Ensemble Personal Image Consulting

I’ve never been a huge fan of shopping– it had always been something that I did out of necessity, but dreaded. A typical shopping trip would usually be inspired by a moment of desperation when I found that I didn’t have anything that fit well or only had items that were in poor condition. Shopping under these circumstances was usually stressful and non-​productive. Now that my professional life has really taken off, I have found that this type of reactionary shopping method is not very practical. Between managing a medical office, working on various projects, and trying to have some semblance of a personal life, I’m no longer finding the time or the patience to do things this way.
Rachel took me and three friends on a shopping trip in downtown Seattle this past month. My goal for the day was to find a few dresses and work items that would fit nicely into my existing wardrobe and complement my style. (I figured that I’d start with dresses because, let’s face it, they look great and require absolutely no critical thinking – perfect for days where I have to be in 7am meetings!). After asking a few questions about our personal styles and needs, she went ahead of us and picked out some items that she thought would work. When we arrived on Sunday, all of the hard work was done! We simply went into our respective fitting rooms and started trying things on. Rachel gave us her opinion on each item; if it wasn’t in line with our thinking, she made a mental note and avoided similar items for the rest of the day. All of the parts of shopping that I’ve despised in the past were completely absent this trip. Having this experience with friends was an extra added bonus— what a great way to bond with some fantastic people. In the end, I walked away with some great pieces, some useful guidelines, and even a few surprises that really look amazing.

I tend to dread shopping and view it as a necessary evil. I tend to run in then out as fast as I can only to get what I think I need, try it on then run out. So I was a little hesitant about getting a personal shopper. Rachel came over to my house and asked me about my personal style and what I would like to see in my wardrobe. She then looked through my closet to see what I had and what I needed. When I met Rachel and some friends at the store two days later, she had a dressing room full of options for each of us.

It was great to get her opinion on things, and I felt that she really listened to what I was saying. She never pushed me into anything I was hesitant about and only asked that I state why I did or didn’t like something so that she could go on from there. She directed me towards some clothing that I never would have picked out for myself, and those ended up being the things that I received the most compliments on!
I really enjoyed this experience and felt that I learned more about what I am able to wear, what I should look for in different articles of clothing and most of all that shopping doesn’t have to be stressful!

I like to fancy myself pretty fashionable, but as I found myself quickly approaching my 30^th birthday I realized that my style hadn’t evolved much since high school. My teenage body was a little more forgiving than the womanly one I’m now blessed with — and although I’m still in good shape — my eye for clothing and proper fit hadn’t grown up with me either. In the end I found myself unhappy with how I looked in my clothes, frustrated every time I tried to go shopping, and hoping upon hope I didn’t have to start dressing like «an old lady». Over the last 4 years or so, I have been dressing more for comfort and what I knew fit me and had given up on the flair and fun in my clothing. My clothes were no longer an expression of me, and I missed that!
I called Rachel because I wanted help buying clothes that fit me properly and accentuated my figure in a flattering way. I also wanted to «upgrade» to a wardrobe more fitting of a 30 year old woman than a 19 year old girl and also maintain the edgy style I’d developed over the years. I’d never hired a personal shopper before but decided it would be a great birthday present to myself!
Usually when I go «shopping», I pick out two or three things to try on, get frustrated at how badly they fit, and give up and go home. Rachel completely eliminated this frustration! Rachel suggested a day of shopping in downtown Seattle. When we got to the stores she had already pre-​selected pieces for me based on our previous conversations. It was great because everything I tried on looked good on me, and I got to pick and choose what I wanted to buy. I ended up with great new pieces for my wardrobe that still feel like «me» while at the same time feeling new and fresh and mature.
Rachel has a great eye for fashion and she was happy to work with me and fulfill my needs even on my limited budget. Best of all she was really fun to hang out with. I would highly recommend Rachel and Ensemble Personal Image Consulting to anyone looking to revamp their wardrobe!