Tuesday 29 July 2014
Monday 14 July 2014
A Job well done...
A job well done...
When people say to me that my job as a Personal Stylist at John Lewis must
be great, they are correct on two counts.
It is enormously satisfying to give the best customer
service you can possibly give, and it is hugely rewarding to hear the words
(after every single appointment) “I would never have looked at that, but LOVE
it”!
Which brings me to the bad bit. And being extremely positive and chirpy, I try
not to dwell too much on this, but I read an article today that struck a
nerve. The sort of article in a glossy
magazine that tells you 'How to improve this', 'How to hide that', and looking at
the models, it occurred to me that actually their ‘flaws’ were all in their
head.
Now I am no Psychoanalyst but frankly does anyone have any
idea where this negativity comes from in the first place? I do. And
it is closer to home than you would think.
Now as everyone knows, I always welcome a partner or best
friend into an appointment if the client feels it necessary but as time goes on
I am beginning to wonder if this a great thing.
Take ‘Claire’ (and her accompanying partner). A well spoken ‘30’ something professional
going to wedding. Tall, with a perfect
size 12 figure and an enviable flat stomach. This would be easy appointment - and she looked fabulous in all the dresses.
But one dress in particular had the WOW factor that she loved, and
teamed with a bright court shoe that made the flower in the dress POP, she
would certainly turn a head or two.
Far from being proud, (or interested), her partner sadly had
to be ‘forced’ to lift his head from his mobile at every entrance she made, and
told her flatly that this particular dress ‘highlighted her problem tummy area’. Now whilst everyone is entitled to an opinion
on pattern and style and it is hugely individual, I watched in horror as this
delightful lady arrived in horror at this new knowledge that she had a ‘problem
area’ (which she didn't) and worse,
would spend the rest of her life trying to disguise it (and swotting up on the
‘help pages’ of said magazine).
Now as some of you aware, at the moment , I am carrying a
pound or two (okay stone) more than I usually do but I still feel confident,
pretty and most of all happy in what I look like. And I want you to feel the same.
But to partners and best friends reading this – come on
guys. Try and be supportive. It may only be clothes, but lack of self
worth is really important. Don't you
agree?
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