A fashion stylist is a professional who coordinates all aspects of a person’s visual aesthetic to make them look as fashionable and appealing as possible.
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What Is a Fashion Stylist?
Fashion stylists may be employed in a wide array of industries and they may work with clients who are quite famous or who simply want to look their best. Some stylists are famous in their own right. Celebrity stylists often work with Hollywood A-listers, musicians, and high-profile clients.
A fashion stylist spends most of his or her time planning and coordinating outfits. Sometimes the work is very high profile, often centering on fashion shows, catwalks, and major design firms; other times, it is more understated and personal. Whether working to coordinate a fashion shoot or simply dress a single client, though, the crux of the work remains the same.
A fashion stylist is responsible for putting together clothing ensembles to meet the demands of specific clients. The job often requires long, often irregular hours and a keen eye for detail — an appreciation for the latest trends and styles is almost always an asset, as well.
What Does a Fashion Stylist Do?
A fashion stylist’s job description is wide-ranging. Some of the typical tasks they will encounter include:
- Attending runway shows, brand showrooms, and various fashion industry events to keep apprised of the latest trends and styles
- Researching the fashion of previous eras (via magazines, movies, or an old lookbook) to design a period-appropriate aesthetic
- Sourcing clothing from a worldwide array of brands and manufacturers
- Consulting models, photographers, hairstylists, makeup artists, costume designers, brand creative directors, and art directors, magazine editors, and film and TV directors
- Working with public figures to craft a personal visual aesthetic. This may include personal shopping and serving in the role of a personal stylist
- Assisting clothing buyers for major retail chains
The core elements of a fashion stylist’s work are most easily seen on an individual level. Elite members of society often hire stylists to help them chose, purchase, and sometimes even wear clothing that aligns with the latest styles. Professionals in this capacity often work as personal shoppers, dressers, and consultants all in one.
They usually begin by meeting with clients to discuss the sort of clothes that are needed. Sometimes stylists work on getting people ready for special events — gala dinners, for instance, or formal balls — though they may also help create a closet full of fashionable staples.
Once the stylist has found a range of options that he or she thinks would suit the client, there is usually another consultation where the client can go through and comment on each selection.
Most of the time, the stylist also comes prepared with accessories to accompany each outfit — belts and shoes, certainly, and for women jewelry and often also an idea about makeup and hairstyle. In some sense, the stylist’s job is to help the client achieve a completed image from head to toe.
A stylist may also choose to work with corporate clients in the fashion world, particularly design firms and specific labels. When designers propose new ideas and create mock-ups of apparel for coming seasons, stylists are usually some of the first to give critical reviews and feedback.
The stylist’s expertise is often very useful in determining how versatile an outfit will be, or how well it may fit a range of body types; ideas about how a piece should be accessorized or marketed may also fall within this person’s expertise.
Professionals often work the hardest in the context of fashion shows, runway displays, and catwalk photo shoots. It is often the stylist’s responsibility to see that each model is assigned a flattering and appropriate outfit; choosing accessories, ordering the ensembles, and making last-minute alterations as needed are usually also part of the job.
Coordination with lighting experts and sound technicians to create the overall mood may also be required, as well as the flexibility to make last-minute changes in case of accident or other problem. Clothes that suddenly do not fit, do not look right in the lighting, or have unexpected rips or pulls are often referred to the stylist.
There are many ways to break into the fashion stylist field, though the easiest is usually through a specialized degree or training program. Some universities offer fashion courses, and a number of art schools sponsor fashion stylist certificate programs.
Pursuing a formal education is often a good way to make contacts in the field, and tangible experience is almost always an asset when looking for work.
It is often also possible to get started simply by having a good eye for style and carving out a niche independently. Many people who are interested in fashion design and styling start out by working as personal shoppers or stylists in department stores, or interning with designers. No matter how it is approached, the work almost always requires a lot of individual initiative and self-marketing.
Where Do Fashion Stylists Work?
Fashion stylist jobs vary in their focus. Some of these jobs involve styling models, while others are celebrity-based. Still other stylist jobs concentrate on the television and film production industry. All of the different types of fashion stylist jobs require deciding not only the color and style of clothing, but also accessories or props.
Fashion stylists can be found working in all of the following contexts:
- On professional photoshoots
- On the set of print advertisements and televised commercials
- On the set of music videos
- On a political campaign, maintaining the candidate’s appearance
- In a TV newsroom
- Consulting a sports team on uniforms
- Advising a costume designer preparing for a movie or television show (in this role, they are often known as a “wardrobe stylist”)
- Developing a personal style for a current or aspiring public figure
5 Essential Tips to Succeed As a Fashion Stylist
Professional fashion styling is hard work. As a stylist, you must develop a
- Develop strong networking skills. As a stylist, you must develop a client base, network with designers and industry professionals, and attend numerous industry events. If you fall behind, it can be hard to catch up—fashion is a notably cutthroat industry.
- Develop close personal and professional relationships. Personal relationships are essential to attaining new style clients. While some fashion stylists may gain notice because a client appeared on a red carpet or in prominent fashion magazines, most business will come from friends and colleagues of existing clients.
- Don’t be shy. To succeed, you can’t shy away from a little self-promotion. Try to get invited to parties or lunches, and don’t hesitate to ask your successful mentors for referrals as you build your own business.
- Experience is more important than a diploma. In terms of education, some fashion stylists possess a bachelor’s degree or even a master’s degree, but when interviewing to be someone’s personal stylist, the topic of college may never come up. Years of experience in the industry will open more doors than a particular diploma.
- Stay up to date. If you’re passionate about aesthetics, up to date on fashion trends, confident in your sense of style, have strong communication skills, and are willing to put in long hours for occasionally thankless work, a career as a fashion stylist may be ideal.
What Is the Difference Between a Fashion Editor and a Fashion Stylist?
These terms can be interchangeable, but that isn’t always the case. Take, for example, the different roles of a fashion editor and a stylist in a photoshoot:
- A fashion editor is responsible for the look and mood of the shoot; they’re the ones who choose a photographer, the clothing, the location, and the models.
- A stylist will also sometimes do all of this, but the term can also refer to someone who is choosing the clothing for a shoot or public appearance.
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