GET DRESSED FOR DEBENHAMS SUCCESS WITH KIM AND CHANTELLE

A budget to blow and dedicated staff to help you spend it.

It's a fashionista's dream, right?

Except that this writer is less fashionista and more, how shall we say, traditional in her attire.

I know what I like and I stick with it.

When the call came in to engage with the Debenhams Personal Shopper experience, we were apprehensive.

Personal Shoppers.  Do we really need someone to tell us what to wear?

And therein lies the first misconception - personal shoppers advise, support and encourage.

They don't dictate.  They do smile a lot though, and afford a warm welcome when we arrive looking windswept and disheveled.

Chantelle and Kim are the ladies with a keen fashion sense. They don't just sell it of course, they wear it well too.

Initial introductions over, and it's time to get down to business and divulge our 'personal bits'.

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"How tall are you?", "What size bra?", "Shoe size?"  "Eye colour?..." the questions keep coming thick and fast and we bat the answers back - like table tennis, but with fashion at the core.

"Any colours you don't like?"  "Any key pieces you are looking for?" they enquire working in perfect union.

Then Chantelle and Kim leave us to peruse a selection of glossies while they disappear to the shop floor.

They return - sooner than expected - armed with coat hangers galore - cardigans, dresses, trousers, blouses, blazers, kimonos, everyday wear, statement items and some things things we wouldn't look twice at ordinarily.

The selection is overwhelming and as they talk me through the choices, I insist a couple of pieces can be done away with.

"They are just not me," I say.

"But we're here to take you out of your comfort zone," Chantelle insists, and as Kim layers up some bold print dresses with complementing items, I resign myself.

'I'll try them on and prove that they are not me,' I think, knowingly.

So, who is most likely to indulge in this Personal Shopper experience?

"We got lots of requests from people going to weddings, mums going back to work, people from weight loss groups, people going to funerals...all sorts."

"We get transexuals too," Chantelle says, "Everyone has body issues no matter who they are."

"Some of our size 8 ladies fret just as much about their shape as our size 22 ladies..."

"We get people with different budgets and different body shapes too," Kim says.

She has been in the role at Debenhams for nine years, and loves the variety of the job.

"I trained as a window dresser," she explains, "Now I dress people not mannequins!"

Chantelle has worked alongside for three years: "You need a flair for it,"she says of the Personal Shopper role, "..and you've got to love fashion!

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"We know the stock really well too.  We do a lot of floor walks, and can't wait for new stock to come in, so we can get our hands on it!"

We don't get a cramped changing room to try on our possible purchases.  Instead we get a flattering, large room to make our own during the experience, and beverages as required.

Indulge in a cheeky glass or morning wine, or take your complementary treat home.  A nice extra, but as we are present and correct at 10am, we opt to take it with us.  Coffee it is, then.

With each item we try on, we begin to enjoy the process that bit more.  And you know what, some of those items we had dismissed actually look pretty darn good.

There is an art to this image consultancy work, and these two have got it licked.

Kim and Chantelle assess every item: "That looks lovely on you, "That's really flattering," "Green is a good colour on you..."

But they are just as likely to tell me when something isn't working.  These two aren't out to sell, sell, sell regardless and don't work on a commission basis.

This is their art form, which makes us something of a palette, and our clothes the paint and colour.

"We want to make you look and feel good.  Much of our business comes from word of mouth, by people that have been here before. "If we don't get things right people wont return, or endorse us."

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And people clearly do like the service - they have plenty of regular clients.

Chantelle and Kim get to know some of them so well, that the girls are able to pre-select items to suit, ready for their arrival.

It takes a while but we have tried on a rail worth of items.  We've gone bold print, nautical, pastel, we've tried on long dresses, short tops, unimaginable pieces (which have worked) and somehow we have whittled down our selection to some new key pieces that can be dressed up, or dressed down.  Working items, enabling us to get the most from our clothes. 

And at the end of it all, Kim and Chantelle are still smiling.

"We're quite upbeat people anyway," Chantelle says, "and it's our job to make you feel good..."

Even when faced with prima donnas?

"I'm the only drama queen here!" she says, before giggling with her partner in fashion.

With that, we vacate our own private shopping space and make tracks to the till point where the serious business of spending begins.

Our visit has been a roaring success.  A bulging bag of goodies says so.

This shopping business can work up a hunger though:  Luckily, a trip to the Debenhams restaurant is included in our visit, for one more caffeine boost and a strawberry laden patisserie.

Your turn:

Gold V.I.P. packages are available for £100 - £1000 

The recipient will enjoy their own personal shopper, a beauty consultation with a premium cosmetics house of their choice and a tea/coffee and treat in the restaurant. 

To book your consultation call the team on 01908 295532.