Hi ladies - I'm on the verge of hiring a stylist. Someone to come clean out my closet, tell me what looks terrible on me, advise me on what clothes look good and help me with purchasing some new clothes. This seems like an extravagance, but I literally break out into a sweat when it comes to buying clothes. I get so overwhelmed. I can go into gap and buy pants or something - but when it comes to actually putting an outfit together, I am clueless.

Have any of you done this? I think it would be a good investment, but I am finding it difficult to pull the trigger. I'm only talking work clothes - I don't go clubbing or anything (2 kids ended that a long time ago!). I have no clue how to coordinate anything.

Anyway, if you've done it - or had any friends who have done this - can you please let me know if you/they thought it was worth the money? thanks!

I haven't done that exactly, but I once used a personal shopper at Nordstrom. I don't think it cost anything for the service, and she helped me find some things that I really liked and she arranged for a few good alterations that I probably wouldn't have done on my own (the alterations did not cost too much). I thought it was worthwhile.

I haven't done this either, but I'm sort of doing it for myself. I am a pretty simple dresser, not too fancy, mostly dressed for comfort and function. My sister is the opposite-- very fancy, stylish, glamorous. When we were at her house last year, I picked up a book she had sitting around called "How not to look old: fast and effortless ways to look ten times younger, ten pounds lighter, and ten times better" by Charla Krup. While we were at her house, I actually read through most of the book. It had some pretty good advice. Personally, I am considering applying to a second residency or at least returning to some type of clinical work after time off as a full time mom. I figure that it won't hurt to update my wardrobe.

I hired and interior designer for the first time ever to decorate our new home as I have not time, already busy enough and wanted to have it done right from the get go.sooooo
I would go for it no need to stress out when someone can do it for you and it is worth it way worth it

I don't know how much consultants cost, but I have used personal shoppers and they are free. They are very useful. They set out several outfits and all you have to do is try them out. And after, I keep the outfits intact at home. At some stores, clerks will do this for you. Go to a store you like during a quiet time and confess to a clerk what you told us.

I also order entire outfits from a catalogue or buy outfits that a store has already put together.

Key for me is to keep the outfits intact at home. None of this mix and match stuff if you don't know what you are doing.

I'm with Clee-I have found people at Ann Taylor to be really helpful-I walked in after my sceond child and told them I hadn't bought anything but maternity in 5 years and I needed someone to 'dress me'-and they were very helpful. I also buy intact outfits:) But, if you can't do that, go for it!

Ann Taylor is where I shop.Everything there goes with everything and I don't have to think( it rhymes).They also have whole outfits. I sometimes take pictures of the mannequins too.