THERE WILL BE STYLE
Is it bitchy to say that one of my secret fantasy moments is to hit up a fancy shop, twirl importantly with my bag of purchases bought from other stores, and drop the classic Pretty Woman bomb, “You people work on commission, right? Big mistake. HUGE”? Well, recently I managed an even better moment. More class; less bitch. You see, fashion is something I truly appreciate, but just don’t ‘do’ quite right. The safety of online shopping has suited me perfectly, and I love scrolling instagram to see what I should be wearing. It has a lot to do with a lack of time, money, energy and certainly my own sense of ‘unique’ style. I get excited by ‘going out’ thongs (flip flops for those who just had a quick eyebrow raise) that sport a diamante or two, and I think if your jobs are done, any time is a good time for PJ’s.
Up on my Bucket List has been to experience the guidance of a Personal Shopper.
Not only did this happen for me, I lucked upon one who actually ‘got’ me and whom I genuinely liked as a woman. She read me well and sensed that I may have been a little out of my depth. Joanna Willmott, from There Will Be Style, is the whole package. Whilst this is not a personal review, it does help to meet someone who genuinely wants to make you feel amazing, and whom you actually want to hang out with for an afternoon of shopping. But there was so much more than just the shopping.
It started with a bit of email banter. A questionnaire that actually forced me to really consider what I needed in my wardrobe, and what I actually liked about me and wanted to highlight. The package I had included a Wardrobe Detox Session. Well…initially I thought ‘awkward’. Some stranger is going to rifle through my K-Mart specials and tell me I have no style whatsoever. Even as I wildly tried to tidy and throw things around in some semblance of ‘organised’, I flatly wondered how much black one can own, especially with the stirrings of Spring. I am also a bit of a cheapskate. I realise now I have been going for quantity not quality. My personal shopping skill is to throw as much baggy, cheap, no ironing required items in my trolley like a mad woman, especially if I have a quick hour free of the ankle grabbers. Great short term, but a few washes and everything is pilled or stretched or just not what I imagined. I needed this help.
Joanna arrived and her smile and warmth breezed in. She understood the kids were distracting me and produced a treat each for each of them and sat down and painted my little girls nails; all whilst chatting to me about what I was looking for. I am not ashamed to say I actually had a little teary moment (it had been a shitty morning) when she then produced a treat just for me. A gorgeous handbag that had NO room at all for kids drink bottles or spare clothing. I felt like ‘me’ – a ‘woman’, not just an exhausted, drab, mummy.
And she liked my stuff. She was completely practical and open to what suited me; not the price tag or where it was from. Cuts, fabrics and on season trends were explained…in my language. In fact, most of the time we sat on my bed and chatted; life, motherhood, work and a little bit of fashion thrown in. The fact that she has selected Mission Australia as a charity to donate part of her business income towards, is also a reflection of the character that she is. When she left, I was excited about our planned shopping trip.
I cannot express enough that you are also paying for an experience. I was picked up and chauffered about. No crappy parking stress. We’d planned a spot of lunch first; but Joanna had actually ‘planned’ this and brought me to Centennial Parklands Dining; a cheeky wine, meal and a chat, before hitting the shops. The sun was shining, I was kid free, I was in lovely company and it felt fab. Joanna is classy. She does ’boutiques’. This scared me a little and I almost stood and applauded when she suggested a few stores that I knew and was much more comfortable with; again, she was more focused on empowering me and making this my special day.
And so we shopped. But here is the thing. We actually spent more time at lunch then in the stores. This is because Joanna had scouted these shops out previously for me already, and went straight to the racks to grab the items that she believed would work. Did I? No. The first dress she grabbed was NOT my normal ‘go to’ safety net style. But I decided to go with the expert…and, yep…bought it. DO save your pennies and use this opportunity to buy a couple of items with someone there to collect, carry, zip up, take photos to check out, and advise independently. I am not ashamed to say, Joanna even got on her knees to buckle up some heels I tried on. She was there before I could protest. Again, with a little time left before creche pick up, we did a quick Red Dot trip to bulk up a few accessories, without blowing my budget. Pretty thrilled with my purchases; all items I would never have selected myself, but high praise from the husband when he commented they made me look ‘tall and thin’. (NB : I am short and well…not so thin…).
Is it worth the money?
If you have the cash to splash, do it in the lead up to each season! Most definitely.
If you are time poor and need someone else to do the leg work, overwhelmed with where to start, and/or have a special event or two coming up that you need to smash with gorgeousness; this is for you!
If you’re perhaps more like me, this was my once in a lifetime…although, dammit, I would LOVE to do it again. It’s not just about the shopping, you see, it’s also the invaluable education about what works for me, and my “Queen for the Day” memory. It would be an incredible group gift or there is even a Ladies Day Out package that you could do with your friends.
Going back to Pretty Woman, frankly, “it was so good, I almost peed my pants.”
But don’t take my word for it. Take my latest piece of fashion advice… Go check out her web site at There Will Be Style, or see her beautiful work on Instagram and Facebook.
