Lockdown, furlough, restrictions, and distancing….we’ve all had a lot of time to think about our priorities and goals lately. If you’ve decided that fashion is your calling and you’re wondering how you can become a fashion stylist, then this guide is for you.
So, what exactly does a fashion stylist do? Hopefully, if you’ve decided you’d like to be one, then you already have some idea, but to save any blushes, a fashion stylist is a professional who organises and takes charge of a person’s visual aesthetic. In exchange, of course, for money.
As the Independent explains, a fashion stylist also helps people get “the most from their wardrobe and dressing to suit their colouring, body-shape, personality and lifestyle.”
Today, being a fashion stylist isn’t just about helping celebrities and the rich and famous create a signature look. In fact, as the Mirror points out, “Even Marks & Spencer has got in on the act, providing free stylists for customers.” All of this means that becoming a fashion stylist is more accessible and inclusive than ever…you just have to know where to begin.
And that’s where we come in. If your goal is to pursue a career as a fashion stylist, then here are 5 first steps to becoming a fashion stylist.
IT’S ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS
A fashion stylist is all about helping people look and feel their best, and you’ll have to invest your time and energy into helping clients gain new perspectives, insights and confidence, not only into their clothing choices but also their life.
This means really understanding who they are as a person and what they want from life. Finding a good stylist is a lot like finding a good therapist; the help one gives can extend far beyond the agreed brief. Therefore, your soft skills need to be on point if you’re to succeed in this game, with clarity of communication, social intelligence and emotional intelligence all vital in this job.
On another note, opportunities in the fashion industry come from knowing people who have the right connections. This means that it’s essential that you attend every social gathering in the industry that you can and start building links with people, flexing those communication skills and nurturing bonds which could be with you for your whole career.
START BY LEARNING THE BASICS
You don’t need formal training or qualifications to become a stylist, but if you have studied fashion or previously worked within the industry, then this will certainly stand you in good stead moving forward.
Knowing different types of fabrics, colours, body types, personalities and skin types is paramount for any individual seeking a successful career. In this industry, it is vital to self-educate yourself on design, the history of a whole range of styles, and the type of fabric you (and others) prefer using and wearing.
As an example of what’s out there, the London School of Fashion offer an undergraduate degree in Fashion Styling and Production, and many other top universities in the country provide similar courses.
Alternatively, the Open College of the Arts offer a flexible 4-9 year degree in Textiles, which you can complete whilst working (and training) as a fashion stylist.
If you’re looking for something more manageable, there are plenty of short online courses out there. The London College of Fashion, for example, hosts a short course, Fashion Styling Online, which lasts for three weeks and costs £465.
Getting some field-specific exposure, experience or education can help give you that edge within the industry, potentially putting you ahead of the pack. That is why it is essential for anyone looking to pursue fashion styling as their career to seek an established stylist agent, where you can volunteer for first-hand work experience or complete an internship program.
SEEK AN INTERNSHIP OR A SENIOR STYLIST
Nonetheless, it is essential to take guidance from an agency or senior stylist whose work you admire. If you’re keen to emulate or learn from a particular celebrity’s style, you can look up their stylist in the global Moda Database, a celebrity stylist contact list, and request an internship or meeting, in order to learn a thing or two from their sense of fashion.
When you undertake an internship program, it sharpens your skills and improves your contacts within the industry, giving you the ability to execute a design from an idea to a finished product. It also exposes you to the day-to-day life of a stylist and helps you understand how to interact with your clients. All in all, this is perhaps the most essential part of the early process of becoming a fashion stylist.
ESTABLISH YOUR PORTFOLIO
As a fashion stylist, you need to show your work to any potential employer using a detailed portfolio. A good portfolio will help you to showcase your range of skills and demonstrate your creative sensibility to a potential client. That’s why, if you are a student, you need to take your assignments seriously as you can use them to showcase your ability to your future employer or client.
Furthermore, you can set up an online portfolio. This entails putting up your work on an online digital platform to market your styling. The further you spread the net on the net, the more clients you could land.
ALWAYS STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST TRENDS
Any fashion stylist knows that fashion isn’t constant; it keeps evolving, shape-shifting and streamlining. That is why as an aspiring professional stylist, you should stay up to date with the latest trends emerging both locally and internationally.
Interestingly, one of the best places to get your style ideas is from Netflix. As Elle explains, “TV style is influencing shoppers like never before, driving us to buy the styles featured on screen in droves. Unlikely ones, too, with no direct link to catwalk trends”. Hey, an excuse to sit around watching Netflix for hours? Count us in!
Any aspiring person in the fashion industry should attend the launch of a new designer collection or upcoming fashion shows to get a feel for how things work and what’s on trend during any particular season. The primary purpose of attending such an event is to keep in tune with the latest fashion trends, but you may also make contacts and build working relationships, as networking opportunities at launches do present themselves.
Remember that people want to work with a stylist who is unique and original, not one who just follows established fashion rules, so adopt an attitude of ‘always learning’ if you’re keen to make the best impression possible.
Read: 5 ways to stay abreast of men’s fashion and lifestyle trends.
THE BENEFITS OF BECOMING A FASHION STYLIST
Though it sounds like hard work, there are some huge perks to becoming a professional stylist:
Flexibility: As a fashion stylist, you don’t have to work in a traditional office as you can also work at home. You become free to schedule your working hours depending on your client and their needs. Using an online platform, you can work with clients who are abroad and are not in a position to simply walk into your office, giving you further reach.
Creative work: The job helps you flex your creative muscles, designing new images, visiting other fashion studios and websites and appraising their designs, attending fashion shows, and looking out for new trends.
Pays well: Being a professional fashion stylist can be a well-paying career. In London, the average salary for a fashion stylist is around £27’000, with bonuses and perks, in many cases, taking that figure significantly higher.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The demand for the services of fashion stylists has expanded hugely in recent years. Once the preserve of celebrities and VIPs, many now seek styling for weddings, birthday parties or simply a wardrobe makeover. If this sounds like your dream job, we hope you’ve found some inspiration on getting started.