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Feel frumpy? Stylists aren't only for celebrities
Makeover shows have an effect on corporate climbersSunday, April 23, 2006
By Raizel Michelow
Newhouse News Service
The dowdy drudge who shares your cubicle at work suddenly looks great. Her hair and clothes have polish. Her confidence has improved, and she's up for the promotion you weren't even considered for. Advertisement
Fortunately for you, she is willing to share her secret: a personal stylist.
"They're not just for the stars," she says.
Indeed, the personal stylists and wardrobe consultants who update, revamp and enhance appearances can make regular clients feel like celebrities.
"People may own lots of clothes but don't know how to pull them together; I offer education and solutions," says Donna Morrow-Alusheff, who left a career at Barneys New York to become a stylist and fashion merchandiser in Cleveland.
The number of such consultants is growing, says Debra Lindquist, vice president for marketing at the Association of Image Consultants International in Denver, which provides certification and continuing education. She says the association has about 800 members.
"There seems to be a collective understanding that we never get a second chance to make a great first impression, and that opportunity is not as expensive as one might believe," says Cathy Randall of Step Into Style, a wardrobe consulting firm and association member in Beachwood, Ohio.
Randall's fees are $200 to $250 for the initial in-depth consultation and $50 an hour for shopping. Some experts require an initial investment of $1,000, while others offer free initial consultations. Some independent retailers will edit clients' closets at no charge and make wardrobe suggestions.
The makeover shows on television are having a trickle-down effect, says Marion Gellatly, president of the consulting association.
Though the terms often are used interchangeably, there are differences between stylists and wardrobe consultants, says Gellatly. A stylist matches a person to a dress or a suit, but a wardrobe consultant takes into account a person's goals, coloring, body shape, taste and lifestyle.
While they might keep your measurements on file, stylists and wardrobe consultants can provide more than shopping services. Your consultant should have a clear picture of your needs and create a wardrobe blueprint to ensure that you make intelligent purchases that work with the rest of the items in your closet.
After an initial consultation, services can be as extensive as an in-depth closet cleansing or as minimal as shopping for a few select accessories. Ultimately you will be left with a foundation of basics and a palette to build on, as well as an understanding of what works best for you.
Depending on your preferences, newly coordinated outfits might be hung together, or the stylist will photograph each new creation for convenient reference. If needed, a stylist can put together an outfit for a special occasion.
Clients come from all age groups. Most people seeking wardrobe consultants are in the process of transition: from one job to another, from married to divorced, from overweight to thin, from corporate executive to stay-at-home mom. Or they realize they have been dressing the same way for the past decade and nothing fits or looks right anymore. Consultants to teens can come up with a concept acceptable to both mother and daughter when there are conflicts.
Leslie Klein hired Morrow-Alusheff, whom Klein has known since Morrow-Alusheff's days at Barneys New York.
"Donna has a great sense of style," says Klein. "However, she has never imposed her taste on me. She has helped me develop my own look and add unique touches, especially accessories, to my wardrobe. . . . I also tend to be a saver, so Donna will come in and help me work with what I own and weed out what I don't need."
Klein says Morrow-Alusheff, whose services cost $50 an hour, works fast and can edit her closet and address her wardrobe needs in four hours, "perhaps a little more."
Men also are turning to wardrobe experts to help finesse their image.
"It seems that many men's biggest concern is to update their look while conserving their style," says Rachael Lorenz of San Francisco, who works with men who are re-entering the dating scene.
Women and men are also finding styling and wardrobe assistance online. Sites such as CoutureCandy.com offer live assistance at no fee but hope you will shop on their sites.
Lindquist says to do some homework before hiring a consultant. Know his or her experience and credentials. A person with long-term experience will work differently and most likely charge more than someone who is new to the business. Make sure your stylist has a strong point of view, and you agree with that point of view. Draw up a budget and determine that the person you decide on is able to work within that budget.
Her association's membership is listed on its Web site, www.aici.org.
source: The Times-Picayune