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What is a fashion stylist? ashion stylists are responsible for creating the overall look to either promote a
garment or dress a client, personally or commercially. This job role can consist of a numerous amount of different areas. Some of these include editorial styling for photoshoots, magazines and other media publications, video/commercial styling when styling actors/actress for television, wardrobe styling for styling on movie/theatre sets, show styling for fashion shows, live performance for concerts/ live shows and celebrity styling. Some less commercial examples include personal shopping, retail fashion styling and corporate styling. Styling doesn’t have to revolve around clothes, it can also involve props and positioning's for photo-shoots or visual merchandising.
Roles of a stylist
Everybody is their own personal stylist,
as you choose clothes to purchase or simply dress yourself in the morning. But a successful stylist needs to have an eye for colour and style, have an attention to detail, be artistic and have a creative flair, have a passionate and hard working mind and have a knowledge of trend forecasting.
Stylists have got a wide range of tasks/responsibilities that they need to do their jobs efficiently. They can select items to appear in fashion magazines/media or TV personalities, celebrities or the wardrobe for film or TV characters, also advise on photographic approaches and the selection of locations, props, clothing, models, makeup artists, photographers, hair stylists and the overall look for photo shoots. As well as simply dressing clients, they need to understand different body shapes, hair colours, skin tones and use personalities/character to inform a particular style. Stylists need to have strong connections as they regularly borrow and return clothing and accessories from fashion boutiques and directly from fashion designers.
Who are successful Fashion Stylists? Tim Walker Fashion photographer Tim Walker doesn’t seem to belong to the world of you or me. He’s a Peter Pan, a daydreamer, a fantasist. His pictures are mirages, telling stories conjured directly from an imagination that most of us left behind in childhood.
Tim creates fashion photographs that evoke wonder, his work has moved further and further from the look and feel of mainstream fashion photography and the increasingly conservative path it has taken. Tim styles clients for abstract photoshoots, collecting props, selecting models and clothes. This piece focuses on editorial Styling which tells you a story through the image, by illustrating a theme, mood or concept.
Rachel Zoe, a celebrity in her own right, made her name known to the celebrity and fashion world by revolutionizing her own styling business and inspiring an entire future generation of stylists. As Rachel’s brand and demand escalated so did her styling business. Rachel Zoe Studio oversees the public image of many of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors and actresses for the red carpet as well as editorial shoots for major fashion magazines and international advertising campaigns.
PETRA FLANNERY
Petra Flannery is a Personal Styler who encompasses image and colour consultancy, one-to-one styling and shopping guidance. She regularly styles celebrates such as Zoe Saldana, Sarah Paulson.
Questions that we asked Petra Flannery
When did you first begin styling? I began styling over ten years ago. What was your “made it” moment? Zoe Saldana wearing Givenchy Haute Couture at the 2010 Oscars. I saw it when the show hit Style.com and I instantly knew it was her dress. The Givenchy team met us in Europe while we were there for work and the rest is history. It was truly a fashion moment. What is your favorite red-carpet moment to date? There are many I hold close to me because each has a journey. Right now I’m loving Emma Stone in yellow Versace for the 2014 London premiere of Spider-Man. What is the most unexpected thing you do behind the scenes for clients? Trying on clothes myself or making my sister, who works with me, try them on. She’s my muse. It really helps to have an understanding of what a garment is like on yourself so you can see it from a real perspective. It’s extremely useful to see the clothes on prior to fittings and have an understanding of their workings.
Colour Theory's
Complementary Colours
When dressing, many people find it difficult to colour match their clothes and so seek fashion advice on colours that go. There are very few set fashion rules when it comes to choosing colours that match in clothing. I think that such style rules are made to be broken, as fashion should be about expressing yourself as well as flattering your figure. However, an understanding of what colours compliment each other is something a stylist must know.
Understanding colour theory and combinations can prove useful for a variety of reasons. A new colour combination can add innovation to a seemingly dull wardrobe and can completely transform a look from winter to spring, spring to summer, and so on. Colour theory is relevant to several aspects of style besides clothing as well. For example, hair colour, makeup choices, interior design, and more are all types of style and design that revolve around colour choice. Complimentary colours are opposite colours on the colour wheel. Complimentary is far from it, as these colours are not necessarily ones that you would pair together. The use of the word steers more to the fact that they empathise each other. This look isn’t for the faint hearted, as you are sure to stand out front the crowd.
Analogous colours are different colours , but are next to each other on the colour wheel. They will always go together as they are so similar and subtle. Analogous colours can be for adventurous or shy people, just depending on how bright you want the colours to go, if you stand out it will be for good reasons – Just make sure you stick to 3 or less colours to mix.
Triadic Colours
Triadic colours are groups of three colours that are all equidistant from each other on the colour wheel. Because of their placement on the colour wheel, when paired together, triadic colour combinations tend to be very vibrant. You can choose one colour, so the other 2 colours become compulsory.
Monochromatic Colours
In fashion terms monochromatic means the pairing an outfit that consists of only one single the rule is to colour, keep the shades in the same hue. It can be light, subtle, bright, dark, vibrant or nude colours. It you choice, there are no limitations. If done correctly, outfits can look very professional, stylish and fashion forward.
What body type are you? When considering typical female body shapes women will fall into one of five classic body shapes – apple, pear, hourglass, boyish (slender and athletic) and top heavy (inverted triangle).
Accessories Sometimes all you need to complete an outfit is the perfect accessory or two‌ or three. We know what Coco Chanel said about removing one piece of jewellery before we leave the house, but these days, less isn’t exactly more. When it comes to wearing jewellery, more is often more. Styling your accessories has become just as fun and challenging as putting together an entire ensemble. It’s practically an art. The first technique to use is to pick a statement piece to work around e.g a large ring, watch or bag. You can either match or contrast. If there is no statement piece, pick pieces of jewellery than contrast each other. For example bracelets, wear a few but keep the smallest one in the middle. Silver, rose gold, copper, white gold. It no longer has to match! Mixing metals can make an outfit instantly dressier.
Don’t be afraid to add a pop of colour in a sea of gold and silver coloured bracelets. Mixing in colourful woven or beaded bracelets is a fantastic way to take on the high-low trend and to make your jewellery game less boring and more unique.
If you don’t like wearing too many bracelets then stack rings instead. Asos and other high-street shops sell some extremely affordable staking rings. There are no limits when it comes to stacking — you can wear two or three rings on one finger or wear single rings on each. Stack ‘em up to your heart’s content!
TEXTURES AND PATTERNS To appear harmonious the colours and/or shapes within an outfit need to look as though they belong together. Here are a few basic guidelines to follow: •If you are a novice max out at two patterns. •The busier or more complex the pattern/print, the better you are to coordinate it with a solid coloured garment or a garment with a simple pattern or texture.g, pin stripe. •Texture should be considered a pattern if the pattern is obvious when you stand 1 meter (3 feet) away from the garment. •Different textures are often easier to mix than different patterns. •One pattern should be dominant so the eye has a place to settle on first. And that place should be your best area given that's where the focus will be. •Adding a solid coloured accessory or skin between patterns can lock them together and/or calm the overall effect.
WHAT TO PAIR AND WEAR
Night Day/Casual
Make-up
Student