Stylist: Key Aspects of the Profession

Contents:

• The History of the Stylist Profession
• Employment Options for a Professional Stylist
• Key Competencies of a Successful Fashion Stylist
• Key Knowledge and Skills Necessary for Successful Work as a Personal Stylist
• Advantages and Disadvantages of the Chosen Profession
• Stereotypes about the Stylist Profession: A Feminine or Universal Calling?

The work of a stylist can seem quite tempting at first glance. What could be more exciting than browsing glossy magazines, creating stylish looks, strolling through boutiques and enjoying the "before and after" results?

We study the psychological aspects of the stylists' profession, their places of work and the difficulties they may face.

The history of the stylist profession

The first famous stylist in history is considered to be Marie-Jeanne "Rose" Bertin, a French dress saleswoman who personally chose outfits for Marie Antoinette. Her detractors, who criticized the royal court for its colossal expenditures, called her the Minister of Fashion.

Over the next two centuries, clothing selection services provided by specialists in this field remained the privilege of only the aristocracy and the wealthiest strata of the population.

In the 20th century, a new trend began to emerge—fashion styling, which encompassed photo shoots, fashion shows, and the entire glossy industry. Although fashion magazines existed long before this period, their earliest issues featured models displaying clothing and accessories in the form of "ensemble" pieces created within fashion houses and their more traditional predecessors, the tailoring studios.

Styling involves combining items not according to set rules, but with the aim of achieving a specific look, solving a specific problem, or creating a specific visual impression.

Thus, stylists became an integral part of the team, collaborating with makeup artists, hairstylists, and photographers to prepare models or subjects for the perfect shot. Their work has long gone beyond just glossy magazines and covers catalogs, business projects and various advertising campaigns.

Over the past twenty years, thanks to the increase in the standard of living, especially in Western countries and Southeast Asia, as well as the spread Social media is seeing a rapid growth in the profession of personal stylists. These professionals select clothing and looks for their clients not only to create an attractive appearance but also to improve their quality of life.

Personal stylists are no longer the exclusive preserve of the wealthy and celebrities. More and more "regular" clients are turning to these services for a variety of reasons.

Read also:

The history of fashion: key wardrobe items.

Job options for a professional stylist

At the highest level, stylistic trends can be classified into two main types:

• Fashion styling.
• Individual style.

Fashion stylists operate both within the industry itself and in its immediate environment.

• At fashion collection presentations.

In collaboration with the brand team and the designer, they create stylish looks for models that will be presented on the catwalk.

• In the process of video filming and photo shoots for fashion brands, various magazines and online resources.

Stylish images are created using clothes and accessories from the brand's catalog, which should be promoted.

A personal stylist doesn't work for brands, magazines, or companies, but for individual clients. However, there is one area where fashion and personal style intersect: working with celebrities.

A stylist serves a dual function: not only creating looks for celebrities off-set, but also preparing them for the red carpet. This process typically involves a team and collaborations with various brands. For example, famous people may have contractual obligations with fashion houses.

Although in some aspects personal and fashion styling have common features, they are basically separate areas, and the number of specialists who can combine them is quite limited.

Let's consider the basic requirements for both parties.

Key competencies of a successful fashion stylist

A successful stylist in the fashion industry is a specialist with extensive knowledge, rich experience, and analytical thinking. A key aspect of their work is a deep understanding of a variety of different topics:

• World fashion and its outstanding personalities who have had a significant impact on society.

• The diverse visual symbols cover a wide range of topics: from various professions to specific life situations, from the generally accepted to larger, global concepts.

Read also:

Anything can become legendary. Let's consider the history of the famous fashion brand Chanel.

• Rules of composition, color schemes and lighting.

• About fresh brands and labels with an interesting past, about local producers and international retailers.

Fashion stylists are specialists who search for new names, vintage items, and cultural artifacts.

Read also:

20 local clothing brands: where you can buy stylish and high-quality things.

• Stories in general.

Read also:

An aesthetic guide to historical periods

Key knowledge and skills needed for a successful personal stylist

Key characteristics of an individual The essence of styling is the need to consider the uniqueness of each individual and the circumstances in which they exist. This is why it is crucial for a personal stylist to:

• Understand the difference between fashion and reality.

A person is unlikely to pose rigidly or strike beautiful poses—they will move freely and, most likely, actively. Therefore, the choice of clothes should not be based only on attractive design.

Read also:

A dress code is a set of rules and norms regarding clothing and appearance that are applied in certain social or professional contexts. It serves to create a certain image, sets the atmosphere and helps maintain an appropriate level of decency in society.

Historically, the concept of a dress code began to develop in Europe in the Middle Ages, when clothing became a symbol of social status. Different classes and groups wore specific attire that emphasized their status and role in society. Over time, this practice evolved and became more formalized, especially in professional settings, where strict dress codes contributed to the creation of corporate culture and identity.

In today's world, dress codes can range from strict standards in corporate settings to more flexible and creative approaches in creative professions. This approach not only helps maintain professionalism but also allows for individual expression within established standards.

• Understand psychology and capture the desires and needs of clients.

Personal stylists are in close proximity to their clients' comfort zones, which makes qualities such as empathy, tolerance, and the ability to clearly express thoughts so necessary.

• Have an understanding of the fundamental aspects of anatomy, the principles of perception, and key terms related to sewing.

A personal stylist must understand the differences between high-quality and low-quality tailoring, understand how clothing elements form the overall composition, and know how textures and patterns interact.

• The ability to quickly assess the characteristics and quality level of products from different brands.

High-quality clothing can be found even in budget stores in the mass segment. A personal stylist always conducts analysis and is not limited to preconceived notions such as "Bershka is bad."

• Studying brand positioning involves defining the target audience for which they create their products.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Chosen Profession

The profession of a stylist, regardless of their specialization, will never be boring, as it involves constant interaction with a variety of people and solving various problems. However, this does not eliminate the possibility of routine work. For example, personal stylists are often involved in preparing extensive presentations for their clients, which requires considerable patience and focus.

One of the obvious advantages of the stylist profession is the opportunity for creative growth. However, there is also a significant disadvantage: it requires significant physical effort and energy. Stylists often drag clothes, may experience sleep deprivation, and spend a lot of time on their feet.

Other characteristics can be interpreted in different ways: for one person, they may serve as strong arguments in favor, while for another, with a different mindset, they will be serious objections.

For example:

• Flexible schedule.

Most styling professionals prefer to work freelance, which allows them to manage their own schedule and workload.

• Lots of contacts.

Stylists are required to actively interact with both clients and colleagues, especially when it comes to joint projects. Networking in this field is key.

• Continuous learning is an important part of our lives.

To advance in your career, you will need to invest both time and money in training, books, and various events.

• The relevance of a social media presence.

We turned to experienced fashion stylist Anastasia Gorbatova to find out what difficulties she and her colleagues face in their work.

A cultural scientist, as well as A stylist specializing in personal image and fashion runs a blog called "Clothing Hunt" and enthusiastically collects impressions from different countries.

First of all, it should be noted that the perception of fashion and beauty is always subjective, and therefore the client and stylist's views can differ significantly. As a result, the stylist finds themselves in a difficult situation: they must either take on projects that they dislike from both an aesthetic and ideological standpoint, or remain without an income.

Depending on the prevailing conditions, my colleagues approach this issue from different angles: some of them carry out their tasks without expressing any opinions, others completely refuse work they dislike, and still others receive payment but do not showcase their work to the public or add it to their portfolio.

Another significant challenge is defining one's value as a stylist. Since there is no uniform price list, young professionals often find it difficult to set an adequate price for their services. This is especially true for women, who often experience impostor syndrome and fear that clients may not return. As a result, many set their prices too low, which attracts less-than-respectable clients. Sometimes, they exploit this fear to their advantage, attempting to manipulate professionals.

I've witnessed numerous aspiring stylists follow this path, lowering their prices, and ultimately experiencing burnout and leaving the profession. In this context, it's extremely helpful to have a written contract that clearly outlines the cost of services and all terms of cooperation.

An additional problem is that the fashion industry remains quite closed, where nepotism is rampant. Often, projects are invited not based on professional merit, but because the candidate is "one of the guys." This leads to the same people appearing on a number of projects, and new talent emerges very rarely.

When it comes to finding talented young professionals, Rebel, the school where I received my education in fashion styling, plays a significant role. It actively supports its graduates by organizing internships, thereby breaking down the barriers between the profession and real life.

Therefore, young people face difficulties in finding a "loophole" to enter the profession, and many of them become disillusioned, which leads to leaving the field. This is especially true since at the beginning of a career, you often have to work to build a portfolio and gain experience - sometimes completely unpaid, and sometimes with your own financial investments, for example, in creative initiatives.

Therefore, if someone aspires to become a stylist in the fashion world, they will most likely have to start as a stylist's assistant, which does not always involve payment. However, by demonstrating your usefulness, efficiency, and good communication skills (these qualities are always highly valued!), you can leave a positive impression. This may lead to you being remembered, recommended, and invited to other, already paid projects.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that this profession requires certain communication skills and a tendency toward extroversion. It requires active interaction with people, establishing contacts, and the ability to make a positive impression. During the work, you will have to communicate not only with models, but also with producers, makeup artists, and other specialists. Each of them needs to convey their ideas and defend them, while it is important to maintain good relationships and avoid conflicts.

Communication is a fundamental element, so it is impossible to successfully work in the fashion industry remotely.

Another key skill is the ability to calculate. Typically, a stylist is not limited to just creating visual images and choosing outfits; He/she also prepares a budget, which must take into account as many items as possible, or better yet, with a small margin. This is because if a stylist overlooks an element under their responsibility, even though the concept of a commercial photo shoot has already received the client's approval, then, unfortunately, they will have to cover the costs of the missing component from their own funds.

Another important aspect is that the profession of fashion stylist in Russia is limited to certain regions. For those seeking a career in this field, local conditions are not suitable. They will have to relocate to Moscow or St. Petersburg, where most significant activity occurs, with occasional trips to the capital. In smaller cities, although individual projects and media outlets exist, implementing something truly innovative and large-scale proves difficult from both a technical and financial standpoint.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that this field is quite specialized and has its own hierarchy, so maintaining positive relationships with influential individuals plays a crucial role. This means that it's not always possible to express one's thoughts openly, and diplomacy is necessary. For many, especially those in creative professions, this situation can be challenging.

Stereotypes about the profession of a stylist: a feminine or universal calling?

Stereotypes are still not defeated, and gender equality remains an unattainable goal. The stylist profession is often perceived as a feminine one, but in the media world, men are more visible.

We asked Anastasia Gorbatova an additional question: "Does the gender difference matter in this profession?"

According to my observations, the vast majority of stylists, particularly those who work independently, are women. At the same time, men who achieve success in this field are often perceived more highly. This trend is similar to the situation among teachers: although the majority of teachers are women, the title of "teacher of the year" is almost always awarded to a man.

Most likely, this is due to the fact that in the field of fashion, style, and appearance, especially in Russia, associations with women prevail. Here, women are still perceived as the "beautiful" sex, while men are considered "strong." Public attention is largely focused on other characteristics of men, rather than their appearance: "It's not a man's job to take care of his appearance." This makes me somewhat upset, because everything about a person should be beautiful! 🙂

While the standards of appearance for women are extremely high, and the public has become accustomed to seeing many truly attractive and stylishly dressed ladies, the situation with men is different. When a man decides to express his individuality through stylish and bright clothes, it immediately attracts attention, as such cases are quite rare.

Overall, I want to say that patriarchal attitudes and associated behavior patterns are still widespread in our society.

The world of styling does indeed feature a significant number of famous men, such as Vlad Lisovets, Gosha Kartsev, Alexander Rogov, Alexey Sukharev, and Roma Krikheli. However, I notice a certain imbalance in this field: as a rule, women are preferred for stylist-assistant positions, as they are usually more hard-working and less demanding. At the same time, at a more senior level, where services are valued quite highly, you can see many men.

Interesting fact: in the field of information technology in the mid-20th century, working with electronic computers was not considered prestigious, and women significantly outnumbered men in this field.

There is a persistent problem: in our society, men are still perceived as more professional than women. This applies even to the fashion industry, where the number of brand owners exceeds that of women.

I cannot say that gender plays a key role in the selection of employees in the fashion industry. Rather, it is the fact that men tend to exhibit more confidence, which in turn can influence the overall perception. Our work depends heavily on networking, reputation, word of mouth, and personal connections. However, in my experience, interacting with women often proves more comfortable and productive. They actively engage in the work and aren't afraid to invest their time and effort, including overtime, which is commonplace in fashion projects. Women demonstrate appropriate communication and are always willing to help in various situations.

In general, the situation is as follows: women predominate at the lower levels of employment, while men are represented in similar numbers in leadership positions. Women are more likely to do less prestigious work, while men, on the contrary, occupy more visible positions in society.

You'll find a lot of fascinating information about design in our Telegram channel. Join us!

Read also:

• An extensive guide from a professional stylist: how to choose the right piece of clothing and harmoniously integrate it into your wardrobe.
• The Power of Clothing: The Transformation of the Female Role in 20th-Century Society Through the Lens of Fashion

  The 20th century saw significant changes in the perception of the female role in society, which was reflected in fashion. Clothing became not only a means of self-expression, but also a symbol of new social positions and opportunities for women.

  Over the course of the century, women began to actively participate in public life, which required them to rethink their wardrobe choices. At the beginning of the century, during the era of the "corset dress" fashion, women's clothing emphasized traditional roles, associating femininity with restrictions and sacrifices. However, with the rise of the feminist movement and changing views on gender roles, women began to seek more practical and relaxed styles. The mid-century brought with it such symbols as the "business suit," which reflected women's desire to occupy professional spaces. The advent of pantsuits and more formal lines in clothing became a landmark moment: women began to associate themselves with the strength and independence that were integral to their new role in society. Toward the end of the century, fashion continued to evolve, reflecting the changing status of women. Clothing, once considered merely part of a woman's wardrobe, was now perceived as a means of promoting self-expression and affirming women's rights.

  Thus, fashion in the 20th century not only illustrated but also contributed to changes in the social status of women, emphasizing their ability to influence social processes and shape new standards.

• Ten unique jewelry brands founded by Russian women.
• There are a variety of styles, fashion trends, current trends, as well as microtrends and various variations of the core.
• Space permeates everything around, and drama never leaves a single corner. This is the fate and history of the famous brand Mugler.