How to Become a Personal Fashion Consultant

Do you have a sense of style?

Being a personal fashion consultant for your friends and family can be simple, but if you want to make it a profession--and get paid well for it--you will have to earn a solid reputation and have some talent when it comes to fashion. You will also need the ability to recognize that every person has a different style, and it is your job to bring that unique style out.

Instructions

1. Get some education. While some personal fashion consultants have no formal educational training, having some education will assist you not only in your fashion sense, but it may also help you learn how to market yourself. Many fashion colleges and other educational institutions offer classes on marketing and running your own fashion business, so take advantage of these classes if they are available to you.

2. Stay current with fashion. You will want to pour over fashion magazines and watch style shows. Even if you have a great sense of fashion, you need to stay abreast of the current trends if you want to work in the fashion world professionally. This doesn't mean you have to follow trends instead of creating your own, but you certainly must be aware of what is going on in the fashion world.

3. Do some personal fashion consultations free of charge, to start. You need to build up a reputation, so one of the best ways to get started is to take on some clients without charging them. In turn, request that these people let other people know about your services. Obviously, it would be best to start out with celebrity clients, but if you don't have immediate access to anyone famous, start with clients who are likely to influence other people within the community.

4. Advertise your services. Create a website, get some business cards and consider taking out an ad in a publication read by your target audience. Don't forget to check local regulations to find out whether you need a license to operate your personal fashion consultant business.

5. Treat your customers well, whether they are paying customers or are part of the initial free consultations. You aren't alone in your talent for fashion, so set yourself apart by offering a great experience for customers in addition to the fashion consultations. If you do this, word-of-mouth will spread and help build your customer base.

Tips & Warnings

• Always dress fashionably and look well put-together. Nobody wants to hire a personal fashion consultant who looks like a mess.

• Fashion is very subjective, so prepare yourself for criticism from people who don't understand your vision.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Fashion Institute of Technology