OT: Plus size ladies, can I pick your brains for a minute? (LONG!)

[Scornelius]

I've spent the last few days mulling over an idea I'm thinking of suggesting to my manager, and I'd love to get some input from my beloved co-disers.
Here's the idea:

You book an appoinment with your local plus-sized ladies' clothing store for a 'one-on-one complete fashion consultation'. It's about an hour of time with an experienced sales associate, and starts with an interview to learn a bit about your particular fashion needs. (SAHM who needs something comfy and durable, but that you're not ashamed to wear to the PTA meeting? High-powered executive who needs a power suit for the day, but that changes into somthing date-worthy with only minor tweeking?)

Your associate takes you around the store and shows you items that are flattering for your body type (apple? pear? hourglass?),height, colouring. She helps you find garments in fabrics that suit your lifestyle. You get a bunch of stuff (which is carried by the associate) and make only one trip to the changeroom, because if anything is the wrong size, your associate runs and fetches the new piece. Now that you're in the fittingroom area, you get a proper bra fitting. (A lot of people really don't understand how beneficial a good bra is. Not can be, IS. No other garment will make you look 15lbs lighter, make your clothes fit better, give you better posture, instantly. Except maybe Spanx, I suppose. But I digress....)

So now you try everything on and you and your associate put together some great pieces that will let you mix and match and get the most bang for your buck. The goal of the associate would be to assemble 5 or 6 item that will give you different outfits for a whole week. It's all free, or perhaps something like you pay $20 for the appointment, and it comes with a $20 gift certificate, just so people who book the appointment acutally show up.

The whole point of this little adventure would be to have some uninterrupted time with a sales associate who isn't 16 and telling you to sassy-up that outfit with a pair of red stilletos. It would be really casual and friendly, and all about getting you in the clothes that make you feel beautiful and confident.

What do you think? Would something like this interest you at all? Comments or suggestions? Thanks so much everyone!!

 

[pta-mom]

Well, I'm not what you would necessarily consider +size but I think it's a great idea! For me, I've been a stay-at-home mom for the last twelve years & am seriously looking in the direction of returning to some sort of gov't/office/banking position within the next year or so. I am so use to wearing jeans & a sweat shirt, I would certainly pay the $20 to have someone show me the latest, flattering styles for my body type for work wear.

On that note, does anyone know of a store that currently does that sort of thing in the Ottawa area?

Great idea Scornelius, run with it!!

 

[frtchr]

That sounds wonderful to me! I would love the one-on-one attention. I'm a SAHM, and I still like to look fashionable. However, it's too difficult to keep up with what's hip. If someone could help me look good and appropriate, I would definitely pay for the service.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Alot of the time the women that need the help have confidence problems. They might have a hard time justifying (with themselves) the cost of having a one on one consultation. So I like the idea of giving them the same amount of money back in a gift certificate. It should help to alleviate their "I'm not worth spending money on myself" problem.

 

[pta-mom]

Alot of the time the women that need the help have confidence problems. They might have a hard time justifying (with themselves) the cost of having a one on one consultation.

Ohhh...I don't agree with that! Personally I think the bulk of the women who would use this service would be the exact opposite! These are ladies who want to look good & maybe need a bit of a "make over" after perhaps years of wearing the same thing day in & day out.

Let's face it....we are not all style experts! Being forty-one, I still *feel* young & want to look good, wearing the latest fashions that are *age* appriopriate, just not always sure what they are!! LOL!

It's the same as someone getting an interior decorator to take a look at their home to change colors or styles...it's not that the person lacks the confidence to do it themselves, they just know that there is someone else who has more knowledge than they do!

I do agree though with giving them the coupon...those people will spend it in your store & than some!

 

[Eeyoreloverforever]

I am pretty good at picking out what looks good for my shape and size, but it helps to have anothers point of view.

My only concern would be, how have these people been trained? How do they know what will look and fit best on me and what colors to wear? Are they just going by their personal opinion or have they had some kind of training?

On a side note. There should be a way to communicate with the people who MAKE these clothes that not all plus size women are tall! And most of us do not have flat tummies!!!!! I am tired of clingy clothes!!!

And can someone find a stylish shoe with good support? I love the look of pointy toed heels, but they kill my feet. I am a SAHM who wants to look good and be comfy. Is that too much to ask?

 

[SandraC]

I'd pay $20 for bra advice!

 

[Romandel]

I am a + size and would love a service like that--heck even if I was not + size as I am terrible with the whole mix and match thing and would love to get more mileage out of my purchases and having someone else do the picking and coordinating for me would be wonderful. The $20 certificate is a nice touch as well.

 

[eyeoretoo]

I too will be signing up. I am totally useless when it come to fashion.

My daughter has helped me previously and I know what shoed me on the hanger I would never have tried on.

I have also been on the end of a salesperson telling me something looked great and was so tight that if I sat down I would have torn it apart.

Any particular store and area are we talking about.

 

[Scornelius]

Hey everyone, OP here! First off, let me say a big thank you to everyone who voted and commented. You've given me the confidence to go forward and make a proposal to my manager! I'll definitely make an update if it progresses at all, and if so, my fellow GTA disers might become the first customers! Thanks so much!

 

[drag n' fly]

I'd pay $20 for bra advice!

You have a lot of nerve skinny minny posting on this thread! You have to go post on the..."dang I am lookin fiiine and need to go to La Senza thread now"....Congrats on your weight loss


I would love to learn how to dress fresh. Being almost 42 I want to dress age appropriate and have a mix and match wardrobe. I would love a wardrobe that would adjust with my size change. I am losing, just not as quick as Sandra. I don't want to have to replace my wardrobe again in 6 months. Personal fashion consultants are a dream come true. Kudos to the OP for the fantastic idea.

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

Where can I sign up!!!!! I always watch What Not to Wear and think I would love Stacy and Clinton to surprise me with a $5,000 Visa card & shopping spree telling me what would look good on my body!!!!!

Good luck on your presentation to your boss....do keep your fellow Dis'ers in mind when you convince your boss to go ahead with your idea!!!!

Keep us posted.

 

[purplepeg]

I have experienced a similar experience you are proposing at the Laura Plus store when they did an invitation only in store fall line reveal. There was a continental bfast and they showed several outfits put together and then she picked outfits out and brought whatever I needed to the changeroom. It was great! Very expensive but great.(I bought a lot)

 

[bababear_50]

I'm in --sign me up--just went shopping tonight and found it difficult,,ok I'm the 2x size but only barely five feet tall so lots of 2x sizes swim on me but to fit the bust size I have to go with 2x ,,,is it me or have sizes changed over the years,,,
now the pant size is about a XL ---sometimes a 1X depending on the make. I guess I'm a pear . I'm not a SAHM but do work fulltime and have a partime job--limited me time but I can see me talking the family into buying this type of service for me as a birthday gift--just like a day at the spa type of thing.

Hugs Mel