Kara Brownlee

Wardrobe Consultant & Personal Shopper

Services

We wear clothing for many different reasons. It’s a form of self-expression, can speak to one’s inner child, tells the story about who you are, where you have been and where you are going. The clothing we wear provide our subconscious with tools to help achieve our ambitions and add value to our confidence.

Whether we dress for fashion, comfort or a combination of both, what we wear is a part of who we are. How we dress symbolizes our unique individuality. From the casual T-shirts and jeans to the over the top avant-garde designs, what we wear tells the world who we are and what we want.

Personal Shopping

It’s easy to get caught up or overwhelmed by trends, and many people become frustrated when purchasing off-the-rack clothing that doesn’t fit properly or when they don’t know where to shop. A personal shopper can help build a uniquely functional, modern, stylist wardrobe that flatters you silhouette and suits your lifestyle. Personal Shopping services are available online and in person for all gender, backgrounds and ages.

“I have spent 5 hours at Old Navy and 5 hours at Holt Renfrew. Budget, age, gender is not my concern. Feeling confident and comfortable on the outside reflects how you feel on the inside.”– KB

Wardrobe Editing

Wardrobe Editing is a comprehensive process that involves organizing, possible purging, and suggesting alterations to your wardrobe. We create a list of items you need to buy and style your existing wardrobe, taking pictures for future reference. No items are discarded without your permission, and your closet is left organized like a well-merchandised store, creating an inspired and purposeful fresh space. Wardrobe Editing usually takes 1-3 hours, and travel fees may apply depending on your location.

Wardrobe Styling

Wardrobe Styling involves taking pictures and creating outfits from your existing wardrobe. It’s helpful for special occasions, important employment opportunities, or for busy individuals with little time to worry about getting dressed. Our goal is to make you feel comfortable, confident, and excited about your clothing, ensuring your outfits reflect who you are and the direction you’re going.
“The goal is to be comfortable, confident, and excited about your clothing. It should make you feel powerful and authentic. Clothing’s an important ingredient to showing the world who you are and direction you’re going.” -KB

About Me

Fashion has been a lifelong passion and career for Kara Brownlee. As a child, she loved to experiment with different ways of combining clothing changing five times each day. “I didn’t play with barbies, I dressed them.” At the age of fourteen she started working for a high-end men’s clothing retailer subsequently never left fashion arena. Kara received an undergraduate degree from Chicago’s Columbia College, in Fashion Merchandising while working retail on Chicago’s famous Oak Street.

After her degree, she ceated online store, wrote for lifestyle magazines, produced fashion shoes, worked in visual merchandising, sold for showrooms, opened a boutique apparel store and managed store buying. Before starting her current business, she trained with Gabrielle Tear in London, England, a prestigious celebrity stylist and personal shopping in the United Kingdom.

In her free time, Kara volunteers at Wanuskewin Heritage Park’s Gift Shop, an online store she initiated and help to create.

Testimonials & Press

“As a young professional, I don’t have time or patience to shop for clothes. I’ve been using Kara for the last few years and she’s absolutely fantastic. She cleans out and organizes my closet, shops for clothes with me, and dresses me. She’s able to get me out of my comfort zone without being too pushy and knows pretty much every clothing and shoe store in this City. Honestly, I can’t imagine having to shop for clothes alone anymore.”

– Scott G. Cancer Surgeon

“Ok, so I’m at a client event – super cool hip hop thing that I’m not cool enough to be at – and I’m wearing some of the clothes that we bought. I love feeling amazing about MY style!! So I wanted to say thank you! It’s just great that you’ve taught me how to appreciate pattern. I’m wearing my theory pants, polka dot cool socks — one of the outfits you made!!!”

– Pat Sission, Social Worker

“If you want a service where you know you will get the results, use Kara. When a lot is riding on your outfit, and you have to be sure the your look will be appropriate or edgy. I can’t thank Kara enough for assisting me in getting some confidence back in my look.”

– Liz P.

“My issue was closet full of clothe and nothing to wear. I think its a common problem for many women. That changed when I met Kara. She was able to re-shuffle my wardrobe and add number of essential pieces I was missing. As a result, I now have my favorite outfits for every season. Also, with Kara’s help my taste and shopping process has been refined. I no longer buy or have items that stay unused, sometimes with the tags attached. I shop significantly less now, and that allows me to add high quality statement pieces to my wardrobe. Thanks to Kara I finally have less clothes but more to wear.”

