Personal shopping and tailoring services are free at some stores.
You might think that working with a personal shopper is a luxury you could never afford. And while it's true that many freelance stylists charge hundreds of dollars per hour for their input and expertise, you can get shopping guidance and insider tips from on-staff personal shoppers at many department and mall stores for free! Some chains even offer complimentary tailoring, gifting help, and more. If you need a bra fitting, have to get all of your trousers hemmed, or simply find shopping overwhelming, read on to find out which stores offer free services to shoppers.
This retail giant offers an array of complimentary services to its customers. Skilled personal shoppers are on staff at all locations, as are beauty stylists. To book an appointment, visit the Nordstrom website and click on Stores & Events, then select the store nearest you. You'll be pointed to a page like this one for the Chicago/Michigan Avenue store with details and contact information.
There, you'll also find information about Nordstrom's complimentary wedding styling services, which include help for the bride and bridal party.
Expert bra fitters can be found in the lingerie department, and no appointment is necessary to get a fitting. Nordstrom also offers prosthesis assistance for women dealing with breast cancer or surgery, including help filing for Medicare claims.
Many full-priced items qualify for free, simple alterations like hemming. This includes items purchased online. Speak with a sales associate for details.
Personal shopping services are also free at Macy's stores, and can be scheduled online or by phone. Select locations also offer bridal salons and expertise.
Macy's will help you choose gifts for your corporate team, and offers discounts for bulk purchases.
Although not explicitly advertised, most sales associates in the lingerie department can offer bra fitting input and advice. No appointment is needed.
Select stores employ on-site tailors, and a few offer free, simple alterations. Call your local store for details.
This upscale department store offers complimentary personal shopping services at select locations. These stylists will help with fashion choices, but can also shop the entire store for you, including home goods and decor, and can coordinate gift wrapping, alterations, and shipping.
You can also enlist the help of their Corporate Services team for help choosing client or employee gifts.
Although a little less transparent about how services work, Neiman Marcus offers free personal shopping help both in person and online.
In-store specialists can also help with bra fittings.
Neiman Marcus employs master tailors and any purchase may be altered, but charges typically apply.
A venerable giant in the world of fashion, this New York-based department store offers a variety of complimentary services to its shoppers. Wedding help from bridal gown selection to accessory and makeup consultation and wedding party coordination is available.
Bergdorf's personal stylists are somewhat legendary, and totally free. You can call or email to schedule an appointment, and the store assures you that you can contact your stylist in person, by phone, or by text any time you need input and sartorial guidance.
Owned by Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf also employs master tailors and any purchase may be altered, but charges typically apply.
Complimentary personal shoppers can be scheduled at eight of this chain's 14 full-line department stores. You can book a full makeover including hair and makeup (at the Madison Avenue location only), or just work on your wardrobe with a personal shopper.
Barney's also has an expert makeup team that will help you create a new look for free.
Saks online stylists will help you shop the website, and give input on overall style choices, all for free. New York and Beverly Hills locations also offer in-person styling, but call your nearest store to make sure you can book a complimentary appointment. Saks only began offering personal shopping outside of its New York location in early 2014.
Although not called out on the Saks site, professional bra fitters can be found in all lingerie departments.
Most basic alterations are free at full line Saks stores. You can also bring in your own garments to be tailored for a fee.
All of Lord & Taylor's guest services fall under personal shopping, including corporate gift services, fittings, and stylist services. However, these services are only available at select East Coast locations.
Some single-brand, mid-market retailers also offer free services to their customers.
J.Crew's Very Personal Stylist program offers personal shopping in person and online, as well as mailing customized selections to your door. Full-priced purchases with a J.Crew credit card are eligible for simple, free alterations.
Banana Republic offers complimentary simple alterations to BananaCard Luxe members.
Anthropologie lets you book free personal styling sessions online for an in-store meeting.
Topshop also offers complimentary personal shopping services, which can be booked online.
1. Nordstrom
This retail giant offers an array of complimentary services to its customers. Skilled personal shoppers are on staff at all locations, as are beauty stylists. To book an appointment, visit the Nordstrom website and click on Stores & Events, then select the store nearest you. You'll be pointed to a page like this one for the Chicago/Michigan Avenue store with details and contact information.
There, you'll also find information about Nordstrom's complimentary wedding styling services, which include help for the bride and bridal party.
Expert bra fitters can be found in the lingerie department, and no appointment is necessary to get a fitting. Nordstrom also offers prosthesis assistance for women dealing with breast cancer or surgery, including help filing for Medicare claims.
Many full-priced items qualify for free, simple alterations like hemming. This includes items purchased online. Speak with a sales associate for details.
2. Macy's
Personal shopping services are also free at Macy's stores, and can be scheduled online or by phone. Select locations also offer bridal salons and expertise.
Macy's will help you choose gifts for your corporate team, and offers discounts for bulk purchases.
Although not explicitly advertised, most sales associates in the lingerie department can offer bra fitting input and advice. No appointment is needed.
Select stores employ on-site tailors, and a few offer free, simple alterations. Call your local store for details.
3. Bloomingdales
This upscale department store offers complimentary personal shopping services at select locations. These stylists will help with fashion choices, but can also shop the entire store for you, including home goods and decor, and can coordinate gift wrapping, alterations, and shipping.
You can also enlist the help of their Corporate Services team for help choosing client or employee gifts.
4. Neiman Marcus
Although a little less transparent about how services work, Neiman Marcus offers free personal shopping help both in person and online.
In-store specialists can also help with bra fittings.
Neiman Marcus employs master tailors and any purchase may be altered, but charges typically apply.
5. Bergdorf Goodman
A venerable giant in the world of fashion, this New York-based department store offers a variety of complimentary services to its shoppers. Wedding help from bridal gown selection to accessory and makeup consultation and wedding party coordination is available.
Bergdorf's personal stylists are somewhat legendary, and totally free. You can call or email to schedule an appointment, and the store assures you that you can contact your stylist in person, by phone, or by text any time you need input and sartorial guidance.
Owned by Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf also employs master tailors and any purchase may be altered, but charges typically apply.
6. Barney's New York
Complimentary personal shoppers can be scheduled at eight of this chain's 14 full-line department stores. You can book a full makeover including hair and makeup (at the Madison Avenue location only), or just work on your wardrobe with a personal shopper.
Barney's also has an expert makeup team that will help you create a new look for free.
7. Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks online stylists will help you shop the website, and give input on overall style choices, all for free. New York and Beverly Hills locations also offer in-person styling, but call your nearest store to make sure you can book a complimentary appointment. Saks only began offering personal shopping outside of its New York location in early 2014.
Although not called out on the Saks site, professional bra fitters can be found in all lingerie departments.
Most basic alterations are free at full line Saks stores. You can also bring in your own garments to be tailored for a fee.
8. Lord & Taylor
All of Lord & Taylor's guest services fall under personal shopping, including corporate gift services, fittings, and stylist services. However, these services are only available at select East Coast locations.
9. More at the Mall
Some single-brand, mid-market retailers also offer free services to their customers.
J.Crew's Very Personal Stylist program offers personal shopping in person and online, as well as mailing customized selections to your door. Full-priced purchases with a J.Crew credit card are eligible for simple, free alterations.
Banana Republic offers complimentary simple alterations to BananaCard Luxe members.
Anthropologie lets you book free personal styling sessions online for an in-store meeting.
Topshop also offers complimentary personal shopping services, which can be booked online.
