Since launching my Personal Styling sessions, I have had a few questions about the process of working with a client, from the consultation to the final result. So I put together this post to break it down and show you the steps I take.
I am a firm believer that most of us have everything we need already in our wardrobes, but having too much can hinder our abilities to see exactly what we have and can really overwhelm us when trying to piece together our everyday outfits.
This service helps you create the perfect Capsule Wardrobe for you, without having to buy a whole new set of clothes. I will show you that you already have an incredible wardrobe, and with the right knowledge you will be able to put together completely new outfits from what you ALREADY OWN!
Life is busy enough without struggling to get dressed in the morning. Start your day the right way with a wardrobe of items that make you feel amazing and that you are excited to wear.
The Consultation
In the initial consultation, I will ask a bunch of questions about your expectations, where you want your wardrobe to be, your style, your lifestyles etc. I want to get to know you as a persona and also get to know your style. It’s so important to get a sense of what someone does each day to know how to put together a wardrobe they will want to wear and that will be appropriate for their everyday lives (work, leisure, social life etc). I aks what they already love about their wardrobe or their style, what they don’t like, and what they want their end result to be eg. Easier to get dressed in the mornings, More outfit combinations from what they own, Discover their Personal Style, reinvent their style etc.
If you’re curious about my process of working with clients, you can watch the video below to see what kinds of questions I ask in order to gather enough information about your style and lifestyle, to build you your ideal wardrobe. This will take you through step-by-step. After the video, come back and I’ll talk you through the Capsule I put together and the outfit combinations (below).
The Capsule (Summer 2020)
After this initial consultation, I put together a 29 piece Summer Capsule based around a colour palette of some of my client’s favourite colours. I made sure to include some of the pieces she wore a lot and really loved to wear. However, she mentioned in the consultation that she wanted her style to be more ‘chic’ so I removed some of the heavier printed pieces and stuck to some more block colours, which can look a bit more simple, effortless and chic.
My process involves working with pieces the client already owns, as I don’t believe you need to go shopping every time you want a new look or a ‘refresh’. The majority of us will have the basics already in our wardrobes, it may just be a case of having too much, having too many colours or prints that don’t go together, not knowing how to style the pieces in enough versatile ways, or simply boredom from looking at the same pieces in the same ways for years.
I will also help to identify any gaps in your wardrobe, such as a simple plain blazer to act as a great summer jacket, a pair of black jeans for a more dressy option, a pair of dressy shoes to up-level your outfits etc. But it will be entirely up to you if you want to add anything new into your wardrobe. If you do, I can also help you source these pieces second hand if sustainability is important to you (because it definitely is to me).
Outfit Combinations
I then put together lots of outfit combinations with the pieces in the above capsule, to show how versatile the pieces can be and to introduce some outfit combinations that my client may not have considered before. I was conscious to include a mix of dressy and everyday outfits to show that most pieces can be dressed up or down, and can be worn again and again. She printed these guides and stuck them inside her wardrobe door to help her get dressed, which I thought was a really great idea.
It can also be useful to have these two guides as a PDF on your phone, so when you’re out shopping you can remind yourself what you already have, the types of outfits you can create, and the colours that work well in your wardrobe. It’s like having your own personal stylist in your pocket while you shop.
I will then carry out a second consultation to see if my client is happy with their wardrobe, if they feel like they want to add in any extra pieces to their capsule, if they feel like they need more outfit options or they’re missing anything they may have removed. Remember, the most important thing is that my client is happy, and ends up with a wardrobe of clothes that makes them feel confident and like the best version of themselves.
If this is something you feel you could benefit from, you can check out my styling packages HERE, or get in touch at gemmamcleanstylist@gmail.com for a custom package.
