So many of us consider ourselves savvy shoppers and chic dressers, yet even the most stylish stylists need a stylist. Here are eight ways stylists help streamline YOUR clothing chaos and enhance your personal and professional life.
- Inventory and Closet Detox: Stylists help determine what to keep, toss, donate, or consign, and, in many cases, return. This doesn’t have to be a painful task, and all stylists will agree that clients have items in their closet that can have a whole new life even if it’s for someone else! Donating clothing can be rewarding, cathartic or an income stream.
- Fresh Perspective: Even the most stylish fashionistas can use a fresh perspective, an objective eye for trends, and a new point of view. Stylists know how to accessorize long-forgotten pieces hiding in the closet, bringing new life to old favorites.
- Access to Exclusive Items and Private Sales: Stylists consistently watch for new arrivals and markdowns, so the client doesn’t have to. When a client has their eye on their ‘holy grail’ handbag or a special dress but doesn’t want to pay full retail or can’t locate one, their stylists have secret sources to help. A good stylist has cultivated relationships with retailers and suppliers to make things easy, especially when clients live far from a metropolitan area.
- Meet New People: Stylists have access to exclusive events and other unique offerings they share with their clients, providing an excellent opportunity for clients to meet, network, and socialize with new people.
- Suggestions: Stylists study body types and sizes and stay current on trends, new designers, and changes in the fashion industry. They suggest new ways of wearing an existing item or adding a new accessory to bring life to an older piece. Perhaps a client is looking for less is more, or fewer pieces of higher quality. A good stylist guides clients through parting with items that no longer serve them.
- Special Event Preparation: Everyone has had events and no clue what to wear. Dress code interpretations can be confounding! It’s a stylist’s job to understand the needs of events. Stylists spend their time narrowing down options from multiple sources so the client can spend less time running from store to store or scrolling for hours coming up frustrated, with an empty cart. They know what brands to shop for every occasion and budget, and their goal should be to make a client look and feel their best. Stylists also help identify ways to reimagine a dress or outfit the client has worn multiple times.
- Change: One constant in life is change. When a client’s life changes, or they want to make a style change, new purchases and replacements might be necessary. Stylists pull together prepared looks and suggest tailored changes for each client. Together, the client and stylist review what works and what doesn’t and make final decisions. Hate making returns? Stylists can tackle that.
- Objective Opinion: Wouldn’t we all love a talking mirror to tell us when something doesn’t look right on us or how to make it look better? Imagine if that mirror provided guidance to take a fearless fashion risk with confidence, for any occasion. A stylist will guide the client through choices of what to wear and how, so their best look shines through.
While a stylist may seem an excessive or unnecessary expense, the end goal is savings, self-confidence, and most importantly, a more fun and fulfilling life. After all, life IS more fun when you love what you’re wearing!
