Introducing Our Personal Shoppers
Our personal shoppers are here to help you find the right looks and create a wardrobe tailored to your style. We caught up with them to find out more about their signature styles, favourite trends at the moment and their advice for the season ahead.
Florence, Islington
How would you describe your personal style?
My style is feminine yet polished – and I always tend to dress things
down with a casual accessory.
What are your wardrobe go-tos?
I love silk midi dresses with a leather belt
during the summer. For autumn-winter it’s all about a statement coat.
Who has influenced your style – do you have any style
icons?
My mum and I have always shopped together and are constantly sending
pictures of new season pieces and things we love to each other. For
inspiration, I love to look at street style, especially around fashion
week.
What is your favourite piece you’ve bought
recently?
The Dagma Twig print slip dress. I
will be wearing it with a burnt-orange mohair cardigan as soon as it
gets colder.
Beth, Edinburgh
How would you describe your style in just a few
words?
Playful, relaxed and I focus on how things make me feel.
What items in your wardrobe do you love the
most?
For years I struggled with feeling comfortable and confident in workwear. I never knew what shoes to wear with
smart dresses, whether I could wear tights and I felt too feminine in
heels – I also find them really uncomfortable. Then, last year, I
finally found a combination that works for me: a midi skirt and trainers. I feel comfortable all day and at
Whistles, we are never short of printed skirts to choose from.
How does your style change depending on the
season?
Style for me, is really about feeling closer to the real you than
sticking stringently to current trends. I think the seasons are an
opportunity to try new things and build upon what makes you feel great.
My style is very much lead by feeling.
Elspeth, St Christopher's Place
What do you love wearing the most?
I always feel my best wearing a signature blazer. There’s something about a
blazer that up-specs every outfit, whether I’m throwing it over blue jeans and a t-shirt, a midi dress or a pair of tailored trousers.
What style advice would you give for
autumn/winter?
Layer it up – I love using layers as the basis for my autumn-winter
wardrobe because it gives life to so many pieces that may otherwise be
retired for the season. For example, a leather jacket under a big wrap
coat – I love how that looks.
How do you dress differently for special
occasions?
My everyday style is usually quite casual, so for special occasions I
love to elevate things through my accessories and outerwear. I will swap
a pair of military-esque boots for a pair of heels and my cross-body bags for a clutch.
How do your personal styling appointments
work?
Our personal shopping appointments can last anywhere between 20 minutes
for a quick workwear update, or over two hours for a complete wardrobe
overhaul. I will prepare a rail of pieces tailored to my client and
suggest versatile styling options for the pieces I’ve pulled. I help my
clients choose styles by identifying the gaps in their wardrobe and
filling them, rather than saturating a wardrobe with too many similar
pieces.
Laura, Bath
Which colours do you like to wear the most? Does this change
depending on the season?
The colours I wear change depending on the seasons, as well as my moods
and energy. When it comes to the spring-summer months I love to wear
bright pastels and light wash denim. In the colder months, it’s all
about layering up gold, burgundy and green tones for me.
How does the advice you give during a personal shopping
appointment vary depending on the type of customer and style they’re
looking for?
The advice I give tends to depend on what the customer is looking for –
whether it is workwear or something more casual. I always try to
encourage them to buy classic pieces that will serve them for years to
come, and styles they can mix and match.
What is your favourite kind of style to advise customers
on?
For autumn-winter I’m really advising my customers to invest in their
outerwear. When you’re trying to cover up for the colder months, a coat or jacket is your leading staple, so it’s
important to get it right.
What are you wearing the most at the moment?
At the moment I’m obsessed with cardigans and pair mine with a
straight leg jean or a midi skirt. As a mum, I’m always trying to
balance comfort and style, which I find in so much of our collections.
Going into autumn I think I’ll be wearing more chunky boots with a checked coat or blazer and midi
skirts.
