If you're thinking about a personal shopping day in Oxford, Westgate is usually where I start. It's right in the city centre, it brings most of the high street and mid-range names together in one place, and with a little planning it's one of the easiest places in Oxford to shop well.
The short answer: Westgate Oxford is the shopping centre in the heart of Oxford, with over 70 shops, from high street favourites like Zara, H&M, Uniqlo and Next to mid-range brands such as Reiss, Hobbs, & Other Stories and John Lewis. Personal shopping there means a stylist does the research before you arrive, takes you only to the shops and pieces that suit you, and helps you go home with a small number of clothes you'll actually wear.
Here's how I approach it with my clients, and how you can make the most of Westgate whether you shop with me or on your own.
WHAT IS PERSONAL SHOPPING AT WESTGATE OXFORD?
Personal shopping is simply shopping with someone whose job is to know what suits you. As a Personal Shopper & Stylist, I don't walk you round every shop in the centre. I get to know you first: your body shape, your colours, your lifestyle, what you already own and what you'd like to spend. Then I research the shops and pick out the ones worth your time.
On the day, you try on a shortlist, not a whole shop. I tell you honestly what works and why, and we build outfits as we go, so every piece you buy has at least two or three things to wear with it.
It's for women and men, and it isn't about spending a lot. I work from the high street to mid-range, and there's no minimum budget.
WHICH SHOPS ARE IN WESTGATE OXFORD?
Westgate describes itself as home to over 70 stores. The line-up changes from time to time, so I always check the centre's own shop directory before a session. At the time of writing, these are the fashion names I find most useful.
High street, for great basics and good value:
- Zara, H&M, MANGO and Uniqlo
- Next and Primark
- Levi's, Superdry and Urban Outfitters
- TK Maxx, if you enjoy a rummage for brands at reduced prices
Mid-range, for a little more quality or polish:
- Reiss and Hobbs, for tailoring, smart dresses and workwear
- & Other Stories, for something more individual
- White Stuff, Seasalt and Oliver Bonas, for relaxed weekend clothes with character
- Sweaty Betty, for activewear that also looks good off the mat
- John Lewis, which brings many brands together under one roof
For men:
- Charles Tyrwhitt and MOSS, for shirts and suits
- GANT and Tommy Hilfiger, for smart casual
- Reiss, Uniqlo, Levi's and Zara, for everyday pieces
Shoes and accessories:
- Russell & Bromley, Clarks, Office, Schuh and Skechers
- Accessorize and Pandora, for the finishing touches
Having so much close together is exactly why Westgate works so well for a personal shopping day. We can compare a jacket in one shop with a better-cut one a few doors down, without losing half the afternoon walking between them.
HOW DOES A PERSONAL SHOPPING SESSION AT WESTGATE WORK?
This is how my Oxford sessions run:
- A telephone consultation. A relaxed chat about what you'd like help with, what you find difficult when you shop, and what your days look like.
- A video call. We meet properly, so I can understand your style, your shape and what you'd like to change.
- Research. I look for the brands and pieces that suit your needs and your budget, and I tell you whether Westgate or Bicester Village is the better place for you.
- Your shopping day. We start with a coffee, I show you some of the outfits I already have in mind for you, and then we spend up to 3 hours shopping together.
As we go, I'll show you which shapes flatter you, which colours bring the most light to your face (and which are best avoided), and how to combine each piece with accessories and with what you already own. If you'd like a head start, my complete guide to dressing for your body shape is a good place to begin.
Sounds like you? Wardrobe Edit could help.
By the end, you know exactly how to get the most out of everything you've bought.
HOW MUCH DOES A PERSONAL SHOPPER IN OXFORD COST?
My Oxford personal shopping comes in three set packages:
- Personal Shopping Oxford, £185: a telephone consultation, a video call, location research and up to 3 hours of shopping together.
- Personal Shopping & 7 Outfit Planner, £275: the same, plus a PDF of 7 outfits made from the clothes we buy.
