#personal shopping

[expatesque]

At the demand of no one, please allow me to present...

S's 2024 Gift Guide

A gift guide with no coherent theme, just vibes, under the cut.

Starting out with anything from Bully. Do you have an extravagant person in your life? A brother that needs a touch of sophistication? Or a difficult aunt? Please allow me to recommend: anything from Bully. Luxe versions of normal things in the most spectacular packaging, truly the pick for anyone hard to shop for. I'm particularly drawn to the personalized combs, or the metal room diffuser, or any of their garden scents.

A cute calendar from a local artist. For the UK, I personally love this one that shows you what's in season each month.

A stupidly gorgeous candle (had to be done).

Take something off their plate - know someone who's overwhelmed, has so much going on, and could use a breather? Get them the gift of taking something off their plate. Whether that's babysitting the kids for an evening so they can have the night to themselves, building that new bookshelf they've had in a box for six months, helping organize their 30th, or buying them a deep clean with a local cleaning service, sometimes the nicest thing you can give someone is capacity.

For your local aesthete who's also a bit of a clutz (🙋‍♂️), metal champagne coups or martini glasses.

Know someone chic who has to take medicine throughout the day (or just really loves an ibuprofen)? A steel pillbox (and anything else from Rebecca's consistently stunning collections).

Know someone really into ruffles? Gorgeous pillow cases (pro tip: while initials are always chic, consider 'sweet' on the left pillow case and 'dreams' on the right for a fun alternative).

An (affectionately) insane swan juicer.

The person in your life that cares about fashion but is feeling a little lost in their style or wants to dress more intentionally: The Creative Pragmatist.

Your local espresso aficionado: this steel cup set and a bag of really good local beans.

Pope socks. I don't know who exactly to recommend this for, but if there's anyone who pops into your head when I tell you that the Pope's tailor sells online and you can buy the exact socks that all cardinals and bishops have to wear, get them Pope socks.

If you have a cook on your list who lives in a small space, get them a minichop (trust me, we all want one).

A lipstick lover who's open to trying new shades? Try the Dries Van Noten refillable lipsticks.

Books are always good. In addition to just a book you think they'll like, consider a lovely edition of their favourite (folio or any cloth bound classics). If you're really stuck, a coffee table book from Phaidon or Gestalten is a good bet.

For your dad, or grandma, or pretty much anyone: gorgeous, 100% cotton Italian pajamas at quite reasonable prices.

Really beautiful jewelry for your edgy, hard to impress cousin.

For the elegant person that has everything, the insanely beautiful kettle.

And lastly, a double gift, for you and the recipient: get a kid impacted by foster care exactly what they want this year via One Simple Wish. While I totally support the kind of gift drive where you buy a generic present for a 7yr old boy, I was a kid with niche interests and so the idea of getting someone exactly what they've asked for really appeals. There's usually gifts as low as $20, so you can support whatever your budget.

[house-of-crows]

Many of you know that I collect Vintage Scents. Some of you know that I have "Holy Grail" or "Unicorn" bottles that have been discontinued or reformulated past all recognition. What I hold in my hands tonight is one of those nigh-unobtainable Unicorns.

As some of you may know, I have been chasing a bottle of Joy; or it's 'lesser' flankers; for almost ten years now. Fewer of you know the story behind why. But tonight, through my grateful tears, I want to tell the story.

When I was but a Youngling, I worked at an "upscale" shoe store in a rather upscale outdoor mall; back when those were a new thing in Midwest America. There was nothing I liked better than to peruse our stock; in store and out; and maintain my knowledge of styles, brands, fit, material, and how they were produced. At my height, I could have told you almost anything you wanted to know about where brands held their warehouses and factories, what sort of leather or vinyl was used, stiching vs glued vs both, what brands fit what sort of foot best... I was on every forum, every brand website- And my return customers appreciated the breadth of knowledge.

And then there was the Lady. In all my unfortunate bouts of amnesia and memory loss, her name is the one thing that still escapes me. I could tell you about her home, her incredible closets, the art on her walls... but her name is lost to me. So I simply call her the Lady. She was in her late 80s by the time I knew her, and was born somewhere in-between 1929-1934. (A Lady never reveals her true age and all)

~*~

We met in the middle of a shift, and I was already exhausted by the droves of teens 20-somethings and their petulant mothers looking for prom shoes and wedding heels. Twas the Season. And then I saw Her. Standing all of 5'7", in elegant tango-style pumps, and neatly kept, immaculate vintage Chanel suit over a powdery blue blouse. Her silver-white hair was elegantly done up in a loose knot, and the only jewelry I saw on her was an understated gold wedding band and a pair of drop pearl earrings.

Her voice, up close, was cultured. I never could place her accent, but her tone was modulated, warm, and kind. She never took her upset out on any of the workers in the building, and was always ready to go out of her way to find me to do her shopping for her while she sat on one of the benches. She was everything I ever hoped to become as I age, and I know I fall quite short of her grace and poise... But she was so inspiring.

