‘Sproosing’ up your wardrobe
If you change a woman’s wardrobe, you can change her life.
That’s the philosophy behind Sproosy, a style consultancy business founded by avid shoppers Megan Pitman and Lorraine Shailer.
They started the company having reached pivotal points in both their lives.
Ms Pitman had given birth to her second child and wanted a shift of pace. Ms Shailer, once a personal shopper and stylist in London, wasn’t sure how to utilise her skills here.
They met through mutual friends and started offering wardrobe consultations, personal shopping and head-to-toe makeovers.
For the brave of heart, the stylists also offer a closet detox — an in-depth assessment to find pieces that work. Old, outdated or ill-fitting pieces are given the boot.
“We show them new ways to wear the pieces they are keeping,” Ms Pitman said.
“It’s not always the case where you have to spend a ton of money after [our cleanse].
“It’s about lightening the load and then just getting some staple pieces after that.”
Chloe Brasier, a nurse and mother-of-three with a lifelong interest in fashion, is the newest addition to the Sproosy team.
“Even though I didn’t work in fashion, it was something that had always been a big part of me, so it was really a natural progression,” the colour analyst and stylist said.
“I had thought about doing it for years and then after having my youngest son I started thinking maybe it’s a good time to do something different. Doing nursing shift work with my three young children wasn’t the best fit, plus I thought if I’m ever going to do this it has to be now. And it spiralled from there.”
Her job is to help people find the exact clothing shades that work for them.
She believes colours impact on complexion and if used correctly, can reduce the look of fine lines and give a healthy glow.
“We’ve met with women who’ve worn the same business suits from ten years ago,” Ms Pitman said. “What we do is try to find ways they can add in some different twists. [Women generally] project a whole different sense of confidence when we feel good and start getting compliments from co-workers and friends.”
Sproosy shows women which cuts, styles and colours work well for them. Some clients have been surprised by how much difference a change of outfit can make, Ms Shailer said.
“Some people don’t realise how they should be styling things or that they could even pull certain pieces off.
“We had a client who we recommended try a certain kind of pants. She was adamant they wouldn’t look good, and even though she bought them, she hadn’t tried them on. She just left them in the box.
“When we came over we got her to put them on and when she did she was like ‘Oh’. They fit her really beautifully.”
Many clients are working women who don’t have time to focus on themselves, Ms Pitman said.
“I have friends who’d say, ‘If you can just give me a five-day list of what to wear to work that would be great’.
“They didn’t want to think about it. They didn’t have time for it, but wanted to look put-together and feel their best.
“Other people have all the right pieces in their wardrobe but just aren’t living up to their potential in terms of how they style things. We met this beautiful girl and you’d never think she needed help with styling, but she just needed some guidance and expertise.
“She had just had a baby and was wearing loose-fitting clothes. She just didn’t know how to dress her new body.”
Sproosy helps select clothes that highlight a woman’s best features and are best suited to their lifestyle, Ms Pitman added.
“Some women or new moms may still be on the road to losing the weight, but that doesn’t mean right now they can’t look good.
“Retirement is another one. You’re used to going to work and dressing for work and now you need to dress differently, but still want to look good and feel attractive.”
The company has received a lot of positive feedback. Most thrilling is when clients send them pictures of an outfit they’re wearing that day.
“People can sometimes be very flippant about it because they think clothes don’t matter, but if you look good you can conquer so much more in life,” Ms Pitman said.
“Some people start out timid about the process, but it’s obvious by the end they look and feel better.
“People learn to put their trust in us. They go shopping with our guides and send us a quick picture asking ‘Is this working?’”
Sproosy’s monthly custom shopping guide costs $50. Their wardrobe ‘sproos’ costs $295; a full wardrobe purge and head-to-makeover costs up to $900.
Look for Sproosy on Facebook.