"Image Consulting" has existed in Ireland under a number of different guises for quite some time, however in recent years it has had seen a huge surge in interest. This is in part due to the success of television shows such as those fronted by Trinny and Susannah.

Originally image consulting was seen as only for the rich and famous. Now it is a mainstream service, available to everyone and is used by a wide selection of people. Mostly because many men and women who are not successful at shopping realise it is far more economic to hire a professional to help them with their wardrobes rather than waste money on clothing which is inappropriate for their lifestyles.

Image consulting can often be found under a number of titles e.g:

• "Style Guru"
• "Style Doctor"
• "Wardrobe doctor"
• "Makeover Artist"
• "Fashion Adviser"
• "Personal Shopper"

The media have helped drive interest and importance into how people present themselves and feel about themselves through their personal style and image. It is a constant topic in magazines and television and Radio programmes.

Trinny and Susannah

Trinny Woodall and Susannah Considine shot to fame with their hit TV "What not to wear", originally broadcast on BBC in 2001. It ran for 5 series and was phenomenally successful not only in the UK but in Ireland and around the world. "What not to wear" became so popular than it spawned whole generation of TV programmes both in Ireland and elsewhere.

Trinny and Susannah followed up their TV success with a large number of very successful books:

What Not to Wear, What You Wear Can Change Your Life, What Your Clothes Say About You and their latest, The Survival Guide.

They have formed other TV programmes such as Trinny and Susannah Undress.

They were originally columnists in the Daily telegraph and continue to pen many columns in UK newspapers.

Television Programmes

UK programs such as "How to look good naked" fronted by the charismatic Gok Wan, "Ten years younger" and countless other makeover shows have created entire satellite channels dedicated to style.

In Ireland the most successful programme has been “Off the Rails” the original presenters Caroline Morahan and Pamela Flood, became Ireland’s answer to Trinny and Susannah.

Image Consulting v. Personal Shopping