The Art of Styling

Monday, June 04, 2012

The Kardashian girl's personal stylist Monica Rose,
getting Kourtney ready.
What is a wardrobe stylist, what do they do, and who needs one? Those are the questions that I typically run into. Not everyone understands the exactly the purpose of a wardrobe stylist. I remember recently having that conversation with mutual friend who manages a really awesome band. He invited a few of my girl friends and I to their live show. I expressed to him interest in working with the band as a personal stylist and his response was, “who needs a stylist, only people who have no sense of fashion need a stylist.” I opposed and we argued our view points but I understood where he was coming from. I feel like many individuals feel the same way when they think about a fashion/wardrobe stylist. At times I don’t like to share my dreams and why I pursued wardrobe styling as a career choice because I often get mixed responses. But it’s usually that people outside the fashion industry don’t understand it. It’s simple to understand what a makeup artist or hairstylist does and that’s probably why there are more well known hair stylist and makeup artist then wardrobe/fashion stylist.
    So who are wardrobe stylists? Stylists are generally fashionable people who have an eye for details, are good at staying up to date with the latest trends and designers, and are also very creative. Some people branch into styling from their own love of shopping and playing around with clothes. Others are designers who are constantly coming up with creative ideas. I am a little of both. I started styling by creating custom pieces for a few model friends and helping them put together outfits for photo shoots. My first major professional jobs were assistant gigs, but from there I started booking jobs through word of mouth.
Wardrobe stylists are a major part of the fashion industry just like our favorite designers, hairstylist and makeup artist. When we open up Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, or any fashion publication, and we see editorials with beautiful clothes, someone had to put those looks together. When we see our favorite celebs on the red carpet or gracing magazine pages and we’re inspired by their clothes, someone picked out those outfits. Even on television and commercials someone has to dress those individuals. Many celebrities who styles we admire owe credit to their wardrobe stylist. Not that they’re not fashion forward on their own but most of them are too busy.

    The job of a wardrobe stylist is not just based on putting nice outfits together or shopping for clothes. There’s so much more that goes into those simple duties. Shows like Styled by June and the Rachel Zoe Project have given people insight into the world of wardrobe styling, so others can see the details of the job, like pulling from designers, visiting showrooms, staying on top of trends, making deals, signing contracts, booking jobs, keeping clientele, etc. I often refer to myself as a ‘Style Artist’, because I see styling as a true art form that takes major work and creativity. That’s basically what my styling company MODE Artiste is based on, the art of style. My main goal when I’m styling is to create an emotion. I want the person wearing the clothes to feel extremely confident and I want people to see the looks I’ve created and say ‘Wow, I want that!” “Where did they get that?”or “Who came up with that idea?!” With those reaction, I feel like my job is done.

my styling company MODE Artiste...
 promo ad
    Although I’m still building my career as a stylist, I have been fortunate to work with some great people. I still haven’t reached my peak or accomplished all my goals. I’m currently styling freelance but I would love to make it a full time profession. Just like any creative job it takes time, practice, and dedication. There aren’t many books on the business of styling. In the beginning I made a few mistakes and had to teach myself a lot of things the hard way. I recently made some changes and rebranded, hoping to take MODE Artiste to the next level. My new site and online store are currently in the works, set to launch later this summer.

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