Personal Shopper Sara Sorensen

Personal Shopper Sara Sorensen

Fashion stylist Sara Sorensen sees her job much like an investment advisor builds portfolios of financial opportunities, delivering dividends to their clients. In this way, Sara reviews the needs of the ladies she styles and then picks fashion pieces to meet those requirements. To maximize the value, Sara also chooses pieces that are classics, easily moving from one season to the next or even one year to the next.

“I look at my job as helping my clients make solid fashion investments,” noted the 26-year-old. “The pieces I choose for them may vary in price, but they’re such solid staples that they’ll wear them for many years to come, which increases the value these pieces bring to a client’s wardrobe and their wallet. You want clothes that give you multiple functions; all you need to do is change the accessories or shoes for a totally different look.”

Sara has her own multiple looks, donning several different hats in the fashion industry. She’s a team leader and style expert in Designer Fashions, Collections for Her and Lifestyles for Her at the new Halls on Grand Boulevard, on the southern edge of downtown Kansas City.

She shares a fashion philosophy with Joyce C. Hall, the founder of Hallmark, who often said “good quality is good business.” Halls on Grand is a Kansas City tradition and has nearly a 100-year lineage. Developed in 1916 by Hall to “always be first with the best in Kansas City,” Halls has continuously offered a wonderful shopping experience by featuring great clothes in a comfortable, innovative atmosphere. From the first shop in a small space on trendy Petticoat Lane to a store on Grand Avenue in downtown Kansas City in 1950, to Halls Plaza in 1965, to Crown Center in 1973 and subsequently to the new Halls on Grand on Level 3, Crown Center, in 2014, Halls has always met the needs of discriminating customers desiring top-quality, fashionable goods.

“We carry sought-after designer brands that offer our customers great collections to choose from. The construction and fabrics are so high quality, and they do drape the body beautifully,” revealed Sara. “When I put on the designer items, I don’t want to take them off because they are so well made.”

Sara has been working her fashion magic at Halls on Grand for nearly three years, after graduating from Kansas State University with a degree in apparel and textile marketing. The energy and devotion she has for her work are equally matched by the store’s appealing interiors sporting state-of-the-art contemporary charm while delivering a high-energy retail experience where shoppers find fashions and accessories to express their personal style. “I look at my role as a professional style expert as I advise my clients on fashion trends and then personalize them to fit their needs,” remarked Sara. “My clients range in age from their 30s to their 80s, and they’re at different points in their lives. They look to me to help them sort through all of the offerings to come up with the pieces that fit their lifestyles and deliver value through their impeccable tailoring, design and materials.”

Halls on Grand has built and maintained a long-running reputation based on the principle of providing generations of Kansas City residents and visitors a shopping destination, setting the standard for retail shopping excellence. At Halls on Grand, Sara and other stylists continue this proud tradition for today’s customers. “I really like the relationships I develop with my clients as their personal shopper. They trust my opinion,” noted Sara. “I’ll work with someone in person and once I see how clothes fit their body, I can pull things off a rack to match the vision in my mind of what it will look like on them. My clients say that I’ve shown them pieces they would never pick out for themselves. But I help them get out of their box. My goal is to sell them something that looks good on them, not because it’s trendy.”

Sara goes about her job as a stylist much as an architect would in designing a structure, blending body shapes, colors, textures and more to achieve the perfect, polished outfit for her clients. She focuses on the personal side of the business, selecting clothing for a wardrobe customized for each individual.

“I have a different approach for each client, but most importantly, I greet them when they arrive in the store and ask what they’re looking for or simply start a conversation with them,” revealed Sara. “Styling someone for a special occasion is the easiest selection for a customer, especially for the mother of the bride or groom or maybe a non-traditional wedding gown. I get close with my customers because I like the relationship building of my job. It makes me feel like I’m not just a salesperson but someone helping them find something they’ll enjoy and look great in.”

While the jumpsuit has been big this year, Sara advises to wait and see if they’ll stick around for a while. To keep on the trendy side of things, she decided to pick one up at just $68 at Halls rather than spending more for a higher-quality garment. “Sales are for fun things, but buy your classics at full price,” she advised. “Spend money on something that’s going to last for you. It’s a better investment.”

Sara began her fashion life by outfitting her Barbies in fun clothes, moved to styling her girlfriends in high school, and then found her dream job at Halls on Grand. While the work is fun and exhilarating, the fashion world can be difficult to break into and once you’re on the playing field, the hours can be long and hard. But Sara offers some common sense advice to make your way down the fashion runway. “Find what works for you and your selling style. I like being on the floor and helping people, while buying is a lot more desk work because you’re at a computer,” she noted. “Work hard, pay your dues and you’ll be surprised how things can unfold in front of you. And don’t think you know everything. I’ve built up a good clientele because of my hard work, but I’m always learning.”

For those who simply want to learn how to pick the perfect outfit or accessory, Sara advises knowing your body and style, and asking lots of questions of the store staff. “I don’t know about my car, but I’m not embarrassed to ask a mechanic for help,” she stated. “So no one should be afraid to ask about their wardrobe. As a stylist, I’m here to help you.” HLM