Marissa Woods is The Address Dubai Mall’s fashion advisor and offers a tailor-made menu of services that is exclusively designed for ladies and gentlemen staying at the hotel. Guests can book an appointment and start with consultation, then receive Woods’ advice on colours and fashion trends based on the guest’s preferences. The service offers anything from assisted shopping to a personal shopping service, where the advisor will find the perfect outfit for that unplanned occasion, while the guest attends to business.
What is it she is asked for most? Woods admits: “Our guests are a mix of ages and gender. However, the most frequently requested items for women are statement jewellery and jeans - ones that fit well of course with our expert advice!”
Having a wealth of fashion experience under her stylish belt, Woods advises guests on what every man and woman about town should have in their wardrobe: “For women, a print detail dress, metallic belt (chunky or slim) that dresses up any outfit worn over a jacket or on trousers, dark jeans to work the day to evening seamlessly, chunky bracelets in a variety of colours with a statement cocktail ring and a pair of patent shoes to dress up any casual outfit or polish an evening outfit – it’s all about multi-tasking your wardrobe to make it work harder for you! For men it should be a dark leather belt (that looks brand new), cedar wood shoe trees to extend the life of their prized leather shoes, an Italian, or similar, well-fitted suit, a patterned shirt (checks or stripes work) that does business, casual and evening social without the need for a tie, and a pair of black jeans rather than faded ones!”
But dressing well and travelling light are usually two different things, how does a fashion advisor solve the problem? “Dressing well when travelling is all about coordinating your look and opting for fabrics that don’t crease easily. Silk, wool, crepe or cotton jersey fabrics are great and cashmere wool will drop its creases with a steam on arrival at your destination (particularly important for men’s suits). Take only two or three outfits for the day that can also transfer to evening or social engagements – so it is all about separates and using accessories to give the outfits variety.”
A dream job? Woods agrees: “Absolutely! For me it is the ultimate dream job as I love the creativity and sense of fun it brings me. I am constantly inspired by meeting new people and sharing my expertise to empower them to make stylish choices. Plus I am spending someone else’s shopping budget which keeps my husband happy!”
