Fashionistas! Help needed!

Parent Cafe
1

It looks like I’m meeting the most fashion-challenged friend in the world on Friday to help her buy a wardrobe. She is a lawyer (works for a law firm), in her late 50s, in a major city on the East Coast. Most of her clothes date back to the 1980s and need to be burned. (I’m not exaggerating.)

We’re meeting in NYC. She needs everything — skirts, shirts, pants, blazers, dresses. She is tall, very slim, straight as a stick. She likes classic styles.

There is no Nordstrom’s in Manhattan, which is a shame. I want to take her somewhere where a very knowledgable person can put together outfits and dress her. Where would you recommend going? Ann Taylor and/or Ann Taylor Loft? Saks? Macys? Lord and Taylor? While she hates spending money on clothing, her husband is behind this 100%. I want to avoid cheap (mainly because if it were up to her, she’s go cheap), but most expensive is out. I’d love to find a store that she could return to every 6 months to a year and get assorted pieces to update her wardrobe.

All advice is very welcome. Like, how many pieces of clothing would you recommend? (assume she has nothing, which is correct.)

I’m going to be out and about tomorrow, and so unable to answer questions promptly. But I promise I’ll read every last bit of advice and appreciate it all.

2

I think your idea of picking a store she can return to every 6 months is an excellent idea. However, it is hard to come up with good suggestions if you do not share the city she lives in or list the main stores available where she lives. Nordstrom’s would be my 1st pick. I do not believe Ann Taylor has a high enough quality level.

3

Barney’s
Saks Fifth Avenue
make appointments with their personal shoppers and give them an idea of a budget

4

I don’t qualify as a fashionista, but will jump in.

You couldn’t pay me to go to Macy’s at Herald Square. I would try L&T first. Price points at Saks will be a little higher.

There is a Nordstrom Rack in NYC on E 14th, but I have never been in one of those so cannot tell you if they will sell the types of things she needs.

I have bought a couple of dresses from J. Crew in their 120s’ suiting fabric, but I don’t see anything businesslike currently. They sell a tall size online in some items. I am not tall, but slim and fairly straight and J. Crew’s sizing works for me. Having said that, their quality control is all over the map, and now that they sell a triple zero (000) in some items, you need to order an even smaller size than you would expect.

This is the 120s suiting line, for future reference.

https://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/suiting/super120s.jsp

Here is the stretch wool line: https://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/suiting/bistretchwool.jsp

https://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/suiting/dresses/PRDOVR~C1063/C1063.jsp

I consider these to be classic without being Talbot’s. A little edge but not massively fashion-forward, if that makes any sense. I find the reviews helpful as they are not all positive.

Look forward to hearing how the shopping goes. You are a good friend for taking on this challenge!

5

Every “good” department store will have a personal shopper to assist. Call ahead and give the parameters, size, business/transitional and price points. The store will be delighted to assist. If your friend needs an upscale wardrobe Saks, Bergdorfs, St. John (not a department store but has some fabulous basics.

6

TBH, given her very specific body type, she might be better off going to the most upscale stores and concentrating on finding labels and brands that offer her the best selection for the basic pieces she might need. Then she can build out from there. But, given the need to overhaul her work wardrobe and how many pieces + shoes + purses + accessories she might actually need, it might be useful to see what her budget is. If she hasn’t shopped since the 1980s (!), then the prices might come as a shock.

How many pieces she needs would also depend somewhat on whether she appears in court, attends closings or meets regularly with clients, or whether she has largely an office practice in which she has little client contact.

I would also recommend Nordies (if you can get to one) because given the size of the shopping need, you will want great service along with great selection.

7

If she is tall and slim and likes classic style, St. John , Theory, Max Mara, and Lafayette would be the brands to begin with. I don’t like our downtown Barney’s - it is a hodgepodge of overpriced junk. I would take her to Saks if there is no Nordstrom.

As far as pieces go, she would need 2 pairs of slacks, a couple of classic pencil skirts, a couple of jackets (all coordinating so they can be mixed and matched), maybe 3-5 different shirts/blouses (so she does not have to do dryclean/laundry every day), a couple dresses (again, the kind that can be worn with the jackets, and of course, shoes! All of this means major $$$, and as AttorneyMother said, the prices could shock her!

8

When I was 23 and getting ready to start grad school on the east coast (from CA), a favorite aunt made an appointment with a personal shopper at Bloomingdales in NYC and outfitted me for the new chapter in my life. My aunt just mentioned to me last week that the woman who worked with me is still there! I would call Bloomingdales and find out who’s been there the longest and make an appointment and let a professional advise your friend. If you pursue this, tell her Collage, who she helped back in 1984 says hi! :smiley:

9

Just a second Bunsen Burner…as a 5 foot tall person…I love St. John. My wardrobe is 50% (or more) St. John. Short people always need tailoring. “Our” Barneys is a total waste of time for me. Our recently remodeled Neimans is cold and off putting. Your list is excellent, but if I may add: A sheath dress or two, in black, blue, grey…also essential. And for dresses weights and bra snaps.

10

Ann Taylor is definitely a good choice; they always have a variety of classy staples like blazers, pants, pencil skirts, etc. I would probably start there to stock up on the basics.

