What makes a great stylist

Often when you start a business you have time and no, or few clients. Work a 40 hour week on marketing and creating a client base until you have the clients to fill in some of that time, and then, never take your eye off the marketing ball, you need to continue to use whatever time you have around your clients to keep on with your marketing efforts to sustain your business. Now, this quality is super dooper important! When you start a personal styling business you may just have finished a training program.

Yes, I learn so, so much from you. This is not a one-way thing — me putting information out, you receive it. This is a two-way — win-win street. I value every comment and question as these are what have helped me learn and grow as an image and colour consultant. Learning new ways, understanding different models, seeking out new and different information will also keep you fresh and current rather than getting stuck in the past. It will assist you in providing better and more nuanced experiences for your clients.

Being open to growing and learning is one of my most important values and I believe has really helped me become the success I am today. Almost last, but certainly not least, is learning from my mistakes. She loved the dress she was wearing, and she wanted me to say that she could still wear it. Telling her something that was wrong was doing her no favours. Listen to those little voices if you feel something is not quite right. And if you realise afterwards you got it wrong, ring them up and make a time to put it right.

We all have bad days and admitting mistakes is hard, but shows both courage and integrity. And speaking of integrity, this is important in any business for ongoing success. They find out what you need and take you to some stores. You are paying them for their time and expertise. They have an arrangement with these specific stores that they get a percentage of what you spend. To me this is double-dipping. But the actual styling part — it is not a skill. Styling can be transformative. It all depends on your viewpoint.

Styling and creative image-making within the fashion industry can be a force for social change, visual representation or political rebellion. Build your network.

Building a network is key. Be proactive, attend relevant events, keep up to date with the latest fashion news and be active on your social media platforms. Here is a top tip: If you don't know models. Exploring their massive digital database, you will see that many shoots — editorial and commercial - are produced by the same teams. People build their networks and choose to work together again and again. So, get your networking boots on!

Find people in the same position as you who are willing to collaborate, get your name out there, reach out to people in the industry and learn from the experts. Build a portfolio. My three golden rules for building your profile as a stylist: test shoots, networking and assisting.

Get yourself a bag of vintage clothes and a camera, or a friend with a camera. Find someone who looks interesting to model, a great location you can access for free or a blank wall in your flat. As your test shoots get more interesting and you start to create imagery you believe in, be bold and reach out to more people to collaborate with. Start showing your burgeoning portfolio to online editors, small magazines, independent brands.

Remember it is a marathon not a sprint. This is not a job about shopping. It is far too hard work and it's mostly not very glamorous! Some stylists break out of the shadows and become as famous as their clients, but this is very rare. Although a life in fashion may seem glamorous, a stylist usually endures several years of long hours and anonymity before achieving success. There are some inherent and learned qualities that make a successful fashion stylist.

Fashion stylists stay on top of the latest trends in the fashion community so that they can dress clients appropriately. Style inspiration may come from music, film and what people are wearing on the streets. A star who is known for being quirky would probably lose credibility by suddenly wearing business suits all the time, for instance. Creative ability and good visualization skills are key in becoming successful, for a good stylist must be able to see the final outcome before the clothes are even on the client.

On a photo shoot set, the stylist must be able to communicate with the art director and others to capture the right style for the product.

Be confident with your skills. You never know what your day will bring you. Trust in your gut and know that your vision and creativity are enough to do best in your craft.

Organization The salon environment can be hectic. If you are a freelance artist, make a note of your schedules or plot them in your calendar. Prepare your styling kit in advance or at least a night before your scheduled on-site service. Technical Skills One of the major reasons why clients will choose you is your skills.

How do you develop and enhance your skills? Commit time for education and training. Attend a good cosmetology school that will prepare you for a great career in the beauty industry. Take the state licensing examination for cosmetologists. Obtain experience. Your technical skills are your biggest strength. Here are some tips to increase your stamina: Manage your emotions. You will surely come across with difficult clients.

Learn to approach bad situations with humor and keep the big picture in front of you. Establish good habits. Get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise.

Take time off. Doing so helps keep your creativity soaring. Conclusion Great stylists are not only talented and experienced.