For more customer feedback please check out my reviews on Google Places
"Thank you so much for your help. I didn’t realize how some small changes would make such a huge difference to how I felt and looked…or that I’d be able to achieve in 3 enjoyable hours shopping with you what would have required days and days of looking and frustrated shopping on my own…. Thank you so much! I’ve already had quite a few people tell me how well I’m looking these days and I feel comfortable and more confident in my new outfits!! It was the best birthday present I’ve ever been given! (I’ve got a really lovely husband!!)"
Maire Sewell, 45 (October 2010)
“When my husband presented me with a gift certificate for a personal stylist I'm afraid my first reaction was to be a bit offended - was I not stylish? I considered myself reasonably fashionable for a 31 year old and spent quite a bit of time (and money!) on clothes etc. For this reason I actually left this experience for a few months until the opportunity of time off ahead of a new job prompted me to take it forward.
I remember speaking to Laura on the phone and voicing my scepticism about the colour bit - my mum 'had her colours done' and seemed to carry round a great swatch of colours which she tried to match to clothes she liked. Laura said she would relish the opportunity to prove me wrong and boy was she right!
I had the colour consultation, personal style consultation and wardrobe inspection which took place at my house and remember being surprised by how scientific the process was. Taking into account my colouring and shape as well as the image I told Laura I wanted she was able to simplify and be quite specific about the optimum colour, shape, material, and scale of clothes and accessories which would help me achieve my best look. I was relieved that about 50% of my wardrobe was along the right lines and interested to realise why that dress for example which I always loved but for some reason never looked quite right was actually not flattering on me.
The following day we met to shop and put into practice what I had learned. Shopping became more interesting - walking into a shop the possibilities are slimmed down from having to consider everything on display. I found maybe half the items could be dismissed immediately. Laura picked out lots of outfits for me to try some of which I was frankly quite uncomfortable with - I would never look twice at that much less wear it.... Until I put it on...! And bought it!!
I really missed Laura when I subsequently shopped on my own but have let the experience completely change how I shop and put outfits together. One massive car boot sale and shopping trip to New York later and my wardrobe is transformed and the compliments from friends and family speak for themselves! Seeing a personal stylist was a real treat for me but also an investment and I would recommend Laura to anyone”
Amy Hefford, 31, Lobbyist (September 2010)
"Before I used Caboodle Style I used to find it really difficult to find clothes I liked, and I often found myself looking frustratedly through my wardrobe trying to find outfits for different occasions, from casual to work wear, with no success. Caboodle Style gave me a structured approach to dressing based on the looks that suited me (colour/style etc) and this has enabled me to build up a wardrobe of clothes I really love wearing. Clothes shopping has turned from being a nightmare into one of my favourite pastimes, using some of the techniques that I learned, and I am now used to receiving compliments on my clothes which never happened before. It gives you the confidence to express yourself and know that you look good, rather than hiding away in black clothes which was my previous bad habit. Laura is able to give advice in a way that is not pushy or overbearing, and has a good sense of humour which makes the experience a lot of fun... I have recommended to her to several friends who have all been similarly transformed!"
Ceris Stafford, 36, Chartered Secretary (August 2010)
“Having just turned 35, I became quite distressed about the sad state of my wardrobe and my inability to buy anything that I liked when shopping. I felt increasingly distanced from high street fashion and I was worried about edging towards 40 wearing the same things I had ten years ago and losing all sense of style along the way.
Luckily, I found Caboodle Style on the internet and I decided it was time to take action. Firstly, Laura did my colour profile which was very revealing. I used to wear a lot of black, white, pale pink and pale blue (for some reason I was very emotionally attached to pale pink!) but Laura showed me that the light cool colours washed out my pale skin...I was a reluctant and sceptical to start with but she was so right! I now wear warm and vibrant darker colours and look so much healthier!
We also did a style session and a wardrobe makeover. I was worried that Laura would want to throw out everything in my wardrobe but actually, we found a few gems in the back which I hadn’t worn in a long time that Laura pointed out were good colours/styles for me, so an unexpected outcome from that session was that I am now getting a lot of wear out of things that I had previously given up on.
