Introduction

A fashion stylist ties together elements of a person’s style and builds. A successful career as a fashion stylist will require an understanding of several body shapes, art, fashions, and colour combinations. A fashion stylist is a design director who ensures clients’ needs in terms of wardrobe fashion designs are satisfied. Fashion stylists may work as personal shoppers for your clients, ensure overall styling, and serve as a consultant for photo shoots or commercials. Some stylists have achieved independent fame. Famous stylists frequently work with singers, high-profile clientele, and Hollywood A-listers.

How to Start a Career as a Fashion Stylist

To become a fashion stylist, you need to take some crucial steps:

Obtain a degree or equivalent qualification

Although a university degree, certification, or diploma isn’t explicitly required to work as a fashion stylist, the academic experience enables you to develop your talents and acquire in-depth knowledge of art and fashion history. During your study, you will learn about various aspects of being a fashion stylist and niches, such as personal, editorial, corporate, and celebrity styling. Your training will also expose you to a network of experts in the field who can provide guidance and invaluable insights.

Create a portfolio

Making a portfolio, which can be either a natural or digital place where you can showcase all of your fashion work in one convenient spot for easy viewing, is the most crucial step for aspiring fashion stylists. The portfolio showcases your expertise and provides the employer with an example of your fashion styling skills and potential contributions to the position. The portfolio, also known as a lookbook, can assist you in developing a sizable clientele, obtaining new employment, and starting your career as a fashion stylist.

Apply for an internship program

If you want to begin your career as a stylist for celebrities, models, and other prominent figures, do careful research to discover internships at fashion agencies or other fashion institutions. Working as an intern for a company in the sector gives you a chance to gain real-world experience, hone your existing talents, and get advice from a mentor since many career possibilities in the fashion industry come via recommendations. You can also network professionally, thanks to it. You can find some internship opportunities online or through your school.

Build your professional network

You should start thinking about expanding your professional network because having the right contacts can help you land a job as a fashion stylist. Building a solid network of contacts will help you establish a good reputation since they may contact you if there are any openings in their networks. Even if the job doesn’t involve fashion styling, it can still be your first step down this career path. Your university professors can help you because they may know people in the industry. So, get talking o people.

Apply for an entry-level Job

Start submitting your applications for entry-level fashion stylist jobs, which are widely available on job boards and employment websites. You should anticipate working closely with an experienced professional, learning the industry’s fundamentals, including how to find and style garments, and adhering to team leaders’ directions. Additionally, you might need to decide how to put together looks and styles depending on current cultural and societal trends and keep up with how these trends change and advance.

Expected fashion stylist salary range

The average salary for a fashion stylist is $55,000 per year, translating to $229 daily, $1,145.8 weekly, and $4,853 monthly. However, building a successful career as a fashion stylist will require you to put in the work and continually develop your skills.

Tips to Build a Successful Career as a Fashion Stylist

To build a successful career as a fashion stylist, you should:

Develop Effective Networking Abilities

Networking is crucial to building a clientele as a stylist, connecting with designers and other professionals in the field, and attending industry gatherings.

Establish Intimate Ties on Both a Personal and Professional Level

Building a network of friends and associates can help you land more clients and job opportunities. Promote yourself and create strong relationships with successful mentors.

Focus on Experience Over Certificate

Experience is more critical than a diploma. Many fashion stylists have a bachelor’s or master’s degree, but experience opens more doors than a specific diploma.

 Stay Current

The fashion industry is continually evolving, so it’s essential to keep up with current trends and research to stay on track.

What to Expect When Building a Career as a Fashion Stylist

Building a career as a fashion stylist takes time and effort. You may have to start by shadowing an experienced stylist and doing jobs they don’t want to do. Networking is essential, and it may take a few years of free work experience to establish yourself in the industry. However, with persistence and hard work, you can build a successful career as a fashion stylist.