What Does A Fashion Stylist Do?
Fashion stylists, also known as wardrobe stylists or celebrity stylists, are responsible for a crafting and coordinating garments and accessories to create outfits for a client. A fashion stylist always needs to be ahead of the up and coming trends in fashion; the fashion-styling career is extremely involved in fashion trends and fashion forecasting for each season. The daily work of a fashion stylist can be extremely fast-paced and exciting. Throughout the course of a fashion stylist’s day, they may attend many meetings prior to a styling assignment, travel to fashion shows, and showrooms.
Fashion stylists may choose garments and accessories for models, actors, or other clientele. Furthermore, fashion stylists may dress mannequins or clients for photo shoots and retail store displays. Store customers may seek styling advice from fashion stylists within a store setting as well. Fashion stylists are typically part of a vast, creative team brought together by a client. Fashion stylists collaborate with hair stylists, makeup artists, fashion designers, and fashion photographers. Sourcing garments, accessories, and props are also a part of a fashion stylist’s job. Furthermore, fashion stylists advise fashion photographers on photographic locations, while selecting the proper models, makeup artists, and hair stylists for the overall aesthetic of a photo shoot.
Fashion stylists may write fashion articles for publications, provide fashion direction to buyers, merchandisers, or designers, speak at fashion events, and attend fashion shows. Returning clothing, accessories, and borrowing items from fashion designers or boutiques are part of a fashion stylist’s job responsibilities. Additionally, fashion stylists must be extremely knowledgeable about fashion trends, innovative designers, fashion history, and the overall fashion industry. Depending on the deadlines and the needs of a client, a fashion stylist may work long hours and overtime. Fashion stylists must be able to keep alert in regards to new fashion trends.
Fashion stylists may act as freelancers or be employed fashion publications, fashion houses, designers, or apparel companies. Fashion stylists have an extremely busy and exhilarating career; it is vital to remain creative and confident when approaching each styling assignment. Fashion stylists may work in a variety of styling areas, such as editorial styling, commercial styling, television styling, wardrobe styling, celebrity styling, corporate styling, personal styling, catalog styling, and merchandise styling.
Within the field of editorial styling, a fashion stylist may select items that will appear in fashion publications, publicity shoots, advertisements, movie posters, or album covers. An editorial fashion stylist will conceptualize and assist with the organization of photo shoots for publications. They will select garments, accessories, and other products to correlate with fashion trends or personal style articles for a publication. Furthermore, an editorial fashion stylist will work with a team of designers, art directors, photographers, and fashion editors in order to create stylish images for specific print assignments. Commercial fashion stylists will involve the styling of actors, actresses, or models for commercial work, such as educational videos, film clips, or advertising commercials. A commercial fashion stylist will select garments and accessories, models, makeup stylists, and hair stylists, to coordinate with the aesthetic of the commercial shoot. A television fashion stylist will coordinate outfits and accessories for actors, news anchors, live broadcasts, and television cast members.

Wardrobe fashion stylists may work within television, film, theater, or music productions. They may be responsible for selecting looks for actors, actresses, musicians, performers, or dancers. Celebrity fashion stylists often coordinate with television or film celebrities to create outfits for television or film premieres or televised award shows. Corporate fashion stylists may consult with companies on company uniforms and coordinate outfits for executives. Personal fashion stylists may work individually with clients to create outfits with existing clothing or purchase new garments and accessories for a client. Catalog fashion stylists will work with businesses or designers in order to develop product catalogs with the appropriately styled merchandise. Fashion stylists may work within merchandise styling, which involves prop and set styling, retail fashion styling, photo styling, and display styling for print advertisements, retail stores, or photo shoots. Fashion stylists must have a strong sense of style, color, texture, and creativity.
Career Spotlight: Fashion Stylist