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Overview
Tending to her client’s wardrobe and personal affairs, her focus is the satisfaction and assistance of the lady of the house but can extend to a much broader scope in keeping with a modern woman’s needs and requirements.
Encompassing a full spectrum of client responsibilities, we engage Lady’s Maids, skilled and adept at personal grooming service, wardrobe assistance, and styling advice. We ensure your Lady’s Maid matches your household regarding etiquette, culture, and any specialties of service you may demand.
Traditional and Some Modern Responsibilities of a Lady’s Maid
- Responsible for the lady of the household, with the care of the wardrobe and her private rooms, including care, cleaning, pressing and mending of clothes and preparing clothes for packing.
- Personal shopping and styling service and personal grooming assistant with requisite training in high-end fashion and design.
- Knowledge and training in spa or beauty treatments, including manicures, pedicures, facials or massage.
- Wardrobe care and ensuring that all items sent out for specialist cleaning or alterations are promptly returned and that the work is carried out to a high standard. Ability to catalogue your wardrobe with ease of location and rotation of seasonal items.
- Providing expert advice on high-end fashion, current trends, seasonal changes, and appropriate attire for various events.
- Adapting to evolving responsibilities and technology, such as managing online shopping, returning unwanted goods, organising digital wardrobes, and staying up-to-date with the latest beauty treatments and products.
- Packing and unpacking clothing to have everything ready for use shortly after arriving at your destination.
A lady's maid adeptly handles wardrobe care, personal shopping, and beauty treatments while focusing on high-end fashion. She showcases expertise in managing fine linens and arranging fresh flowers. Her key skills include offering fashion advice and ensuring her employer's immaculate presentation at all times.
The lady's maid also manages packing for trips and adapts to modern responsibilities following areas such as online shopping and digital wardrobe organisation. Ultimately, a lady's maid is a versatile professional, seamlessly blending traditional duties with contemporary requirements.
What is a Lady-in-Waiting?
The term ‘lady-in-waiting’ brings to mind a role dating back many centuries when every female member of a royal family typically had one.
The role was filled by a woman who was usually from nobility or who came from “from a good family" and acted as a personal assistant, but the position was often thought of as more of a companion or family friend than that of an employee.
Historically, Lady’s Maids were chosen by a Princess (or the Queen herself), the Royal Family, or a combination of both. Quaint terms, but somewhat obsolete, for Lady’s Maids, are companion, confidante, domestic, lady’s attendant, lady-in-waiting and waiting woman.
In an era before the ultra-modern conveniences of our digital age, a lady’s maid would perform more or less the same tasks as a gentleman’s valet: helping with personal appearance, hairdressing, clothing, jewellery, and shoes.
A lady’s maid would also mend and alter garments when needed. In those days, people wore elaborate clothes with many more accessories and accoutrement than today.
A lady’s maid would serve her mistress breakfast in her room and also draw her mistress’s bath but wouldn’t be expected to clean her mistress’s quarters, as the housekeeper would accomplish that.
People changed clothes an average of 5 times during the day, meaning attendants were needed to maintain their wardrobes, which was a full-time job. Even for their baths, a person was required to heat and fetch the water.
None of these effectively capture the 21st-century demands placed upon the shoulders of a capable Lady’s Maid.
Description of a Lady’s Maid
Hired to serve as a lady-in-waiting to her female client or employer, she serves as a personal maid to the lady of the house. A client needing a Lady’s Maid is typically a woman who leads a hectic lifestyle with social and professional engagements that require extensive wardrobe and lifestyle assistance.
A Lady’s Maid will expect to not only travel with her employer but may also act as her Personal Assistant in all arrangements before and during travel with other staff, which includes caring for and maintaining her wardrobe and garments in all aspects and also her personal care and ensuring that her living quarters are immaculate.
Traditionally, a Lady’s Maid oversees the maintenance of her employer’s wardrobe, draws her bath, lays out her clothes, serves her meals when required, and keeps her client’s quarters tidy; this role is also changing with the times.
In 2017, Kate Middleton’s lady's maid, Rebecca Deacon, decided to leave her post prior to her marriage and was replaced by, Catherine Quinn, who has a great deal of philanthropic experience and has taken on the role of Private Secretary.
Desirable Qualities of a Lady’s Maid
- Sufficient experience equivalent to 3+ years in a similar role or a combination therein.
- Experience equivalent to or of an advanced degree in fashion.
- A knowledge of specialist cleaning and care of all fabrics, pelts and leather.
- Sewing skills for repairs and alterations.
- An advanced knowledge of luxury brands and retailers.
- Knowledge of spa and beauty treatments, yoga and fitness regimens, as well as additional languages due to the probability of travel within this role.
Hire A Lady's Maid Today
Discover unparalleled expertise in finding and hiring the perfect lady's maid for your esteemed household with Irving Scott, the leading Domestic Staffing specialist. We take immense pride in our keen understanding of the unique requirements of discerning employers.
Our bespoke service ensures that hiring is a seamless process, catering to those interested in hiring a dedicated lady's maid to assist with personal care, wardrobe management, and event preparation.
At Irving Scott, we appreciate the importance of a harmonious match between our clients, employers and staff. Allow us to utilise our entire team and extensive network and experience to provide you with an exemplary lady's maid service tailored to your individual needs.
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FAQ's
Most often, a lady's maid does wear a uniform for ease and comfort. The uniform is often black and white, usually trousers and a polo neck shirt, with sensible footwear. Find out more here.
Given the nature of the job, a woman nearly always fills this position, although our job descriptions for candidates are inclusive, and all interested candidates are considered.
While traditionally, a lady's maid works on your house on a full-time or live-in basis, it's possible to find candidates open to part-time or temporary roles, depending on your requirements. Discuss your preferences with the team for us to find the best arrangement.
A full-time lady’s maid can expect to receive a salary in the salary range of £40,000+. The salary of candidates for a lady's maid varies depending on experience, location, and job responsibilities. It is worth mentioning that this salary can be higher for candidates with exceptional skills and experience.
A lady's maid employment contract should outline job responsibilities, working hours, salary, benefits, and additional perks. It's crucial to clarify expectations and requirements, such as live-in arrangements or travel, as well as any probationary periods, notice periods, and client confidentiality agreements.
Partner with a reputable domestic staffing agency, such as Irving Scott, to find and hire an experienced and trustworthy lady's maid with a good knowledge of local cultures, traditions, and modern duties. We have an extensive network, and our team can match you with and hire a suitable candidate based on your requirements.