Buying a Christmas present for a man is hard. Ask him what he wants and you'll hear "nothing, honestly", and the usual answers (another jumper, another bottle of aftershave) are forgotten by February.
Here is a gift that isn't. A personal shopping experience gives him a day out with a Personal Shopper & Stylist, who helps him find clothes and colours that suit him and shows him how to wear them. He keeps the clothes, and he keeps the knowledge long after Christmas.
WHY A PERSONAL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE WORKS FOR HIM
Most of the men I work with don't dislike clothes. They dislike shopping for them. They don't know where to start, they're not sure what suits them, and they end up buying the same shirt in the same colour because it's safe.
A personal shopping session takes the stress out of all of that. I research the shops in advance, so there is no wandering around with no plan. Together we try things on, and he finds out what actually works for his body and his lifestyle, often including pieces he would never have picked up himself.
It also suits a man who already has a full wardrobe but never knows what to wear with what. We find the gaps and fill only those.
WHAT HE GETS
My styling for men experience includes:
- An initial telephone consultation to talk through what he needs
- A video call so we can meet and prepare the shopping
- Up to 3 hours of shopping together, in shops I have chosen for him in advance
- The knowledge and tricks to make the most of what he buys
- Guidance on his body shape and his colours
It is a stress-free day, and he doesn't need to know a thing about fashion beforehand. Whether he needs a work wardrobe, a smarter weekend look or a fresh start after a big change, we begin with what he actually needs.
WHERE WE SHOP
The shopping happens in central London, or in Oxford. In London that means streets like Regent Street, Carnaby Street and Covent Garden for the high street to mid-range, and Jermyn Street, Savile Row or Bond Street if he wants to try high-end. In Oxford we shop at Westgate Oxford and Bicester Village.
Everything is planned around his budget and his taste, so he never feels pushed into anything. If he would rather keep it to the high street, that's exactly what we do.
HOW THE GIFT WORKS
Every gift voucher works for men as well as women, so you simply choose the experience that suits him:
Sounds like you? Gift Voucher could help.
- Personal Shopping, £185: up to 3 hours of shopping together, including a telephone consultation, a video call and location research beforehand.
- Personal Shopping & 7 Outfit Planner, £275: the same, plus a PDF of 7 outfits made with the clothes bought during the shopping.
- Personal Shopping & 14 Outfit Planner, £355: the same, plus a PDF of 14 outfits made with the clothes bought during the shopping.
The outfit planner is a good choice for the man who says he buys nice things and then never knows what to put with them. He leaves with the outfits already worked out.
You choose the experience, add his name and your own message, and pay securely online. Your personalised e-voucher arrives by email after purchase, ready to print or forward.
LEFT IT LATE? THAT'S FINE
Because the voucher is digital, it can be bought at the last minute. There is no waiting for the post: your personalised e-voucher is sent to you by email after you buy it, so you can give it on Christmas Day itself, printed out or forwarded straight to his phone.
When he is ready, he gets in touch with me by WhatsApp, phone or email, and we find a date and time that suits him. There is no need to rush into it over the holidays.
A FEW IDEAS FOR WHO IT SUITS
- The man who hates shopping. I do the groundwork, so he doesn't have to.
- The man who always buys the same thing. We try cuts and colours he would never have chosen alone.
- The man starting a new job. A smart, versatile work wardrobe, built around the way he actually works.
- The man whose life has changed. A new city, a new stage or a new body: his clothes need to catch up.
- The man who wants to look more like himself. The point isn't to change who he is, only to make his clothes say it better.
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT A PERSONAL SHOPPING GIFT FOR HIM
What is a good Christmas gift for a man who has everything?
An experience. A personal shopping session gives him something new to try and clothes he will actually wear, rather than another item that ends up in a drawer.
Is a gift voucher just for women?
No. Every voucher is for men or women, and can also be used for styling for men.
Can I buy it at the last minute?
Yes. The voucher is digital, so your personalised e-voucher arrives by email after purchase. You can buy it right up to Christmas.
Does he need to know his style or his sizes?
Not at all. Working that out is the point of the session. We talk it through first, on the telephone consultation and the video call.
Where does the shopping happen?
In central London, or in Oxford at Westgate Oxford and Bicester Village.
GIVE HIM A GIFT HE WILL USE
If you'd like to give him a day that makes getting dressed easier, take a look at the gift vouchers, or read more about Christmas gifts for everyone on your list. To see how the sessions work for men first, have a look at styling for men.