– Tatiana, Realtor

“We have been using Kara’s personal shopping services for several years and cannot live without her now! She knows exactly what we already own and what we may need based on the season & trends. She works within our budget to get us pieces that are both high quality staple items and balances those with fast fashion lower priced pieces. Kara knows how to push us outside of our comfort zone to buy different items that we absolutely love. Kara you are amazing!”

– Laura & Mike (Married Couple)

“Kara is incredible! Not only is she super stylish and a wonderful human being, she’ll also push you outside your clothing comfort zone to try things that you wouldn’t otherwise pull from the rack. My favourite part of working with Kara (in addition to the excellent chit chat) has been how she’s mined my existing wardrobe for pieces that can be used and re-used to create the stylish outfits that truly make me walk out the door feeling confidently me!”

– Shelli Baltman, Found Partner Idea Suite

“When I first started working with Kara, I was pretty set in my ways: often buying slight variations of the same overall style- how many blue button ups can a guy have?!? Kara has done a great job of gradually pushing me out of my comfort zone and adding pieces to my wardrobe that I otherwise wouldn’t consider, but are fresh additions – a splash of colour, a trendy new material, a fun pair of shoes. Kara understands my personality and integrates that into her selections. She’s also a blast to hang out with and makes shopping fun, instead of a chore. I’ve gone from having a mundane wardrobe to being complimented regularly on what I wear, for any occasion. Thanks Kara!”

– Frank Spano, Chief Financial Officer

“About a year ago I started working with Kara. After a panic attack – I needed to buy a suit for an interview. I had nothing to wear that made me look like a million dollars without spending a million. Kara was amazing from the moment I met her – her energy is infectious and her passion is palpable. Starting with the wardrobe edit, she gave me ideas on how to retro fit – she is a strong and empathetic supporter of sustainable garments – giving the remaining items in my closet new life. Next we went shopping, she’d already focused on a number if outfits in different price ranges from different brands/stores. She found me the perfect suit, without any of the usual stress attached to it. I felt brilliant and confident. Now I go shopping with Kara seasonally. I trust her judgment, it’s fast and painless and increasingly enjoyable.”

– Laura Preti, Lawyer

Personal shopper Kara Brownlee doesn’t think it’s delusional so much as lazy. “Compared to buying flip-flops, it’s really hard to find that perfect pair of wool pants that makes your bum look good and your legs look long,” she says, adding, “there’s a disconnect between what people think they own and wear versus reality. It’s easier to just ignore the discrepancy.”

– Macleans. Read the full article here.

When it comes to dating and fashion, you can be sure that your lady friend is going to pull out all the stops. She’ll check Pinterest for ideas, put on a mini-fashion show for her roommates, decide on an outfit, then change it, then change it again. Bottom line: she’s out to dress to impress, and unless she’s a complete fashion disaster, she will.”

– DailyXY. Read the full article here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the first step?

First-time clients start with a consultation, which can be done online and takes 20-40 minutes. During the consultation, we discuss your wardrobe concerns, preferences, and goals.

Where do you shop?

Department stores and malls are the most efficient use of time as services are charged per hour. However, no store is off-limits. We discuss this during the consultation.

Do you work with people outside of the Toronto area?

Yes, all our services can be conducted online. In-person wardrobe edits outside of Toronto city limits incur a travel fee, which depends on the distance. We discuss this during the consultation.

Do you offer Gift Certificates?

Yes, Kara Brownlee offers gift certificates, which have been highly appreciated by recipients. Gifting 3-6 hours of services is recommended. Gift certificates are available as hard copies or via email. For more information, please email Kara@Karabrownlee.com.

What are the benefits of hiring a personal shopper?

Hiring a personal shopper offers efficiency and ease for people who want to present themselves well but have busy lives. It also provides education for people in transition, such as new moms returning to the office, and helps release frustration for those who dislike shopping or are overwhelmed by the endless options available in stores.

What is the average budget of your clients?

Budgets are personal, and people’s wardrobe goals vary. We have created entire wardrobes with budgets ranging from $300.00 to $30,000. We discuss budget during the consultation to ensure it aligns with your wardrobe goals and preferences.