Personal Stylist
PERSONAL STYLIST

San Diego’s #1 Personal Stylist

With over 500 clients, I have worked with every body type and personal style you can imagine, and have developed a styling process that is efficient yet thorough. It brings me great joy to provide a collaborative service that saves you time, releases stress, and truly enhances, not just your clothing style, but also your lifestyle.

Man or woman, youthful or mature, maximalist or minimalist, I have the skills, resources, and experience to dress absolutely anyone.

celebrity stylist san diego
PERSONAL STYLIST SERVICES
Vanessa Valiente personal stylist

Consultation

Before I begin any service with a client, we have a 20-minute video call to discuss your lifestyle, where your look is now, and where you want to take it. Before the call, you create a Pinterest board of outfits and garments that emulate your desired look.

closet purge

Closet Purge

Once I understand your goals, I will help you eliminate ill-fitting and outdated garments in your wardrobe that do not go with your desired appearance, and identify the clothing that still works.

closet organization

Closet Organization

Organization is my joy in life. Please let me organize your clothes, shoes, and accessories so that everything is not just orderly, but relevant to the season and your current lifestyle.

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Personal Shopping

I use online shopping to find the key articles of clothing that your wardrobe is missing in order to create the image you want. I no longer do in-person shopping sessions due to its inefficiency.

Wardrobe stylist commercials

Outfit Creation

I create outfits from your existing wardrobe and new purchases. For each look I create for you I take a photo so you won’t forget the combination. I then help you organize the photos in your smartphone.

personal stylist for men

Event Styling

I will put together your attire for any special event. I have dressed clients for parties, balls, galas, public appearances, professional events, weddings, and television appearances.

travel wardrobe curation

Travel Wardrobe Curation

I can help you plan and shop for the clothing and accessories you will need for a trip. I can pack you for a weekend getaway to Palm Springs, a 3-week equestrian expedition in Africa, or a month in Europe with only a carry-on.

Virtual Styling

All sessions can be done virtually. I use Zoom or FaceTime for our appointments. For outfit creation, I take screenshots on our calls of the outfits and we use Google Photos for sharing images.

Seasonal Wardrobe Switch Out

Twice a year we put away out-of-season clothing and organize the current season’s clothing in your main closet. We try everything on and see what still works for your current lifestyle, body type, and personal style.

