wardrobe review

Value versus Price

31st January 2025 by Fiona Mobbs Leave a Comment

Do you know (or wonder) what it would cost to employ a Personal Stylist? Is this question something you want to know, but don’t want to ask before probing further?

In this blog, I thought it might be useful to set out my stall and address “the elephant in the room” to save any blushes…

The information is on my website, in my Terms & Conditions, but who reads them, right?

So, what value would you place on:

Knowing you look your best?
Feeling confident during interviews, photoshoots, or presentations?
Being aware of what suits you when shopping, avoiding wardrobe clutter and returns?
Getting dressed quickly and effortlessly?
Regularly receiving compliments on your look?
Packing efficiently, taking less while still meeting all your needs?
Saving a clothing disaster on a favourite item?
Having the support of a trusted confidant, available on an on-going basis?
Receiving objective, professional opinions tailored to you?
Working with a stylist who is honest yet kind, and dedicated to helping you look your best?

All the above deliver one or more tangible benefits: either saving you time, money, and/or reducing hassle.

So, what are my prices?

For reference, my 2025 prices are the same as they were in 2024, namely:

£95 per hour for wardrobe review or shopping support with you in the shops, plus mileage depending where we go.
£250 (fixed fee) for “at home” shopping support new items, or ask about the pre-loved service. Clients love the “at home” service. I return any unwanted items.
£199 for a personal, three-hour at-home colour analysis, including support materials (plus mileage if 51+ miles).

Does this sound expensive? Consider it an investment in yourself. Unlike regular hair or nail appointments, my services are a one-off experience with lasting benefits.

I’m proud to say that my clients never grumble about the price once they’ve experienced my service. They often return for further support, appreciating that I always aim to offer the best value with offers and reductions where possible (because I love a returning client).

I wanted to share this to ensure you don’t dismiss my services as being out of your price range. Additionally, I offer flexible payment plans and a money-back guarantee for your peace of mind.

Are you ready to invest in yourself?

If you want a chat to decide if I’m right for you, call Fiona on 07469 246722

I look forward to hearing from you!

3 lessons from a recent wardrobe review: my own!

23rd April 2023 by Fiona Mobbs 2 Comments

My busman’s holiday

I decided it was time to do my own wardrobe review, which to be honest was long overdue. I had clothes in lots of wardrobes (yes, lucky me) but I was only wearing a small percentage of them, although, to be fair, not all of them fit right now!

Clear out and sort out

It was partly a clear out (although I didn’t manage to give much to charity this time) and partly a sort out. By sort out I mean sorting clothes into spring / summer and autumn / winter wear, and then into sizes. I have to say it was a really nice thing to do. I enjoyed looking at all my clothes again, including ones that I hadn’t worn for a while but would still be appropriate if I could fit into them. A big incentive and exciting prospect.

Shoes and storage

I realised that it wasn’t working for me anymore to store my shoes in their boxes within big plastic boxes. I had several which took up a lot of space but I couldn’t see all the shoes, or grab them easily and go. Queue handy hubby! He built me a shoe wardrobe inside one of my wardrobes (see main picture). Wow, it’s beyond brilliant. I can see all my shoes now! Yes, if you count them, I’ve managed to put 43 in there, and there are a few flip flops in the drawer below. I even found a pair that I had forgotten I had. Joy, especially as my 2023 New Year’s Resolution is to not buy any clothes or accessories this year. I also decided to send one pair off to be re-dyed. (They had been dyed about ten years ago but I hadn’t worn them for a few years because they had become a bit shabby. However, they are still comfortable shoes and have life left in them, so I thought it might be interesting to see how they come back.)

Big shock – and why?

In populating the new shoe wardrobe I uncovered a few sandals that I kept in a drawer in our bedroom. When I pulled them out I noticed something unpleasant… some of them were covered in a fungus (left picture)! Not Joy. As a couple were actually leather, they had to be binned. I binned five pairs in all but managed to salvage two pairs of Ipanema flipflops. Although they are not supposed to be washed in a machine, I tried it and they came out OK. Again, more joy as I discovered a brand new pair of Ipanema’s in a box that would replace some that had to be ditched.

So, the question was, how did they develop a fungus? Queue helpful hubby again. He found me some dehumidifier bags so we could see if there was any moisture in our room (bottom right of the picture). There has been some condensation on the windows, and we know that our bodies create a lot of moisture at night, but how was it getting in this part of the wardrobe?

The shock was how much water collected in this little bag when placed in that area of the wardrobe in just a couple of weeks. We were still none the wiser on how it was collecting there. So we bought a hygrometer and placed it in various places upstairs. The reading was a shock! It gave us the answer: the humidity upstairs was actually conducive to mould growth! No wonder the other dehumidifier bags placed in other wardrobes were also filling with water! It’s certainly a mystery why this seems to have “suddenly” started to happen, and I was so grateful to have discovered it when I did and that it hadn’t spread further. So, of course we could open windows, but seeing the size of the problem, we are contemplating buying a dehumidifier.

The lessons

Lesson #1 is to regularly check your wardrobe contents. In my case it was humidity but it could easily be moths or other problems.

Lesson #2 is to not have too many clothes and accessories that you do not wear. They can get tucked away for a long time, sometimes so tightly packed into your rails that if there were a problem it would spread quickly to other clothes.

Finally, lesson #3 is that I have now vacuum packed the clothes that I cannot currently fit into, so they are safely stored for when I can.

If you’re thinking about doing your own wardrobe review, you might find these other articles of mine useful:

Wardrobe Lessons 1 – reflections on sorting it out

Wardrobe Lessons 2 – thoughts on washing, patterns and more

Wardrobe clearout – what to do with the rejects

If you would like help with your wardrobe, where I can advise on more than just what to keep, please get in touch.

