It’s very important to understand the distinction between a job and a career right at the outset. Having a job in the fashion industry and having a career in fashion and glamor are two different things. This article is about building careers and not about scoring isolated opportunities here and there. It’s meant for those of you who are in it for the long haul – passionate people who are ready to dedicate months of their lives to the mastery of the art and the business of fashion styling.
As the title would have tipped you, we are going to talk about fashion styling courses online and how you can benefit from one in the process of building a career. But this is not just about that. We will discuss the challenges you will face, the paths that will help you move through such challenges faster, the vision that you’ll need to nurture and the principles that will help you realize that vision.
What is fashion styling?
If you are here, it’s safe to assume that you have some idea or notion about fashion styling in your mind. I’d suggest that you read on anyway just to fact check your knowledge.
Fashion styling is the art and practice of combining clothes and accessories to create a particular look or aesthetic.
How is it different from fashion designing?
Fashion designing is about conceptualizing and designing a new piece of apparel or accessory from scratch. It involves sketching up the designs, illustrating them, creating prototypes, and collaborating with manufacturers to take the design to production.
Fashion styling involves creating a specific look using existing clothes and accessories.
Let me explain that with a simple example. Let us say A, B, and C are three fashion designers who specialize in making retro themed, historically accurate and unique apparels. Now S is a fashion stylist who has been tasked to create a look for the character of a brave, independent, professional woman for a TV series set in India in the 1960s.
The stylist, S, will study the culture in which the character belongs, understand the time, bear her personal qualities in mind, and cultivate a look for the character. Then she will go through design samples sent over by A, B, and C to find the perfect apparels and accessories for the character. And she’ll combine the apparels and accessories available to her to create the look she has conceptualized.
What are some applications of fashion styling?
Fashion styling has a lot of important applications in the contexts of films, television, editorial shoots, advertising campaigns, and personal styling. A hardworking candidate who undergoes a fashion styling course online can find various paths into the fashion industry.
How to approach fashion styling as a career?
Your unique perspective and vision will dictate your approach and the path you choose. Nevertheless, I can share some pointers from my experience in the fashion industry. The following are some principles that guided my footsteps into the world of fashion styling.
Understanding the client or target audience
A good stylish does her homework on the audience base they’re targeting. Even in the case of styling an individual, they take the time to understand the person. It includes their body type, personal style, and the prevalent cultural baggage tied to the event they are dressing for. You have to find a balance between being too cautious and too wayward.
Being creative and innovative
What can you say! It’s a creative field. You have to bring out the unexpected every now and then. Bend some rules, set new trends, go crazy, but never lose vision. Yes. There’s a thin margin between creativity and lack of structure and you have to mind that on every step. You are free to mix and match different pieces to come up with something unprecedented. Just remember not to get lost in permutation.
Having a strong eye for detail
It’s a non-negotiable skill as far as fashion styling goes. If you don’t have it, you have to cultivate it. A strong eye for detail is not something people are born with – it’s a skill that can be developed over time through practice. It’s something that online fashion styling courses by Hunar can help you master.
Being able to work with a team
You will be collaborating with photographers, designers, editors, directors, professional models and actors, and other stylists throughout your career. The easier it is for you to work in a team with other members, the faster you will grow and the better you’ll be at your job. You’ll be able to eliminate a lot of work-related stress if you are good with people.
Different verticals of fashion styling
Fashion styling has diverse applications in different walks of life. We’ll touch some of the more popular applications of this discipline in this section. See if you can find an area that really interests you.
Personal styling
Personal stylists work with individuals to help them develop their own personal style. They may help clients shop for new clothes, put together outfits for special occasions, or simply offer advice on how to dress for their body type.
Celebrity styling
Celebrity stylists work with celebrities and other public figures to help them look their best for red carpets, award shows, and other public appearances.
Editorial styling
Editorial stylists work with fashion magazines and other publications to create visually appealing fashion spreads.
Commercial styling
Commercial stylists work with brands and companies to create advertising campaigns and other marketing materials.
Costume design
Costume designers engage in designing outfits for films and television productions. But they don’t really design the costumes by hand. They conceptualize the outfits and find the best matches for characters. So, it’s basically a job for fashion stylists.
Challenges in the field of fashion styling that you should be aware of
There is no career without challenges. Here are the ones you will overcome in the course of becoming a top-notch fashion styling professional.
Fast-paced and demanding environment
- Trends change rapidly, demanding constant research, and adaptation. You must stay ahead of the curve to remain current and relevant.
- If you are at the right place where the action is, you’ll have tight deadlines and intense pressure. Sometimes it will be hard to keep up with production schedules.
- You’ll be looking at long working hours during fashion weeks and peak seasons. The better you manage your time, the lesser the chance of a burnout.
Intense competition and saturation:
- A large pool of talented stylists competing for the same projects makes it difficult to stand out and build a strong client base.
- The rise of social media has led to a saturated market with numerous influencers and self-proclaimed stylists, blurring the lines of professional expertise.
- Established brands and celebrities often have in-house styling teams, limiting freelance opportunities for independent stylists.
Client management and communication:
- Changing client needs combined with budget constraints will pose challenges.
- You will be handling unrealistic expectations. And your communication skills will be tested at every turn.
- Dealing with indecisiveness, last-minute changes, and unexpected situations during projects requires flexibility, adaptability, and problem-solving skills.
Ethical and sustainability challenges:
- The fashion industry faces criticism for its environmental impact, unethical labor practices, and excessive waste.
- Stylists must navigate these issues by choosing sustainable brands, promoting ethical practices, and encouraging conscious consumerism among their clients.
Body image and size inclusivity issues:
- The fashion industry has historically favored a narrow range of body types, creating pressure on stylists to conform to these standards.
- It’s a good time in the world for promoting body positivity, advocating for size inclusivity, and challenging unrealistic beauty standards.
- Standing up for these changes may pose some challenges.
Maintaining creativity and individuality:
- Following trends while maintaining individuality is one of the toughest nuts to crack in fashion.
- You must find a balance between catching the trend and expressing your individuality.
These challenges, while demanding, offer opportunities for growth and positive change within the fashion styling industry. And a good fashion styling course online can prepare you for these challenges.
Pro-tips for aspiring fashion stylists
- Always work on developing your personal style
- Grab any opportunity to gather experience – work in retail, intern for a stylist, assist during a photo-shoot.
- Build relationships with other professionals. It’s impossible to succeed in fashion without a strong network.
- Invest in your education. Undergo fashion styling courses that can prepare you for the real world.
- Be patient and hone your skills.
Bottom-line
Fashion styling as a discipline is soaked in many social and cultural phenomena. It’s very important to understand subtext built around a character to create an outfit that fits the occasion, be it a photo-shoot or a television production. The fashion stylist sets the mood by bringing the right colors and the right design palettes on the screen. It’s an important job. And if you are good at it, if you improve relentlessly, you will make a career out of it.
