Lisa Gillbe; founder, expert personal stylist and top-charting podcast host

Hello I’m Lisa, I’ve been in the fashion industry for almost two decades running my personal styling consultancy (est.2010) helping busy professionals with their wardrobes in the UK and beyond. I am also the host of the fashion podcast ‘The Style Stories Podcast’ that regularly charts in the top 10 around the world (find it anywhere you get your podcast).

I live in South London with my husband Matt, a TV Producer, our two teenage sons and two cats. I was born in Scotland but grew up by the coast in Southend-on-Sea, Essex and have settled here in London for 25 years.

I am hugely passionate about empowering people through their style and really love working with ambitious successful entrepreneurs, professionals and corporate executives who really benefit from working with a personal stylist.

Back in 2009, I trained at London College of Fashion and then trained as an image consultant learning about colour analysis and how to style different body shapes at Aston & Hayes in Holland Park.

In 2010 when I started my style consultancy and began working with clients, only a handful of people in London were providing personal styling services. Previously it had been something only celebrities used, but over in America it was a service increasingly used by time-poor executives who were ambitious and incredibly busy with a packed schedule and many demands on their time and headspace.

I’ve always loved clothes and see them as not only a joyful part of life but as a tool you can use to look and feel a certain way. At work for example, when you walk on to a stage to deliver a presentation, or if you are going to an interview at a young start-up, a media company or a financial institution, it pays to feel confident and to make the right impression - what you wear is a big part of that. Clothes can directly impact your confidence and play a part in boosting your career.

For the past (almost) 15 years I have dressed literally hundreds of professionals from all industries including banks, financial institutions, media companies, pharma - the list goes on. Interestingly LOTS of lawyers, more so than any other kind of professional; as well as politicians and TV & radio personalities, having worked for the BBC and ITV many times.

The expertise I have gained over the past few years means I know exactly where to shop for different style personalities and body shapes. I know where the perfect pair of tailored trousers is or which shoes you need and I source these clothes fast which is what my clients need from me.

I’m an expert at meeting someone and knowing straight away what kind of style they have and can look at a wardrobe and see what’s missing in a flash.

The people I help need a balanced wardrobe with the right mix of clothes so they are always ready to hit the ground running looking and feeling good. What they don’t have is the time or headspace to pull a whole wardrobe together and that’s what I do for them.

Because I almost exclusively help senior professionals, I need to make the process as efficient and focussed as possible. I have use of the private stylist suites at Harvey Nichols where I have been a leading stylist for over 10 years now. No traipsing the shops, this is luxury shopping that gets great results.

Many of my clients are regulars who shop with me twice a year, Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter and don’t have to think about what to wear at any point because I pull it all together for them. W3e also create a virtual wardrobe on an app for you so you have outfits at your fingertips for ultimate convenience!

As well as running my own styling business, I’ve also launched and host a successful podcast about style and fashion called The Style Stories Podcast. The podcast regularly charts around the world and has been at no.7 in the UK charts consistently (aiming for no.1!).

I know what works to create a stylish, pulled-together wardrobe that makes sure you have the right thing to wear for whatever life throws at you.