Whether you're in a wardrobe rut or simply exhausted from trying to keep up with constantly changing styles, Mary Prezioso may be the answer. She acts as a sartorial shepherd, herding clients away from too tight, too tacky or too trendy.

The Shadyside resident is a personal shopper with perks. She has been dubbed "the style psychologist" by her clients for her insightful, gentle guidance as she escorts them through a maze of racks in local stores or shops for busy professionals who trust her to find what they need.

She also has a roomful of consigned, gently used designer clothing and accessories for men and women in her home. For those who fear bad juju from pre-owned items, she uses an ancient Native American technique called smudging or sageing. The smoke from burning dried sage carries away any energy the previous owner may have left behind.

"In what I like to call my boutique, there may be items like Chloe and Fendi purses, Prada tennis shoes and cashmere sweaters for men, chic designer dresses for women, and there is almost always a Louis Vuitton available, and they are all energy cleansed," Ms. Prezioso says.

The misfortune of a friend is what inspired her to get into this business.

"She was a victim of a house fire and lost nearly everything. She wouldn't accept money and never had time to worry about herself, so I decided to shop for her in my closet," Ms. Prezioso recalls.

Little by little she built a chic wardrobe for her friend with clothes she'd never worn, some with tags still hanging on them.

"We had such fun doing it. We would giggle when a friend would compliment her new look. It was rewarding for both of us."

Her friend encouraged Ms. Prezioso to share her fashionista flair with other people and passed her name along to family and friends.

"Style is individual. I just interpret what I see and look into their souls to help them create it," she explains.

Ms. Prezioso's clients see her approach as therapeutic. She not only shops with them, an intimate process for most women, but also helps them purge their closets of unflattering ensembles. "Simplify" is her motto. She encourages clients to sort through things they haven't worn and consign them or give them to someone in need.

"Many of us at one time or another have had a 'fashion crush.' I clean out a client's closet. We discuss why something doesn't work or why it does and why they aren't wearing it. It's about quality over quantity, which is essential in life and in fashion."

Because many of her clients also are wealthy or are celebrities, they appreciate Ms. Prezioso's discretion.

Pregnant and newly wed, one of her clients had her send clothes for a newborn to New York City. "I was so excited to be able to buy high-end cute outfits for my baby girl and not have to spend a fortune," says her client, who wished to remain anonymous.

A male soap star, who did not want his name published, needed an outfit for a local charity and hired Ms. Prezioso to take care of it for him. "I loved the clothes and the privacy," he says.

Some of the items Ms. Prezioso is selling were donated by the former soap opera "The Guiding Light," which ended its 72-year run on the airwaves in mid-September. The proceeds from those will go to fighting breast cancer.

Even before the economic downturn, her clients embraced the idea of shopping for recycled clothes and accessories. "It's smarter shopping. A $2,000 designer men's suit worn two times is a fashion steal for $250. Wealthy clients squeal with excitement when they get a vintage Louis Vuitton bag."

When people shop they tend to focus on what they think are their flaws, she notes. Her approach is to help them see their assets and focus on accentuating those rather than constantly trying to hide imperfections.

"Confucius wrote, 'Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.' Well, I do!," insists Ms. Prezioso, who advises clients to "stop judging themselves and start making their own fashion rules. We all feel humbled or emancipated once we share and admit what we think are our flaws."

Her style therapy centers around helping clients see the beauty in themselves. She evaluates their individual needs in a style therapy session and says, "It's not all about the figure."

For questions or free fashion advice, send e-mails to consult.your.fashionista@gmail.com. For a style therapy appointment, call 412-508-2893.

Louis Vuitton luggage: asking best price

A Zegna men's cashmere coat, XL, retails for $1,800, on sale for $295

Fendi black cashmere and fur wrap, original price $6,000, on sale for $1,500

New Dolce & Gabanna $300 pink leopard purse on sale for $100.

1. Personal shopping; packages start at $250+

Package No. 1 includes one-hour image consultation, two hours of personal shopping and delivery. Other packages available upon request.

2. Closet cleaning (packages $250-$495)

Different packages can include one to three closet cleaning hours, image consultation, options for style recycling to make money on your clothes or help your favorite charity.

3. Image consultation (packages start at $100)

4. Fashion therapy $50+ (like sageing (otherwise know as smudging), fashion errands)

5. Image makeovers and specialty packages available upon request. These are fun and are great for gifts. They can include hair appointments, outfits, closet cleaning, shopping and more.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.