Client Shopping in Savannah

Happy day, reader dear!

Last week I had the privilege of a trip to Savannah, Georgia to meet a new client for a Wardrobe Audit and Personal Shopping & Education trip. To be perfectly honest, that’s normally further than I will travel for a client, but I LOVE Savannah, and any excuse will do for a trip to the “Hostess City of the South!” If you wish to read more about a day trip we took to this gorgeous city, read on here.

JJ contacted me by email (info@closetplay.biz) to find out if I could help her with a Wardrobe Audit. We followed up with a half-hour Zoom meeting to chat and get to know each other, and tell me more about here needs. JJ will be starting a new job in August, and felt like she needed to define her style and step up her style game. Her challenge is how to look professional and approachable, while still feeling comfortable. Professional can find itself in conflict with the other two! She’s a child psychologist, so approachable and comfortable are key.

We set a date, and I gave JJ a little homework. (It’s okay… Everyone I work with gets a little homework.) After a few hours Closet Playing with her work clothes, we determined JJ’s wardrobe gaps, and what would to fill them best. She, like almost everyone I work with, already had more outfits than she imagined in her wardrobe, and far fewer gaps than she thought! We planned to meet the next morning at some of her favorite stores and spend an hour and a half for a shopping, fit, and textile education session.

The next morning we started at her favorite store, Anthropologie. I had spent some time the evening before checking out the merchandise on line that I thought might work for JJ. Wardrobe gap fillers were not necessarily our only goal. We also wanted a few personality pieces to round out the work basics she already has. We found those at Anthro…

The skirt will look amazing with JJ’s blues and greys. The blouse will go with anything… Especially the wines and blues on which her work wardrobe is based. The scarf will draw attention to her gorgeous blue eyes for those times she chooses a neutral top or topper.

Next stop was Banana Republic. We were on the hunt for grey trousers to replace the too-dark-for-her-light-coloring blacks on which JJ had been relying. (I see it in SO many closets!) Trousers are the hardest thing to fit for most women, and so I expected we would need to try at least 15 pair before we found a good fit. BR usually has a good selection of different fits, styles, and sizes. We found a pair of medium grey; she will need to order them and have the waist taken in. That’s an easy fix, and always worth the effort!

After BR we headed to Loft.

Loft is another of JJ’s go-to stores. We found a really lovely snakeskin tie front blouse that will look amazing with her wine trousers, jeans, and some of her more casual trousers for a business casual look. The textured print is great with her textured complexion and mass of curls! The bow front speaks to her love for pieces with a vintage or retro flair.

Now I’m pondering a trip (real or virtual) to Loft myself for this blouse. I love the soft color, and how that takes some of the edge off the snake pattern. The snake still has sass, but it’s a subtle sass…

One of the biggest wardrobe gaps to fill is a wine blazer; we had absolutely no luck with that this trip, and may struggle well into fall, but I have some ideas up my sleeve, and will keep my eyes open. It will show up when the time is right!

• 

• 

We headed across the street to introduce JJ to Club Monaco. No, that glass door is not frosted; it was that humid! They had the jacket on the right in grey. It has the look of a jacket with the comfort and ease of a cardigan; it’s really a lovely piece that will look polished as a topper over her blues and wines, and create a suit with the grey trousers above.

In an hour and a half, we filled her major wardrobe gaps, found some personality pieces, talked about fit, fibers, and clothing care, and had some fun and laughter. Our biggest disappointment was the jewelry… We were looking for some bold blue and wine beads (40’s/50’s look, like bubblegum pearls) to add color and fun to her outfits. All the jewelry in the stores right now is very dainty and subdued. Not at all the vibe we want, but that’s no problem. I expect Etsy to solve that problem for her!

So, how about you? Have you ever been shopping with a professional? Do you shop with a plan? Or just buy what strikes your fancy? Do you have any experience with the stores and brands above? Do let me know in the comments below!

Stylishly yours,