, steam them, and putting them back into the store for safe use.

For me, it is very difficult not to try things on. Even if shops will allow you to take clothes home, with extended returns policies, there may be some difficulties in terms of bringing back items.

Here are my tips for shopping with these new regulations in place, to help put you at ease.

1.  Research shops in your local shopping centres that will permit you to try on clothes. You can find out on their websites what their policies are, and this can help you navigate the shops that will give you the time and opportunity to really ensure the items you are buying will fit.

2.  Plan your shopping trip at less busy times, if you are able. With the new measures in place, many shops are only allowing a certain number of shoppers into their stores, so you will want to, if you can, go at quieter times. This will stop you having to wait for a long time in queues.

3.  Take several items home with you. This can be the best option when trying isn’t allowed but you really love something, take it home with you and then plan the time to return the items (if any!).

4. Use a personal stylist! They can do the research and planning for you – taking away the stress of wondering if a shop will permit you to try on clothes. You can then be much more confident that when you are going shopping with a personal stylist, that the shops you are visiting will allow you to try on clothes.

5.  A personal stylist can also take back your return items should you have found items in stores that are not allowing customers to try on clothes.

A personal stylist is someone who can take away the stress of shopping in pre-covid situations, and now, more than ever, their knowledge and experience can truly assist you in your shopping experience. They will know a huge range of brands that can work for your figure, your personal style, and your preferences. They can also assist you with finding items you may not have originally thought about, making it a fun and exciting experience.

Now is a great time to use a personal stylist too, as the shops are less busy, giving you more time to safely browse through clothes with your companion by your side, helping you find items that will truly work for you. Sales assistants will also, more than ever, be more available as they will have less customers in their stores and are working hard to ensure customers get the best experience during the less busy times, as customer loyalty is essential for their brand.

WHY BE PRIMARK WHEN YOU CAN BE GUCCI?

You want to look effortlessly stylish, but your patience is short, and you struggle to find a great fit, in that ‘wow’ colour.

So, you end up in the same bland colours you’ve always worn with no inclination to spend your precious time-off on shopping trips that leave you in despair.

Your wardrobe is bursting with clothes you never wear because you didn’t really know how to choose. Some items have the tags still attached after your disastrous impulse buys.

A personal colour analysis is the answer to your problems – delivering a valuable service that saves you time, money, and stress.

At your consultation, you will learn the exact colour palate from 16 seasons (rather than the usual 4) that perfectly matches your skin tone, so you will look radiant and feel amazing. When you feel good on the inside, it shows on the outside.

You’ll also learn how to buy less, wear more using my unique method, saving you money and creating a beautifully arranged closet. Your sustainable wardrobe is not only good for your finances, it’s great for the environment too.

You’ll be encouraged to try new options which push you out of your comfort zone, enabling to develop your own sense of style and increase your confidence.

You’ll get tailored advice on the latest trends, so you’ll be able to enjoy the shopping experience.

As an extra benefit, you will also get a personalised make-up session enabling you to perfect the complete look for your skin type and tone.

Your personal colour analysis consultation will save you heaps of time and money by enabling you to purchase the ideal clothes that make you look and feel self-assured, elegant, relaxed or funky – whatever works for you.

You can save the cost of this service (£185) in your first shop simply by having the right information and confidence to make the perfect purchases every time and cutting out the wasted hours in store.

Get in touch to find out more or book an online consultation and get your wardrobe ready for autumn/winter 2020.

One of a style, because you are one of a kind.

Stefania

PERSONAL SHOPPER ADVICE: HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR OUTFIT FOR A WEDDING?

Summer 2017 is approaching and so the Wedding Season (as most of the weddings are celebrated in summer indeed!).

Stefania, image consultant - founder of One of a Style - wants with this video share 3 tips for guests (women) who are attending one or more weddings in the coming season, to help them with their selection of dressed and outfits. 

This idea came after as she dealt with lots of clients in the past who asked her consultation to find dresses and accessories to attend weddings. It is clear that this is not an easy subject and that most people (especially women) get lost, and sometimes crazy, in their seeks of an appropriate outfit for the occasion.

1st tip Stefania gives is about the location and venue, and so the style, of the wedding (villa or country house?! Castle or restaurant?!) that can make the difference in the choice of the dress'style!

