Do you want to spoil your significant other for Valentine's Day, their birthday or an anniversary but you're out of fresh ideas? Give your loved one a day with their very own personal stylist! What could be better than being treated like a celebrity for a day? What beats trying on clothes that you're sure will look great on you and having someone compliment you all day long?

A lot of men and women hate shopping. Some hate it because it's overwhelming to weed through the thousands of garments on the racks while others hate it because they try on a bunch of ill fitting clothes and end up feeling depressed about their body. There is none of that stress with a personal stylist. A good personal stylist will do all the work for you. They will only pick items that flatter you, they'll do all the holding and lugging of hangers, they'll track down the illusive salesperson for questions and sizes, and they'll pull together the outfits so you don't have to lift a finger. To top it all off the stylist can be responsible for the payment of the items so the recipient doesn't even have to look at a single price tag. I guarantee they will feel like a king or queen for a day!

If you really want to go big and give the whole package, here's an idea for a full day event:

To start, the stylist arrives in a chauffeured car to pick up your celebrity client. Since it will probably be morning, you can have coffee and something to nibble on in the car.

Next they will be whisked off to several stores. If your stylist does their homework they might have already set aside some outfits based off of a picture and description of your loved one that you've provided. They will have spoken to the salesperson and let them know that you have a VIP client coming and they should be treated as such.

Once the outfits have been chosen your loved one is taken to a salon to have their hair and grooming done: nails and makeup for a woman; shave and grooming for a man.

Once they are all clean and groomed they put on one of their new outfits and are driven to a beautiful restaurant, or other spot, where you are waiting for them to enjoy the rest of your evening together.

It will be a day of pampering and spoiling that your significant other will never forget!

There are a lot of articles out there about "recession proofing" your wardrobe. The truth is that the rules to making the most of your wardrobe are no different now than in times of plenty. The best way to make the most out of every item you own is to start with "the basics": classic, timeless pieces that you can mix and match with accessories and inexpensive trend-conscious items to leverage into multiple outfits. *Note: The most important thing to look for when purchasing clothing is fit. If it doesn’t fit well or you’re not willing to have it altered to fit well, then don’t buy it. It will either sit in your closet and hardly ever be worn, or you won’t look your best in it. In both cases, even if it was inexpensive, it is still money wasted. Here is the short-list of pieces that should form the foundation of your wardrobe: 1. Jeans - well fitting dark solid wash, preferably with at least 2% stretch. These are a wardrobe staple. Roll them up and throw them in your bag for the perfect way to go from work to after-hours. 2. Suit – every woman should have at least well-fitting suit in her closet. Charcoal gray is often a good choice since it can be less severe than black but still serious. That being said, if you choose to go with a black suit then I recommend having your suit be separate from your black trousers. Your black pants will most likely be worn more often than the jacket and over time this can cause fabric color and quality differences between the jacket and the pant. 3. Black trousers - these should be of a material that drapes, for example a wool blend or a polyester/rayon/spandex blend. 4. Black skirt - a straight or a-line silhouette ending at the top or middle of the knee. For most figures a straight (sometimes referred to as pencil) silhouette is best. However, if your shoulders are wider than your hips then always opt for an a-line silhouette. 5. Cami / tank – preferably one white, one cream and one black. Always wear a cami or tank underneath button-down blouses. By leaving a couple of buttons open and exposing the top of the tank it will add depth and dimension to your outfit (if at work then make sure that your cleavage isn’t showing). It will also save you from any embarrassment should your button s open or gape. 6. Classic white blouse - should have darts and seaming to fit a woman's body. (Don’t forget the tank underneath.) 7. “Little black dress” - look for one in a matte (not shiny) fabric that can suit many occasions. The wrap dress is a new classic that is incredibly versatile and flatters most figures. Stay clear of cheap quality jersey. 8. A classic patterned blazer - Solid colored blazers could present a problem when trying to match with different types of looks. By having a blazer in tweed, boucle, or other classic pattern, you can pair it with pants or skirts in multiple different colors, creating the opportunity for more outfits than one suit will afford you. Choosing to spend your money on these timeless pieces creates a functioning foundation for your wardrobe and saves you from wasting money on items you will hardly wear. You don’t need to have a lot of clothes or spend a lot of money to look great, you just need the basics.

A Truly Unique Gift

Back to Basics: the foundation to a stylish woman’s wardrobe