Tell us about yourself and what it is you currently do
As a qualified Personal Stylist, I help busy women regain their confidence, rediscover their unique style and feel amazing in the body they have now. I style women of all body types and am passionate about helping busy women be the best version of themselves through clothes and fashion. I want to help YOU regain your confidence and rediscover the joy of dressing well!
I also specialise in helping women who find themselves with a body they don’t recognise, feel comfortable in, or know how to dress, particularly after going through big life changes such as having children, going through menopause or a relocation for example.
Styling isn’t about vanity, it’s about confidence and feeling your best self, and that comes from knowing how to dress for your body shape and style.
How did you discover your passion and turn it into your career as a Personal Stylist?
I have always loved fashion and styling and in my early 20’s I worked in Zara, making my way up from the shop floor to Assistant Womenswear Manager for our local store. Helping women find those outfits they looked and felt amazing in, and seeing their confidence grow right before my eyes, was always an incredible thing to witness.
When I married my husband and moved to London, I worked in Jigsaw on the famous Bond Street and loved every minute of it! However, as a young couple living in London we also had to be practical, and when an office based job opportunity in a different field came along at double the salary I was earning in fashion, I decided to put my love of styling and working with women to the side for a few years. The aim and hope was always to return to fashion and styling; however “life happens” and it took 20 years for this return to happen!
But, happen it did, and after relocating to Dubai due to my husband’s work and formally training with the London College of Style, I launched Styled by Sarit two years ago and finally feel like I’m doing exactly what I was meant to do!
I’m a firm believer in “it’s never too late” to do what you love, follow your dream, make that career change. I see so many wonderful women in their 40s and 50s starting second or third careers here and it’s inspirational.
Tell us about Styled by Sarit
I offer a free 20 minute Zoom call for any potential clients so they can ask any questions they may have about the process, what to expect and how I work, and of course for them to get a feel if I’m the right person for them!
The Personal Style Assessment is around one hour and is an intro session, during which I do their Body Shape assessment and we discuss their Style Personality and what their aim is for any future sessions.
The Wardrobe Edit is 4.5-5 hours and includes the Personal Style Assessment, followed by the edit during which we remove any items from your wardrobe which no longer serve you well (the wrong cut/ shape, a colour that doesn’t do much for you, clothes that are dated or the fabric is worn). With the clothes that are left I show you how to put together fabulous outfits that reflect who you are and how you want to be seen. I also address any gaps you have in your wardrobe and the key items that I would recommend for you to purchase that will enhance your current wardrobe and enable you to create additional beautiful outfits with what you already own.
Many women are surprised at how emotional they become when we work through the Wardrobe Edit. For many, removing those clothes that no longer fit/ suit them is very much like saying goodbye to an earlier version of themselves, or closing a chapter in their life, and it’s my job to make them feel confident and happy in the body that they have NOW.
The Personal Shopping Session is 4 hours long, during which I take my clients shopping, having already narrowed down the selection of stores and clothes so as not to create overwhelm for my clients. The best part of these sessions are seeing my clients fall in love with clothes that they NEVER would have picked for themselves. It’s these wildcards that are always the winners!
How is your approach unique?
I believe in really listening to my clients, understanding what they need and what would suit their lifestyle. I don’t style my clients in my image, rather I learn as much as I can about them and what’s happening in their life and together with them I build a wardrobe for them that they love. When suggesting outfits, I try to gently nudge my clients out of their comfort zone towards pieces I think they will love, rather than imposing my style and taste.
Who do you work with?
Women with ALL body types. My clients range from women in their 30’s to women in their early 60’s, those having just had kids and going through a phase of rediscovering themselves and those going through menopause, with all the body shape changes that entails too.
I’ve also really enjoyed working with clients who are launching new business ventures and need a complete overhaul of their look – these are some of my most exciting sessions!
Do you have a testimonial case study that you can share?
Just before the summer break I worked with a wonderful woman who had recently moved to Dubai and posted on a community Facebook group that she was struggling to find clothes for her Apple body shape. I was recommended by many of my former clients and we had the most wonderful Wardrobe Edit and Personal Shopping sessions. Here’s what she had to say:
“Some of you might recall I posted a ‘please help’ post – I was struggling to find the right clothes for my apple shaped body… I was looking for a stylist or personal shopper.