2nd tip is about the accessories features! An outstanding outfit is not just done by the dress but by the whole set of elements and embellishment. She suggests to find metallic accessories (gold / silver/ rose gold...) that can be easily matching between them and with all the colours of the spectrum for a dress! A smart choice above all if you have more than one wedding/even in a single season, so that you can change the dress but leave the same accessories (shoes, clutch, jewellery).

3rd tip is more than everything the answer to a question many clients asked her : can we wear white or black at a wedding? If you wish to know the answer have a look to the video :-) We don't want to spoil you everything, do we?! 

PERSONAL SHOPPER ADVICE: SALE TIME..HOW TO MAKE IT A REAL BARGAIN!

Christmas is yet to come but shops all around London have opened the sale season already!

Sales are tempting, aren’t they?! Everyone is waiting for the sales to get the chance to renew their wardrobe with new fashionable pieces; sales are the great opportunity we have, twice a year, to catch great “occasions”! Yet, it is so easy to make the bargain become a bad investment (not to say a waste of money)..

We are tempted by those tags reporting a 30%, a 40%, 50% discount on and even more, and most of the time we buy certain pieces just because of those numbers, thinking “I can’t let them go, that’s a real occasion”!! Yet, most of the time, once at home we realize we have nothing to wear with what we bought on sale, or that they do not fit us that well, and eventually we let them “age” in our wardrobe.

If we would count all the money we spent in one year on wrong purchases on sale, I bet it is quite a big amount! With the same money we could have bought something more valuable, really good for us, something truly useful to complement our existing wardrobe, or we could have simply them.tI am an image consultant and personal shopper and among my services there is the wardrobe edit. My words come for a reason.. through this services to my clients' I’ve seen so many of these situations, new items still with the tag on, never worn, bought ages before, and the answer to the question “why did you buy it?” is quite often the same: “it was an occasion!”... was it?!

Do not misunderstand me, sales can really be a bargain, but we need to understand how to shop wisely and avoid compulsive choices that would make them become only a "trick".

So here are some shopping tips, simple advice that can really help you to save your money, time and energy during the sale time: 

Ask yourself “would I pay for the whole price”?

Despite the discount, asking yourself this question will help you to understand the real value of an item and your real need of it. If the answer to this question will be "no, I wouldn't" , then leave it where it is.. it means you don't really love or need it and that you are tempted by the price and the discount = it would become a trick not a bargain.

Write down a list

It's always good to know what your wardrobe gaps are, but especially during sales time! Having your list with you during your shopping tour will help you doing a first important selection.

Go beyond that list just if you really fall in love with something, even if it is not mentioned in the list (but never forget point 1).

Stick to your style

Despite the fashion trends of the moment, despite the percentage of discount and the sales assistant persuasion, before buying something ask yourself if it really reflects your style and if you are really going to use it and wear it the next season! Sometimes we are tempted by celebrities or fashion bloggers, we want to wear what they wear and sales are just the perfect time to buy something extra to emulate our style icons. Very well, but what suits them won’t necessarily suit you, so always think if what you are trying on is really reflecting your personality and matching your lifestyle, otherwise it will last the time of the journey back home to become eventually another “untouched” piece in your closet.

Stick to your size

If it’s not your size leave it where it is. Be honest with yourself..If it’s smaller don’t think you are going to loose weight just to wear it. If it’s bigger you know you are never going to wear it, cause you won’t like yourself in it, as it is not going to enhance you and I don’t think you would rather put on weight, at least not on purpose, to make it fitting you. Save your money for what fits you perfectly.

Go to your favourite shops first

Rather than going randomly from a shop to another in the High Streets, make a list of your favourite brands/shops and start with them in your shopping tours. What usually work for you or what usually makes you satisfied throughout the year rarely will let you down on sale time either. After that, if you still have time, money and energy, or if you won't feel totally satisfied by your purchases, go have a look to other stores/brands..there can always be room for new favourites to add to your list!

Be on your favourite store's mailing list

The problem with the sales is that shops run out of sizes and stocks very quickly, so being late means having less chances to find items that suit us, for size, shape and colours, with an inevitable sense of frustration. Being on the mailing list of your favourite brands will allow you to be there at the very beginning of the sales time , getting more chances of finding the most suitable pieces for you.

