The client should also use this opportunity to interview the shopper in order to determine whether or not the two are compatible. If they are not, the customer is under no obligation to continue the relationship. "Typically, I will know in advance if it isn’t a good match," Burr says. "When that happens, it’s usually because the client’s expectations are unrealistic. For example, she only wears a certain style and that style isn’t available, or she only wears certain colors and those colors aren’t in. If I think it isn’t a good fit, I’ll refer that person to someone else."

Investing in a personal shopper can drastically cut hours spent wandering aimlessly around stores looking for clothes.

After a bond has been established, the shopper and client are ready to hit the stores and boutiques. Keeping an open mind is essential when shopping with an image consultant. "I only have one rule," Burr explains. "They have to try on anything I give them. If I think something looks spectacular, I will encourage them to buy it, but they have to make the final decision. They can put it back on the hanger, but by then it’s already gone into their brain that maybe someday they could wear that shade of purple.  The process gets them to see themselves differently, even it they’re not ready to make that jump."

But, in most cases, by the time a woman makes the decision to hire a private shopper, she is ready and open to change. Patricia Annino, bestselling author of Women and Money: A Practical Guide to Estate Planning, was eager to reinvent herself when she started working with Burr about a year ago. "I was beginning to look matronly, and it freaked me out," she says. Most of Annino’s closet was black, a shade that drained her face and made her look older than she was. Burr took her shopping and introduced her to bright colors, like turquoise, blue and green—colors she hadn’t worn in years. Today Annino is more likely to favor a fuchsia ostrich jacket over a black Armani jacket. "I’ve received numerous compliments about the way I look," she says. "I was putting things together on an ad hoc basis. Now I have entire outfits that go together well and I feel confident in."

Couture Costs
The initial consultation with a personal shopper should include a frank discussion of the client’s budget. The consultant must know up front how much her client spends on clothing and what stores she patronizes. "The hardest thing for people to talk about is their budget," Michaels says. "Women spend, but they don’t add it up. I need to know the parameters in order to create the right wardrobe. Then we have to decide what their comfort zone is: Do they want couture, high-end designer clothing or a mix? I need to know how much they want to spend and how much clothing they need."

Clients also should verify a shopper’s rates before they go shopping, as these can vary widely. Some image consultants bill by the hour or by the project; others bill by the day. "If the client is nervous about the cost, she should ask how the consultant is going to bill," Brumbaugh says. "The client needs to feel like she’s getting her money’s worth. If the shopper charges hourly, the client should ask for an estimate so there are no surprises."

Along with a discussion of rates, clients should ask prospective consultants about their shopping strategies. Some shoppers never shop without their clients; others work on a retainer once they get to know their clients’ likes and dislikes. "A retainer works well for a busy woman who wants me to bring or ship clothes to her," Michaels says. "Then I’m her eyes and ears in the stores." Many consultants have contacts that allow them to purchase merchandise to which their clients don’t have access—such as the latest bag that is unavailable in shops or a pair of shoes in a limited-edition color available only at select stores.