Thinking of using a personal stylist

OK, I know this sounds really decadent but I've been thinking for some time that maybe I should get some advice from a personal stylist. I think after "getting away" with lots of rock chick stuff in my twenties and thirties, now I'm heading for 40, that's got a limited shelf life and I will start to look ridiculous if I wear what I naturally gravitate to. I'm in danger of looking like a grandma Veronica.

I've always been a bit slapdash about make-up too, letting a bright lippy and a dash of eyeshadow suffice but again, I could use some advice on a bit more coverage - especially for the dark circles under my eyes!

And don't get me started on my hair. Other people have a bad hair day, I've had a bad hair life. I would REALLY like a decent haircut.

I'm thinking that although a personal stylist may be a bit exxie, it would be worth a 3-hour appointment for the money it could save me on bad choices that I could make on clothes, make-up, haircuts.

Has anyone used one and what do you think?

ide say go for it. a personal stylist can give you a different perspective in how you see yourself. Its a good idea :)

Freakin brilliant idea Fi.

It would be like an investment, imagine the time you will save with clothes, hair and makeup -if you have great advice I think the initial outlay will pay for itself pretty quickly.

ETA : Alternatively you can grab a gay friend and ask for a makeover......

You can still be alternative and classy at the same time :) And as for hair thats *easy* TBH I am terrified of personal stylists... TERRIFIED but its totally you're call (I don't think decadence is a reason not to do it ;)) But let me tell you this, because I have greenish eyes, every single time I see a makeup artist (and I'm talking the best) I am told I should wear "pinks" because it suits my eyes. And every single time I smile and nod, pick my own stuff and walk out happy :) I have 2 gorgeous gf's (one lives probably walking distance from you in fact) and they are both in their 30's they have a flair for the alternative and they both look gorgeous in everything they wear. Yes they aren't wearing bubblegum style clothing but you really don't have to, you can still refrain from being cookie cutter without looking like mutton dressed up as lamb, and second to that you can look sophisticated without looking like a nana ;)

I know this is *not* the response you were after but know I mean well :P

Stylists can be funky too. My cousin was the stylist for Aussie Queer guy, she is a stunner (the biatch)

Niliac, there are so many versions of pink, you can find one that will make your eyes POP. I have a liquid pink, yep pink, that I only had for work. I would never have tried it, but when I did - POW. I reckon I might be able to talk you into that one! ;)

Fiona, if you find a good one let me know - I could use one after this baby I think!! I'm a bit the same as you and I'm not sure if black is still cutting it for me at my age ;)

Fi my BF did it and will now tell anyone that will listen how much she learned and how fantastic it was.

Have changed my mind about ten times in the last 30 minutes.

Think I might start small and go get my make-up done. I have NEVER done this. About ten minutes ago I whacked on some new blue eyeshadow (hey, I thought I'd go out on a limb there) and my new plum lipstick (which actually I was wearing from the age of 15-35, just haven't in the last couple of years) ... and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. My mum always used to tell me I looked like a clown ... now I believe her. Also need to get my eyebrows done, far too chicken to pluck.

Yep, I kind of don't know where to start on the stylist thing Nai. I mean I don't want to look polished, I want to look a bit edgy but not trying too hard edgy. I know what you mean about black - it's great, but I'm a bit over it. And I have a reasonably corporate job so I tend to buy stuff that I can wear at work and at home with a result that some of my stuff isn't as adventurous as I'd like. And then when I have my hair cut, they just see corporate chick.

Geez, life was so much simpler when I was younger. Just buy a skirt from an op shop, chop it off as short as possible, throw on a leather biker jacket and some Doc Martens, get a really short haircut, done. I did wonder why not many guys came near me though!

I would go for it. I would have no idea where to start in looking for one, but I think it is a TOP idea!

I am tempted myself........when I have finished shifting this weight, I may treat myself too!

think its a brill idea, enjoy yourself finding out the styles that suit you (i bet you'll look a million dollars!!!;).
best of luck and most of all ENJOY yourself and enjoy being pampered!!
take care rach xxx:hug:

OOhh, poor Fi the clown!

You just have to update your makeup, there is no way the plum that suited you 15 years ago will suit you now. I have to change my make up from winter to summer and from hair colour to colour. My killer brown lippie that suited me all the way through my 20's just doesn't cut it anymore.

GET YOUR EYEBROWS DONE ASAP. Its amazing what a change to your face a GOOD eyebrow wax can make, sometimes as good as a facelift if done properly!!

