The job description for a fashion stylist requires candidates who are creative with a keen attention for detail.Candidates for this position must be highly adaptable and capable of working in a fast paced, stressful environment.
Position Description
Fashion stylists style clothes and outfits for photo shoots, advertisements, and celebrity appearances on talk shows or in movies, attend models’ events and otherwise keeps up-to-date on the latest trends in the fashion world.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities of a Fashion Stylist
- Advises clients on dynamic styling for visuals.
- Orders clothing, fabrics, accessories, makeup and more to facilitate a wardrobe.
- Coordinates with photographers, makeup artists, hair stylists, and other industry professionals in order to develop comprehensive looks for clients.
- Develops exclusive, creative, and unconventional designs.
- Organizes the wardrobes and outfits designed for a photo shoot or event.
- Travels in order to find specific fabrics or props.
- Purchases and organizes necessary props and accessories.
- Keeps track of current, developing, and changing regional and global trends in fashion and design.
- Maintains a relationship with magazine publications, retailers, and wholesalers.
- Adapts to the client’s own interests in color, style, and shape.
- Coordinates shooting locations.
- Facilitates any delivery of a design or product.
- Develops new factors and objectives in accordance with market trends.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Possesses strong communicating skills, especially in articulating new designs and products.
- Exhibits creativity and business sense.
- Can manipulate various fashion techniques, including mixing different fabrics, colors, and textures.
- Has the ability to adapt to changes in market interests.
- Demonstrates basic computer and reading skills.
- Possesses a keen understanding of the fashions that are acceptable and even expected for different types of events.
Education and Experience
Candidates for this position need to have a high school diploma or an equivalent degree. An Associate’s degree or a Bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising, styling, designing, or a similar subject is beneficial, though most employers in this field for not require any specific college degree. Certification in styling can be obtained at fashion image schools or online. Experience can be gained in this field by taking an internship in the styling department of a fashion magazine, or by working as an apprentice to a working professional.
Work Environment
The working hours for this position are typically long and irregular, lasting anywhere from 20 hours a week to over 70 hours, including evenings and weekends. The workday can be stressful, with altercations on-set, aggressive and time-consuming meetings, and long periods of time standing. Frequent travel is expected in order to meet with clients, attend conferences and participate in photo shoots, though this depends largely on the types of booking the stylist is arranging, which varies. International travel may also be an expectation, especially to attend high-profile fashion shows and galas.
Salary
The salary for a fashion stylist can range anywhere from $17,000 and $80,000, with a median income of $41,000 and variances depending on experience, location, employer, and volume of bookings. This employment is hourly, ranging anywhere from $500 to $1000 an hour. Celebrities and spokespersons pay the highest salaries. Stylists with at least Bachelor’s degree begin at about $35,000.