Well I just had to share an update… a wonderful woman, Sarit Shefer came highly recommended via the wonderful women in this group, so I booked a Wardrobe Edit & Personal Shopping experience with her.
BEST DECISION!
Sarit is incredible, she is the real deal and knows her stuff. She understood the brief and nailed it.
She took me shopping at MOE and I now look forward to getting dressed every day as I absolutely love my wardrobe. I feel 100% more confident in myself and am now looking forward to going clothes shopping as I know what suits me AND where best to buy those types of items.
I felt I wanted to share my experience in case anyone else is feeling like I felt!
I’ve shared just a few pics of some of the outfits Sarit helped me choose & put together. (PS many of these pieces I’d never have chosen for myself!)
What do you think are the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to their personal style?
There are 2 mistakes that I encounter time and again with clients:
1.Not dressing for your body shape – many women aren’t aware of their body shape, and even if they are, they don’t necessarily know and understand how to dress for their body shape to best enhance their strong points (the things they love about their body and appearance) or how to minimise and draw attention away from the parts that they don’t like.
Your body shape is the basis of styling so it’s one of the most important things to understand and the first thing I cover with my clients.
2. Blindly following trends without considering if they suit you, your style and your body shape – this is something I see over and over with my clients! Who remembers the silver trousers trend from a few seasons ago? Or buying into the season’s IT colour even though it really doesn’t suit you and your complexion/ colouring. And let’s be honest, not every trend should have made it off the catwalk!
We really don’t need to buy into every trend, every season. What we DO need to do is curate a wardrobe filled with good quality clothes that will see us through a few seasons (at least) and add a few key seasonal pieces which we love and suit our style.
What are your top five tips to improve your personal style?
- Know your body shape and how to enhance it! I teach my clients all the tricks to create the silhouette they want during our sessions.
- Never underestimate the power of accessories – they can make or break an outfit. All of my clients are amazed by how we change up the same outfit in our sessions with different accessories! It’s also the most budget friendly way to elevate your outfits and add seasonal touches.
- Get inspired! Go on Pinterest and search for outfits that you like, for example “laid back weekend look in your 30’s/40’s/50’s”, “office outfits for summer”, “dressed up denim style”, “Boho chic”. Many times you may already have all you need to recreate these outfits in your wardrobe.
- Make sure your wardrobe works hard for you by shopping for pieces that are cohesive and complement what you already own. My rule of thumb is to make sure you can pair that piece you’re looking to buy with at least 3 pieces in your wardrobe. The more you wear an item the lower the cost-per-wear, making it a good investment.
- A great statement bag can elevate the simplest outfit. It doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive or designer, it can also be a quirky or unique one that showcases YOUR style.
What are some key pieces every wardrobe should have, regardless of personal style?
Oooh, that’s a tough one as women are so different and the wardrobe needs of someone who is office based 5 days a week will be different from the styling needs of a stay at home mum or a woman who is retired, for example.
That being said, the universal pieces that I think work for pretty much everyone are:
- A great pair of denims – this is the one item I would aim for shopping the best you can afford. The better the cut and quality of the fabric, the longer it will last you without the fabric wearing out. Denims are one of the most environmentally polluting items that are manufactured today, so I’m conscious of making the pairs I own last as long as I can.
- A well cut blazer in black or navy – works beautifully to elevate an outfit. My favourite brand for these is Wyse London.
- A pair of trainers – not the ones you go to the gym with! A trendy pair of trainers can really enhance a simple outfit. My go-to brands are Golden Goose, Veja, Loewe and Alohas. Of course we can’t forget the Adidas Samba, which by now have a cult following, with new designs and colourways launching all the time.
What is next for you?
I’m excited to be expanding the public speaking side of my business by delivering more Styling Talks — now reaching corporate offices across Dubai. I hope to empower professional women to harness the power of personal style to blend confidence, communication, and impact in the workplace.
Visit www.styledbysarit.com to find out more about working with Sarit and to book a FREE 20-minute Zoom call.
The FREE Body Shape Guide is also available to download: https://www.styledbysarit.com/resources
