By Saimi Bergmann
Fashion consultant Monica Carpenter (right) adds a necklace to finish off an outfit for Janet Kurtz of Marshalville. Shoppers at Another Look Consignment Shop in Jackson Township can sign up to receive free fashion advice and shopping assistance from Carpenter.
CANTON
Ever wish you had a fashion consultant to help you decide what to wear, and a personal shopper to help you buy it? Now you can get both for free.
The unlikely spot for this high-brow service is a second-hand clothing store.
“What woman wouldn’t want this?” asked Sue Knisley, owner of Another Look consignment Shop. “It’s a pampering, like you’re a Hollywood celebrity.”
Knisley hired Monica Carpenter, a young fashion and wardrobe consultant, to work with her customers.
The unlikely spot for this high-brow service is a second-hand clothing store.
“What woman wouldn’t want this?” asked Sue Knisley, owner of Another Look consignment Shop. “It’s a pampering, like you’re a Hollywood celebrity.”
Knisley hired Monica Carpenter, a young fashion and wardrobe consultant, to work with her customers.
“She’ll spend an hour and half with you,” Knisley said. “The first 30 minutes are to get to know you, your style, your silhouette. She can tell you the colors you should be wearing, the style most flattering for your figure.”
The remaining hour is spent browsing the racks at the store.
Janet Kurtz, a medical office manager in Jackson Township, said the time flew by during her fashion consult.
”I had a ton of fun. I said, ‘Let’s keep going!’ ” Kurtz said. “For anyone who wants to tweak their look or learn how to try a new or different look, this is perfect.”
Kurtz said she still can’t believe the service is free.
“At first I raised an eyebrow what? Are you sure? Amazing deal.”
Carpenter graduated from a marketing program at Stark State College and is working on a second degree in fashion merchandising. She’s a long-time fan of consignment shopping.
“I’m a babe on a budget,” Carpenter said. “I don’t believe in spending a lot on fashion because it comes and goes quickly. Fashion is now actually called a perishable good.”
Carpenter’s goal is to nudge people into trying something new.
“I look at what they are wearing and at their ‘fashionnaire’ and do the exact opposite of what they say!” she said, laughing. “I had a lady who wrote, ‘I don’t wear skirts,’ so I said, ‘Let’s try on skirts.’ Just so they can see what they look like.”
What’s the current trend?
“Belts. They are having a major moment right now,” she said.
Kurtz bought a belt and a couple other Carpenter-recommended items.
“I came out (of the dressing room) in these white capris, and Monica said ‘no, no, no,’ and ran and got me another pair,” Kurtz said. “It’s nice to get the ‘no’ a couple times, because then you know it’s not about selling the product it’s about making you look good.”
Looking good leads to feeling good, and that is part of the store’s “mission statement,” said owner Knisley.
“We want to help women pamper themselves, take time to renew themselves,” she said. “If we don’t renew ourselves, then we can’t be of help to others.”
The initial reaction to the service has been so positive, that Knisley has asked April Williams, another fashion merchandising student, to join in. Carpenter and Williams will lead fashion seminars at the store every six weeks and be available by appointment for consultations.
Janet Kurtz, a medical office manager in Jackson Township, said the time flew by during her fashion consult.
”I had a ton of fun. I said, ‘Let’s keep going!’ ” Kurtz said. “For anyone who wants to tweak their look or learn how to try a new or different look, this is perfect.”
Kurtz said she still can’t believe the service is free.
“At first I raised an eyebrow what? Are you sure? Amazing deal.”
Carpenter graduated from a marketing program at Stark State College and is working on a second degree in fashion merchandising. She’s a long-time fan of consignment shopping.
“I’m a babe on a budget,” Carpenter said. “I don’t believe in spending a lot on fashion because it comes and goes quickly. Fashion is now actually called a perishable good.”
Carpenter’s goal is to nudge people into trying something new.
“I look at what they are wearing and at their ‘fashionnaire’ and do the exact opposite of what they say!” she said, laughing. “I had a lady who wrote, ‘I don’t wear skirts,’ so I said, ‘Let’s try on skirts.’ Just so they can see what they look like.”
What’s the current trend?
“Belts. They are having a major moment right now,” she said.
Kurtz bought a belt and a couple other Carpenter-recommended items.
“I came out (of the dressing room) in these white capris, and Monica said ‘no, no, no,’ and ran and got me another pair,” Kurtz said. “It’s nice to get the ‘no’ a couple times, because then you know it’s not about selling the product it’s about making you look good.”
Looking good leads to feeling good, and that is part of the store’s “mission statement,” said owner Knisley.
“We want to help women pamper themselves, take time to renew themselves,” she said. “If we don’t renew ourselves, then we can’t be of help to others.”
The initial reaction to the service has been so positive, that Knisley has asked April Williams, another fashion merchandising student, to join in. Carpenter and Williams will lead fashion seminars at the store every six weeks and be available by appointment for consultations.
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