- Personal Shopping & 14 Outfit Planner, £355: the same, plus a PDF of 14 outfits made from the clothes we buy.
What you spend on clothes is entirely up to you. Some clients come for two or three key pieces, others want a whole new season's wardrobe. Either way the aim is the same: fewer, better choices.
HOW TO PLAN YOUR SHOPPING DAY AT WESTGATE
Whether you shop with me or on your own, a little planning makes a big difference.
Go with a list, not a wish. "Something nice" leads to impulse buys. "Navy trousers for work that go with my two blazers" leads to something you'll wear. Look through your wardrobe the week before and write down the real gaps.
Set your budget before you arrive. Decide what you're happy to spend in total, and roughly how it splits across the pieces you need. It's much easier to say no to a lovely but unnecessary top when you know what it would take away from elsewhere.
Choose a quieter time if you can. Weekday mornings are usually calmer than Saturday afternoons, and a fitting room without a queue means you can try far more. Check the centre's opening hours before you go.
Bring the thing you want to match. If you're shopping for trousers to go with a favourite jacket, wear the jacket, or at least bring a photo of it.
WHAT TO WEAR FOR A DAY OF SHOPPING
What you wear on the day changes how well you shop. My advice:
- Easy layers you can take off quickly, like a T-shirt or fine knit under a jacket or cardigan.
- Shoes close to the ones you'll wear with what you're buying. If you're looking for work trousers, wear your work shoes, so you can judge the length properly.
- The right underwear. A smooth, well-fitting bra changes how every top and dress looks in the mirror.
- A small cross-body bag, so your hands are free for the rails.
HOW TO AVOID BUYING THINGS YOU WON'T WEAR
This is the part I care about most. Most wardrobes aren't short of clothes. They're full of clothes that never quite worked.
Before you buy anything, ask yourself:
- Can I make three outfits with it from what I already own?
- Does it suit my life now, not the life I'd like to have one day?
- Does it fit today, not "once I've lost a few pounds"?
- Would I still want it at full price? A reduction is only a saving if you'd have bought it anyway.
- Do I love the colour on me, or just on the hanger?
If the answer to any of these is no, leave it in the shop. For more on this, I've written about how to stop impulse buying.
WESTGATE OR BICESTER VILLAGE?
They're very different days out. Westgate is in the city centre, with high street and mid-range shops and their full new collections, so it's ideal when you need several pieces that all work together, a work wardrobe or good everyday basics.
Bicester Village, the designer outlet village in Oxfordshire, has brands at reduced prices but a less predictable choice of sizes and colours, so it rewards a very clear plan. I research both before your session and tell you which suits what you need. If you're tempted by the outlet, read my guide on how to shop Bicester Village with a personal stylist.
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT PERSONAL SHOPPING AT WESTGATE OXFORD
Is there a personal shopper at Westgate Oxford?
I'm an independent Personal Shopper & Stylist, not part of the centre, and Westgate Oxford is one of the two places I shop with clients in Oxford, along with Bicester Village. I research the shops before your session and then shop with you for up to 3 hours.
Do I need a big budget for personal shopping in Oxford?
No. There's no minimum spend on clothes. I shop the high street as happily as mid-range brands, and my fee is from £185.
Is personal shopping in Oxford for men too?
Yes. I'm a personal stylist for women and men in Oxford, and Westgate has good menswear, from shirts and suits to smart casual.
How long does a personal shopping session at Westgate take?
Up to 3 hours of shopping together, after a telephone consultation and a video call beforehand.
Can I give a personal shopping session as a gift?
Yes. Gift vouchers are available, for women and men.
SHOP WESTGATE WITH ME
If you'd like a stylist by your side at Westgate, that's exactly what my personal shopping in Oxford is for. We'll find clothes that suit your body, your colours and your life, within your budget, and you'll go home knowing how to wear every one of them.