Share

Oh, so this is what it feels like to have a personal stylist

accreditation

I thought I knew what a personal shopper meant. An efficient, stylish and entirely neutral observer who would, at the drop of a trendy hat, procure a closet full of gorgeous clothes.

A whimsical and artsy fashion fairy, who would wave her magic wand and at a second’s notice have me transformed into a veritable style icon.

So, I was entirely surprised when the super-friendly and terrifyingly well-dressed young mom arrived at my door with an extremely scientific interview guide and bag full of colourful material to test the perfect match for my skin tone.

In line with the golden rule for attaining all things worthwhile, it quickly became clear that the “no pain, no gain” maxim would apply in this case too. What was not clear, but would only emerge later, was the deep process of self-reflection that would be required to liberate me from my eternal shopping struggle.

The lesson in fabric and fashion had turned unnervingly to a deeply personal examination of who I am

The session started with a welcome opportunity to vent about the myriad frustrations and stresses of developing a flexible yet on trend wardrobe that offers suitable attire for any occasion.

If you are a woman of pretty much any age, you know all about the endless shopping trips that end in tears, despair and tequila worthy migraines; overfull cupboards of brand new, yet frustratingly unwearable items and thousands of rands wasted in the process.

However, despite my desperate hopes for quick fix, the first probing question indicated that the solution would not be as simple as I had naively assumed.  As I wondered whether my current style is chic or bohemian, conservative or bold; I started to realise that my wardrobe woes are rooted in something far deeper than misguided colour co-ordination.  

My struggle stemmed from a less superficial source: a sense of self-identity. The lesson in fabric and fashion had turned unnervingly to a deeply personal examination of who I am, what I stand for and how much of myself I am willing to reveal through my dress choices.

Read more: Fashion industry unmasked - why trends are never really new

Suddenly, the difficulty I have with representing myself externally was exposed as mere symptom of something deeply internal, the very essence of who I am.

I was being asked not to describe my ideal dress but the things I care about, the hobbies I love and the activities and causes that fill my days. By answering how much skin I would reveal, a lifetime worth of religious teaching about modesty was brought to the fore.  

Incidentally, it turns out that socialising and Netflix aren’t legitimate hobbies and that my adherence to the dress code laws entrenched since childhood are laced with a sense of shame and fear.

Hiring a personal stylist turned out to be a wonderfully rewarding experience, which I highly recommend. While it may not have been the easiest hour of my life, it was certainly one of the most enlightening.

Like many other challenges, my wardrobe worries were resolved with the perfect ingredients: a caring advisor; honest self-reflection and a good old tape measure. 

*Names have been changed.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE