What is a Stylist?

Question, What is a Stylist?

Maybe you’ve found your way to my website and you have no idea what a stylist is. That’s ok! This is a question I continue to answer, even after 5 years in business. Once you understand our role in making your everyday outfit selection effortless, you’ll quickly value the work and the effort it takes to better your image.

A stylist is a person who advises individuals on refining, creating, and defining their personal style. I attended a college with an incredible fashion program, so I have education in designers, the history of fashion, clothing construction, trend forecasting, business, and fashion sociology/psychology. Most stylists have some sort of prior fashion industry experience. Others, like Stacy London (remember What Not to Wear?), have no formal training but are self-taught and want to use fashion to better people’s lives.

Although every stylist has a slight variation or assortment of services, my service includes a Consultation, Style Discovery and Profile, Wardrobe Edit, Shopping for new seasonal items and a Fitting for you to try on all the new items I’ve found for you. Other services I provide include styling clients for special occasions, weddings, or family or lifestyle portraits. Throughout our process, my client’s have a clearer vision of their personal style, body type, body proportions, designers/brands that best represent their style, and a wardrobe full of new, versatile pieces. My client’s are diverse, with different backgrounds, genders, budgets, body types, careers and interests. So, every single client has a different set of unique needs, brands, designers, fabric content, and silhouettes that is tailored to her life and personal taste. Stylists solve your wardrobe woes by clarifying your personal style and elevating your image, streamlining your closet so you can easily and effortlessly get dressed every morning for any occasion, and holding you accountable to your truest style that is most representative of who you are.

Q: What is the difference between a personal stylist and a fashion stylist?

A: Personal stylists and fashion stylists (also could be known as commercial stylists) are very similar, and some stylists (like me!) choose to work as both. While personal styling is for individuals, fashion styling is for brands. A fashion stylist advises companies, businesses, and publications for marketing, advertising and editorial use. You can find fashion styling work in e-commerce, professional head shots, on the red carpet, consulting in runway shows, in look books, advertising campaigns, or in fashion editorial pieces. Ultimately, fashion styling serves the purpose of selling a good or service.

Q: Is a personal stylist the same thing as a personal shopper?

A: No! Although I do all the shopping for my clients, it's actually pretty insulting to call a personal stylist a personal shopper. Why? The difference is in the name. Anyone can shop for you. Hiring a personal stylist means you're paying for knowledge and expertise. I take everything from your proportions, measurements, budget, style, personal goals, and life into account with every purchase I make. 

Q: Why do I need a stylist?

A: If you’re interested in reading more about why you should hire a stylist, please read my previous blog post ’43 Reasons Why You Need to Hire a Stylist’.