Plan your shopping time wisely

Avoiding weekends and afternoons in general will give you a better assistants in store, better services in general, tidier stores and so more chances to find what you are looking for, in a nicer and quieter atmosphere. Too crowded places can make the shopping experience become stressful and unsatisfying, while we want to enjoy it, don't we!?

Dress comfortably

You are supposed to try on lots of things or, anyway, more than usual, so having comfortable clothes and shoes, easy to put on and take off, will help you to do less efforts and waste less energies. Being fresh will make you take good choices.

Stick to your colours

One of the services I do in a personal styling package is the colour analysis. If you have been my client in the past or you ever had a colour analysis in your life you should know what your best colours are. During sale time be carefull not to be tempted by the price, buying something in colours that you know will drag you down or will overpower your features. Once at home you won’t wear it anymore. Not to mention that, if you followed your palette to build up your wardrobe, something completely different in shades would most likely not match all the rest of your wardrobe with a consequent abandon of purchases on sale. 

Well, these tips should be enough to prevent wrong and compulsive purchases from now on.

I hope you did enjoy my article and, more than everything, that you will find it useful for your next shopping tours.

Merry Christmas to you all

PERSONAL SHOPPER ADVICE: DO NOT WASH!?

I bet this is something that happened to most of you at least once in your lifetime, buying a nice garment and then finding this "funny" symbol on its care label the minute before putting it into the washing machine:

For those of you don't know it yet, let me introduce you the "do not wash" symbol.

I came up with the idea of this article after I had a personal shopping tour with a client. She was in love with a white coat, determined to buy it, and I was even encouraging her because it suited her very much; but right before going to the till to pay for it I asked her to check the care label and, guess what!? the "funny" symbol was there!  

Now...can you imagine a white coat?

Pure, clear, magnetic.... just for one day probably!

It could become greyish in a snap just by touching something or leaning the elbows somewhere; not to mention the chance of getting it stained by eating or drinking something (and if you wear it for your nights out there is a high chance for it to happen).

So, what options did she have? Apparently two : buy it but leave it hanging in the closet, well preserved in its packaging, waiting for a very special occasion, or leave it in the shop. My clients, following my suggestion, choose option 2. A coat is quite an expensive piece of apparel, even in the high street chain shops, so she wisely thought it wasn't worth spending money on it. 

But, honestly, this is not fair; when it happens that we like a garment and it also really suits and enhances us, we should be free to buy it! 

I really wish to say something to all the apparel companies : probably they don't know it but a garment needs to be washed, If not right after we bought it, at least once we've worn it.

The problem is I've worked for several fashion companies in the past, because I used to be product developer and fashion designer before being an image consultant, and I know how it works. I can't and don't want to generalize, but most of the time companies simply prefer to avoid risks - by putting a "do not wash" symbol on a care label they prevent complains related to the washing/care of a garment. This is an easy and convenient option for them, not as convenient for their customer actually.

Let me tell you something : there is no fabric that cannot be washed! And in case it really exists it shouldn't be used to produce clothes (am I wrong?!). Obviously I'm not telling you to wash everything that has that symbol on its care label, I cannot guarantee that your garments can be really washed, there are many factors to be considered (for example if there are beads, delicate embroideries or any kind of embellishment on it) but I can tell you that as long as it's plain and the fabric is silk, viscose, cotton, linen, rayon, polyester, nylon and even wool, you can hand wash it or do a delicate and proper washing machine program; and if it's leather, a coat or a down jacket you can have it dry cleaned at the laundry. 

I've also got several garments that apparently cannot be washed, most of them are high quality brands and quite expensive, and I noticed this detail too late, but I decided to run the risk : I washed them! And you know what? The outcome was unbelievably perfect.

This is another reason why I'm writing these few words : now as in the past, when I was on the brands' side, I hate that customers are cheated! 

Take my words just as a warning but do what you really think is best for your clothes and act according to your ideas.

I just want to give you a warm advice for next time you go shopping for clothes : before buying a garment don't just look at the price tag, also check the care label and if you see the "do not wash" symbol leave it where it is, possibly explaining your reasons to the sales assistants. Your money is valuable, spend it wisely and avoid surprises!

This is, in fact, something I help my clients with during their personal shopping experiences with me. With my background in fashion I know well fabrics and how to treat them.