Up Close with local business Wardrobe Fairy Nottingham

A qualified image consultant who runs her own business helping ladies rejuvenate their image, is hoping to help more Hucknall women who are in need of style advice.

Helen Keightley, who lived in Hucknall before moving to nearby Papplewick six years ago, owns and runs Wardrobe Fairy Nottingham, a personalised service for ladies who despair with the state of the attire that faces them when they get dressed.

Ms Keightley stated the business around three years ago following a career break to raise her three children.

Speaking exclusively to Hucknall Nub News, she said: "The Wardrobe Fairy side of the business is that I help ladies declutter and organise their wardrobes. That gives them the confidence to try new outfits.

"I put outfits together for them because I'm really passionate in my belief that clothes can have such a big impact on your body image, your mindset, your productivity; if you feel good your mood is instantly lifted and clothes are a huge part of that.

"When I arrive we do a short questionnaire just to find out about the person's lifestyle, where they normally shop, and their budget and all that kind of thing, because everyone's different, it's a very individual thing.

"We literally take everything out of the wardrobe, go through every item and decide does that person really like it still, does it fit them, is it shabby, is it something they're hanging on to even though they really shouldn't? And it's sort of holding someone's hand if you like, some people get emotionally attached to clothes.

"But it's not just about getting rid of clothes, it's about reworking what you've got. I might see a skirt and a top in your wardrobe that you would never have thought to put together.

"We decide on every item, are they going to keep it, try and sell it, or give it to charity? We put them in different piles, and then it's the process of putting everything back, in order, so when they open the wardrobe doors, they're actually excited. They feel energised by it because they like everything in there, everything's in its place and organised. It's quite a liberating experience for the client.

"When I arrive, the client's feeling not particularly good about themselves and by the time I leave they've grown an inch, their posture's better, they feel good, they're strutting around the bedroom. It's really uplifting for me, it's such a powerful thing when you've made someone feel that way it's really nice."

When the pandemic hit British shores in March 2020, Helen couldn't visit people's homes due to lockdown restrictions that were in place across the country. This forced her to evolve and develop her business.

As a result, she came up with the idea of buying clothes from a variety of wholesalers and launching her own online boutique.

"I decided to start up an online boutique selling nice ladieswear and accessories but as part of that I offer a free local delivery service to the Hucknall, Linby, Papplewick area.

"I do a try before you buy scheme so people can choose half a dozen items or so online and I can take them to them. They then try them on at their leisure at home, I leave them with them for a day or two and then I'll come and collect the items they don't want and the ones that they do want they just pay for, so it's a bit like having a personal shopper that delivers to your door.

"And I also give a lot of advice out, so ladies will message me saying I've seen this on your website, do you think it will fit? What's the sizing like? It's a really personal service. I'll be honest and say if I don't think it will suit your shape. I'm very open and honest about it.

"I've got a thriving Facebook group that started at the same time as the boutique. It's a closed group. People will often post pictures of the things they've bought from the boutique so other people can see it. I do lives (Facebook videos) in there, I model all the clothes myself so people can see what they look like on a real person. I really enjoy it."

Now that lockdown restrictions have eased, Helen is visiting people's houses once again to examine their wardrobes but she is able to couple this with the boutique element of her business if the customer expresses an interest in this before she visits.

This means that she can help the client replace outfits if they've ended up having a particularly ruthless clear-out. However, being knowledgeable about lots of brands and retailers, Helen also offers advice on where to shop if the client isn't interested in the items from her boutique.

"I can suggest places they might not have thought to shop. I can find things from other suppliers and other shops that they might not ever have been into. I do online personal shopping for people as well.

"I think it's a case of holding people's hand out of their comfort zone in trying new styles and things. I think a lot of people get stuck in a rut of buying the same thing or when you've had kids and you lose a bit of confidence, you need that help to get back on track. And also, your body changes so much as you go through different stages of your life that it's then helping you dress for that new shape, whether you've had kids or menopause or whatever else. And a lot of ladies lose confidence in their clothing so it's my job to try and give them that confidence back."

One final arm of Helen's business that she is looking to branch out into, is style parties. This involves a group of friends gathering together and inviting Helen to one of their houses. She then brings a selection of her items from the boutique, and they are available for people to try on and buy. She describes it as a 'body shop' style party but with clothes.

For further information about Wardrobe Fairy visit the website here or the Facebook page here.