my
background
Experience & Training history
I completely blame my late Father for my love of the finer things in life! The memory of my first ever ‘true’ fashion encounter was being taken to London shopping on my sixteenth birthday, where I was bought my first ever designer handbag. From then on, I was smitten! Walking down Bond Street, gazing adoringly at the beautiful and stylish ladies clutching lots of shopping bags. I felt so special and glamorous, like a million dollars!
From a very early age I have been such a girlie-girl, dressing up my dollies and applying makeup onto my Girls World, but it was this moment, buying a Dior saddlebag, that started my journey into style. All these years later, despite my addiction to bags, I still have that very first bag safely stored away in its dust bag. Occasionally I get it out to use it, tell it I love it, give it a kiss and put it away.
My Training
Graduating from University with a First Class BA Honors degree in Business Management and Marketing, I decided I wanted to become a Buyer and pursue a career in the fashion industry. Therefore, I undertook a graduate training scheme with John Lewis, which offered some essential training in retail management. This then lead to a position as the buyer for Ragdale Hall Health Hydro. The four years I spent there was a fantastic and invaluable experience, and the skills I gained, such as a Lejaby trained bra fitter, are instrumental to the foundations of what I do now. As well as the buying and product merchandising for the boutique and gift shop, which is a successful outlet, I began to deliver regular fashion shows and personal shopping mornings, which really captured my interest in dressing an individual depending on their wants and needs.
From there, I decided I wanted to specialise in ‘high-end’ fashion, which resulted in me becoming a manager,
working for the designer Amanda Wakeley. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there but quickly realised that instead of working so hard for other people, and with one particular brand, I wanted to venture out and manage myself in the world of fashion. However, I still loved the ‘one on one’ relationship I experienced with a customer, and the immense feeling of satisfaction, having nurtured and helped them look and feel fabulous.
That teamed with all my retail and buying knowledge, and my instinctive aptitude and passion for fashion, becoming a personal shopper and stylist just seemed the perfect and natural next step..
I’ve always mixed designer with high street. By selectively choosing certain items in a wardrobe, you can create an individual style. This is a skill that I have established and adopted over many years, and now wish to share.
After obtaining my official accreditation as an Image Consultant from the Alicia Kite Academy, I started my own business back in 2010, and embarked on accomplishing my dream…
Helping men and women start their journey into style.
