All About Becoming a Fashion / Wardrobe Stylist

[smashinfashion]

ok, and a most critical question. what is the easiest way to go about asking stores to start a borrowing relationship with you? how do you handle a department store versus a boutique? should i bring my portfolio and/or business cards, maybe a stylists letter from the agency? up until now i've been doing the buy/return..buy/return thing. man is that a hassle. but with this agency job i will be need to be pulling a lot more clothes a lot more often..

 

[softgrey]

Originally posted by smashinfashion@May 28th, 2004 - 4:54 pm
ok, and a most critical question. what is the easiest way to go about asking stores to start a borrowing relationship with you? how do you handle a department store versus a boutique? should i bring my portfolio and/or business cards, maybe a stylists letter from the agency? up until now i've been doing the buy/return..buy/return thing. man is that a hassle. but with this agency job i will be need to be pulling a lot more clothes a lot more often..

we really don't borrow from boutiques in ny...it's more of a rental situaton or if it's for an ad you shop...for tests it's usually buy and return...or using your own stuff...or you'd try to start a relationship with a showroom and see if they'll lend you stuff...

if you're talking about doing it now...where you are...i think you need a business card ...if possible...but not entirely necessary ...a letter from the agency wouldn't hurt...and probably a credit card to use as security in case the clothes get lost or damaged...i don't really know how it works over there though...

 

[AlmostFamous]

I Stylists!

They are the sh*t!! ALways one of the coolest people on shoots. Especially the ones with super cool magazines like Nylon.

Oh Nylon stylists are "fetch". haha

 

[tott]

I've only styled one shoot, and it was HARD work.

First part was easy, deciding with the photographer and the make-up artist what the angle was; then collecting the stuff... That may, or may not be, difficult depending on the story. In my case it was pretty tough considering we were shooting a "gypsy" fashion shoot years and years ago... It wasn't really a commercial shoot, more like an inspirational "good for the book" shoot. For models and photographer.

And you know, when you shoot shoes you tape them underneath so the soles won't show wear-scratches showing; a couple of the pairs I returned were totally devoid of their previous surfaces! The tape removed them...

About the location, we all rode for 2 hours into the country side; beautiful! But how do you pack up the clothes, iron and so on? It can be tough, especially without electricity!

 

[smashinfashion]

Originally posted by tott@May 28th, 2004 - 6:04 pm
I've only styled one shoot, and it was HARD work.

First part was easy, deciding with the photographer and the make-up artist what the angle was; then collecting the stuff... That may, or may not be, difficult depending on the story. In my case it was pretty tough considering we were shooting a "gypsy" fashion shoot years and years ago... It wasn't really a commercial shoot, more like an inspirational "good for the book" shoot. For models and photographer.

And you know, when you shoot shoes you tape them underneath so the soles won't show wear-scratches showing; a couple of the pairs I returned were totally devoid of their previous surfaces! The tape removed them...

About the location, we all rode for 2 hours into the country side; beautiful! But how do you pack up the clothes, iron and so on? It can be tough, especially without electricity!

you're right, it is hard work! but i enjoy it. i use black gaffers tape on the shoes, it doesnt leave any residue when you pull it off. i bring a collapsable rack and throw everything on hangers flat in my trunk, all the shoes/accessories in a luggage bag, and i usually bring a steamer too. i've been wondering if there are any good handheld steamers out there?

 

[Spacemiu]

Originally posted by softgrey+May 28th, 2004 - 9:09 am--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (softgrey @ May 28th, 2004 - 9:09 am)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-ingenue@May 28th, 2004 - 11:06 am
our magazine usually pays $250 per project. (depending on the fame of the stylist) KINDA cheap huh?

many magazines don't pay at all...especially the more independant ones... [/b][/quote]
hwo dos any one make money?

 

[softgrey]

i loved your description tott...i used to do a LOT of shoots in the desert in arizona...imagine that...the heat and dust etc...and then they tell you ''keep an eye out for rattlesnakes and gila monsters!!!"....aaahhhhh......can you imagine...hahahaha...........

the studio makes those things a lot easier...but even then...how do you get the clothes over to the studio...messenger!!!.... ...we msgr a lot of stuff but if you're on a small budget...it's really difficult...it can get pretty expensive...and cab fares just went up... ...

but you gotta do what you gotta do and find a way to make it work...is all...

 

[softgrey]

many magazines don't pay at all...especially the more independant ones...

hwo dos any one make money?

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[/quote]

doing jobs that aren't as fun or creative...
those usually pay better...

basically you have to try and balance the fun jobs with the money jobs...cause they are rarely the same thing...

when you get one that is fun and lucrative...that's when you're living the dream...

 

[lovespell]

Currently I work at Herbergers, a department store owned by Saks. When I move to NYC, I'm going to see if their are any openings open at Saks and do a transfer between stores. How hard to you think it would be to move from a sales associate at Saks, to a personal shopper at Saks? I would really really like to try. This job sounds amazing, even with all of the hard work.

I honestly LOOK for reasons and special events to create outfits for myself and my sister and friends. I love creating different images and looks.

Not making a ton of money would totally be okay. If I could go to work everyday, loving what I'm doing, I'd do it for free if I could still survive day to day.

 

[softgrey]

you have to go and talk to human resources....the holidays are coming and saks going to be looking for more help...i assume someone that is already trained and working within the company would be an asset...

if they are legally separate companies...you may have to apply to saks separately...but if you can get a good reference from the store you're in now...that should make things easier...

don't know about switching from the floor to personal shopping...it differs from company to company... you should ask that when you talk to human resources or at your interview with saks...

good luck... ...i'm sure you can do it...

 

[littlerats]

I'm new. Hello.

Fred Segal in Santa Monica has workshops for stylists. This might be helpful if you're interested in that aspect of the business.

 

[lovespell]

Thanks for the info softgrey. I'm going to make some inquires with my manager.

And welcome littlerats!

 

[Erzébeth]

if i'm living in the middle of nowhere, is there no chance of doing styling jobs?

 

[poo]

Originally posted by Erzébeth@Oct 10 2004, 01:56 AM
if i'm living in the middle of nowhere, is there no chance of doing styling jobs?

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lol thats what i wana know aswell. i did a fasion shoot for one of my photography tasks at school using clothes from an op. shop and it looked really wild and retro. do u think i should take those pics to a magazine and see if they like them or whatever?

 

[ellekay]

Hi, my name is ellekay and I am a new Fashion Sytlist in Chicago. I am in deep need to meet other fashion stylist whom I can ask questions to and perhaps get their feedback. I would appreciate someone to please respond, I have joined other message boards and have had not luck. THanks.

 

[softgrey]

just ask the questions...someone will respond...

 

[giselakas]

Hi Ellakay,

I double as a freelance fashion stylist and Fashion Editor of a magazine.
if you have any questions, just email me at [email protected]

Trust me , I know how hard it is to get to know other stylists in the business.

Check out my website too at www.abe3d.com/gc

 

[oanadobre]

Originally posted by Xone@Nov 4 2004, 07:39 PM
hola gisela,te envie un mail hace algunas semanas contandote un poco de mi y de lo que hago.....lo leiste? pues no recibi respuesta tuya.....saludos!

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[Xone]

Originally posted by oanadobre@Nov 4 2004, 11:51 AM
No offence, guys, but could you please talk in English?

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ok,no problem

 

[softgrey]

thx tono...sorry...i have no tilda on my keyboard...