Fiona
#yourcolourandstyleconsultant

07469 246722

#loveyourclothes
#wardrobereview

“Remote” Colour Analysis: how it works with Your Colour & Style

23rd July 2020 by Fiona Mobbs 2 Comments

What is Colour Analysis?

Colour analysis is the process of discovering which colours of clothing, accessories, make-up, and hair-dye look best on someone, so they can shop with knowledge and focus to make themselves look healthiest and most attractive, and save wasting money on items that don’t serve them well.

How Covid-19 changed things

When I trained over 11 years ago, I never imagined I would be able to colour-analyse through the internet! Yet, that’s exactly what I’ve been doing since the world adapted because of Covid-19. I, like many business owners, had to re-think my business proposition to make it work in this new world. (Thank goodness for the internet and Zoom I say!)

Because I am experienced, I have worked out a system that works for my clients and me, although I cannot guarantee it will work in 100% of cases because there are a few variables that I can’t control when working “remotely”. So, my system comprises of posting some drapes to the client in advance of the consultation, them sending me some pictures, then carrying out the analysis using Zoom (so they can also have a recording – a new bonus from this process) and completing the analysis at their home face-to-face when possible. A total of 3 hours for £150, backed by the guarantee that if it cannot be completed on-line either money-back, or conducting the analysis in the usual face-to-face way at my client’s home, with adequate safety measures in place.

A recent client example

I recently had the delight to conduct an analysis for the lovely Suzy, who helpfully (as a seasoned brand photographer) was able to take her own before and after pictures! I think you’ll agree they are stunning and show how the harmonious “autumn” colour shades create rapport with her features and make her look the warm and friendly person she is.

We discovered she was an “autumn”, meaning that she needs warm and soft colours to best combine with her natural skin tone, hair colouring and eyes. As it happened, one of those colours (a teal or kingfisher) she had chosen as her business brand colour, so she obviously loved it.

Suzy’s “before” photo

Suzy Ellis' "before" photo — Suzy Ellis in a bright blue (“winter”) dress – before she realised she needed warm and soft colours to make her look her best

Suzy Ellis' "after" picture — Suzy Ellis in her autumn top that she loved, and which loved her!

As part of the analysis I offer, I like to connect the theory with my client’s reality – and that involves discussion about the clothes they already own. It may be that I can give advice about making something work better; combining items that the client had never thought of; or what to do with something that the client is ready to put away or move on as they now know it is not best for them. All clients declare, as did Suzy, that this would be the scariest bit, but I can reveal that 100% of my clients afterwards say this is “the best bit” (I think because it makes the theory come alive and is practical for them).

The Client’s Perspective

Suzy kindly wrote about her experience, from the client’s perspective, and I am delighted to share it here with you.

The words of Suzy Ellis, Brand Photographer

” I’ve never been particularly into fashion, much preferring comfort over style. However I recently met Fiona in a networking meeting and what she had to say really grabbed my attention. I decided to join her online clothing swap as I was getting very depressed wearing the same tatty jeans and ancient T-shirt’s every day and thought this could be the opportunity for a change. My body shape and size has changed since having children so my wardrobe was full of clothes which I was desperately hanging onto in the hopes that I might fit back into them one day. Fiona’s event seemed like the perfect opportunity to get some new clothes.

The event was great fun and I ended up with some lovely new items, however one thing I did notice was that the other ladies on the call all seemed to be aware of their “colours”. This is something I’ve never really considered before. I’d always just bought clothes which I liked the look of and which (I hoped) were a flattering style. It never really occurred to me that there were specific colours which would compliment my skin tone, hair and eye colour. That would make me look healthy and bright.. and that would cause people to actually compliment me on my outfit (not a common occurrence for me).

After chatting with Fiona I booked one of her remote colour and style consultations. She explained how it would work, partly via zoom meeting and partly face to face when we were able to safely work together. She then arranged for me to have a pack of colour charts, multi coloured swatches and a colour wheel delivered to my house. I sent Fiona some images before the consultation of my face without makeup or jewellery so she could see my skin, eye and hair colour.

The Zoom Meeting

The Zoom meeting was fantastic! Fiona explained all of the seasonal colours to me and how and why colours compliment each other. We discussed my usual clothes and what colours I usually wear and why. I then used the colour swatches to hold up near my face for Fiona to see which tones suited me best. We both came to the conclusion that autumn colours worked best with my complexion. Afterwards, Fiona helped me go through some of the items in my wardrobe to see whether they would work with my colouring. It wasn’t just a case of … no that doesn’t work, get rid of it. She recommended how I could accessorise some of my clothes to make them look better, possibly take them to a tailor to be adjusted or even save some of the nicer items for my daughter when she is a bit older. I was slightly worried about this part of the consultation as my wardrobe is not something I’m proud of, but Fiona was so wonderful. She didn’t bat an eyelid about the random things I pulled out, and even encouraged me to give some of my older clothes a second chance. It was a lovely experience and I am very much looking forward to our meeting in person to talk a little more about makeup and accessories.

I have now had a sort out of my wardrobe and bought some new items in colours which I’ve never considered before but I think will suit me. I’m looking forward to going shopping again with my colour palette and I finally feel like I can spend my money wisely on clothes that I will actually wear and feel happy and confident in. “

Fiona says:

I am delighted that this analysis was able to be concluded for Suzy, and that she is now on her way to looking her best every day with ease.

If you want to see what can happen for you, Fiona can offer on-line analysis, as well as wardrobe consultations and support if you are buying new clothes, whether that’s brand new, or just new for you (ie previously loved).

Suzy’s website is here for anyone wanting her help for their brand photography.