Vicky Smith, Operations Director

Meeting Style Dilemma and Emma came at a great time for me. Basically, I was bored with most things in my wardrobe and seemed incapable of changing my shopping habits to be a little more adventurous and stylish - always opting for what I saw as the 'classic' look - BORING!! Emma not only introduced colours, fabrics,styles and combinations that really excited me, but she also introduced me to a wide range of shops that stocked the appropriate things (I always used to go to the same shops and believed that if you weren't paying a certain amount you were buying rubbish!) Apart from having a fabulous new Winter and Summer wardrobe that is both feminine and practical, I now allow myself to be drawn into any shop to explore if something catches my interest. I now have great confidence in what I wear, feel stylish and even a little trendier too!

Heather Banfield - Counsellor/Psychotherapist, 54

When Emma first pulls up at your front door, you may wonder if she is old enough to drive her very big estate car! But, don't be fooled by her girl like figure and youthful looks; she is on the ball, and gets straight down to work assessing your life style and your wardrobe.

I am a 54 year old who had lost her passion for clothes, and was trying to wear others kindly cast offs; their bad buys as well as my own. I certainly needed help.

Emma (EH) started by throwing away (I encouraged her) most of my clothes and I was still left with 11 outfits, space in my wardrobe and a great sense of freedom. This went to my head, and I started to imagine myself in designer out-fits like Vivienne Westwood! I happened to mention this to EH and our planned shopping trip was re-arranged in a flash. I am now the proud owner of a VW skirt. The whole look was supplemented by the likes of M&S, H&M, Jigsaw and a lovely jacket by G Raw.

My capsule wardrobe is now easily coordinated - I don't have to think about it as I have the photos of myself in said wardrobe to remind and inspire me.

Emma listened well and stuck to my spec - even when I got cold feet. The fact is I made some bold changes. People have started to notice me, but funny enough, few have mentioned my clothes. They have said things like "your looking well" "I can't put my finger on it but you look different" and the cats whiskers "are you having an affair?". This did wonders for my self esteem (Lol.) For me, the best part is that people are addressing me with more, - well I'm not sure if this is the right word - but it feels like respect. Shop keepers, people in queue, those I meet through work. I find my self looking behind me to see who they are talking to and then realize it's me!

I would heartily recommend EH to any one who has lost their way with their clothes, or perhaps like me, forgotten how to put themselves first. I have now, and it feels great.

Charlie Miller, 54

I was given a complete Style Consultation with Emma Howey as a birthday present by my partner Juli.
An unusual gift for a man, but in fairness I had been complaining off and on over a number of years that I never seemed to have the right thing to wear when I was going out on various occasions, especially those where a smarter but casual look would be appropriate.

Emma's whole approach and attitude was easy to get along with. Firstly I had an initial questionnaire which made me think and evaluate what I would like to achieve from the consultation, followed by an assessment of my entire wardrobe, both on the hanger and on myself.
Emma then did a pre-shopping trip and finally I was escorted on the most unique shopping trip I've ever had.

Being used to M&S, Next and Debenhams and quite unsure which other shops or branded clothing would be "my style" it was amazing to be taken into shops I'd never noticed and to try on styles or brands which I thought were either too young or too expensive to even consider.

Emma had evaluated me very well and during her pre-shopping trip had put aside a carefully considered assortment of shirts, trousers, tops, jackets and jumpers for me to try out and choose from.
Because the clothes were not exactly my usual taste and it was not my  partner making the assessment of what I looked like in them I had a totally new perspective of myself and found I could actually buy things I previously would not have considered.

The result has been that I can now go shopping and look at certain styles of clothing confident about the shape, colour and size being right for me or definitely wrong.
People who I work with, and my own children, initially unaware that I'd had the consultation, generally made appreciate comments about certain outfits I began to wear. In fact my daughter even commented that she will have to reassess whether Diesel is cool or not since her dad now has a pair of jeans!

My wardrobe still includes many items I already owned but I can wear them combined in new ways or along with newly purchased items, so the changes have been subtle but decisive.
I now have a much more together collection of clothes to wear and dress more confidently in those situations where it matters.

For any man considering having a style consultation or a woman thinking of getting her man smartened up, I can really say go ahead and do it. Even if you think you already dress well it is good to be shown new things, and better still someone else has done all the leg work first.

Overall it was a fun experience too and I would definitely consider once every year or two having a refresher just to be sure I'm still on track.

