It has been the busiest year with taking people shopping. Men and women wanting to have clothes in their wardrobes that they can wear with confidence, that fit them, enhance their bodies, show off their amazing colouring and their unique personality.
This is an area of expertise that I have mastered and enjoy very much. Finding the perfect garment, shoe or accessory is like winning the lottery. How one thing can change a person for the better is something that you cannot describe.
Without hesitation, I would normally take my clients to Bath, Bristol and London for more choice. However, this is sometimes not practical for my client, so more recently have been shopping in Exeter and have been surprised at the things I have found.
My aim always, is to take clients shopping to places that they have not been in before. It makes the day more interesting and encourages them to come out of their comfort zone.
Here are some places that I would like to share with you that I have been impressed with….
The idea of this particular shopping trip was to find some pieces for my client’s Autumn/Winter wardrobe. Coats, knitwear and trousers and jewellery were priority.
Jigsaw – High street and John Lewis
A modern, contemporary brand that suits a lot of women’s classic/natural style with good quality, fabric and colours.
If you would like to modernise yourself, then this shop is definitely worth a try.
Here we picked up some mid grey jeans, that worked with her colouring and other pieces in her wardrobe.
A great fit, slight stretch and mid rise.
Finisterre – 57 High Street, Exeter
This is a shop that I have been walking by for ages. You need to go in and have a look. When you understand the brand and their values, you appreciate how excellent the clothing is.
A shop for men and women that caters well if you are an outdoor person wanting warm, practical clothing that will protect you against all weathers.
My client does a lot of hiking and needed a lightweight waterproof coat with a hood. I was so impressed with the staff’s product knowledge. They knew every detail about the garment, which is very rare, sadly in the retail industry. The companies I trained with back in the 80’s, were insistent you knew everything about the product/brand before assisting clients; this to me is very important.
I kept asking questions, and the lady answered everyone with confidence. They even have a wash and reproof service to maintain the coat at little cost.
I also like the fact that the director started the company in Cornwall and the head office is still based there.
As well as my client’s needs, I am also looking for the best colour to make her look young and fresh, ensuring the coat is the correct length, the cut and fit works for her body shape, and aware of her proportions and height…. Perfect!
Crystals – 14 Gandy Street
A hidden gem that I always look in. This is a place where you need to have a good eye to pick out that amazing piece to finish off your look. They have lots of unique stones in all different colours and shapes which is very interesting.
For my client, I was looking for an angular, medium sized stone, based in silver with a gemstone that was soft and muted to go with a lot of her outfits. After asking, they brought out a box of hidden pieces; I found just what I was looking for.
A beautiful labradorite stone…. a unique statement piece.
As you can see from the photo, a wonderful one off that my client now wears all the time. She wore no jewellery before, due to lack of knowledge and no how.
The most important thing when working with a client, is to find out who they are. This takes a lot of practice, however, when you have it, it is gold! Once you have this mastered, you can go anywhere and find something, that is them to a tee.
Orvis – Barbour Outlet Cathedral Close
Another shop that my clients have walked by.
So many people say to me…. but there is nothing out there that fits me. Where do I go to find….
Well, you need to go in to these places and take a look!
On our list was a lightweight jacket that had to be stylish for day wear, modern, classic and simple.
Everything was perfect for my client, she looked great. Even better, upstairs in the section of Barbour, it is an outlet, so was a good price.
An excellent quality classic that will never date.
I also saw a gilet in her size and colour. This is a great piece to wear now for the in between weather that keeps your body warm, but not too hot.
Something that she would not consider, but after trying, absolutely loved it.
Whilst my client was purchasing her coats, looking with my beady eye, what did I find…. 1 pair of blue moleskin trousers in her size in the sale!!
The fit is fantastic. My client’s original jeans were old fashioned and not a great fit. She has a great figure, and needs to show it off. So many people wear jeans and a jumper. They desperately want to get away from this, but they don’t know how.
Moleskin trousers are beautiful, classic, different and warm, which works well in the chilly days. I liked them so much, after doing an online shopping for the missing pieces, I found the same trouser on line in another soft colour that will go with the ideal capsule wardrobe.
Edinburgh Woolen Mill – Cathedral Close
Yes, this shop sadly is still dated, but has good priced cashmere jumpers with unusual different colours and necklines. Marks & Spencer is not only the place for cashmere.
I was looking for a beautiful v-neck cashmere jumper with a fresh colour to liven up her winter wardrobe. Again, I found it!
This blue is fantastic against her skin tone and her gorgeous blue eyes. It also matches well with the barbour coats above and other items in her wardrobe. I love it!
While I was there, I found a wonderful cashmere scarf with a modern check with colours that worked with the coats and the jumper. Not only is the check on trend this season, but also complements her angular facial features; what a find.
John Lewis –
It is brilliant now that we have a modern department store in Exeter. Sometimes, I just shop here with my clients, find what I am looking for and do not have the need to go elsewhere.
Yes, I agree with the majority, I so wish there was more stock in each concession, but it is worth shopping here.
We were wanting a trench coat. This can be worn in the day for a more stylish look, but also can be worn to see clients for a more corporate feel to meet my client’s needs.
There are so many styles of trench coats, which can be tricky. As my client was very classic, she wanted a coat that was very plain, hardly any detail, but also was not too bulky with lots going on.
With the above information, Hobbs, ticked the boxes. Â Usually, I would not choose this colour for clients, as it does tend to wash out skin tones.
However, the more we looked at the colour; it was right. It had a minky, pink tone to it, which worked so well with her cool brown hair and the french blue tones and grey with clothing.
My client has a straight body shape and is 5ft 5inches tall. The coat is the correct length, the fabric is right for her body shape and purchasing a classic white shirt finishes off the classy look.
Well, I hope this information has opened your eyes when shopping in Exeter. We had such an amazing day and found some great items for the much needed capsule wardrobe. They all work together, and will last my client a long time and will not date.
If you want to hear what my client has said with working with me, take a look.
https://maggigreen.co.uk/category/testimonials/
ic experience, her knowledge and expertise in her profession immediately put me at ease from our first meeting. I was looking for an image consultant to help me with defining a brand image for myself and also my business, something that would flow between the two instead of having two separate wardrobes.
Gorgeous!! Now we can see her fabulous hourglass shape. Â Crista is wearing a stunning berry colour to complement her cool, soft colouring. Â Notice where the cardigan finishes – on the hip which disguises her short waist and elongates her short legs, but also shows off her great shape.