I went for a personal shopping session which I was a bit apprehensive about, given my own recent poor shopping experiences. I was expecting to traipse around shops and be worried about how much time we were taking, but Laura was so efficient and effective. We went to just one shop where I spent about 3 hours in the change room with Laura bringing me piece after piece to try on. I bought about 10 items that day which, being the right colours, mix and match well together. That set the foundation for me to build upon, and I now find it so much easier to buy pieces that work with the other things in my wardrobe, which in turn means that it’s easy to create numerous different outfits.
I feel like I have regained my sense of style and I’ve so much more confidence in my appearance. I am regularly being complimented by family, friends, and colleagues and, on occasion, total strangers on what I am wearing, which of course is a lovely feeling.
I can honestly say that contacting Laura is one of the best things I have ever done. She is friendly yet professional, non-intimidating and ultimately, she really knows what she is talking about. I recommended her to a friend of mine, who also benefited immensely from Laura’s Caboodle Style makeover.”
Gill Cross, 36 (July 2010)
“I hate shopping, there I’ve said it! Being a size 16-18 means I’ve generally found it hard to find clothes that look flattering or even fit nicely, so I generally leave it until I desperately need something then go high pressure shopping, which is invariably a disaster.
I’d been off work for 9 months with my first child, which has been great, but shopping was out of the question, and so my wardrobe had deteriorated to being only clothes which worked well for feeding or washed easily when ‘decorated’ by the little one. I was nervous about returning to work (would I even be able to hold coherent adult conversation not about babies?!) and really wanted a confidence boost.
Myself and 3 friends had had a colours/style session with Laura 6 months previously, really interesting and great fun, and I’d thought at the time that when I went back to work I’d have a personal shopper session. The more I thought about it the better an idea it seemed. I booked Laura for 2 hours (the minimum session and far longer than I expected to last shopping!) and filled in the handy questionnaire highlighting my returning to work status, and that I wanted smart casual wardrobe, that I wanted to try dresses but was intimidated by them and could never find trousers that fit both my waist and my bum.
I was quite nervous meeting Laura again, as I really thought it wouldn’t be any fun, but rather something which would be ‘worthwhile’ doing. How wrong was I! When we met Laura had already pulled out a few items based on my questionnaire and we went around the department store looking at items. As we went around Laura pulled out items she thought would suit me, and explained why they were good / what they’d achieve, I found this really interesting, and by the end I could spot which tops would be flattering, and the opposite, myself!
Laura was very friendly and approachable and in no way intimidating. We took armfuls of clothes to the changing rooms, and had them all in the room at once (none of that only 4 items!) As I tried on the items I was really surprised how good they looked, the dress and two pairs of trousers Laura had picked out before I even arrived fitted like a dream!
I came away with lots of great, all interchangeable items and even 4 dresses, which I love wearing. I really enjoyed the day, and even added an extra hour to go hunting for jeans (success again!) I’ve had so many compliments on my outfits at work (I keep being told I’ve been “Gok’d”), and my hubby loves them too, it’s really been the confidence boost I needed on starting back.
I’ve even bought a top since, which perfectly fitted the guidelines Laura discussed, and have been complimented on that too, I’d never have thought to buy it before, but now I have the confidence to buy clothes and know they look flattering.
I’d totally recommend Laura/Caboodle Style to anyone returning to work, and in fact for anyone who feels their clothes aren’t working for them. Laura is a great person to go shopping with, as you know she’s giving you honest opinions and she gives you the confidence to try new combinations which you’d never have done before.
I used to wear hipster trousers and long tops, but on Laura’s advice tried high-waisted trousers and shorter tops, the difference was amazing, but I’d never have tried it without her help. The amount I learnt from the session on what stores are good for my shape, style and colours and what styles work best on my figure is unbelievable. The only downside is that now I know shopping can be fun I’ve got a taste for it…”
Shona Clegg, New Mum (June 2010)
"As I turned 40 I found I was struggling to find clothes suitable for relaxed evenings out and work wear, that were neither too young or too stuffy. I had a few pieces in my wardrobe that I felt suited me but nothing seemed to match or look quite right.
