Shopping With Celebrities: One Salesgirl's Dilemma

Oct 09, 2007 @ 2:14pm

ashlee bag.jpg
While I'm not here, I'm playing Shop Girl at a downtown boutique. You can guess which one.

We cater to trend junkies: the celebrities, the international socialites, and the tourists looking to get their New York fashion fix. Also: girls who read US Weekly at the gym.

Last week, I painfully watched a nameless celebrity - you can guess which one - pull the worst pieces of clothing off the racks. She politely handed them over for me to fill her fitting room - faded bell-bottom jeans with an unfinished hem. A leopart print chiffon blouse with gold buttons. An ivory cameo with black lace trim. None of them were in her size; none of them suited her body.

I wish her choices were a cry for help, but really, she thought these things looked good.

I often wonder about my responsibility to the girl in the dressing room.

How much influence do I have over her purchases, and how far can I go to sway her decisions? In this case, I had to try very, very hard to push her in a whole new direction.

When she brought in the jeans (paired with the leopard blouse!), I immediately countered with a more subtle pair of dark wash denim. When she put a logo-stamped sweater with matching logo shoes and squealed with delight, I immediately ripped the sweater off her back, and offered a cute but somewhat restrained cardigan in its place.

I know everyone has their own style and the world would be boring without it. But this girl spends plenty of time in the public eye, and her wardrobe is seriously mocked. I thought if I had her attention for a mere 30 minutes, I could make the most of it.

We broke even in the end:

She bought the logo sweater and shoes, but promised she'd never wear them together. Thankfully, she left the faded bell-bottoms behind. All in all my powers of persuasion seem to be working.

But I wonder, do you trust the salesgirl when she offers her expert opinion? And is it anybody's job but yours to pick your clothes?

--BRITT ABOUTALEB

Editor's Note: It's not Jessica Simpson, we just like the photo.

posted by fashionisto

Oct 09, 2007 2:29PM

That looks like Jessica... think it is. And who is the celeb?

Hilary Duff?
Vanessa Minillo?

posted by jes

Oct 09, 2007 2:36PM

i hate to point this out but thats jessica, not ashlee.

no knowing your location, but listening to the clothing descriptions my immediate first reaction was britney.

that being said, depending on what store im in and what the salesgirl looks like, ill take advice. sometimes its just soo obvious they are just going for a sale. costa mesa nordstroms, paper and 7 jeans, not flattering. somehow "looked better on me that anyone she's ever seen put them on." i immediately took them off and left. who can trust a salesgirl that doesnt tell the truth?

posted by Laia

Oct 09, 2007 2:37PM

I'm a shopgirl too, and I generally try to help clients look their best. If they pick things that look a little iffy, I tell them, but sometimes they just don't want to hear it and they've made up their mind, and in those cases there's really nothing I can do. I just say a little prayer for them after they've left. haha.

As for when I go shopping, I only trust some salesgirls, I can usually tell when they're just trying to sell me stuff and that just makes me want to leave.

posted by

Oct 09, 2007 2:37PM

sometimes they can be a godsend. i especially like the ones at big drop, they have persuaded me to do the funkiest things and it always ends up looking so cute- love them!

posted by kaela

Oct 09, 2007 2:48PM

i only worked retail (american apparel) for about six months, but helping customers pick outfits that enhanced their appearance was definitely the best part of the job. if celebs can have stylists choose their clothes for them, then i don't see why sales assistants can't do a similar job of protecting people against fashion disasters.

posted by MH

Oct 09, 2007 3:42PM

Although, Jessica was in town last week, saw her at the Box...perhaps the disclaimer was just a misdirection, since it certainly sounds like her.

posted by aja

Oct 09, 2007 3:55PM

at the intermix warehouse sale here in nyc, recently, i picked out a dress but i didn't have time to try it on (shopping during my lunch hour). i asked the shopguy if it looked like it would fit. he said, sure, it looked like it would fit, but it would also make me look like an apple-farm-girl. i promptly put the dress back, and picked out a blouse i loved. and i never felt more loved by a salesperson ever.

posted by Lola

Oct 09, 2007 4:47PM

I'm a fairly decisive shopper. I have a decent idea of what suits my frame and I definitely know what I like as such I don't always welcome unsolicited opinions, and I can smell insincerity at 50 yards.

That being said, when I'm iffy I will always ask for input and appreciate an honest response, even if negative.

