A Personal Styling Appointment

It's Style September in Victoria Square, Belfast and as part of the special fashion events going on every week, Rebecca McKinney, the VS Personal Stylist, offered to show me some gorgeous new autumn/winter outfits. No matter how happy you are about shopping for yourself, it's a great idea to once in a while to use a personal shopper. 

Before I visited, Rebecca sent me a questionnaire about my vital statistics, preferred colours & shops, lifestyle and most importantly, budget. Two days later, I headed to the private styling suite in Victoria Square to try on my outfits and enjoy a glass of wine! The first outfit was from River Island..

Black Plether Detail Skinny Jeans - £40
Suede Ankle boots with Zip Detail - £40
Tweed/Pleather Biker Style Jacket - £60
(White Vest - Primark - my own!)

Firstly, the jeans. Perfect if you want to introduce a little bit of the leather trend into your daily wardrobe. They are regular stretchy skinny jeans with a panel of pleather running down the side.
Secondly, the boots. A great heel height for the school run but the zip and heel detail just makes them a little bit different. They would work great for a night out too.
But it was the jacket that won me over. It brings a bit of rock chick to the school run but also ticks the leather/tweed trend boxes this autumn winter. If (like me) you find a blazer a little bit too dressy for daily wear, this is a fantastic alternative. Here's a close up..drool...

Sticking with the green theme, Rebecca suggested I try on a mint green top - part of the Lana del Rey collection for H&M. It's not a colour I would chose for myself but I was pleasantly surprised...

Mint Chiffon Shirt by Lana del Rey (not yet available online)

Outfit number three addressed my requirement for a few sparkly but age appropriate pieces for fashion shows and events that I would go to now and again...and also for the upcoming party season..

Stone Chiffon Embellished Top - £45
Jeans - as before

This top is so flattering as it's a little longer at the back. I just wanted to swish around wearing it all morning! And I'm guessing you've noticed the Kurt Geigers pewter studded beauties...they get a whole photo of their own..

General by Kurt Geiger - £135 because every girl should have a pair of sparkly heels!
Necklace - H&M £14.99

These shoes are a wish list item and most certainly not a school gate option but I could see them coming out again and again for nights out over the years. Going to watch out for them in the sales. But isn't that necklace fantastic for £14.99? I wore it with the shoes for another outfit involving some daring patterned jeans..

Patterned Jeans - H&M - £9.99
Shoes & Necklace as before
Jersey Tee with Chiffon neckline - H&M - £7.99
Black Blazer - H&M - £29.99

These jeans are not for the faint hearted but despite being a bold pattern, it's actually quite flattering as it's going in the right direction to elongate the legs. And the £135 price tag for the shoes seems less of an issue when you consider this whole outfit comes in under £200.
I kept the top and necklace but changed the trousers for the next outfit - incorporating this autumn/winter's must have - burgundy jeans..

Burgundy Jeans - H&M - £14.99
Checked Scarf - H&M (not online)
Nude Pumps - H&M £24.99

Loved these jeans and the scarf Rebecca chose to wear with them. It's a perfect cosy shawl style scarf that can be worn in lots of different ways (I feel another scarf blog post coming on!). I also was amazed at how comfortable these nude patent pumps are..here's a close up..

If you're in the market for a Kate Middleton-style pair of platform nude courts but don't have her budget, I can highly recommend these bargainous beauties.
For a daytime look, Rebecca styled the burgundy jeans with a super-cute cream sequin collar top from H&M and a tweed blazer. I loved this nod to the heritage trend.

Blazer - H&M - £29.99
Sequin Cream Short Sleeved Top - H&M - £14.99 (not online)
Shoes & Jeans as before

By now I was sold on my burgundy jeans so Rebecca produced her most daring outfit and another one most certainly for nights out only...gold lame trousers..

Gold Trousers & Coral Blouse - H&M (not online)

This was the only combination I was unsure of when I saw my rail of clothes upon arrival but I have to say, it looked better on me than on the hanger. If you dare to be different, I think they are a great night out option and a change from boring black.

My verdict on the experience? Fantastic! Budget aside, I would have happily bought and worn regularly everything on the rail. And with one or two exceptions, I would have walked past ALL of the items if I was out shopping myself. If you are someone who dislikes or has limited time to shop, this is perfect for you. 
For 2 hours of Rebecca's time, you pay just £30. This can be entirely spent in the style suite or walking around the stores in Victoria Square, or a mixture of both. Rebecca is not aligned to any of the stores and there is no pressure to buy anything. However, her talent at picking what suits your colouring, body shape and lifestyle is so good, you'll struggle not to want to buy all of her choices.
If you're not in Northern Ireland and like the sound of this, check out your local shopping centre to see if they offer this service too! And if it seems a bit daunting, ask if you can bring a friend. Rebecca told me she is happy to cater for small groups as well as individuals.
For more information, check out the Victoria Square website on this link. 

Oh and if you're NI based and fancy a girly night out this Thursday, there are tickets available for the Victoria Square Style Soiree at the Elmwood Hall. A great night of fashion is promised. Yours truly will be there reporting for the blog...cannot wait x