All over the shop: help for struggling men

John Elder roadtests a new personal shopping service for men.

In rotting gym shoes, a torn and stained workman's jacket and vagrantly baggy trousers, I have come to ask Myer's personal shopping consultant for men, Francesca Fabbris, to sort me out with a couple of new outfits and bring out my inner respectability.

Ms Fabbris's clients are typically busy corporate warriors in need of linen pants and an elegant pullover. Or something dashing to go with the $45 bowl of spaghetti at Florentino's and the good-looking sort they hope to impress.

''My client is the man that doesn't like to shop, nor does he have the time to shop, and when he goes to a shopping centre or department store, he gets freaked out,'' she says.

Step one is a 10-minute phone call in which Ms Fabbris asks questions about the client's lifestyle and what he already has in his wardrobe. She then spends about an hour sourcing potential outfits.

When the client comes into the store, she sits him down for a coffee and some light ''chit-chat''. That's where we are now.

''You have to make it fun because we're going to be together for two or three hours,'' she says.

Later in the day she is meeting a company director with a budget of $4000 for a suit, shoes and whatever else he needs for an overseas trip. I'm not sure what my budget is. But I can afford the consultancy - it's free.

''For the moment it's a complementary service. We only started in November,'' Ms Fabbris says.

Myer launched the personal shopping service as part of its Bourke Street, Melbourne, store makeover.

But Myer isn't alone in offering such services. Next door, David Jones also offers a free personal shopping service for men and women. And, if you have cash and inclination, Westfield Doncaster boasts an individual styling service, starting at $300 for a two-hour session with a stylist.

Myer's Ms Fabbris says she respects that ''everyone has their own taste''. But in the face of sartorial dereliction she is happy to intervene. ''Well, we talked on the phone about a smart casual outfit, but now … I'm also thinking a beautiful suit with a lovely shirt and tie. How does that sound?''

For big spenders, Ms Fabbris pulls a rack through the store, collecting garments from one brand after another. For me, it's straight to Hugo Boss, in part because I'm built like a truck and need a larger size. An hour later I emerge from the change room in a dark suit, with a white shirt open at the collar.

''George Clooney, eat your heart out,'' she says. I expect this is because Clooney wears his grey hair cut short, while mine rages like a farm animal.

''No, no, very handsome,'' she says, knotting up a pink tie.

''I don't know if this suits me,'' I say as she fluffs a pink hankie for my pocket.

But again, Ms Fabbris - one of life's natural cheerleaders - says how wonderful I look. And after a while, I can only agree. Next day, I'm back in my cheaper clothes and tatty shoes, suffering withdrawal.