I found her shoes for weddings. Shoes for evenings out. Shoes for dancing, for walking, for travel, for boating... and while I shopped, we talked. We discussed fashion, art, preferences in style and the difference between being stylish and being fashionable- She taught me so much, and then... a day came when the stress of working a public-side job got to me.

It was only pure luck that she was in the building at the time. It doesn't matter what the upset was, it's been years now- but she was there, kindly but firmly taking my arm and walking me towards the employee room. "Don't come back out until you've had a chance to get it out, and fix your makeup. I'll tell them I sent you, if they cause a fuss." No one did.

And when I'd dried my eyes and had a water, I went back out. And she offered me a job. It didn't pay a lot, but neither did my retail work. She gave me more money for less hours, and at 20hrs/week at 7.25, well~ I was ready to move up even if it was less guaranteed.

She made sure I had access to vehicles, the shops she enjoyed, and her home while someone was there. And while I worked, she taught me, intentionally and not, how to be a person who moved through the world with grace and poise and compassion... even if one was not always KIND. She taught me that Good is better than Nice, before I'd ever heard about Into the Woods or Sondheim.

~*~

I could tell a lot of stories about the Lady. But, what happened at the end of our arrangement is most important. When she exited my life as gracefully as she had entered, she gave me a box, and she quietly wished me a life full of joy. She hugged me, as she'd never done before, and wished me well, before she called me a car and sent me back to my little section 8 apartment.

I opened the beautifully wrapped box at a dinged and scratched up coffee table, on a couch that smelled of dog, and was presented with my first-ever taste of Luxury.

The lovely cream box held a neatly folded vintage Hermes scarf, and a small bottle of Patou's Joy. It smelled like a garden at noon on a summer's day with a breeze running through it, and I cherished it mightily. It made its way with me across the country when I ran from my abusive family for the second time, and on the night I left my husband; moving too quickly in order to pack all my things before my father in law came home from taking him to work-

I caught the edge of the bottle on the shelf, it fell from my hands, and broke on the desk below. I didn't have time to clean it up, or to gather the pieces, or even to cry over it before I was running down the stairs and out the door.

This isn't the same bottle. It's not quite the same bottle or vintage. But what this is is a beautifully emotional, kindhearted, and compassionate gift from someone very dear to my heart. This is a lovely piece of my past returned to me, and all the memories that go along with it, good and bad, and in-between. My little piece of Joy.

[heroineheroine]

Follow and shop my depop ! Preloved and personally thrifted goods from my closet to yours ✨

[prettyindeath]

It just hit me that... I genuinely have a personal shopping client??? She’s contacted me twice to get some items for her, and is always a great sale because she’s really into quality clothing. Omg, I’m so hype!

[expatesque]

Ok, seeking a classic but not black/grey/camel coat to survive the winter gloom, preferrably wool and under £300. Why are all coats synthetic and depressing?!

Hmm. This is a tough one, particularly the price point.

So just a thought: I view winter coats like the expensive pieces of furniture in a room or kitchen cabinets; I personally think they should be neutral so that they last longer without going out of style, and then you can switch it up with accessories to adjust the look. So I would probably only buy an expensive winter coat in navy outside of that color range above. But! It sounds like you want bold and bright, so let's see what we can do.

For £300, secondhand is probably a good option to get something natural. Winter coats do get donated fairly often, particularly men's ones which can add that very on trend oversized look, so worth popping into your local charity shop to take a peek. They're unlikely to be in bold colors but with luck you might find a tweed or other patterned wool. Online, Darling Vintage loves color and is reasonably priced. She has this green check mohair in stock right now, which isn't quite a winter coat but is very fun. Worth keeping an eye on her restocks, she frequently has coats. Bobby & Dandy is another good source but they do specialize in men's. They've got this red check coat at the moment that looks really warm, if not very formal.

Another idea: wait for the sale. Coats do usually go on good sale at the beginning of spring, so it might be worth keeping an eye on a few brands you like and then swooping in when the sales come on.

Okay now for some actual products: none of these are exactly what you want, but they might spark some ideas.

Rains has completely unnatural coats that are cool, colorful, and very well priced. They have some insulated options made for winter, but I also like their normal jackets + an (also synthetic) uniqlo thin quilted jacket underneath for days when you need the added warmth. Same idea for Stutterheim.

Along similar lines but not synthetic, get a cotton trench that's oversized... And then pair with the uniqlo thin under jacket when needed.

Some wool blends from various places: uniqlo, m&s in blue and green and actually lots of options!

Okay wait! Found some 100% wool ones! Green! Light blue (v slightly out of budget)! Ah and another here, wool and cashmere! at the Net a Porter sale in navy (just a touch above budget. There's also a nice burgundy but it's more like £400).

