| If you are an individual
who is always up to date with the latest in fashion and is
passionate about it, then becoming a fashion stylist may just
be your calling.
Clothes do more than just cover and reflect the wearer’s
personality and style. Not only do they make good first impressions
but also succeed in boosting one’s self-confidence.
It takes art and fashion sense to put together the right outfit
for the right occasion. A fashion stylist does just that and
more. Today, when glamour is the buzzword and everybody wants
to do their best to look and feel good, the role of a fashion
stylist is veering towards the indispensable.
FASHION FERVOUR
There are no specific degrees or professional qualifications
that one can opt for, to become a fashion stylist. However,
training in fashion and business will give aspiring stylists
an edge in the competitive job market. The real qualifications
one must possess are bags of enthusiasm and an innate understanding
of fashion, color and style. “When you’re looking
at becoming a fashion stylist, it’s essential that you
have an in-depth knowledge of not only fashion, but also an
understanding of all the latest trends and what’s hot
and happening in the industry. A fashion stylist should be
able to visualize the overall look of a person including shoes,
accessories, hair, makeup and the attitude with which one
should carry the whole ensemble.
A good fashion stylist should be a fashion forecaster and
should be ready to sweat it out. A designer only designs the
clothes but a stylist is brought in to create a look. It’s
not as easy as it sounds. Since there isn’t any educational
qualification as such to become a stylist, internships with
fashion magazines or leading photographers who hire stylists
for styling models for photo shoots, can act a solid platform.
Although these internships are mostly of the unpaid kind,
they act as a good base to create a strong portfolio for oneself.
SOUGHT-AFTER SKILLS
If you want to become a fashion stylist you obviously have
to be up on all the latest fashion trends. This can be accomplished
by reading all the fashion magazines you can get your hands
on and by attending fashion shows. Fashion stylists need more
than just great taste; they need to be clothing innovators.
When putting together a look, they must consider a number
of factors, such as the color and fit. Knowing what clothes
will flatter what body type is also important. A stylist should
know how to make use of conventional clothing in an unconventional
way.
Thinking out of the box and being up to date with current
international trends in styles is a must-have skill. It’s
not only about what’s in but also about how to implement
it to hide flaws and enhance strengths. The ability to communicate
and getting the brief right is an integral part of the job
profile as one does not want to end up being associated with
a fashion faux pas. A stylist should have a knack of influencing
without overpowering.
CAREER CAPERS
From working with celebrity clients to styling models for
photo shoots, there are many different arenas in which fashion
stylists can use their talents. A stylist can find ample work
in the production of music videos, advertisements, TV shows
and movies. They may also work with designers or public relations
experts. With the glamour industry booming, a stylist finds
employment in more than one area of their interest. One can
shuffle between films, ads and photo shoots, besides catering
to personal clientele, if any. There are many different job
roles for a fashion stylist. For instance, there are stylists
who work as image consultants. Then there are stylists who
work predominantly in feature films and ad films as well.
MONEY TALK
Remuneration can vary from very little to huge amounts depending
upon how ambitious one is and the number of years of experience
he/she boasts of. Since a lot of learning happens on-the job
which might not pay well initially, one can start by assisting
an already established fashion stylist. This again varies
according to the clients and projects one has worked on. “I
completed three unpaid internships and then landed myself
a full-time job as an assistant to one of the leading stylists.
After the initial jitters, one can expect to make more money,
provided the portfolio indicates creative work and an association
with the right people in the industry,” avers Priya
Kashyap, an aspiring fashion stylist.
A career in fashion styling can provide exciting opportunities
to bring style to a variety of interesting people. Moreover,
how many get the chance to shop for a living! Even though
it is ever-changing, fashion never goes “out of fashion”
and there will always be a demand for people who have it in
them to make others look good.
There are many career colleges that offer fashion design
courses. If you would like to enroll in an fashion design
program visit the Fashion
Schools directory to get more information
from these schools.
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