Rave Reviews
"I have now worked with Vanessa for over 3 years and it has been truly a fantastic experience. I am continuously receiving compliments on how I am dressed! The shopping experiences with Vanessa are remarkable. She has an incredible fashion sense and is never satisfied until we are both excited about what I am buying. There is no “settling” on something, “you must love it”! Vanessa also does not have you waiting around. Her charge is by the hour and I cannot think of anyone that is more efficient and effective! Vanessa has a wonderful attitude towards her career and it is evident in all the experiences you will have working with her. I highly recommend Vanessa for all your styling needs!"
Barry (requested Google Review )
"After working with Vanessa, you will never work with another stylist again! I can’t imagine it getting any better. She studied my style like a fashion detective and chose clothes that feel just my style, and fit like a bespoke pair of leather gloves. I LOVE HER. My style just went from “semi-stylish mom who obviously works from home” to “OMG, WHO IS THAT WOMAN, IS SHE FAMOUS??” Please choose all my clothes forever, Vanessa!"
Tarzan Kay (Unrequested Testimonial)
"I wish I had met Vanessa years ago. Vanessa began with a consultation to learn more about me and my tastes. Next, we evaluated my existing wardrobe and she gave reasons why some items were ‘keepers’ and others needed to be purged. From there she was able to perfectly match clothing choices to fit my personality and profession. I learned the finer points of properly fitting clothing for my body type and the places to shop and the stores to avoid. Vanessa and I next created an album of photographs of my new wardrobe showing the different combinations. In the last 6 months I’ve found that my social life has expanded because I immediately accept invitations to events without having to wonder what to wear or race out for last minute shopping. I have also received innumerable compliments on my clothing and others have taken notice or asked directly where I purchased certain articles. Vanessa’s great sense of style, extensive experience, directness and sense of humor has made me a client for life and I highly recommend her if you’re considering a change for the better."
Greg, Architect (Requested Letter of Recommendation)
"Vanessa changed my life! Let me explain: I was an out-of-shape, way-older, unfashionable woman, who “looked down” on people who invested in the superficialities of life … and yet I longed to feel good about myself and my wardrobe. I read about Vanessa in SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE, and decided to make an appointment. Later, I thought about canceling (I thought I was too far gone!). THANKFULLY, I didn’t! Vanessa turned out to be a sweet, stylish friend who guided me through my own wardrobe (“this can stay; this should go”) and made shopping a breeze (Vanessa knows EXACTLY where the most flattering clothes are). She’s definitely not a snob, but Vanessa educated me about paying more for pants that fit! For me, Vanessa is like the perfect mother … someone who wants the best for me and lovingly guides me there. I thought a stylist would be intimidating (and maybe some are!), but Vanessa is just the friend-next-door who happens to be a style expert … wanting to help me be the best I can be!"
Christine, Marketing Consultant (Requested Yelp Review )
"My experience with Vanessa has been the best ever next to my kids and good marriage. She has completely changed my life for the better. She went through my closet and had me purge the things that were no longer bringing me happiness and were ultimately making me feel like crap. Shopping with her was a great experience. As a mom it is nice for someone to cater to you once in a while without it being a holiday. Vanessa came at a low point in my life and completely turned it around. I feel beautiful, and confident like I did before my children and the extra mommy weight. You get so excited feeling good about you and your body shape. I got exactly what I asked for and more. I am so satisfied that I will be a repeat customer every season even though I have to travel from the San Francisco Bay Area to do it. Her services are worth that and more."
Lestine, Navy Officer (Unrequested Yelp Review )
"I had been wanting to revamp my wardrobe for quite a while and after looking through a few different stylists’ portfolios it became abundantly clear that Vanessa was the one to contact. I set up a consultation and the rest is history. My two favorite things about Vanessa, and the reasons I chose her. One, she actually lives and breathes fashion. After talking to her it became obvious that fashion really is her passion and she does it for a living. Many of the other people I found online seemed to do it as a hobby, or on the side. I wasn’t comfortable with that. I wanted a professional. Two, she’s a PERFECTIONIST! And I mean this in every sense of the word. She’s obsessive about it in a very good way, paying extreme attention to the details. A trait which is critical when you’re choosing someone to help develop your style. The details make all the difference. Vanessa has an amazing sense of style, and I’m really liking the attention I’m getting with my new look. It’s very unique and exactly what I wanted."
Jason, Entrepreneur (Requested Yelp Review )
“Vanessa is absolutely wonderful to work with!! After researching stylists in San Diego, I reached out to Vanessa without a personal reference. After speaking with Vanessa for the first time, I immediately knew that she understood what I was looking to shop for, and what occasions I was having difficulty finding outfits for. We then did a closet purge, shopping appointment, and lastly we married the new and old clothes to come up with so many outfits. Vanessa took pictures of all of the outfits (40 in total!). I can now pull up pictures on my iPhone when I’m having any problems finding an outfit. This has saved me so much time from trying on 20 different outfits before heading out the door. I not only learned so much while working with Vanessa, I had a lot of fun in the process. Vanessa is so passionate about style and it is absolutely contagious. I couldn’t give Vanessa a higher recommendation!!”
Jill, Manager (Somewhat unrequested Yelp Review )
"It is with great pleasure that I write this review for Vanessa. As a fashion stylist, her skills and talents are extraordinary. Vanessa was highly recommended to me and she more than exceeded my expectations. The initial consultation allowed her to assess the style I was looking for and how best to accommodate that to my lifestyle. She was amazingly adept at reviewing my current wardrobe, determining what was working and explaining what she felt was needed. She is so knowledgeable that shopping with her is a real joy. She does not try to convince you that a certain look, or even a certain article, is “you.” Instead, she clearly listens to your thoughts, concerns, likes and dislikes and then helps put together styles that work. After going through the shopping, she provides detailed photos to help you reassemble outfits on your own. (This, alone, has changed my life!) With Vanessa’s help I have become more confident about my style and my ability to successfully project it."
Charlotte, Retired Nurse (Requested Yelp Review )
"I wanted to thank you again for helping me to find myself. I feel like I’m reinventing myself and enjoying my clothes again. I’ve seen pics of myself from the past 5 years and am mortified at what I’m seeing. I realize now that I had been influenced by what I was seeing on others and not dressing me."
Vicki (Unrequested E-mail)
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FAQ

I have worked with over 500 men and women in my 17-year career as a personal stylist. In order to serve my existing clientele with the level of excellence I demand of myself, I can only accept a few new clients a year. I have an application process to see if we would be an amazing fit. Unfortunately, even if we are an amazing fit, the wait could be six to nine months. 

While you wait, you can get a taste of working with me by checking out my acclaimed fashion blogs VSTYLE for women or VSTYLE for Men.

Do you need a personal stylist right away? If you are looking for an expert in men’s style, I recommend Patrick Kenger who is based in Arizona, but travels to San Diego regularly and is skilled in virtual styling. For women’s fashion, I recommend, Andie Sobrato, who is skilled at virtual styling and available for travel. Please let them know I referred you — thank you so much!

My ideal client is interested in a collaborative relationship that lasts years, although the number of appointments vary. Some of my clients have 3-4 sessions every March, while other clients see me every month.

If you have a special event or trip coming up, we would book you for three sessions that are 15-20 days apart.

In between sessions, you can always get small doses of my advice via my free monthly newsletter or by following me on Instagram.

A small travel fee is required for areas 15 miles outside of San Diego’s 92103 zip code. For travel by car 45-min or more away, my hourly rate goes into effect. Simply give me your address when you apply to find out the travel fee.

For travel by plane, I require reimbursement of airfare and hotel stay. I only charge a small fee for my travel time since I love to travel.

Unfortunately, most of the time, no. If you are running late the day of one of our appointments, texting is absolutely the correct form of communication. Beyond that, email is the best form of communication with me. You will notice I use my cell phone to take pictures, make notes, and contact relevant professionals for you throughout each of our sessions together. I am completely dedicated to you during your allotted time with me, so any texts that are not relevant to our session are ignored. This means if you text me while I am with another client, that text can easily be accidentally opened and missed. Email is the only way to ensure I have received your communication.

Lastly, after 17 years as a personal stylist, I have finally learned to carve out more time in my schedule away from work. Texts from clients can disturb this time reserved for myself. Thank you so much for your understanding!

I currently charge $250/hour with a 10-hour minimum per client that you can use as you please. My weekend rate is $300/hour. You pay me at the end of each session, unless otherwise discussed. I accept Zelle, Venmo, cash, check, Paypal, and credit cards.

If my rate is outside your budget, I recommend stylist Andie Sobrato, who is skilled at virtual styling and available for travel. If you are looking for a men’s stylist, I recommend Patrick Kenger who is based in Arizona, but travels to San Diego regularly and is skilled in virtual styling. Please let them know I referred you — thank you so much!

Fun Tip! For free style and shopping advice from me, sign up for my monthly newsletter or follow me on Instagram.

I almost exclusively do online shopping now since it is more efficient than going to numerous physical stores that often lack the styles and sizes we need. When shopping online, I utilize numerous online retailers to give you a selection of what we are seeking. Most of the time I use free shipping/free return retailers to ensure no money is wasted. Once I have picked out the items, I send you the links via email for you to purchase them.

After the online purchases arrive, we look through the items together at your home. If you are a virtual client, we go over the online shopping via a video call.

First time clients generally need 2-4 rounds of online shopping. When booking me for online shopping, select the “Wardrobe Planning” option on my booking software.

Note: If you would like me to purchase your online shopping for you, I just need your credit card information. If you want me to do your returns for you, it would be my assistant who does that, but I charge you the same hourly rate for her hours. These hours can add up, so I encourage clients to do their own returns if they want to save money.

I am delighted to work with any and all body types from plus size to extremely petite. It does take more time to work with a unique body type though as we do multiple rounds of online shopping and work with a tailor. Below are examples of unique body types that tend to take a little more time…

Unique Sizes for Women:

  • Size 00 or smaller
  • Size 14+ in petite sizes
  • Size 20+ in regular sizing
  • 34-inch inseam or longer
  • 25-inch sleeve length or longer
  • 3+ size differences between one body part and another
  • 10 shoe size or larger
  • 5 shoe size or smaller
  • Narrow shoe sizes
  • Wide shoe sizes
 

Unique Sizes for Men:

  • 35-inch inseam or longer
  • 40-inch waist or larger
  • Size 29 waist or smaller
  • Size 50 chest or larger
  • Size 36 chest or smaller
  • Size 18 neck or larger
  • Size 14 neck or smaller
  • 3+ size differences between one body part and another
  • 13 shoe size or larger
  • 8 shoe size or smaller

I shop everywhere! It all depends on my client and their needs, but here are some stores that I use consistently: Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, Anthropologie, Madewell, Zappos, Revolve, Net-a-Porter, Shopbop, Amazon, Farfetch, Matches, MyTheresa, Etsy, J.Crew, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Macy’s, Hugo Boss, GAP, and more. Seriously, no store is safe from me 🙂

Note: I occasionally utilize discount retailers like Nordstrom Rack and DSW, but that is rare. Discount retailers lack quality and sizes, so I tend not to use them.

On the rare occasion I do in-store shopping, I generally stick to Fashion Valley Mall in San Diego unless my client requests otherwise. I arrive 30-45 minutes prior to the shopping appointment to pull all the clothing my client will be trying on. Billing begins when I arrive. The session is 2-3 hours and we go to 1-2 stores.

Yes, I make commissions on most online purchases I recommend. I am partnered with virtually every single online retailer in existence through affiliate marketing programs, like Rakuten and RewardStyle, so no store is favored over another.

I do not make commission on your purchases when we shop in physical stores and I do not work for any of the stores that we shop in, nor am I affiliated with the mall in any wayThe sales associate that assists us in the store makes the commission. 

With that said, I want to emphasize, whether shopping in-store or online, every store and garment I recommend is based entirely on what I think is best for you, my client. Honesty and ethics are of utmost importance to me.

If you are looking to remodel your wardrobe, anything less than $5,000 is inefficient. $8,000+ is best for a new core wardrobe. Another way to look at it is, on average, a quality garment costs $200. This average takes into account more expensive items like cashmere, silk, coats, and boots as well as less expensive garments and items on sale. Clients with high-end interest, suit needs, or a varied lifestyle require a much larger budget.

I no longer work with tight budgets, but here are some stylists that do:

  1. Andie Sobrato
  2. Radmila Dolokhanova
  3. Patrick Kenger


Please tell them I referred you — thank you so much!

Fun Tip: For free style and shopping advice from me, sign up for my monthly newsletter or follow me on Instagram.

All my clients need some tailoring. For certain body types, many items we buy will need something taken in or hemmed. This can add to the budget, although it is absolutely worth it. Another surprise can be the extent of clothing you are lacking. Most people need/want much more than they realize, which adds up in both the cost of clothing and my hourly rate.

The closet purge generally takes 1.5 – 3.5 hours, although I have had closet purges that lasted as little as 20 minutes and as long as multiple, lengthy appointments (10+ hours). It all depends on how much clothing you have. Yes, you will be trying on most things.

You don’t need to do anything before the closet purge. I can show up and do my job no matter what situation your closet and wardrobe are in. But if you want to enhance the efficiency, here are a few things you can do:

  1. Have all your clothing available. Make sure you all of your clothing is back from the dry cleaner and your hamper isn’t full of dirty clothes we would want to work with during our session.
  2. Have all your clothing, shoes, and accessories in one room. Again, this is not a big deal, but it does make the closet purge more efficient.
  3. Having your wardrobe somewhat organized is always helpful, but again, not necessary.
  4. We often dip into the far reaches of your wardrobe where dust lies. Any sort of dusting before we dive in there can be nice for us 🙂
  5. Feel free to do a pre-purge without me. Identify unusually old, seriously outsized, and unneeded items before I come over to get those easy to purge items out of the way.

If you want to keep it simple, donate everything (including proper hangers) to your nearest thrift store/donation center, or schedule a donation pick up with VVA (they make it so easy!). Amvets or Father Joe’s are also good mass donation options.

For those who want to put more effort into this…

  1. Donate worn out, ruined, and stained clothing — including socks and undies — to Trashie (do not throw ruined clothing in the garbage).
  2. Take dry cleaner hangers back to your dry cleaner (do not throw them in the garbage).
  3. Donate new and gently worn shoes to Soles 4 Souls.
  4. Donate sneakers to a Nike store.
  5. Donate coats and jackets to One Warm Coat.
  6. Donate jeans to Madewell.
  7. Donate formal gowns to Princess Project.
  8. Bring Eileen Fisher clothing to any Eileen Fisher store, or mail it in.
  9. Consign mid to high-end clothing and accessories to The Real Real (how to sell here).
  10. Consign high-end bags and jewelry to FashionPhile (how to sell here).
  11. Send in mid to high-end clothing to sell on Thredup (how to sell here).
  12. Sell vintage and mid to higher end clothing at Buffalo Exchange (in person – how to sell here).
  13. Sell mid to high-end clothing and accessories on Poshmark. This is too much effort for most people (how to sell here).

My assistant routinely makes donation, recycle, and sell runs, so I am happy to take a bag or two off your hands free-of-charge. If you want me to transport more than two bags of donations, or if you have a specific location you want your donations to go, I do bill you for that time. With this in mind, most clients handle their own donations/recycling/selling.

Note: My offer to take discarded clothing off your hands free-of-charge is to ensure no clothing ends up in a landfill. I am passionately anti-waste. On the occasions my assistant finds items in a client’s donation bag that are sellable, we put the money towards recycling fees and my assistant’s time. 

You can find a list of all my recommended tailors and other professionals here.

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