Clothes-buying services fit busy clients

Leave the flip-flops and shorts at home.

Business casual has evolved from a fashion faux-pas free-for-all to the consensus that comfortable attire is not an open invitation to dress like a slob. Clothes, it seems, still make the professional, according to several local business owners.

“Ever since men were given permission to lose the tie, they’ve kind of floundered with what is appropriate and what looks good,´ said Jodie Redfern, who, along with her husband, Ron, started RJ’s Menswear in Greeley eight years ago.

“They had their work clothes and their play clothes, but really nothing in between,” she said.

RJ’s Menswear started meeting men’s clothing needs before the casual revolution began with a sock-and-tie club. Every month, members would receive in the mail a pair of socks and a new tie to keep their look crisp and updated, Redfern said.

When business casual came onto the scene about five years ago, RJ’s added polo shirts and more casual attire to its repertoire.

Today, the company offers clothing clubs and personal shopping services from its store in Greeley’s Westlake Shopping Center. Clients can order online or just come in and visit the store.

“We had a client come in this morning and walked out the door wearing an entire new outfit,” Redfern said. “He was giving a presentation this afternoon and wanted to make a good impression. He walked out of here feeling and looking great.”

Customer profile

To ensure happy customers, Redfern completes a profile for each customer to determine likes and dislikes, color and style preferences and, of course, size information. Redfern said one of RJ’s most popular services is The Khaki Club. For $42.50 per month each member receives four pairs of khakis, six shirts and a couple of belts throughout the year. Her fashion sense is usually right on the money, Redfern said, but if a client doesn’t like the selection, RJ’s pays for the return shipment.

While RJ’s offers everything from black tie to casual wear, they’ll work with any size budget, providing fashion tips and style guidance along the way.

Dale Hall, a financial consultant with LPL Financial Services in Greeley, has been an RJ’s client since the sock-and-tie club.

“I want to look sharp for my clients but I don’t have the time or the desire to do a lot of shopping for myself,´ said Hall, who’s busy schedule is even busier these days as he gears up for a bid for state representative in District 48. “I don’t have time to slow down for shopping,” he said. Hall denies being fashioned-challenged, but is thrilled with the ease and convenience RJ’s provides.

“I’ve had perhaps a lack of confidence in making sure I know what goes with each piece,” he said. “With RJ’s I don’t have to spend a whole afternoon looking for a shirt and pants to match. I come out with clothes that I know will match and look good on me.”

RJ’s has no plans to offer its services to women, but Redfern said, “We get requests every day to do that for women, but we’re strictly a menswear company.”

Of course, women are more known for their fashion savvy and for taking a greater interest in developing their own personal style, but many professional women are also mothers who just can’t find the time to shop.

To fill that need, Michaela Vogel launched Wardrobe Wonders, a personal shopping service in Fort Collins about a year and a half ago.

Business exploded

“My business has just exploded,” Vogel said. “People are just so busy these days.”

Vogel said she consults with stay-at-home mothers, retirees and world travelers, but the majority of her clients are women juggling careers and families.

“I work with gals who work all the time and have kids and they’re just crazy busy,” she said. For $50 an hour, Vogel will visit client’s homes and conduct a closet assessment to find out what people already have and get an idea of what they like. Then she’ll find exactly what a client needs to round out the wardrobe.

“I know you need some really cute brown trousers,” she said, “or this season you should get a nice pair of black boots to update your look.”

She even travels to garment districts to find the latest look or the perfect number for that special occasion. And no need to worry about alterations. Vogel will handle that, too.

Another service Vogel said her clients just love is gift consulting.

“Their husbands will call me up for advice on a birthday or anniversary gift,” she said, adding that she’s already got the inside scoop from the woman. “I’ll go pick up that brown leather jacket they’ve been wanting, wrap it up and drop it off at his office. They just love it.”

Shirley Ellsworth said that just about everything she wears is a Wardrobe Wonders creation. As the owner of Lambspun of Colorado, a knitting, weaving and spinning shop in Fort Collins, personal style and image are very important to Ellsworth, but running a business leaves precious little time to find those unique pieces.

“She helps you put it all together,” Ellsworth said. “It’s a wonderful asset for helping busy people look great.”

Vogel said she has also consulted new college graduates ready for a more professional look as well as some of her clients’ male relatives.

“I just want my clients to feel good in any situation they’re in,” she said. “To know that they’re dressed in their own personal style.”

So for those who think sweater vests are still in or that those 5-year-old Dockers with the frayed pockets and bottoms don’t look so bad — know that help is available.

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