Does arranging a wardrobe consultation sound like a good birthday present?

I would like to recieve that gift, someone else shopping for me, and arranging my clothes, hell yeah!
If you know what stuff she likes to wear I’m sure she might like it.

Be vary careful – some women might take that as an insult, a “you don’t know how to dress yourself, so I’ve hired someone to teach you” sort of thing. Somewhat akin to giving someone a piece of weight loss equipment, with it’s inferred “you’re a fatty”.

You know her better than we do. If she’s hinted that she’d like that sort of thing then go for it.

Edited to say: Either way, it is an extremely thoughtful gift :)

@syz took the words out of my mouth. I would be really careful with this one. Is your wife sensitive about her wardrobe, or easily offended in general? I feel like this is the kind of thing that’s hard to give as a gift. Even if she might enjoy doing it, she might not like receiving it. Can you consult with any of her close girlfriends?

I think it’s a great idea. Just make sure that you know how this consultation is going to work. If the person tends to pass judgment on people’s current style or choice of clothes, then I would keep looking for someone else. I would make sure it is more like a personal shopper versus a “consultation”.

I for one would absolutely love receiving this as a gift! It would be a blast and since I have no fashion sense of my own maybe I could learn a thing or two. I wouldn’t be anything close to offended.

It really depends on the person. I hate to shop, but I personally would hate this. I would not like someone looking over my wardrobe. I am not likely to bond with a stranger.

Another way to do this would be to give her a gift certificate to her favorite clothing store and arrange to have a friend go with her. Include lunch out for them.

My husband hardly ever shops for clothing for me, but when he has bought me things I have treasured them and that he took the time to pick them out for me. He has unerring good taste.

By the way, this is a very sweet idea. It is one of those women things that it could implode.

I would love this, and it’s a very creative gift idea. I can see how some people might be offended though.

It seems like the kind of gift you can tell your wife you want to get her, and get her feedback before spending the money.

It is a wonderful idea especially since you said she hates to shop. But you certainly know her best.

If your hunch is that she would most likely welcome this rather than take offense, you could also take out a little “offense insurance” by accompanying this gift with a lovely card in which you write something along the idea of “I live your taste in clothes dear but I know how much you dislike shopping. Enjoy”.

This avoids any possible confusion about your intent.

You could also call a few of her close women friends and run it by them. If she might not welcome this type of gift I think they would likely know.

I think it’s a lovely, thoughtful
and original idea.

Edit

Of course I meant “I love your taste, etc. ”

Dang iPhone

Okay, well for me I would love it…I personally wouldn’t be insulted, and I would know it’s out of love.
You know your wife better than any of us, do you think she’d take it as an insult? I know she works a lot, just like you, so I think this would be special for her! Good idea!

It wouldn’t work for me. I am not wild about shopping but I like my own taste, I wouldn’t want some one who doesn’t know me to tell me what I should be wearing.

Also seems impersonal.

I try to listen to what my husband says about something he sees in a magazine that intrigues him or a new book he may talk about. Then if he doesn’t buy it for himself, I will pick it up and tuck it away for next birthday or Christmas or just for fun sometimes.

Whatever you decide to do, it sounds like you have put a lot of thought into the gift, and that itself is a gift.

@shilolo: I come down on the “bad idea” side. The thought of someone going thru my wardrobe and giving me advice makes me sweat. I can hardly stand to spend more than 10 minutes in a store.

But you know Mrs. Shi better than we do. However, it might be better to err on the side of caution and ask her.

I agree with @gailcalled for something like this, you should bring the subject up ahead of time, and find out her opinion.

Can you manipulate a conversation towards shopping? If so, when she mentions how much she hates it you could say something about using such a service and see how she reacts to the idea. If she acts like it would be a dream come true, proceed! I would really love this gift, but then again I’d love to be ambushed by the “What Not To Wear” crew. Many would hate the idea.

This reminds me of the coffee pot that I received from my husband for Christmas.

Bad idea.

Only you know what your wife will appreciate. Maybe a gift card to a nice clothing store, a makeover at her favorite salon and a nice dinner (without the children). I think that she will appreciate anything that includes you.

@jonsblond I don’t quite see the comparison. This would be a gift for her, since she has stated to me on many occasions how much she needs a new wardrobe for both work and going out. My biggest concern is whether she would be embarrassed or taken aback by having someone go through her closet. I might do as several have already suggested and broach the subject directly. It might not be a surprise, but it will still be a gift.

I think as long as this person doesn’t make her feel bad about herself, and does not make her throw out her clothes (I hate when they do that on TV) then I think it’d be fun. I don’t see why everyone thinks it’d be insulting…I guess because I would love it, that I’m having trouble imagining it being taken as an insult.
I think the whole closet thing should be discussed with her and the person. If she doesn’t find it necessary, then she can refuse…but I think they do it to get a picture of the sort of outfits the person likes, so they can help them wear the style they like…just more fitting for their body.

@shilolo I completely agree with your comments about your wife being embarrassed or taken aback by someone going through her closet. I would feel this way. I would rather receive a gift card to my favorite clothing store and a nice dinner with my husband instead of some random person going through my closet and shopping for me. just my opinion

coffee pot/personal shopper = neck tie/drill just my opinion. That’s what you asked for, right?

@shilolo: Can you arrange for a personal shopper without having someone go through her closet?

I mean, I am no clothes horse, and I’d be irritated by someone going through my closet and commenting on my things. But at the same time I’d love to just give my sizes and some indication of my tastes to a personal shopper and have him or her come back a couple days later with clothes I like.

@cwilbur Of the two services I have contacted so far, both seemingly insist on the preliminary wardrobe evaluation (I’m sure this is negotiable, but still). I’m guessing this gives them a sense of your style, sizing and also what you “need” (i.e. every man needs a nice dark suit, and if you don’t have one, then they arrange that as one of your options). I have actually seen a free service at Macy’s, but this is less of a “makeover” and more of an appointment with a shopper who goes out and gets you stuff while you try it on.

I’m not a Big shopper either and would love that as a gift…A consultant makes you think outside the box…of what you usually buy….When I have a friend go shopping with me
more times than one, they will pick things out for me that I would not have AND I end up loving what they find…

Update: So, I’ve checked with one of her close friends, and it turns out she did a similar thing several years ago AND thinks she mentioned it to my wife AND is planning on doing it again soon. I’ve recruited her to bring this up slyly and get back to me. I should have more information about whether this is a viable option in the very near future.

@shilolo Good plan!

Keep us posted.

Hey that’s neat. I’m so glad I suggested getting input from her friends. :D

It sounds like a wonderful, thoughtful and also practical gift! Just to avoid any whiff of offense/insinuation she has bad taste, etc., write inside of a card some of what you’ve shared with us about knowing she has more frustration with shopping than not but you also know she’d enjoy to be able to go to the closet and find things ready to go for a variety of occasions.

Update: I finally ran the idea by my wife, and….. she LOVES the idea. Whew. Can’t wait to set this up!

@shilolo That is fantastic!

@shilolo I’m happy it worked out for you. =)

Yay!

@shilolo: And we want a description of the outfits when Mrs. S makes her selection.