From navigating a changing body to rediscovering the joy of getting dressed, Altrincham personal stylist Lauren Galloway is helping women feel more like themselves
A wardrobe full of clothes, but nothing you feel good wearing. It’s a familiar frustration – particularly when life has changed and your clothes haven’t quite caught up.
For Lauren Galloway, founder of Altrincham personal styling business Lauren Carina, that feeling is often the starting point. Her clients might be returning to work, adjusting to life after having children or experiencing the body changes that come with perimenopause and menopause.
What connects many of them is a feeling that they have lost touch with their own style.
“It isn’t about me telling them to follow a trend,” says Lauren. “It’s about that person bringing out their own style and their own confidence.”
The subject is personal. After having children and reaching her late thirties, Lauren experienced a shift in how she felt about herself.
“My body was different. I had no confidence,” she recalls. “I think the main thing for me is growing confidence for women.”
That understanding now shapes a business offering colour analysis, wardrobe edits and personal shopping, with a particular emphasis on helping women over 40 feel comfortable being visible.
Lauren’s fashion knowledge stretches back much further. She began her career as a buyer for Matalan and Tesco, working on colour palettes, translating catwalk ideas for the high street and following products through manufacturing. She also sold vintage pieces at Castlefield Market before eventually deciding she wanted to build something centred on working with women individually.
Her buying experience brings practical benefits. Having worked on garment construction and fittings, she can assess fabrics, recognise quality and understand how different cuts work on different bodies.
Lauren also has a degree in psychology, and draws on her interest in human behaviour to better understand her clients’ needs and how they feel about themselves.
The process begins with a half-hour discovery call, exploring a client’s lifestyle, preferences and what has prompted them to seek help.
Colour analysis can reveal shades they might never have considered. A wardrobe edit then helps make sense of what they already own: identifying pieces that work, putting outfits together and setting aside clothes to sell or donate.
Personal shopping fills the gaps, guided by the client’s budget, shape and taste. The aim is a wardrobe that makes everyday dressing easier.
Rather than buying five pairs of jeans that aren’t quite right, Lauren advocates finding one pair that fits properly and earns its place through repeated wear.
“They can actually save money in the long run because they’re not just over-purchasing things that don’t make sense,” she says.
Some clients want help rebuilding confidence. Others simply dislike shopping or have little time for it. One returns every six months with a budget, trusting Lauren to help refresh her wardrobe without the usual stress.
The most rewarding moments often arrive afterwards: a photograph from a wedding with a message saying how good a carefully chosen outfit had made that person feel.
For Lauren, those smiling pictures capture what the work is really about.
Based in Altrincham for eight years, she has grown the business through local word of mouth. She wants styling to feel approachable, with carefully considered rates and relaxed appointments that dispel any fear of being judged.
Autumn is a natural moment to take stock of your wardrobe, says Lauren. As the weather changes, it’s an opportunity to rethink what you wear and make everyday dressing easier.
“It’s almost like a start afresh for parents,” she says.
For Lauren, that fresh start is about feeling confident enough to be seen, whatever your age.
“You don’t want to look 21 when you’re in your forties, but you should feel every bit as visible and confident as you ever were – maybe even more so,” she says.
To find out more, contact Lauren on 07834 177079 or hello@laurencarina.co.uk. Follow her on Instagram at @lauren_carina_personal_stylist.
