What Is fashion styling – A Beginner’s Guide
Jd Institute
- October 11, 2022
- 8 min read
- Blogs

Do actors, singers, business executives, or models always look fashionable and well-groomed? The truth is that they have a professional fashion stylist assemble their wardrobe. Those who walk the red carpet in style and luxury do so because of fashion stylists. In fact, the sidewalk has become a runway for many people in recent years, and it’s because they take the help of a stylist, or they are good fashion stylists themselves. In this article, we cover everything you need to know about a career in this field.
Being a fashion stylist is not just about glamour, so keep that in mind before we dive into the process. In order to accomplish the goal, you must struggle, work diligently, be creative, and be productive.
A career in fashion styling burnt all the social stigmas associated with it, and it changed the lives of many fashion aspirants. It took some time for people to stop being afraid of pursuing a career in fashion and embrace their passion for styling with enthusiasm and grace. The fashion industry is booming today, and millions of students want to work in it and learn about its many branches.
It is recommended that people consider careers in fashion styling if they are creative with clothing and have a knack for emphasizing physical attributes in others. Styling models, celebrities, influencers, and designers for photoshoots and events are the main focus of the field.
However, a career in fashion styling is sometimes confused and mixed with the dynamic profession of fashion designing because it is a fairly new field, despite its glamorous, significant, and exciting nature.
Fashion stylists: Who are they?
In essence, a fashion stylist sets up clothing for a particular shoot, event, etc. They are responsible not only for styling the clothes according to the theme and concept, but also for taking charge of the shoot’s creative direction, including setting the mood and setting the lights, deciding what should go in the background and selecting props.
Fashion stylists: What are the eligibility criteria?
The program does not have any eligibility criteria. The more you learn about fashion, the easier it is to understand the minute details of a piece, because you can understand how a garment should be constructed. The garment will fit properly on the client’s body if you have a sense of the cloth.
The work of a stylist is not easy, so you must be organized and ready for some hard work if you want to become one. You will learn about styling and the fundamentals through the courses offered at good fashion institutes. In reality, getting your first job teaches you much more.
The idea of assisting someone for a long period of time is beneficial since it allows you to implement the basic skills you’ve acquired, to see how the work is performed, to take good care of clothes and props, to use them, to talk to different people, etc.
What is Fashion Styling?
To create an aesthetic ensemble, fashion stylists combine and remix pieces of clothing through permutations and combinations, mixing and matching style, functionality, and trends. Fashion stylists work with designers and models to create unique looks using a variety of clothing, just like the other careers in the fashion industry in India.
An essential role of a fashion stylist is to enhance the physical attributes of the model, choose the right clothing and accessories, and bring a designer’s, photographer’s, and brand’s vision to life. A career in fashion styling requires a deep understanding of industry trends, clothing, and excellent communication and collaboration skills, as well as a great sense of style.
Scope of a Career in Fashion Styling
If you’re looking for a stable, desk-based job, a career in fashion styling might not be for you. It can be fast-paced and time-consuming. With unscheduled shifts and traveling for events, the office work environment is always busy and exciting. A career in fashion styling is also the best choice for fashion lovers who enjoy designing their own styles.
Fashion stylists have many avenues to choose from when it comes to picking a particular field. In accordance with one’s specialization, style, and expertise, one can choose from the following fashion fields:
- Personal stylist
- Celebrity stylist
- Photography stylist
- Product stylist
- Social media stylist
The Role of a Fashion Stylist?
Providing tailored and stylish apparel to clients for every occasion or event is the responsibility of fashion stylists. They must find and match clothing, accessories, and shoes to create outfits for clients, such as actors, politicians, news anchors, musicians, and more. Most of their work is done on TV/film sets, in concert backstage areas, or in their own homes.
An in-depth understanding of fashion history as well as extensive knowledge of current fashion trends is essential for fashion stylists. To design flattering ensembles and create styles that will catch others’ attention, it is also important to have a thorough understanding of body types and anatomy. A good understanding of communication skills is mandatory for working with models, makeup artists, and clients in general.
Having prior experience as a fashion designer is highly beneficial, even without a college degree. In addition to internships and degrees in fashion, some employers offer paid and unpaid internships to learn how the fashion industry works. Professional stylists value knowledge and prior experience, and many have worked in other roles within the field prior to becoming professionals.
Work conditions can vary from employer to employer and from position to position. While fashion stylists typically work indoors in climate-controlled environments, they may have to travel frequently. It may be necessary to work nights, weekends, holidays, and even special events as part of the job, as well as to lift and move light materials.
A Fashion Stylist’s Responsibilities
- Offering style advice and fitting assistance to customers one-on-one.
- Increase sales by planning and facilitating in-store events.
- Make sure that the store is well organized and clean.
- Keep a client list organized and up-to-date.
- Plan and implement individualised strategies to meet/exceed sales targets with the manager or director.
What Are the Steps to Pursuing a Career in Fashion Styling?
It is unnecessary to follow a fixed set of dos and don’ts when you want to launch your career in fashion styling. You can become an expert in this field, however, by following a few important steps.
1. Choosing a style that is uniquely yours
Investing significant time and money in fashion styling requires a decision before enrolling in a course. You will be able to build your unique signature style and build your interest in the field by watching fashion weeks in London, Paris, and New York, reading about large fashion houses and their fashion lines, and observing the minute details and learning about experimenting.
2. Qualifications in related fields
In order to pursue a career in fashion styling, you will need to obtain an appropriate degree and formal education in fields related to fashion. To get a better understanding of the evolution of clothing and the science behind it, as well as the history of fashion, it is essential for aspirants to obtain a quality education in the field like a Diploma or Certification in Fashion Styling from JD Institute of Fashion and Technology.
3. Internships
Internships are a great way to acquire experience in the field and become a successful fashion stylist. It is common for students to learn a lot about the fashion world and trade by working with fashion stylists and fashion houses.
4. Develop A Portfolio
It’s important to start building your portfolio as soon as you enter fashion school. An individual’s portfolio represents their experience, proficiency, and expertise based on projects completed in the past. In addition to recording your professional experiences, it’s a great way to reflect on your style.
5. Invest Time In Networking
For a fashion stylist to succeed, networking is crucial. An excellent step towards making an impression, and achieving success in the field, is to develop contacts that can be utilized to land a job, or for future references and collaborations.
Pay Scale For Fashion Stylists
The salary of a fashion stylist is determined by a number of factors. Many factors are involved, such as previous work experience, qualifications, and designations.
An entry-level Fashion Stylist with less than 1 year experience can expect to earn an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of ₹ 3 to 3.5 lakhs in a year based on skills.
An early career level Fashion Stylist with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation of ₹4 to 4.5 lakhs based on skills.
A mid-career level Fashion Stylist with 5-9 years of experience earns an average total compensation of ₹6 to 8.5 lakhs based on skills.
A senior-career level Fashion Stylist with 10-12 years of experience earns an average total compensation of ₹10 to 15.5 lakhs based on skills.
As an upcoming field in the fashion industry, fashion styling provides students with a platform for engaging their creative side and putting their skills to good use.
It can be overwhelming and confusing for passionate students to navigate the innumerable opportunities in the industry. Getting a little career counseling is all you need to succeed as a fashion stylist!