A friend bought me gift vouchers for Caboodle Style and I arranged for an express colour and style analysis, a wardrobe restyle and a personal shopping trip.
Laura came armed with a daylight lamp, mirrors and swatches and soon showed me where I had been going wrong. She not only recommended several colours that I thought I could never wear but she showed me why the colours I had been choosing didn't work for me. We then went through my wardrobe and created new combinations from clothes I already had before heading out to the shops.
I had a very specific perception of styles that I could and couldn't wear but Laura persuaded me to try new things, considering I am a creative person, I wasn't being very creative with my wardrobe and Laura showed me how to add a little creative twist to my wardrobe. I was also amazed at the difference that a specific cut or colour made - I ended up with several key pieces that not only fit and flatter and make me feel great, but most of them are a size smaller than I normally buy, so fantastic for the self esteem!
The friend who bought the Caboodle Style vouchers for me is so impressed, she wants the same for her birthday next year!"
Angela Pugh, 41, Creative Director (June 2010)
“Before using Caboodle Style my wardrobe consisted of a lot of grey and black. Playing it safe with jeans and a top I never knew what suited my skin tone or body shape. Although I love to shop I would end up with a mix of clothes I wasn't sure about and most attempts to try something different just sat unused in the wardrobe which can be very frustrating.
After meeting Laura for a colour, style and shopping session my wardrobe now consists of colours and clothes and I know look great on me and I can wear with confidence. Gone are many pairs of jeans and black tops, replaced with vibrant dresses and skirts plus other items I would not normally have worn. I have really put into practice all the great tips Laura advised.
Laura made me feel relaxed and was easy to talk to you. I've recommended her to my friends who have already booked valuable styling sessions.”
Emma Farrelly, 30, HR Administrator (June 2010)
“I was bought the experience by my husband as he was fed up with me saying that I had nothing to wear while looking into a full wardrobe. (A common experience for many men I imagine!)
The styling at home was packed full of information and much more detailed than I imagined. I could see the sense in all of the tips given to me. I knew that short tops looked better on me but it was interesting to find out why this was. When I looked at my wardrobe with fresh eyes yes I could see that it was full of clothes bought for all the wrong reasons.
In my shopping trip in London with Laura, I could see she was trying to get me to try something different, but not too different. The colours of the clothes she picked out were lovely. Before I met Laura I was concerned that she would be intimidating and make me buy clothes that I did not want but she is not like this at all. She is very friendly and really tries to tailor her sessions to help the individual.”
Marie McGowan, 50 (May 2010)
“I had no idea about styling. When I thought I needed something to wear, I'd walk into a store and grab something that looked ok. A large amount of it stayed in the cupboard as I realised it looked awful on me, but I couldn't really say why.
I booked a men's style profiling session with Caboodle Style to try and get some answers. I figured that all the wasted clothes were costing me a lot of money and a styling session would be an investment which would save me money in the long run, and give me a better look. The session was well organised, friendly and covered all the areas I was after - colours, shapes, designs, things to go for and things to avoid. Everything was well explained for the fashion novice and I came away with a set of "rules" to guide me when I went shopping. I must have spent more on clothes in the following couple of weeks as in the previous couple of years – but smiling at the same time.
I am extremely pleased with the advice I received from Caboodle Style; as well as giving me new confidence while shopping for clothes, I have received a previously unheard number of compliments on my new outfits. I would be happy to recommend the style profiling for any man who needs some guidance when they hit the clothes shops.”
Paul Whitney, 36 (March 2010)
“I am not really a dedicated follower of fashion or a clothes horse, so a few sessions with Laura were enlightening and invaluable.
A whole world of tips instantly proving what worked best for me and how to dress my shape and colouring were revealed and shared, and it didn't take long!
Laura's warm and personable manner instantly put me at ease and any doubts and preconceptions that I had about personal styling and stylists were banished. She catered for my budget and took time to enquire about my preferred tastes. I particularly liked that she didn't try to push me into any directions that I didn't feel comfortable with.
