Guided shopping / Wardrobe makeover Experiences

[Naomi Knowles]

Trans men & women, shop clerks and wardrobe makeover service providers:

 

 

What are your experiences (1st or 2nd hand) with paid shopping consultants / trans clients, especially in the fashion sector?

 

 

Preferably in the UK, but it would be lovely to hear from elsewhere too!

[VickySGV]

I only did it once!  It was ok, but the clothing I got was only 3 times more in cost plus the consultants's fee than I really needed to have spent.  (The consultants get kick backs from the stores they get you to buy from as well.)  Interesting, but not thrilling.  I learned far more from being in a group of Trans women who just went shopping together, and we hit cheaper stores.  If you have the money and a busy schedule it will depend on the Personal Shopper you employ, and they are your employee in those circumstances. 

[Kirsten]

I have used stitch fix off and on for a couple years. The clothes are very nice. High quality boutique type clothes. But you do pay for it. Got my fav jeans from them for 90 dollars. But OMG!! They fit like a glove and are as comfy as my jammies. Plus they make my ass look great! ??‍♀️?

ive never used a more personal shopper. But this ones not bad. I also like amazon wardrobe. But you pick all that out yourself. So a little different. 

[Krisvm]

I have not used them as I have other people to help me out but I have used people that do them for makeup lessons and they seem lovely people. One local person I went to for a makeup and wardrobe suggestions sessions also does escorted trips and would have gone with them if I needed it. I have also heard second hand they are great experiences.

 

One thing I will say however is 99% of shop assistants are lovely and are willing to help anyway as they want the trade. Obviously it can be daunting but now one my favourite things is chatting to a shop assistant about if this suits me or what they might recommend to go with something. I think the makeup people at my local bodyshop must know me very well now with how often I will just chat to them about new lipsticks ☺️

 

Of course some that are nervous with trans people can just end being rude. I was trying on some pink glittery gloves (in a shop that shall remain nameless) and the assistant said "well obvious you don't buy from here often hahaha". I was freezing so still bought them and left but was peeved.

 

Sorry. Long way of saying: not tried them, heard they are good, most people in shops are willing to help out but it can be useful to have someone there.

[Krisvm]

Just now, Kirsten said:

I have used stitch fix off and on for a couple years. The clothes are very nice. High quality boutique type clothes. But you do pay for it. Got my fav jeans from them for 90 dollars. But OMG!! They fit like a glove and are as comfy as my jammies. Plus they make my ass look great! ??‍♀️?

 

Oh I just started using stitch fix too! They are quite good.

Some items are pricey and returned them but some stuff has been great. Got some jeans that are an amazing fit and really show off my backside (which I love).

[Naomi Knowles]

1 minute ago, Kirsten said:

I have used stitch fix off and on for a couple years. The clothes are very nice. High quality boutique type clothes. But you do pay for it. Got my fav jeans from them for 90 dollars. But OMG!! They fit like a glove and are as comfy as my jammies. Plus they make my ass look great! ??‍♀️?

ive never used a more personal shopper. But this ones not bad. I also like amazon wardrobe. But you pick all that out yourself. So a little different. 

 

Just now, Krisvm said:

Oh I just started using stitch fix too! They are quite good.

Some items are pricey and returned them but some stuff has been great. Got some jeans that are an amazing fit and really show off my backside (which I love).

 

 

Intrigued, just filled in their questionnaire (which I enjoy filling out, I'm sad like that ?)and have a box coming next week apparently!

 

Anxious about the business model, as I like to see the price of what I'm supposed to be buying BEFORE hand. But as someone who is relatively fashion-blind, I appreciate putting the onus of finding suitable clothes on someone else ?

 

 

[Naomi Knowles]

1 hour ago, VickySGV said:

I only did it once!  It was ok, but the clothing I got was only 3 times more in cost plus the consultants's fee than I really needed to have spent.  (The consultants get kick backs from the stores they get you to buy from as well.)  Interesting, but not thrilling.  I learned far more from being in a group of Trans women who just went shopping together, and we hit cheaper stores.  If you have the money and a busy schedule it will depend on the Personal Shopper you employ, and they are your employee in those circumstances. 

 

Shopping with fellow Trans actually sounds like a solid strategy come to think about it. Don't know why I didn't think of that before, haha?

[Kirsten]

4 hours ago, Krisvm said:

Oh I just started using stitch fix too! They are quite good.

Some items are pricey and returned them but some stuff has been great. Got some jeans that are an amazing fit and really show off my backside (which I love).

That really seems to be their thing. I have a couple pair of pants form them that all really accentuate the wee derrière that I have. Lol. 