11

I also vote for Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft.

I got this dress from Lands End last year. It is an amazing fabric called ponte di Roma. It is a double knit, and has held up well so far for me. If she is not wearing trendy clothes, she may be afraid that new ones will be uncomfortable. This is a very comfortable dress! I don’t see it in a tall, but I got one in a similar fabric from Ann Taylor Loft this spring only in V neck. So they’re out there.

http://www.landsend.com/products/womens-sleeveless-ponte-sheath-dress-with-pockets/id_272080_59?CM_MERCH=DTP_SEARCH_OH&action=DTP_SEARCH_OH&query=423032OHX

12

Make sure she’s wearing the right underpinnings - get her fitted for bras if needed. Have her wear or bring a tank top to use when trying on things. Have her bring both whatever flats and heels ( if any) she wears or plans on wearing. Sometimes the heights that they have for try/ on shoes aren’t quite right.

Does she want/need a new briefcase, leather goods, shoes? Does she want/ need an overhaul to her casual wardrobe? What is her budget?

You want service - someone and who will run and get you stuff and who will be honest if it doesn’t look good. I don’t think you’ll get that at AT or even JC. I would lean to Saks since you can’t do Nordstrom.

Have her rip out ads of looks she likes or Pinterest stuff that appeals to her. Are there colors she likes, colors she’s hesitant about?

13

Does her hair /makeup also need a redo from the 1980s? In that era, people wore more obvious makeup than today.

What is HER attitude towards this venture? Is she excited, enthusiastic? Or nervous, pushed into it, dreading it? Is she the kind you can be blunt with or does she need a soft touch?

14

Thank you so far for these wonderful suggestions.

She won’t know for sure if she can go shopping until mid-day today, and I’m busy all day, so I can’t make an appointment ahead of time. That’s a shame, but this was a last-minute decision – my original plan was to go to her city, and I still might do that. Now I know to make appointments ahead of time, and obviously the first one will be at Nordstroms. Hopefully there will be someone around at Saks and Ann Taylor who can help.

The prices will come as a shock. When we first discussed this the number she came up with would probably buy one shirt. She has the money to spend. My job, I think, will be to prevent her from looking at price tags. There is no budget – her cheapness will prevent any overspending.

She is quite seriously blind when it comes to fashion. When I asked her what other people in her office wear, she gave me a blank stare and said she had absolutely no idea. She just doesn’t notice clothes, at all. Having her look at ads or Pinterest is a great idea, but I just don’t know that she’s capable of doing that.

There is no question that she needs shoes and purses and accessories too, but there is only so much one can do in a day. (Her husband, who has been urging her to do this for quite some time, told me to not even try getting her new shoes – that, he said, is hopeless.) Her casual wardrobe needs an update, too. She has been wearing the same 2 sweaters at casual events ever since I’ve known her, which is 30+ years. I have the photos to prove it.

She doesn’t do courtroom work. She does meet clients, although not every day. She does do conferences and presentations. I think my first goal is getting her a few outfits for when she gives presentations.

Another major issue with her is that she likes to be comfortable, and that translates into getting clothing that is much too big. She probably wears a size 4, but most of her clothes are probably size 8. They literally swim on her.

15

Good luck. IMO, she will need to spend around $5000 to get a brand new wardrobe with everything that has been mentioned. think of “What Not to Wear” – that was the amount each participant spent to get the basics and a little more. In her profession, she must go upscale. I think you should mention this figure to her so she has time to consider it and get comfortable with it.

I heartily recommend Saks Fifth Avenue. I think Ann Taylor and J. Crew might be fine for later, but IMO she needs to start off with well-made, well-fitting, classic clothes that will last for five to ten years.

For a purse and a briefcase, she really only needs one of each.

16

Here’s an idea, don’t know if it’s feasible. Could you get to the store first and pull an assortment of things you think would work on her so she just has to try on? She sounds like going through the racks might be intimidating or overwhelming.

17

I would take some cues from Stacey and Clinton and ask her what is the look she’s trying to achieve and what she likes/doesn’t like about what she is currently wearing.

18

Saks has consolidation sale right now. She could put together some great stuff at 70% off.

Then fill in across the street at banana republic for basics. I do that. I can wear a saks dress with a sweater from br. Alexander McQueen w/el cheapo scarf. Ann Taylor is another good one for blouses. They won’t last long, but she doesn’t need 25 years out of it or she’ll be outdated again!!

The skirts and maybe even jackets I would buy at banana. Try to look for dresses at saks and other special pieces to go with them.

Ps: you are living my dream job for the day! Wish I could come!!!

19

I HATE shopping - the endless pawing through racks looking for something makes me quit and head home. As another suggested, if you can go early, pick out what you think will look nice and set it aside. Having a few winning pieces out of the gate will hopefully get her in the mood to shop - a bit. You’re a good friend. :slight_smile:

20

If you are dying for a Nordstroms there’s one in White Plains - it’s about a mile from the Metro North station and there’s a Nordstrom Rack close by as well. I have no idea how good the selection is because it’s out of my price range! (I got great shoes once at the Rack though!)