I dunno how to find a good stylist. My cus is in Sydney, she makes a day of taking you to all the shops, showing you what suits YOU, out to lunch and MORE shopping woo hoo.

Fiona, I don't get away with the sort of stuff I wore in my twenties either (none of it fits me for a start :cryinglaugh:)

I don't have an answer for you on stylists - but one of my favourite clothes labels has their shop in Northcote, so is probably not far from you. They have a website, google manque and you'll see what sort of stuff they do. Lots of sophisticated but a bit edgy/arty stuff that is designed for women, not girls. They also stock a lot of accessories / jewellery from local designers. You could also google dogstar, they are a fantastic label too.

One thing I've found is that the haircut absolutely makes an edgy look, and colour is a really important component to that. If I don't colour my hair, it doesn't matter how funky the cut is, because I naturally have fairish/auburny/mousy brown hair that doesn't lend itself well to edgy and cool. Looks great if I'm going for an earthy and natural look, but edgy needs to be striking and bold to work well. It can still work within your natural colour range, it doesn't need to be OTT or garish, but a good colourist will complement your skin tones whilst bringing out the cut.

Good luck - I reckon it would be fun going to see a stylist. Can you ask before you make the appointment to see a portfolio - see what sort of style they specialise in and whether it is in the same ballpark to what you would be comfortable with?

I think it sounds like a great idea. I would love to at least get some makeup/hair and clothing colour advice - i'm pretty limited in styles of clothing for religious reasons.

How would you go about finding a stylist??

LOL Fiona, it sounds like you and I used to share a wardrobe although I've always had a thing for costume so I tended to walk out my door looking like a 50's housewife one day and the next day I'd be more in the mood for a fly-girl or harajuku look lol. I think that bi-polar might be the best word to describe my wardrobe.
I think a stylist is a great idea but just remember they're not an expert in being you so feel free to adopt any advice you like and ignore that which you don't.
Try and find one through word of mouth so s/he is more likely to fit with own personal asthetic (maybe Lulu's freind?).

I think we also had the same wardrobe - I loved the cut off op-shop skirts teamed with my docs :)

I love Body in the city (in the lane opposite De Graves St not sure what it is called) but it's a bit out of my price range at the moment :(

Suse - Manque is not very far from me at all - infact, it's at the end of my street! I think that's part of the problem. I really like their clothes and there are lots of other little independent clothes shops in Northcote and I like their stuff too but a lot of it doesn't suit my body type. According to Trinny and Susannah, I'm an hourglass so I should go for stuff like v-neck tops, pencil skirts and jackets that emphasise my waist. When really what I want to do is to channel my inner punk and have a funky little t-shirt, skinny pants and converse sneakers (even though that's a bit last season).

Manque, for instance, does a lot wide leg pants which just don't work on me. I had a look in another shop today as well and there were a couple of things I loved, one which was quite reasonably priced wouldn't have suited me at all. The other which would have, was $310 for a knitted dress and although I kept repeating the mantra "signature piece, Fiona, signature piece," I just couldn't justify spending that much money on one item when I know I can get something that looks quite nice but not as stand-out from Witchery for a third of the price.

So, I guess for me, it's a matter of knowing what works on my body (which I'm getting better at) but also where to look.

I suppose I'm looking to mix my normal Bonds, Witchery and occasional Cue stuff with a few pieces of independent label stuff but so that it all works together without having to buy a whole outfit from an independent and paying a resulting fortune.

But y'know what else I was thinking? I should just ask the assistants in the shop too. I'm often too shy but I've had some really good advice in the past.

But starting this thread has been really good because if I do see a personal stylist at least I've half done a brief for them now!

Lulu mate, I will endeavour to have my eyebrows done very soon and let you know if DP still recognises the vision of youthfulness that greets him!

Well, blush, maybe I don't need one afterall.

I felt a tap on the shoulder at Flinders Street station yesterday so I stopped, turned around and a man said to me, "I just wanted to tell you that you look beautiful today."

!!!!

AND he didn't appear to be drunk and I checked my handbag afterwards and it wasn't a ploy to nick my wallet.

Just had to share. Very self-indulgent I know but it did make me feel GOOD.

Ah, the kindness of strangers. Makes the world go around.

And someone else said the same thing to me at work today.

DP's response was, "you must be ovulating." Didn't quite know what to make of that one.

OOeeee! And you still have your wallet?

Very cool Fi, verrrry cool.

Dp's response refers to the fact the women ovulating have a rather interesting effect on men. Like the strippers that get more tips when they are ovulating ;).