Yay!
The choices look very nice AND useful. Hope you will continue to keep that confidence that shows in your writing while wearing your new pieces. They look very versatile and I’m sure your D is cheering with all these great choices you have made. Glad you will be able to mix & match with confidence to go from regular work, to dressier work to movies and date nights with confidence. So happy for you! Nice that you were able to stay near budget too!
I’m also curious about what it’s like having a personal shopper, as I’ve never done anything like it and would love to learn more of whatever you’re willing to share.
I’ve enjoyed being part of your experience vicariously. The blouses are interesting and making me wonder if I shouldn’t go looking for something a bit more professional looking - especially for the summer.
Great choices, wear them well.
Wonderful news, great finds and thanks for sharing! (I already put the black dress pants in my Nordstrom shopping bag)
Thank you, everyone. 
The crying was a stupid thing, really. When I exchanged some shoes a month or two ago, they couldn’t credit my account back because I’d gotten a new debit card in the meantime. So they issued me a giftcard and then charged the replacement shoes to the giftcard. I had misunderstood and thought the guy had told me there was a little left on the card that I could spend. So today, first thing, I asked to have the giftcard balance checked and it was zero. They did some investigating and came back with the correct information that it was for the exact amount of the shoes, and there was no balance. That jogged my memory, and I understood and agreed that that was correct.
But for the few minutes that it took to find that out, I was sitting by myself in the dressing room surrounded by clothes that didn’t wow me at all (see below), and I started thinking that the stars in their courses fight against me having anything nice to wear, and that I was beyond hope. So that’s when the tears started welling. It was just a little moment, but after the last couple of weekends and the years of feeling that frumpy was my destiny, it was just too much.
I booked the appointment [url=<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/personal-stylists%5Donline%5B/url”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/personal-stylists]online[/url], including a brief note about what I was looking for. The shopper called me yesterday to get more precise info, size, any “don’ts” or special requests (long!). When I arrived today, she ushered me back to a large, carpeted, nicely-lit room with a 3-way mirror. It was stocked with generic versions of the things I was looking for. We talked for a few minutes to further refine my style, I showed her some pictures, and explained about my shopping fears and bad experiences. We then looked at the items she’d pulled and I critiqued them. She gathered up most of them, and before she left asked me to try on a sleeveless peplum shirt which I hadn’t vetoed (I really liked it, but it wouldn’t work with a sweater – still, something to watch for in the future). She then came back in with the black trousers, the famous 3 sweaters, and several shirts. The very first one she had me try was that black and white striped one, and I just stood there looking in disbelief and finally stammered, “I love it!” She said, “Watch this” and put the black sweater on me. And then I felt that magical thing – pulled together!! From there we were off to the races. She’d bring things in 10 or 12 at a time, I’d try 4 or 5, and decide to keep 2 or 3. Each trip the choices were more and more on-point as she learned what I liked and didn’t. At the end, my only problem was deciding which items not to buy (because I could easily have bought 4 or 5 more blouses, that’s how much I liked them).
It was and wasn’t like WNTW. She didn’t do an analysis (that she shared with me, anyway) of my body type and what would look good on it. She was very helpful with feedback though, explaining why something worked, and there were several times that she’d put something on me and veto it herself. And she showed me as we went along how almost everything I was picking could be mixed and matched with something else, for lots of different looks.
Also, I felt like she was paying very keen attention to what I was looking for. She knew my comfort zone. And yet she pushed me out of it a little and insisted I try some things that I told her I didn’t want to. Some of those were losers, but some were big winners. For instance, “Let’s try a color block” – which I thought would be too boring – resulted in one of my favorite looks.
Another weird thing happened. You know how I said that when I try something on, I can’t tell whether I like it or not? Today I could, and right away. There wasn’t much pondering about that. I think it made a big difference that I was trying outfits, not just pieces. I guess I need that total picture. So there’s another lesson.
I don’t think I contributed to this thread, but I’ve really appreciated reading it! Thank you for going to the effort to give us links and explanations about the process and the experience. It looks like you’ve put together a great basic wardrobe.
LF – :x
And thank you, one and all. I was in a deep funk when I first posted, and at various points in the last week. Your support, encouragement and good advice have been so so helpful. I wish I knew people like you IRL!
Thanks do much for describing the whole experience. I’ve always wanted to try the personal shopping service but I’ve never made the plunge. How did they figure out your budget parameters? Did they ask about that on the online questionnaire?
This person sounds like someone you could have a long-term stylist-client relationship with! Like if you have an event, you could call her up and she could set aside a few things for you to try.
I gave her my budget first thing. That was the reason I rejected a lot of the initial picks. Once she knew, she never brought anything that was out of line price wise.
I have her card and will go see her again in the fall.
You made so much progress in a week…and helped so many others along the way
Such a great thread you started. Congratulations! Your confidence shines through your words.
I love what you bought, it is very much my personal style. I loved the black and white stripe shirt and own something very similar.
So glad it worked out and your office mates are going to be so impressed with your new look.
I love those things and am so happy it was a good experience.
Wonderful choices! So happy for you!
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/calvin-klein-cowl-neck-geo-print-top?ID=2217856&CategoryID=39096&LinkType=#fn=DEPARTMENT_TYPE%3DTops%26PAGEINDEX%3D2%26sp%3D2%26spc%3D156%26ruleId%3D%26slotId%3D135
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/calvin-klein-sleeveless-geo-print-shirt?ID=2241247&CategoryID=39096&LinkType=#fn=DEPARTMENT_TYPE%3DTops%26PAGEINDEX%3D2%26sp%3D2%26spc%3D156%26ruleId%3D%26slotId%3D121
I love everything you purchased.
Above are a couple of examples of the tops my D wore under suits and cardigans. I thought they might fit in well with your purchases.They wash in the machine and come out looking brand new. I used to search the clearance rack each time I was in Macys and I had great luck finding them marked down and with an extra 40 to 60% off and plus add in the Macys coupon I would walk out with tops for her for around 10 bucks.
Will you still do the online box program?
I bet you were excited to dress for work today! What did you wear?
Actually, I didn’t today. We have a big staff meeting on Monday mornings, and I didn’t want my style to become a topic of discussion lol. Tomorrow I’m going to wear the black striped shirt, not sure which sweater yet, but leaning toward the black. And yes, I’m excited.
People will notice for a while and comment. I hope that makes you feel good, not uncomfortable. Then they will get used to your new look as it becomes the new norm.
I just didn’t want my new clothes to be the center of attention at a staff meeting, with the CEO sitting there and all. I’m much too shy for that. But I’d better get comments! I know the women in my department will immediately notice. They’ve been following along with this saga. They are super-shoppers and have been helpful in some respects (“Your style is XYZ”), not so much in others (“Well you just go into a store, find something, try it on and decide if you like it.”). But 100% supportive, and they’ll be thrilled.