I like it mostly because they send me things I’d never pick myself. And some of it ends up looking pretty good actually. 

[Naomi Knowles]

On 5/29/2019 at 9:32 PM, Kirsten said:

That really seems to be their thing. I have a couple pair of pants form them that all really accentuate the wee derrière that I have. Lol. 

I like it mostly because they send me things I’d never pick myself. And some of it ends up looking pretty good actually. 

 

 

Pretty much my experience with them, quite impressed!

 

It's so hard to find a pair of jeans that fit my waist AND my short legs. But they rose to the challenge and now my old favourite jeans have been supplanted by something with more flex in them.

 

Would never normally consider a yellow floral top, but I was actually very impressed with what they sent. Looking forward to spinning the wheel of mystery again in the future!

[Ellora]

Sephora has a makeup Service: “Special event around the corner? Come get ready with us. A Beauty Advisor will work with you to create the perfect full-face look that flatters your features, whether it's soft and subdued or bright and bold. Free with $50 purchase. Limit of one Makeup Deluxe per client per day.” The are trained to help the trans community. I will be trying it for Pride in July, and I will post the pics, if I like them, ? 

[lauraincolumbia]

10 hours ago, Ellora said:

Sephora has a makeup Service: “Special event around the corner? Come get ready with us. A Beauty Advisor will work with you to create the perfect full-face look that flatters your features, whether it's soft and subdued or bright and bold. Free with $50 purchase. Limit of one Makeup Deluxe per client per day.” The are trained to help the trans community. I will be trying it for Pride in July, and I will post the pics, if I like them, ? 

Do they offer this at all Sephora stores?

 

[lauraincolumbia]

Just now, lauraincolumbia said:

Do they offer this at all Sephora stores?

 

I looked on Sephora's website and found this:

https://www.sephora.com/happening/classes/OLR-EC__Pyez0ZzP?storeId=0382&startDate=2019-06-16T17:00:00Z&name=CLASSES FOR CONFIDENCE%3A Bold Beauty for the Transgender Community&city=San Francisco&state=CA

 

Has anyone tried it?   Unfortuantely, in the next two months there is only one time available, and that's at a location 50 miles away from me.

[Ellora]

Just now, lauraincolumbia said:

Do they offer this at all Sephora stores?

 

I hope so! I do not know about everyone, but the store as a whole does train their people to do it. Try Calling some local stores to see if they have anyone trained for trans people. Best of luck! 

[Krisvm]

Annoying Sephora isn't a presence in the UK, otherwise I would so do this.

I enjoy doing it just when I have some time to spare in normal stores that do makeup. The only thing is I usually then end up buying more than I intended...

 

[Astrid]

You can check for the nearest Sephora store that offers the Classes for Confidence event (usually held in the morning before normal business hours) here:

 

https://www.sephorastands.com/classes_for_confidence/

 

I attended the very first week they were offered in June of 2018.  While positive, I came away feeling that it was much more focused on the MtF trans folks who attended rather than non-binary folks, even though it was advertised as being for both.

[Kirsten]

I’m very hot and cold on Sephora. They do help with some things. And they do their trans class. But on regular days when it’s their mostly younger aged workers, they seem pretty put out when Ive shown up. The guys tend to be more helpful than the girls in my local Sephora. But if I am in Boston, they’re really great all the time. So I guess I’d recommend a busier location from my personal experience. 

 

The other thing that that annoys me about them is that they really push the most expensive stuff they sell to me at least. They aren’t pushing the Sephora brand. (Which is decent and much lower cost vs other brands they carry). 

 

I havent ever had them do my makeup in store though beyond my foundation once. And the primer/foundation combo they used and recommended was 160 dollars for the 2 small tubes. No thank you. And my god was it heavy! I’m not a big flashy makeup girl..... unless it’s something special..... It just wasn’t my deal I guess. 

[Naomi Knowles]

Almost certain there will be a similar service in the UK for makeup confidence somewhere. My local Boots store has a full on makeup counter that might acquiesce to a cheeky makeup session, not sure about actual classes though. Mind, trying to take photos of myself in the mirror with my new clothes struck me down with ferocious anxiety over my face, so there will be no enquiries from me until it calms back down to levels that allow me to function properly ?

[SaraAW]

Sadly, it does not look like Sephora offers this in Canada. I’m just outside Toronto and thought for sure when I clicked the link at least one of the Toronto stores would offer this.  They all were listed as no times available. I guess YouTube will continue to be my tutor. 

[SaraAW]

Ooo... scratch that. There are sessions it just uses a different link.  Can’t wait to try this. Thank you all for this tip.