What is it really like to shop with a personal shopper in Singapore?

Personal shopping always seemed to be something strictly reserved for the rich – I, for one, always thought of the concept as something catering to VIPs like celebrities and socialites.

I mean, to have someone designated to understanding your style and helping you to go through tons of racks, picking out item after item in the hope that you would take a shine to them sounds like the very definition of luxury – and seems quite frivolous, too. That aside, having someone come in and dictate what clothes suits me best seems all too intimidating. 

As a personal shopper “virgin”, I took the plunge recently and tried this “hidden” service out at Robinsons The Heeren. And guess what? I’m happy to report that my preconceptions were proven wrong – there are actually many good reasons to utilise this shopping service.

Images: Robinsons The Heeren

The Robinsons Personal Shopper Lounge​

1. It’s free

Many people assume that personal shopping is an expensive service. While it’s true that freelance personal shoppers or image consultants usually charge by the hour (prices range from $200 and up), many major stores like Robinsons The Heeren and Topshop offer personalised shopper services for no cost at all. 

Here’s the best part: There’s no minimum spending required after each consultation, so you can relish the opportunity of getting an expert opinion from someone who’s familiar with the top trends and latest merchandise on offer.

2. They can help you solve wardrobe problems

We face wardrobe conundrums due to a multitude of reasons. One of the most common problems is finding a specific outfit for an special occasion – think wedding, work-related cocktail party or an awards event. There are so many options both in stores and online, and the number of options can be overwhelming. It’s much easier if someone could help us narrow down the styles so that we can cut to the chase and select from a shortlist.

For some, the problem may reside in you being tired of your predictable wardrobe but finding it hard to get out of your comfort zone. Having a personal shopper in this instance would be most helpful in this instance. They have a trained eye and can suggest pieces that you didn’t know could look good on you. 

If you travel a lot, you would probably need to get items for an upcoming trip that are better suited to the local climate and attractions. Personal shoppers can help you to single out pieces that you’ll be able to coordinate in various ways to provide a great deal of wardrobe versatility. You wouldn’t want to be dealt with an alarming excess baggage surcharge!

My personal shopper, Ysabel

How it went: 

I went onto the site and booked an appointment at my convenience. I was then invited to fill up a detailed questionnaire about my personal style preferences, lifestyle needs and shopping objectives. The session was held in the privacy of the Personal Shopper Lounge on Level 3, and lasted for about two hours. 

My personal shopper Ysabel started my session by spending a little time chatting with me, since it was the first time I was engaging her service. After which, she showed me a rack of clothes that she had pulled for me based on my answers. 

She explained to me her reasons for her choices and asked if there was anything that I felt strongly against. It was about 10 minutes into the session and I felt quite comfortable, so I told her I was game to try out everything she had pulled for me. 

After trying on every outfit, I would come out of the fitting room and discuss with Ysabel how I feel about the pieces. She would show me how to complete the outfit with footwear and also gave some pretty useful tips on how to style them with accessories. 

If I didn’t like a particular piece, she would try to understand why and occasionally head back to the racks to pull new items to replace them. But I have to say, that didn’t happen very often.

Overall, the experience was enjoyable and I ended up selecting a couple of pieces that I wouldn’t have chosen if I was left on my own. I’m sold!

Other services available: The main goal of the personal shopper service is to make shopping easier and more convenient. Apart from solving wardrobe problems, Robinsons The Heeren also offers services for gift ideas and home makeovers.

Robinsons The Heeren is located at 250 Orchard Road, Singapore 238855, tel: 6736 1529.