Have you ever worked with a personal stylist?  I’ve always wanted to, so when Silfath Pinto slipped me her business card at a workshop a few weeks ago, I couldn’t wait to talk to her in person.  We finally met last week, and now you get to meet her, too.

Some of Silfath’s clients are small-waisted and large-breasted like us.  She doesn’t seem to have any problem putting them into great-looking clothes.  I want to find out how she does this.

Of course, the first thing she does with any client is send them to her favorite bra fitter in New York City:  Bra Tenders.  According to Silfath, only one in twenty clients has been unhappy with her experience there.  Sadie wrote about Bra Tenders on this blog when she described her great experience having a corset altered for her wedding dress.

According to Silfath, size doesn’t matter.  It’s simply a matter of understanding fit and body type and how to think outside the box.  I don’t know about you, but understanding body type has often led to my feeling pretty boxed in.  I can browse through an entire rack of clothes and give you a reason why each garment is off-limits to me.

However, according to Silfath, it isn’t so much what we shouldn’t do but knowing our best assets and enhancing them. She reminded me of the general rule for hourglass-shaped women: Define a small waist. Once we master rules like these, it’s a matter of finding the perfect exception to each rule . . . in other words, thinking outside the box.

Are you intrigued?  I am, so I asked the question I’m sure you’re all wondering:  How much does it cost to work with someone like Silfath?  Her answer after the jump.

Most women book a full wardrobe makeover which includes a closet consultation, a shopping trip and a styling session. Generally, Silfath has two client types. Type A works with Silfath for one to two wardrobe makeovers, covering spring/summer or fall/winter. If this client already owns good wardrobe essentials, then Silfath’s fees can range from $500-$600 in addition to the cost of clothing purchased. If the client does not have many essentials, her fees can be $800-$900. She will edit the client’s closet, reinvent existing pieces with new flattering outfits and help the client shop for new things. Type B is the busy corporate client for whom time is harder to come by than money, and Silfath will work with her every six months.

For most of us, it’s a splurge simply to buy new clothes, much less spend on fashion advice. But if you’re like me and own a lot of fashion mistakes, fashion advice may not seem so decadent after you do the math. If you don’t have the budget for a style makeover, Silfath encourages women to “do at least a closet consultation” because “even one hour for $175 will change your outlook on your body, your wardrobe and fashion in general.”

Silfath and I are discussing some great ideas for Hourglassy readers in the coming weeks!