Even High St stores have personal shoppers now. But can they really pick an outfit for me?

Personal shopping services are now big business. at selfridges, such purchases make up 25 per cent of women’s designerwear buys, with spending on these items tripling in ten years.

Topshop, meanwhile, offers a menu of different appointments, ranging from a complete wardrobe overhaul and a 60-minute newseason session to a 30-minute slot to find the perfect jeans.

little wonder, then, that even ailing giant Marks & spencer is offering an invitation- only online personal shopper to sparks loyalty card customers who have accrued sufficient points.

I have never been drawn to personal shopping services before, but scanning my wardrobe recently, I realised what a lazy shopper I’ve become: jeans from Gap, the odd Comptoir des Cotonniers item and almost everything else from Zara.

stuck in a fashion rut for more than a decade since leaving the world of glossy magazine editing, when it comes to clothes, I’ve not so much lost my confidence as my sense of adventure. I go where I feel secure, buy what’s safe — and have given up on the wow factor.

Is it too late, I wonder, at the age of 65, to get back my fashion mojo? and might employing the services of a personal shopper persuade me to venture into new territories?

The truth is, I loathe department stores. Vast floors crammed with endless choice, often unappetisingly displayed, make me want to turn on my heels and run.

But what if I didn’t even have to step foot on the shop floor, and could instead have someone bring everything to me in a large, comfy changing room while I sip from a cup of tea or a glass of prosecco? now that does appeal.

so I decided to put the personal shoppers at five High street chains to the test. I told each I was looking for two outfits — a smart day look and something glamorous for a party — giving myself a budget of up to £350 for both.

overall, it was well worth it, and I would probably go back to a couple. But Marks & spencer, I’m sad to report, was disastrous.

nevertheless, I’ve been introduced to new brands, pepped up my colour palette and decided it’s never too late to spread my fashion wings. Here, I give my verdict on both the service and the outfits picked out for me. . .