FASHION • COVER STORY
SHOPPING MADE EASY
Getting ready for spring with a personal consultant who works with your personal style.
STORIES BY ANNIE ADELSON
BUILDING SPECIAL
RELATIONSHIPS:
D
o you love to shop but find
yourself short-changed for
time? Do you hate to shop but still
desire to be seen in the latest trends
and fashions of the season? Or do you,
perhaps, crave the one-on-one per-
sonal attention and pampering treat-
ment of your own personal stylist?
If you answered yes to any of these
questions, consider the professional
services of a personal shopper. A per-
sonal shopper can not only work with
you to update your closet with each
passing season, but can also spruce
up your home and even take care of
your gift-giving needs, all for no extra
cost than if you did it all on your own.
Many local department stores as well
as some smaller boutiques employ a
dedicated staff of men and women
who have the whole store at their fin-
gertips to take all of the legwork out of
the shopping experience for their
clients.
ON CONTENTS PAGE:
Saks Fifth Avenue Club Director Ken Dewey
with Consultant Jackie Layne.
Shown: bright and shiny
Elie Tahari jacket, $578; Elie Tahari blouse,
$198; Gucci sunglasses, $220; Kate Spade
wedge, $255.
Handbags by Juicy Couture: pink metallic,
$225; faux python, $250; straw tote, $248;
metal mesh, $255; lilac metallic leather
pouchette, $188
28 •
APRIL 2005 •
JNPLATINUM
Clockwise from top:
Neiman Marcus
Personal Shopper Mimi
Strek suggests another
dressy alternative to the Chanel
blouse (right), $1,290, that typifies the
season, a Ralph Lauren organza
blouse (left), $598 — Neiman Marcus
Personal shopping client Brigitte
Goldman of West Bloomfield shows
off a hot spring trend, pairing a cou-
ture jacket with white jeans for day-
time: Chanel jacket, $4,055; Seven
jeans, $143; Christian Louboutin
wedges, $270; Fendi satchel, $1,590 —
Neiman Marcus
Goldman dresses up the look: Armani
A-line silk skirt, $795; Chanel
Spectator pump, $465; Gucci beaded
evening bag, $1,650 — Neiman
Marcus
With special access to all 19 departments at Neiman
Marcus in Troy, Personal Shopper Mimi Strek takes
care of much more than just the wardrobing needs of
her customers.
With the guiding principle of "personal service to
exceed expectations," Strek can outfit your winter
residence in Arizona or your cottage up north was eas-
ily as she can pull together the latest looks in spring
fashion that fit your budget and style. She can predict
which new items her clients will desire for the season
and handles everything from couture special ordering
to filling in a wardrobe with bridge pieces.
"I really get to understand my clients and their
individual needs. I have to know everything about
their lifestyle to accomplish this. They know they can
count on both impeccable service and my commit-
ment to privacy and discretion," says Strek, who
maintains private files on each of her clients so she
can keep tabs on what they already own to know
which fill-in pieces would work best with their partic-
ular wardrobe.
Strek has been known to personally deliver items
to clients' homes and even to clean out their closets
to make room for the latest fashions of the season.
Running out of a favorite cosmetic product?
Chances are, Strek is already on it and will have
a fresh supply waiting for you at your next
appointment.
Longtime client Brigitte Goldman, 54, of
West Bloomfield is in the retail business her-
self; she and her husband, Bruce, own
L'uomo Vogue of Bloomfield
Township. Brigette truly appreciates
Strek's intrinsic understanding of
Strek's personal taste and style, plus
her ability to coordinate looks from
the earrings down to the shoes.
"She saves me so much time... I
don't have a lot of patience to shop,"
says Goldman, who enjoys walking
into Strek's beautifully appointed
dressing room at a designated
appointment time and
Get a great spring
taking advantage of the
look with very usable
pre-selected racks of
pieces: Trina Turk
jacket, $272; Neiman
clothing, handbags and
Marcus silk and lace
shoes that Strek has
cami, $95; Theory
waiting
there for her. El
"Clinton" cropped pant,
$198 — Neiman Marcus