KEY POINTS:
Fashion concious females are lining up to buy the Kiwi version of style advice, a la Trinny and Susannah.
Westfield shopping spokeswoman Deb McGhie said "overwhelming" interest in last February's whirlwind visit from the brash British style gurus had shown there was "real demand" for a Kiwi equivalent.
Personal shopping, once considered the realm of only the rich and famous, was now "going more mainstream".
Thus, the chain's Takapuna mall was touting its style sessions, with fashionista Coby Haimes at a "special introductory" price of $85 a session.
Although it's only available from the North Shore location at present, McGhie said more malls might offer the service in the future.
"We're amazed at the demand. Bookings have exceeded all expectations. People are very keen to receive style advice, and the good thing is that all budgets are catered for."
Two free fashion seminars held last week at the mall had attracted hundreds of spectators, and queues of women afterwards, all keen to sign up as fashionistas in training.
Haimes said for $85 she would provide advice that would save shoppers hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars - and make their bums look good.
The sessions concluded with visits to the mall's stores, where women were shown what to wear but with no obligation to spend a further cent.
Haimes said although times were tough, "I'm finding people are treating it as a lifetime investment."
Once women realised what their "10 key pieces" were, they would no longer have a whole lot of clothes to sift through but "nothing to wear".
Kiwi women's biggest fashion mistake was treating black as the new black. "Almost everyone buys too much black," Haimes said.
"Only 35 per cent of women have the colouring to pull it off."