Thanks for doing a great job Emma, and thanks Juli for the idea.

Lindsey Bragan - Office Manager, 26

The whole process has been great. When we did the wardrobe audit it was embarrassing how much stuff I had, that shouldn't have been there. I was surprised how much of it sold on E-bay.

I love going shopping with Emma, it's just so easy and she always picks out fabulous things for me.

I feel I have learnt so much, including how to take care of my clothes! I have finally found my personal style and I am really glad that I have done this in my twenties. I wish someone had taught me how to dress earlier; they should teach it in primary schools!

Gail Affleck Ward – Marketing Manager for Service Network

'I have used Emma's services on two occasions and both times have been delighted with the results. Most recently I have undergone a wardrobe> audit, although for me it was more of a wardrobe cleansing exercise!

I have overcome the initial shame I felt, when I realised that I had no aptitude for choosing my own clothes. (I can't fix a washing machine either) but would have had no qualms about calling in a plumber to help - I now have no qualms about enlisting professional help in the fashion department. Utilising Emma's skills saves me time, money, frustration and heartache - not only that, I end up with a fantastic selection of outfits which suit> me, my personality and my lifestyle.'

Karen Budge

'Having tried various methods of shoe storage and not been overly impressed, I realised what I really needed was a smarter version of the traditional shoe box - practical, cost effective only more stylish.

Not being able to find anything on the high street, I started searching on the internet and came across a company called Style Dilemma. Eureka! Style Dilemma offered exactly what I was looking for.

I filled out the online quotation form for the number, size and finish of box I was looking for and am now the happy owner of some very attractive shoe boxes.

They are the perfect finishing touch in my bedroom, even if I am the only one who knows about them.

Apart from being very pleased with the boxes, I was extremely impressed with the service I received from Emma Howey of Style Dilemma. Emma was a joy to deal with - attentive, efficient and very helpful.'

David – HRM Development Manager
44 years

'Initially I was 'encouraged' to consider a change of image by a > girlfriend, a bit of a 'stretch' for someone who's idea of style was a 5 year old t shirt and comfy jeans! Emma proved wonderfully practical and willing to consider all angles - even my prized pink shirt - and where once shopping expeditions were a bind, with Emma's help and encouragement they were hugely enjoyable. I found that it was not just what I bought it was how it all came together in different outfits.

I encourage all those blokes out there who alternate between boring M&S suits and grunge to consider the alternative !

David

ps the girlfirend isn't still around but the gear is!

Jackie Fender – Business Consultant
Newcastle

It’s been fantastic, changed my shopping habits, view of self and most importantly appropriately reduced my wardrobe – a very liberating experience.

Morag Raine – Doctor
Newcastle

I used to feel frustrated with my wardrobe and, more often than not, disappointed at my efforts to buy new outfits. Emma helped me understand what clothes suited me and encouraged me to be more adventurous with styles, colours and accessories.

She made shopping for clothes and putting outfits together easy and fun. I look forward to using her services again in the future.

Ann Cummersdale

Working with Emma has been such fun! I used to dread shopping, but Emma has shown me how to use the time wisely. My interest in fashion has been rekindled and I now enjoy looking around the shops.

I had a wardrobe full of clothes I never wore, some of them still with the labels on! I now have a set of clothes that I love and that are totally relevant to my lifestyle. Emma has taught me not be a shop snob, but to look out for the correct shape, fabric and colour, rather than look at the designer or retailer.

I chose the one to one service, which is the most expensive, but I look on it as an investment as I hope not to waste money in the future by repeating my earlier mistakes. Also, the service wasn't all about buying new clothes. Emma showed me how to put some of my existing clothes together and use accessories to create outfits that I would never have thought of myself.

I had a special holiday planned and just didn't know what to take, so we looked at this as a separate project. Emma did all the research and I simply had to the try things on and make my choice, saving me considerable time and effort.

Emma really listened to my views and never tried to impose her own personal taste on me. I if didn't like something she suggested I didn't feel obliged to go along with it. She certainly wasn't like Trinny and Susannah in that respect!

Since using the service I have received lots of compliments and I feel that the time and money has been very well spent.

Andrea Perrett

If I'm honest, I have never enjoyed clothes shopping and I suppose I have always thought it is something that as a woman I should enjoy. This dislike of shopping has increased since I moved into my forties. I've recently been unable to find clothes that fitted me and I end up buying clothes that are too conservative for my age. Worried about becoming mutton dressed up as lamb, I've ended up being the oldest looking sheep in the flock.