P.S. I do have that baby blue Juicy parka Jess is wearing in the photo so maybe I should ask for shopgirl input more often

posted by Kara

Oct 09, 2007 5:20PM

Britney?

posted by Pink Tartan

Oct 09, 2007 6:57PM

Salespeople are only as good as what they know. Recently, I needed help finding a great dress for a big event and the shopgirl hadn't a hot clue. I had to then, be my own shopgirl and wanted a commission.
I'm very open to a shop person giving me an honest (not necessarily brutal) opinion, but they need to be knowledgeable and sincere.
It speaks well for any store if the staff can subtly steer the buyer to pieces that reflect their own personal style with the store's best offerings.

posted by La Van

Oct 09, 2007 11:08PM

I don't doubt you're very good at what you do, but honestly, unless I specifically ask for your opinion, it's none of your business what I buy. Your hapless celebrity may not know what she wants and needs, but I do, and I don't appreciate some else's "influence" on my style (under the guise of "responsibility" no less!).

I'm really nice and polite, though. I just like to be left alone, because I know what I'm doing.

posted by Sam

Oct 10, 2007 12:26AM

As soon as I heard 'faded bell-bottom jeans' and 'chiffon blouse,' I immediately thought Britney. Doesn't she always seem to be running around in ill-fitting jeans and shiny 'party tops' that seem like they're straight out of Express circa 2001?

posted by WendyB

Oct 10, 2007 1:20AM

I most certainly have never had anyone try to deter me from a purchase, but rather to try to push me into one I'm not interested in. ("It's supposed to fit that way!")

posted by faustine

Oct 10, 2007 4:28AM

I always feel uncomfortable when I have a salesgirl all over me. In NYC it seems to be part of the culture but in France, salesgirl usually just tell you to ask any question you might have if you wish to, and they promptly leave you alone. I like to have advice if I feel like it, I dislike having someone unsollicited around me. I know it's stupid, but it makes me feel as if the person was checking I'm not trying to steal something...

posted by rachel

Oct 10, 2007 8:19AM

oy why aren't you posting my comment that i think that it is brooke hogan?!

posted by london

Oct 10, 2007 10:07AM

Sorry, Anonymous, but if you've listened to a salesgirl at big drop.. then you've been hoodwinked, swindled, bamboozled and led astray. Big Drop sales people are notoriously pushy and give out their 'expert' advice by the ton. They must work on serious commission as they have basically thrown items at me on my way out the door in an attempt to make a sale. not cute.

I personally only like an opinion from a sales person when I ask for it, however I am very confident with my own style and know what I like and don't like. If I were less fashion-secure, a savvy sales girl would absolutely be a god-send.

posted by mariah

Oct 10, 2007 10:27AM

Favorite sweet comment about something looking terrible on me by a saleswoman:

"I don't love that on you."

and then she brought something out that was much better. I thought that was pretty class. I didn't feel ugly, I just felt like, why buy something that doesn't love me back?

posted by Chels

Oct 10, 2007 10:34AM

I used to be a shopgirl, so I can smell a salespitch a mile away. I'm generally a good shopper and don't need any reinforcement, though. It doesn't bother me at all when someone's there giving an honest opinion. It does bother me when someone tries to convince me that what I'm wearing is FABULOUS when it obviously doesn't work (recent example: trying on skirt suits and the skirt was well above my knees and the guy working told me that was "in" this year).

posted by sfl

Oct 10, 2007 12:12PM

they didn't post my colonel mustard duff comment either

posted by anon

Oct 10, 2007 2:48PM

I used to be a shop girl in Chicago in a teeny boutique where shopping advice was expected and I was always very honest and helpful- and made a lot more sales that way, BTW. What amazed me was woman after woman endlessly trying on clothes that were 2 sizes too small and freaking themselves out! Here in NYC it seems like the salesgirls are generally either SO pushy and insincere (most williamsburg boutiques) - or SO judgemental / frosty and/or following me around as though I'll shoplift ( cough cough kirina zabete cough) that its uncomfortable -and Igrew up in the east among the frosty types so its not just a regional thing. Maybe if they are on commission they are desperate and if they're not I don't look rich enough to bother with? Bad business!

posted by Brendastarlet

Oct 10, 2007 11:59PM

I was a shop girl, too, in high school and college, and boy did it teach me about dealing with people. It's shocking how many people want to be told what to buy, and I could pick up sales every day simply by figuring out who wanted to hear something nice about themselves.

When I'm shopping, the words, "I worked in retail" are kind of a code: once you say that, the phoniness usually goes away because they know they can't snow you, either on look or price.

posted by

Oct 11, 2007 12:23AM

it really throws m off when sales girls try to convince customer that an ill-fitted dress is "fabulous"
i was at this boutique that needs to be buzzed in by the owner. they had really cute Nanette Lepore suits. but as soon as i realize what the sales girl were doing, i put down the jacket and left.

posted by Susanna

Oct 11, 2007 5:06PM

I like advice on whether something is likely to fit. At a smaller shop, I expect the salespeople to be familiar with the brands they sell and be able to offer advice on sizing.