Printed with special permission from the Washington Post.
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The Washington Post
Fading Out of Fashion
As Gap¹s Dominance Unravels, Chain May Go Up for Sale
January 10, 2007
By: Ylan Q. Mui
The Washington Post
Pamela Burns, a personal shopper in the Distict, said she has all but given
up on Gap. She used to find cute flannel pajamas and expensive-looking
velvet blazers there. Now, she said, she walks out almose as soon as she
walks in.
Even the basics have lost their appeal. This holiday season all she bought
at Gap was a candle.
I feel like there¹s no style right now, she said. ³Who wants to really
walk in for khakis and white shirts?
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Taking a Stiletto To D.C.s Drab Image
A Sensible-Pumps Town Develops Taste for Manolo and Jimmy
September 19, 2006
By: Ylan Q. Mui
The Washington Post
Pamela Burns, a local personal shopper whose clients range from chief
executives to housewives, said she noticed a change in the level of
merchandise carried in department stores, as well. Higher-end names such
as Michael Kors, Dolce & Gabbana and Prada have become more common.
$200 shoes were expensive before, she said. Now, $500 shoes and boots
arejust blowing out of the stores.
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Business Casual? Seriously.
Some People Take the Idea of Dressing Down Too Far
August 13, 2006
By: Amy Joyce
The Washington Post
Honestly, it¹s a little confusing, said Pamela Burns, a personal shopper
based in the district. Mainly it¹s confusing because men don¹t know what¹s
appropriate. What is business casual? These companies that had Jeans
Friday¹s are not really touting that anymore, she said. Because that turned
into two days a week and three days a week, she said. People got too
relaxed.
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Some Styles Just Flop at the Office
Managers Deal With Shirts That Show Too Much and Shoes Made for the Beach
May 15, 2005
By: Amy Joyce
The Washington Post
Pamela Burns, a personal shopper in the Washington area, said she is used to working with recent grads who want to get a more professional look (or perhaps more often, whose parents what them to look more professional). So she steers her clients who prefer comfy casual to items that might be more acceptable in the office. Many of her male clients who want to be comfortable but professional buy a new Cole Haan shoe that looks like a loafer but has a Nike-like sole. Guys who are used to just wearing sneakers, I put them in those and they look really good, she said.
Some fancier thong shoes (even if you spend less than those who buy the $485 Manolo Blahnik floral thong at Neiman Marcus) may work for women as long as they are worn with
a professional outfit.
I do think that college generation and under is more casual to begin with, Burns said. it¹s kind of that old dot-com thought that you can wear whatever you want to work and it doesn¹t matter. But unfortunately, it slaps everyone in the face. I do feel that years ago I would do seminars where people were wearing Tevas (sandals) in financial institutions, and now
they¹re wearing suits.
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The Gift That¹s So Nice It¹s Given Twice
December 21, 2004
By: Alexa Payne
The Washington Post
Pamela Burns, owner of Pam Shops 4 You based in Washington, is a little more wary of the process. Her emphasis, also, is on passing along only something of quality you know the other person will like. The whole idea of regifting because it saves money or a trip to the store is a problem, she says.
I¹m not a fan of recycling, Burns says. I think nine times out of 10, it¹s something people don¹t like and they pass it on. And that's why it gets a bad name.
In that very small category of items she will regift without hesitation: wine. That, she says is completely appropriate.
No matter what you do, you want someone to enjoy the gift, Burns emphasizes. Whether it¹s something you've purchased or something given to you.
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Pulling Together a Workable Wardrobe
Planning is Key to Looking Stylish On a Budget
March 14, 2004
By: Margaret Webb Pressler
The Washington Post
Personal shoppers steer new graduates away from trendy styles, such as stiletto heels and short skirts, and advise them to buy high-quality backbone pieces. The basics can last them at lease three years, then they can add to that, said Pamela Burns, a Bethesda-based fashion consultant.
But where do you buy all this finery?
Burns likes to take her clients to the big sales at department stores, especially Nordstrom, Bloomingdale¹s and Saks, where the discounts can be meaningful. But she also recommends specialty chains such as the Gap, Banana Republic and Ann Taylor Loft‹on sale when possible.
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More Business, Less Casual
March 17, 2002
By: Amy Joyce
The Washington Post
Have you looked around the office lately? Or maybe somebody else¹s office?
Noticed a few changes? Well, some have, and that has made Pamela Burns a
very busy shopper lately.
The Bethesda-based fashion consultant and personal shopper has had a lot of
shopping to do for men who are suddenly in search of a new look. They want
to scrap the khakis and T-shirts and go for a more professional image.
'Business Casual' just isn¹t going to work anymore.
Pamela Burns thinks men just took casual too far. "Now that there aren¹t
dot-coms, they need that tie," she said.
Brad Niremberg us a Burns client. The president of Momentum Marketing, a
D.C.-based event-marketing firm, noticed that his client base was changing,
and he didn¹t feel appropriate in his usual khakis and denim shirt while
making presentations anymore.
So he went to Burns for a style adjustment. Although he still doesn¹t don an
investment-banker-like suit, he has sharpened his image with nicer shoes and
a blazer. And "the T-shirt under the shirt doesn¹t show anymore." said
Niremberg. It¹s more of a refined look.
Lo and behold, once he began to snazz up at the office, so did his 30 or so
employees. They may be under ago 30 and used to casual, but they have
divined the new dress message. "People here are taking a lot more care with
what they¹re wearing to work on a daily basis," Niremberg said.
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