I attended a Business Link women's event at which Emma demonstrated her styling skills and I knew I wanted her to work her magic on me. I asked my husband to buy me some of her gift vouchers for my birthday.

I started by having a wardrobe consultation. On the down side, this made me realise how dreadfully wrong some of my clothes were for my shape. However by sharing this information Emma gave me tips on what to look out for in new purchases. On the big plus side, Emma showed my how I could co-ordinate some of my existing clothes in a different way that really jazzed up my look. I'd had all these amazing outfits in my wardrobe and I never realised.

I'd told Emma that I needed a decent business suit and after seeing my wardrobe Emma agreed that was a priority for a shopping trip. She spent some time on her own looking for alternatives and then met me at the Metro Centre to try on some styles.

The clothes Emma chose for me were not those I would have considered by myself, however they looked really great. I ended up buying two suits that she had recommended. However, because Emma works to your budget requirements I was able to do this within the budget I had set myself.

I certainly intend to use Emma's services again. Having had this initial assessment I know that I could ask her to help me find an outfit for a special occasion or even just to beef up the casual clothes in my wardrobe. However, I've also found that I'm enjoying shopping on my own again as I'm experimenting in a way I wouldn't have considered doing before.

Yvonne Bell – Company Director
Northumberland

Emma has given me the confidence to make the most of what I’ve got – good and bad bits! I now have fewer clothes, but more to wear.

Choosing the right style is a serious and potentially expensive business – but really I haven’t laughed so much in ages!

Emma helped me accept that my body was ‘womanly’, rather than a ‘bit overweight’ – nobody has suggested this to me before and it helped a lot. Now I understand what suits me and I’ve stopped kidding myself – no more expensive mistakes.....

The above are all true – the bit about kidding myself is about my size – I have made a policy decision to cut out the size label if it offends me, so long as the outfit suits me!!

Christine Macfarlane – Air Traffic Controller
Lossiemouth

Having had a low self esteem after having my two children, I was thrilled to be introduced to Emma who, through her expertise, changed my life!

I was a size 16 and used to hide beneath baggy clothes. I am now a size 14 (and getting smaller by the day!) and for the first time in many years, enjoy getting dressed!

Emma gave me back my confidence, I now walk tall and know that whether I be walking the dog or on a night out, I look good. I love my accessories and am never without a necklace.

Although initially my husband winced at the cost, he has come to realise that it was the best money that we have ever spent.

Whereas before, I had a wardrobe full of clothes that I didn’t wear, now I have only a few (well chosen) outfits that fit me, suit me and make me feel fab. Emma’s services were priceless – she has changed my life!

Ruth Craig – Events Organiser
Newcastle

What did I get from working with Emma? Well, certainly I think shopping becomes a much more enjoyable experience when you have identified your ‘style’ and ‘shape’. Not all women enjoy shopping and for some it is a nightmare, but once you have this understanding, it is much clearer knowing what will and will not suit you.

It was all the tips too – the paying attention to detail on a garment, adding fun items, colour combining and mixing cheaper items with more expensive ones and the use of accessories.

It was fun and Emma did everything so nicely and in a very constructive way. She was happy to recommend shopping from Primark through to the more stylish shops.

It is a tremendous confidence booster and I did it for myself. It has certainly revived my enthusiasm for shopping and browsing for accessories. It is also something I would like to revisit again in the future, just to keep me on the right track!

Nicholas Bielby – Writer and Magazine Editor
Yorkshire

I didn't know quite what I was letting myself in for. But I did know that I was staid, boring and settling into an old-man tweedy look. I felt trapped in this look and a pattern of shopping that had lasted decades.

First, Emma taught me not just to throw unflattering stuff away, but how to look at myself and at what I had already got, and combine things in new ways to create a new, slimmer, younger effect. Then, when we had some idea of what I needed, she took me shopping. I had hardened my heart to spending a lot of money in shops I wouldn't normally look in. And in the event? I spent only one tenth of what I had feared. Mrs Howey certainly knows how to exploit sales! For example, I got a pair of Yves St Laurent jeans for ?10 and some very fashionable square-toed boots for ?40.

And, to my surprise, I'd found the day's shopping an enjoyable experience. Our bargains, together with my reviewed wardrobe, added up to a number of newly conceived outfits that make me feel smarter, younger and more sartorially confident than I can ever remember feeling. And I was still allowed to keep my comfy rubbish for slopping around the house and garden!