Expert view: Secrets from the fashion department
Christine Matthews, a personal shopper at Debenhams Oxford Circus shares some fashion FAQs from the clothes shop floor.
There are few everyday thrills that can beat finding a new outfit that really suits us. But when we hit the shops with dreams of coming home with the perfect outfit, often we get overwhelmed by choice, we home in on the wrong outfits and then spend half an hour wriggling into clothes in the changing room that we’re not really going to buy!
So how can we match the dream with the reality of a good clothes shopping trip?
Here we ask an experienced insider for some useful insights.
Christine Matthews has worked for Debenhams for 15 years and before that she was a dressmaker. For the past eight years she has worked for the store as a personal shopper, helping women find the right outfits to suit their style and their needs.
Debenhams offer free personal shopper services, and it’s worth considering a trip just to get your fashion buying back on track. So what could you expect when you hit the fashion department?
How many people do you see a day?
Probably about six, customers usually have a 90-minute session, sometimes I do two people together. I often get women coming in as part of a day trip or weekend away with the girls and they book a consultation with a personal shopper.
What kind of thing are people looking for?
Huge variety – wardrobe update, work clothes, dress for a wedding or a party. I’ve just been with a 16-year-old finding a dress to wear for her brother’s bar mitzvah.
How much do people spend with you?
We normally discuss what the budget is beforehand but usually we go over it because we find more styles and colours that suit them. The most quoted line we hear is, “I would never have picked that for me.”
What’s popular at the moment?
Embellished tops are really popular, vests with sequins for instance. Women are wearing them for daytime then putting on a nice jacket for an evening look.
Also leggings or jeggings (skinny jeans leggings) – really popular with everyone, they don’t need ironing, you can just throw them on with a chunky knit.
Purple is the colour at the moment.
What do you find mums looking for when they come in?
Many of them say they’ve lost their way a bit with clothes, they don’t know what suits them, they don’t want to look too young or too frumpy.
Our advice – it’s not about wearing the latest colours, it’s finding something which is the right shape and colour for each person.
Debenhams offer free consultations. Call 08445 616161 to find store near you with a personal shopper.