Help for the busy or baffled consumer
Personal shoppers at local retailers can outfit you in style and ferret out the best bargains
by Kytja Weir

To some people, even the thought of scouring sales racks of clothes to find the right look is daunting.

Personal shoppers can help. You don’t have to be a movie star or a corporate titan to afford one. While some charge an hourly rate or a percentage of the items purchased, others offer free advice with no strings attached.

The Globe tested four free services, offered by Macy’s, Nordstrom, J.Crew, and the online personal shopping service Shop It To Me. The testing was conducted anonymously, using the same parameters and budget for each service.

Tory Johnson, chief executive of Women for Hire, a New York-based recruitment service, said many of her clients seek advice on clothing, whether they are a busy professional who doesn’t have time to shop, someone just graduating from school, or a stay-at-home parent returning to the workforce.

“We know what feels good. We aren’t always the best judge of what looks good,” she said. “We are our own worst enemies. It’s definitely valuable to get the opinion of someone else.”

But sometimes friends and significant others can’t give the best guidance, Johnson said. Personal shoppers, however, can be more objective. They also understand how clothes fit on different body types, and they have knowledge of a store’s entire inventory, not just one department.

“Give yourself some time to let the person do the magic,” Johnson said. “Let them take something off the rack that you’d never try.”

In fact, in our testing, personal shoppers were almost magical - they discovered cut-rate deals and encouraged some unexpected but successful choices. Two offered some unsolicited advice beyond fashion. But much of their guidance was welcomed and spot-on.

Still, some items were clear misses. For someone who sticks to earth tones, a puffy silk fuchsia blouse with large white polka dots and turtleneck-style collar may seem too fashion-forward. And a recommendation for a pistachio-colored Hugo Boss suit did not seem practical or age-appropriate even if it was heavily discounted.

Johnson cautioned not to be swayed just because something is on sale. If it doesn’t look good at full price, she said, it won’t at half price either. And, she added, beware of the personal shopper who says everything looks fabulous.

“At the end of the day, it’s important not to make a purchase you’re not comfortable with because it will sit in your closet,” she said. “It’s a prescription for money down the drain.”

In addition, choose a store that matches your budget, she said - a high-end department store is going to have high-end prices. And make it clear from the start how much money you can afford to spend.

In our testing, the two department stores offered more options than single brand J.Crew. In addition, the Macy’s and Nordstrom shoppers selected items in advance, having already asked about sizes, needs, and taste. The online service Shop It To Me offered great deals, but expects buyers to already know the designers and brands that look good on them.

The shopper at Nordstrom scouted for fewer deals than the one at Macy’s, so we chose Macy’s as our favorite for its separate fitting rooms, attention to detail, and hustle. In the end, we purchased some lovely items - and spent more money than we should have.

Macy’s
Chestnut Hill
PROS: The personal shopper interviewed us in advance to learn sizes, preferences, and budget, and had an array of mix-and-match outfits with accessories waiting in a private dressing room. Many of the items were already deeply discounted, including a cashmere wrap cardigan for $132 that was originally $378. She also stayed late and searched the store high and low for an alternate size of pants on sale.
CONS: The store’s phone system was cumbersome, so reaching the personal shopper was hit or miss. She encouraged us to buy some items that didn’t fit as well as others, so some pieces were later returned.
FINAL WORD: The private room, advance scouting, and persistent quest for good deals won us over.

Nordstrom
Burlington Mall
PROS: The personal shopper e-mailed a questionnaire in advance to ask about sizes, colors, and budget. At the store, she was honest enough to tell us a pink shirt was the wrong shade. She also modified her selections to match our taste and helped to cull a final array of clothes to fit a budget, noting that a particular style of pricey pants often goes on sale and could be purchased later at a better price.
CONS: She didn’t select as many sale items as the other personal shoppers, or point out as many other discounts.
FINAL WORD: A good service that offers organized advice in a semi-private area, but it is best for those seeking the right clothes, not necessarily the best prices.

Shop It To Me
Online shopper based in San Francisco
PROS: The online shopper lets the customer pick brands and sizes of interest, and sends e-mails when those brands have items for sale. The average discount for apparel is 41 percent, according to founder Charlie Graham. The service also allows customers to solicit input from a friend, with a “love it,” “try again,” or “maybe” vote.
CONS: Obviously, customers can’t try on clothes in advance. And they need to have an idea of what brands they already like.
FINAL WORD: It’s a good bet for the shopper who already knows what they want, but doesn’t have time to search for discounts. But for someone needing clothing advice, it’s best to consult a real person.

J. Crew
Atrium Mall
PROS: The personal shopper responded within two hours to set up an appointment and offered a flexible schedule, including before or after the store opened. He steered us to a suit on sale and noted another special discount. Ultimately 62 percent was knocked off the suit’s original price.
CONS: He didn’t question us in advance about sizes or colors, so he didn’t have anything ready when we arrived. The store also didn’t offer a separate dressing room, so other customers who needed help kept pulling him away with questions.
FINAL WORD: As a single brand store, J.Crew does not offer as many options as a bigger department store. And because its stores are smaller, they don’t offer the same privacy as department stores with private fitting rooms. Ask for pre-opening or post-closing fittings.

I sometimes think about my J.Crew personal shopper and I have become such good friends.  I remember shopping at the local while I was in high school with my mother.  At that time, I simply picked out clothes that she was willing to let me wear on my teenage body.

As I got older and left the nest for college, I shopped on my own, with my own finances.  I think Matt and I just met one day.  I always have a difficult time finding my size on the racks and a surplus is almost always in the back.  He helps me to put ensembles together and track down items all over the country.  And I always appreciate it.

This article in Boston Globe made me appreciate him even more.