Starting a Career as a Fashion Consultant

Becoming a fashion consultant requires a specific education.

With the wide variety of career paths available in the fashion industry, knowing exactly what you want to do with fashion is a good way to start your career in a competitive market. Becoming a fashion consultant is one such career path that requires a specific knowledge of the industry and occasionally a certificate or certain level of experience. Oftentimes, fashion consultants are independent business owners rather than employees of a large corporation or business.

Instructions

1. Decide what type of clientele you want to cater to as a fashion consultant. Knowing this initially makes it much easier to gain a position in the industry. If you decide to be a fashion consultant for the average person or mainstream community, you will have a much wider clientele and more location flexibility. If you decide to work as a high fashion consultant, you may be limited to larger cities such as New York, Los Angeles or Chicago and may have a harder time breaking into the industry.

2. A background related to fashion is not necessary but is often helpful. If you do not have a fashion related college degree, there are certifications you can obtain that offer you the necessary training and credentials to break into the industry. The Association of Image Consultants International has a listing of training centers offering certifications.

3. Having hands-on experience can also be very useful. Check your community to see if there are any local fashion consultants who may be offering an internship or who will let you job shadow. You may have to seek internships away from home to gain the necessary hands-on experience of working with clients.

4. Practice for free on friends and family to get a feel for working with clients. The more practice you get with friends, the more prepared you will be for real paying clients. Ask your friends if you can edit their closet, coordinate outfits, take them on a personal shopping trip and consult on hair and make-up. In exchange, ask them to provide testimonials of your work.

5. Create a website that lists the types of fashion consulting services you will provide and if possible, before and after photos of clients you've worked with. Adding testimonials to your website increases your credibility and drives attention to your level of service. Make sure you give clear information as to how to contact you for questions or service.

6. Join a professional organization to stay connected with professionals in similar career fields. Often, these memberships provide education, certifications and conferences to allow you to further gain knowledge of the industry. Professional organizations can be on a regional, national or international scale. Find one or several that match your preferences and needs.

References

• Association of Image Consultants International