As a result, I now know that I'm long-waisted, that horizontal stripes are a "no" and what colours and shapes suit me. My shopping tastes haven't changed, but I'm more confident when buying new items and I don't spend ages agonising whether something looks right or not as I now know what works.”
Melissa Soobratty, 35 (May 2010)
“As a newly single guy I was looking for a fresh start and thought maybe it would help if I freshened up my look. The only problem was I didn't know where to start, Laura was the perfect answer to my problem. She was easy to get along with, full of original ideas and actually managed to make shopping fun. She helped me understand what suited me and clearly explained why this was. One of the biggest revelations was realising I needed to be bolder and wear more vivid colours which suit me far better than pale tones I used to wear. Laura's guidance has given me more confidence and resulted in loads of compliments from my friends and strangers! Another great advantage of her advice is I now know what I should be looking for which makes shopping for clothes much quicker and easier.”
Gavin Cassidy, 32, Product Design Manager (May 2010)
"I really enjoyed my style session and whilst some of it was things I already knew, it has completely broadened my wardrobe and I am able to wear clothes and accessories that I never knew I could. One of the best things I have ever done!!!"
Kate Vergette, 35, HR Manager (March 2010)
“Laura is great to work with. I’m buying smarter now when I shop. I found the session where we defined my different sub-wardrobes (theatre work, corporate work and social) very helpful and I’ve been able to think about what I wear with more ease and focus.
Things go better together and my whole wardrobe feels more versatile. Colour is important – people really respond to you well once you have that right. I thought I knew most of the dos and don’ts of dressing but the extra information on shape was really helpful. Putting it into practice gives a real confidence boost”.
Peta Lily, Theatre Practitioner & Communication Skills Coach (February 2010)
“I had always loved clothes and really enjoyed shopping with friends. I am not sure when my crisis of confidence began but probably around the time I was pregnant with my first child.
I had 2 children in 3 years and my weight had obviously fluctuated a lot, if I wasn’t in maternity clothes I was living in Primark until I lost the weight. About a year after my second child I lost all my pregnancy weight and was ready to start my social life again!
I was very envious of my friends’ sense of style and wanted to look more stylish/fashionable myself but every time I went shopping I came home with clothes I didn’t feel happy with and would take back, I just felt lost and didn’t know what I needed or what shapes and colours to buy. I basically kept getting it wrong and would come home from the shops feeling very depressed.
My husband had listened to my endless moaning about my figure and my helplessness with shopping and sought to do something about it! He discussed my situation with Laura and bought me a package including colour analysis, personal styling and personal shopping. It was without doubt the best present anyone has ever bought me!
I enjoyed my session so much, I admit I was a little nervous about spending nearly 3 hours with a virtual stranger but Laura was lovely, really easy to talk to and very professional, I felt immediately at ease.
I came home with some key purchases which I love and all my friends have commented on how stylish (and thin) I look!
I learnt so much from my session, how to make my legs appear longer, waist thinner and my bust bigger, I learnt how to find the best colour, cut and fabric of clothes to flatter my figure and colouring. I don’t have to try on every item in a shop; I now know what will suit me, saving me time and money.
Shopping is now a pleasurable pass time again, I am amazed at how much it has boosted my confidence. I would thoroughly recommend a style session with Laura it was worth every penny.”
Julia Czartoryski, 30, Teacher/New Mum (January 2010)
“Just wanted to say that I had the most amazing day yesterday - thanks to you!! To be honest I was a little apprehensive beforehand as I imagined us traipsing around quite a few shops and not finding a great deal (which is only because of my usual shopping experiences) but it was amazing and I'm so happy with everything that we chose.
For the first time in years I am now actually excited about looking in the shops because I know what I need!
THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Gill Crowe, 35 (July 2009)
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The quickest and easiest way to book is to use my online booking system. Simply choose the services you’d like to book, check my availability and reserve a time slot convenient for you.
If you’ve any questions, please do call me anytime on 07799 713 814, email me or simply make an enquiry online now.
