Want to dress to kill but not shop until you drop? Anuji Varma talks to Dawn Williamson, who may be the answer to your prayers.

As a personal shopper to the rich and famous, it’s Birmingham stylist Dawn Williamson’s job to make sure they are dressed to kill.

And that was certainly the case for Amanda Holden, when Dawn, who works for Harvey Nichols, in the Mailbox, handpicked all of the Britain’s Got Talent star’s outfits she wore when judging in the city.

In fact, her choices were so impressive that the purple Black Halo dress in particular sparked a buying frenzy and has since sold out everywhere.

“Amanda was great to work with – a really lovely person and open to ideas,” she said.

“The dress in question has since sold out here and we just can’t get the same colour any more. People started to hear that she bought it from here, so it was snapped up.

“We’ve got a similar style in black and red which is lovely, too.

“But the purple number is out of stock and has been since Amanda’s photos were featured in magazines and newspapers.

“There have been quite a few people coming in, asking for it.”

Dawn, from Hall Green, has been working at Harvey Nics for more than a year as the store’s personal shopper and stylist.

She shops regularly for most of the footballers who play for Aston Villa, Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion, and Wolverhampton Wanderers – and her portfolio of celebrity clients doesn’t stop there.

Stunning Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberly Walsh from Girls Aloud all pop into see Dawn when they are in the city, and she’s also styled Boyzone, Jodie Kidd, the Strictly Come Dancing judges and dancers, Westlife and The Saturdays. She’s also picked out pieces for A-listers Julie Walters and Noel Gallagher.

Despite her celebrity lifestyle, Dawn had humble beginnings.

She originally trained as a journalist and worked freelance for various nightlife magazines in Manchester.

But fashion was her real passion, and when she left her job as a writer, Dawn knew exactly what to do after going on styling courses in her spare time.

“I set up my own vintage clothing boutique in Moseley called Retro Bizarre,” she explained. “I was voted top vintage shop by various publications and from that I went onto to style for TV’s This Morning, and Trinny and Susannah’s show.

“I loved the shop and it was great fun. But I decided to sell up in February last year after the recession started creeping in. At the time I didn’t want to give it up but now, when I think about it in hindsight, it was probably the best thing I did because of the credit crunch.

“I took the name with me and I still do freelance vintage exhibitions as well as working for Harvey Nichols.”

After Dawn sold the shop she had one ambition – to work for Harvey Nichols as the plush store’s stylist.

“I sent off a letter and CV on spec, and it just so happened they had a vacancy,” she said.

“Two months after I sold the shop. I was working for Harvey Nics. It’s a dream job.”

During her 16 months at the swanky store Dawn has built up a loyal client list of the rich and famous.

“Most of the celebrities who come here are really nice,” she said. “They are not divas and shop happily amongst other customers.

“It’s only occasionally that we have to shut the store for them. I remember doing that for Coleen Rooney.

“We opened the shop an hour later just for her. She had a good idea about what was suitable for her already, so I only really personal shopped for her.”

Dawn is a designer and vintage fan herself, and really only wears high street clothes when she’s working or nipping out to the local shops.

So who are her favourite designers?

“I love Stella McCartney not just because of her fabulous designs, but because of her work ethic,” explained Dawn. “I’m a vegan myself so I don’t wear leather and McCartney is a great believer in this.

“I like Chloe, Christopher Kane and Mario Schwabe.”

* For more information about personal shopping at Harvey Nichols call Dawn or her team on 0121 616 6008.