What is fashion styling? It involves styling garments, makeup, hairstyles and accessories to put together a specific look. The look has to be comfortable, suitable for the client’s appearance and appropriate for the occasion.
Many people use the services of a fashion stylist to create a desired look. Stylists work behind the scenes at fashion shows or photo shoots. They will dress celebrities for special events.
The role of a fashion stylist is important because people’s personalities come out in their fashion choices and how they present themselves to the world. Style can boost self-image and the way people feel about themselves. It can reveal more about what they stand for.
There is no single path to becoming a stylist but formal training. However, work experience and networking are all helpful. Besides that, listening to stylist podcasts or persuasive speech about fashion from professionals can also help with understanding various processes and epochs in the world of fashion.
Fashion stylist schools education and training
Formal education is not required to be a fashion stylist, but a course can help with getting a foot in the door and making industry contacts.
Courses: There are many fashion styling courses available, both online and in-person, that can provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to become a fashion stylist. Here are some examples of schools that offers fashion styling courses:
- London College of Fashion
- Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)
- Milan Fashion Campus
- Styling Essentials Course by Australian Style Institute
- Personal Styling Course by Sterling Style Academy
These courses can cover a range of topics, including color theory, wardrobe analysis, trend forecasting, styling for editorial and commercial shoots, and more. It's important to research and compare different courses to find the one that best suits your needs and career goals.
Having knowledge of the history of different fashion eras can be helpful for a fashion stylist, but it is not a requirement to become one. While it is important for a stylist to have a good understanding of current fashion trends and styles, having an awareness of the history of fashion can also be beneficial. This knowledge can help a stylist to understand how fashion has evolved over time and how current trends and styles have been influenced by past eras and designers.
Assignment help: It can be challenging to do a diploma or degree and gain practical experience in the industry at the same time. If you need assignment help online, there are some reputable online services you can use. Edubirdie assignment help offers professional writers and you can communicate with the writer and request revisions until you are satisfied with the results.
Training opportunities: Those who want a stylist career need to seek out opportunities such as internships where they can gain experience on the job under the guidance of senior stylists. Apprenticing with an established stylist and an internship with a major retailer could help with gaining experience, such as coordinating a photo shoot. Four to five years of experience is usually required to gain credibility.
Building a portfolio: As a student, you can begin building your portfolio during your education and training. Your training often includes various projects that can be included in your portfolio.
One project you may have to complete is styling some boards based on certain themes and gathering photos to represent them. After some time, you will review your work and assess if you followed the theme, missed some elements, or overdid others. You can then make necessary edits to improve your portfolio.
Key skills and qualities
Some of the key skills and qualities stylists need include:
- Creativity and a good eye for detail
- Good communication and collaboration skills
- Knowledge of fashion industry trends and textiles
- Time management
- Problem-solving skills
- Good customer service skills
Fashion stylist salary
The salary of a fashion stylist can vary greatly depending on factors such as their level of experience, location, and the type of clients they work with.
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a fashion stylist in the United States is around $50,000 per year, with a range of $29,000 to $100,000 per year. However, some top fashion stylists who work with high-end clients or celebrities can earn well into the six-figure range. It's important to note that freelance fashion stylists may have a more variable income based on the number and type of clients they work with.
Job responsibilities
As a stylist, you will meet with clients to gain an understanding of their needs and preferences. Your responsibilities will include sourcing clothes, props, and products, as well as preparing and steaming garments before a photo shoot or fashion show.
You will need to create looks that fit within your client's budget and gain their approval. Building relationships and collaborating with clients, suppliers, and vendors will also be important.
Starting out as a stylist can be challenging. When you have just completed a course, you may not yet have established a reputation or be considered an expert in fashion.
It's important to be prepared to start at the bottom and learn as much as possible before you begin to gain regular clients. With hard work and dedication, you can develop the skills and experience necessary to succeed in this field
Job settings
As a fashion stylist, you can work in a variety of settings. This may include working with personal clients or at retail stores. Starting with entry-level fashion retail jobs can provide valuable perspectives on how elements come together to create ready-to-wear looks.
Additionally, you may have the opportunity to work alongside modeling agencies, where you can select outfits for models, create lookbooks, or assist at fashion shows.
Stylists may also have the opportunity to work with celebrities or designer brands. Increasingly, many stylists are self-employed and make a living as online influencers, building their own brand and reputation.
This can provide a lot of freedom and flexibility in your work schedule, but it also requires hard work, dedication, and strong networking skills to build a successful career as an influencer. Whatever setting you choose, there are many different avenues to explore in the exciting field of fashion styling.
The importance of networking
Networking can provide opportunities for advancement in a career in the fashion industry. An entry-level job provides an opportunity to network and make contacts in the industry.
Joining professional organizations is another way to find out about the latest trends, professional development training opportunities and industry events that offer networking opportunities.
Challenges of working in the industry
The work environment for a stylist can be very fast-paced and stressful. It may require relocating to cities for work opportunities or flying to other cities for fashion shows or photo shoots. Stylists often need to put in extra hours to meet deadlines.
If you enjoy having a set routine every day and sitting behind a desk, this isn’t the job for you. It isn’t right for you if you don’t enjoy working with people either. You have to be flexible and willing to creatively solve problems without even giving away that there are any problems. You may have to think on your feet if a celebrity doesn’t fit into an outfit or a model suddenly decides to get some tattoos that will ruin the shots you had planned.
Another challenge is that you will often be setting and working with big personalities who have strong opinions. You have to learn how to hold your own and exercise diplomacy.
Your relationship with the stores and PRs you borrow clothes from is one of the keys to your livelihood. If you return them in bad condition, you will damage the relationship.
Rewards of a career as a fashion stylist
One of the main advantages of working as a professional stylist is that the work is interesting and creative. You will never be bored, and you can choose to work on your own or with others in a team.
You can work from all over the world, and if you want to work somewhere like Paris or Italy, there are many opportunities for you there with all the shows they hold.
More and more people are using stylists, so there are many interesting job opportunities. You can also make good money as a professional stylist. It can be extremely rewarding to work with a group of people to achieve a particular goal.
Conclusion: how to become a fashion stylist
If you want to become a fashion stylist, it is important to take a course, go through an internship or start working in an entry-level position and build your portfolio. It can take four to five years to learn the ropes.
If you work hard and build up your network, you can start getting recognition and gradually build your career. It can be a very rewarding and exhilarating career where you form productive relationships.
Collaboration and embracing challenges are key to development. Be prepared to learn from every single person you work with, and never say no to new opportunities.
