How to Become a Fashion Stylist?

What do Fashion Stylists do?

A Fashion Stylist would typically need to:

• Use their creative vision and distinct style to assist actors and models in setting trends, collaborating with brands, and shooting magazine covers.
• Find and cast models; help on set with steaming, pinning, and fitting garments or accessories.
• Source and obtain clothing, items, and accessories for use in shoots; maintain correct sample stock handling
• Provide expert product and style guidance; sell appropriate products
• Make-up and hairstyling are directed; mood boards are created.
• Shape the vision with fashion designers, photographers, studio coordinators, content managers, producers, and creative directors.
• Maintain the order and cleanliness of the sets, mannequins, styling items, and shooting spaces.
• Coordination of shoots, supervision of the entire process, and discussion of any difficulties with the senior stylist
• Stay updated with fashion and design trends while creating their own

Standard Work Environment

Although you will spend most of your time in the studio, you may also spend time on location or flying for meetings and photoshoots. Travelling internationally is extremely prevalent. Retailers and studios can be located all around the country. However, the majority of chances are concentrated in big fashion cities.

Work Schedule

In general, hired Stylists to work from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with longer hours during seasonal peaks and project deadlines. Freelancers work more sporadic hours and must be more adaptable.

Employers

Finding work in this highly competitive industry might be difficult. Fashion stylists can improve their job hunt by soliciting references from their network, contacting businesses directly, and utilising social media. You will most likely juggle working on ad hoc tasks while performing flawlessly in your core job role. A part-time job is a possibility.

Fashion Stylists are generally employed by:

• Image Production Teams
• Large Retailers
• The Fashion & Music Industries
• Magazines
• PR Event Management Companies

Unions / Professional Organizations

Professional associations and organizations, such as the World Fashion Association, are essential for Fashion Stylists who want to advance their careers or interact with other professionals in their industry or sector.

Membership in one or more organizations adds value to your CV while strengthening your credentials and qualifications.

Workplace Challenges

• A high-stress work environment can adversely affect one’s professional relationships and reputation.
• Over budget can prove expensive in terms of losing clients and failure to be reimbursed.
• Failure to meet client’s expectations of identifying current fashion trends and realizing them effectively
• Freelancing comes with its fair share of job insecurity
• Successful juggling of more than one client at a time requires genius organizational skills

Suggested Work Experience

The fashion industry is known for its fierce competitiveness; every experience you gain will help you stay ahead of the competition. Most businesses want at least one or two years of retail or studio experience. Many fashion stylists start out as assistant stylists or shoot organizers.

Internships, summer placements, and part-time/full-time work with clothes manufacturers or the retail apparel industry will provide valuable experience styling items, merchandise, and interiors during fashion shoots or personal styling. Such experiences provide excellent networking possibilities and job opportunities.

Internships can last from a month to a year and pay a minimum wage.

Worked with student periodicals, fashion shoots, and films as a volunteer. Create your fashion blog. Create a solid network of public relations agents and brand showrooms to lend you clothing, products, or accessories for a shoot. Employees will also want to see examples of your work in a portfolio, uploaded photographs, or a website.

To demonstrate your devotion to course providers and future employers, read about the profession and interview/job shadow specialists in the fashion business.

Recommended Qualifications

Academic qualifications are not as important as creative and practical talents.

Employers increasingly prefer candidates with a two-year foundation/associate degree or a three/four-year bachelor’s degree from accredited colleges and universities in fashion communication & styling, fashion image making & styling, fashion product & promotion, fashion styling & creative direction, fashion styling & production, or interior styling & design.

Sketching, fashion illustration, clothing construction, fashion show production, tailoring, pattern drafting, CAD (computer-aided design), silk screening, block printing, visual merchandising, fashion business, and product development should all be covered. Some programmes may include digital studios, drawing studios, and art design classes.

Aside from fashion design/merchandising/technology degrees, students can study painting, photography, and visual merchandising.

I concentrated on painting, photography, mathematics, and English in high school.

Certifications, Licenses, and Registration

Certification in InDesign, Photoshop, Capture One, and Microsoft from a reputable and objective organization can help you stand out in a competitive employment market, boost your progression prospects, and allow you to work independently as a consultant.

Certification normally requires a mix of education, experience, and examination, though criteria vary by location.

Projected Career Map

The number of bookings they receive, the calibre of their customers, the photographer’s reputation, the nature of the assignments, a consistent work schedule, and increasingly larger prices determine a Fashion Stylist’s professional trajectory.

Some stylists begin their careers in lower-end catalogues before progressing to work in high fashion. The standard standards of job advancement are the quality of the goods and the client.

Fashion Stylists frequently take on tasks with no major compensation boost if it means working with renowned photographers and other noteworthy players in the fashion business. Such activities pave the path for Senior Stylists to advance to Art Directors and Fashion Editors.

Increased expertise, experience, and reputation may enable you to establish your own company or consulting.

Job Prospects

Candidates with a good sense of fashion, outstanding communication skills, and a knack for networking will have the most opportunities.

Beneficial Professional Development

The path to success as a Fashion Stylist is paved with fruitful collaborations with editors, producers, photographers, and directors. Be proactive in your search for lucrative prospects. Attend fashion and trade shows to learn about the newest trends and fashions and to expand your contact network.

In addition, diploma and master’s degree programmes in fashion media styling and creative directing can help you specialize or broaden your skill set. The growth of e-commerce emphasizes the importance of expanding your knowledge and experience in social media and online retailing.

CPD will assist an active Fashion Stylist develop personal skills and competency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. It enables you to always improve your skills regardless of age, employment, or degree of expertise.

Conclusion of Fashion Stylist

Fashion stylists employ clothing and accessories to convey explicit visual messages that appeal to all audiences.

Advice from the Wise

“People will stare. Make it worth their while.”

Explore Also: How to Become a Fashion Illustrator?