Whew okay, glad I was able to find a few things in the end. Hope some of those strike your fancy or give you an idea. In general, I personally would find a few 100% wool coats I liked and wait for the sales (although I do think that last netaporter one is nice). For what it's worth, my wool coat is Mother of Pearl and I've loved it for many years now. They don't do bold colors but do have some non-beige or black. They don't usually go on sale, but if you're willing to invest, recommend.

[expatesque]

for the sleepover: you have such great taste in clothes imo, any suggestions on where to shop for a dress for my will-be sister in law’s upcoming wedding?

Ooh how fun! Okay well must mention the classic: Reformation, the go to for a reason. My favorite kooky starting point: Wolf & Badger (not sure the time of year of this wedding but how pretty would this be for a winter wedding?). Want to be fun and fabulous? La Double J (with feathers!). Committed to being the coolest person at the wedding? It has to be Tibi (this or this with a slip). Ready to invest in some amazing embroidery? Yulia. Is it time for organza? It might be time for organza (on sale!). Or instead do you want to be the most romantic guest there? Zimmerman. Do you have great legs and want to sparkle the night away? I've got you. Is it time for a bold hue that works across seasons? Tada.

Honestly though, with formal wear I find trying it on in person helps so much, so if you've got the option to go to a department store, do go! For Chicago, the Bloomingdale's dress section is the best. In London, save yourself time and go straight to Harrods.

+ let's have a sleepover

[expatesque]

Oooo if you’re open to helping us shop please help me find my wedding dress (big ask)? I feel like I’ve tried on every dress in London and am about to give up! I’m not tied to it being white (blue? metallic?) I just want it to feel special enough that I don’t look like my own guest, but not a full meringue moment because there’s only going to be 15 people total. Vibe is casual Saturday afternoon picnic in the park and drinks at our local afterwards, my budget is £2k!

Sorry I should have added that I’m super short so midis tend to fit better, maxi not really my vibe and I’m worried it might feel too formal for the picnic!

Oh my god this is my dream task. First off - congratulations! Sounds like it's going to be a beautiful wedding. Okay so I've got a few thoughts first before we dive in: (1) You can get anything shortened - I'm also relatively short (well, actually I have long torso and short legs, but works out the same) so 90% of my bottoms are tailored. And what better time to invest in some good tailoring than your wedding! Assuming the dress isn't beaded / heavy on appliques, it's usually<£30 to have something shortened, and it's the same price to have something taken up half an inch vs taken up a foot, to make a maxi tea length. So I'm going to recommend a few things that are longer but know that I always mean you should have them shortened if you want. (2) Have you thought about a veil? I just think it's the easiest, most obvious way to say 'Wedding!' but still keep things cool. Personally I love a birdcage moment but I'm also partial to a short veil, particularly if you get something meaningful embroidered on it (this one is fully customizable and I love the look of the phrase running down the side).

Okay now that we've done that, some thoughts: Rixo makes cute, special but low key dresses. For a city wedding feel, I love the shorter ones (60s vibes! This CAPE) but there's loads of cute options (remember, you can have the longer ones taken up!). They're also v affordable which is always nice.

On the less classically bridal end of the spectrum, we have La Double J who go big on color and pattern. Again, I'd consider adding a veil (maybe in a fun color?!) to feel more bridal. I'm not sure your body shape but this top and skirt combo! With a pale blue veil?! Come on. They also do have more classic bridal pieces as well. There's also Zimmerman - flirty and flouncy, their dresses have pure romantic vibes. Something like this could definitely read bridal (+ a birdcage viel and a little shrug maybe?). If you're not put off by black (again, veil and accessories can help) then this is to die for and super re-wearable. Or embrace the chill vibes and go yellow! They have loads of great options.

I'm sure you already know this but just in case: Reformation does bridal. Like their normal dresses, the options skew towards people with model proportions but they've got some gorgeous ones - love this minimal take. I'd also recommend Wolf & Badger again. Do you want to be a hot and cool minimalist? A sea foam mermaid? (I'd personally have the slits closed a bit and the whole thing taken up but that's me). A ball of spring flowers? The Badge has you covered.

And then of course, a net a porter troll. Are you a disco queen? The most elegant woman alive? (Prob not best for the park, but def could work for a pub). A garden fairy? A jumpsuit (!) babe? A queen of less is more? (maybe with tulle gloves!) A column queen? (I'd style with blue shoes that match, I have this pair from Ferragamo that I love).

Again for lots of these I think accessories are key. You add a veil, a glove (consider short too!), a white shoe and all the sudden, bang it's clearly bridal. I hope some of that is helpful, and good luck!

(okay also you did not ask about this but just a thought: you can get really beautiful, affordable, old embroidered white table clothes fairly easily online and at antique shops. How gorgeous would your wedding picnic be on all white 'blankets'? Maybe with something waterproof underneath because, London).

[firstimpressionau]

Top Wardrobe Consultant In Sydney

Struggling with your style? Let First Impression Image Consultancy, Sydney's top wardrobe consultant, boost your confidence and elevate your look. Discover personalized style advice that ensures you shine at every occasion. Book your consultation today and redefine your wardrobe!