Fashion Stylist Job Description

Visual images are created by mixing different patterned and textured garments with complementary accessories to create an ensemble. A fashion stylist relies on a keen eye for spotting fashion trends and creating these ensembles for celebrities, magazine spreads, television advertising campaigns as well as music videos. Well-known fashion stylists, such as Rachel Zoe, often brand their name and develop fashion collections, as well as products such as perfume.

Fashion Stylist's Responsibilities

This often glamorized job entails long hours and excessive travel to locate specific garments and accessories for their clientele, which can range from advertising companies, celebrities, public figures or fashion magazines. The stylist's responsibilities can often entail rearranging their client's closet and wardrobe by removing outdated garments, searching for items that complement their client's figure and personal shopping.

Assignments

Stylists are often booked for specific assignments. Booking is an industry term used once the stylist has received and accepted the terms of a styling job. The term assignment refers to the type of job being offered. Stylists can also be booked by working with an a styling agency. Their agents book the stylists directly and negotiate all of the payment terms, including compensation for expenses such as air travel, hotels, meals and car rentals. Assignments vary, such as styling a public figure for a public appearance or styling a celebrity for an awards ceremony such as the Oscars.

Job Titles

Wardrobe stylist, celebrity stylist and image consultant are a few job titles used when referring to a fashion stylist. Although a fashion editor's responsibilities parallel a stylists, usually an editor works for a particular organization, such as a magazine, and has added responsibilities. A stylist is often hired by the editor to coordinate ensembles for specific assignments.

Function

Specific jobs, such as magazine shoots, often begin with a design brief, which includes the concept and idea that needs to be created and executed. The fashion stylist must work with other industry professionals, such as photographers, hair stylists, makeup artists, lighting designers, set builders, fashion designers and the art director. The stylist must have open lines of communication with these departments to locate wardrobe and accessories for the shoot as well as to style the ensembles accordingly to the art director's vision.

Wages

The stylist's wages vary on the type of booked job as well as their clientele. Editorial jobs generally pay the least and television advertising campaigns, celebrities and spokespersons generally pay the highest wages. The stylist can also arrange to be paid daily, which is referred to as daily rates. Earnings vary by the type of client and assignment as well as the responsibilities associated with the assignment. Wages can vary from $500 to $1,000 hourly or $200 to $10,000 daily, depending on the type of gig booked.

Certification and Training

Although this field does not require a specific college degree, certification is available from fashion image schools and is also available online. Aspiring stylists often work as an apprentice to gain their knowledge of the business as well as training. The apprentice often picks up wardrobe or designer samples for a photo shoot as well as tags the garments, which refers to writing garment description inventory lists for return after the assignment is complete. The apprentice also receives the opportunity to meet other industry professionals and learns about coordinating and mixing colors, textures and patterns.

References

• "Style A To Zoe: The Art of Fashion, Beauty, & Everything Glamour"; Rachel Zoe and Rose Apodaca; 2008
• "Fierce Style: How To Be Your Most Fabulous Self"; Christian Siriano, Rennie Dyball, Tim Gunn; 2009

Resources

• Gillian Armour: Fashion Image Institute