How To Build A Career As A Fashion Stylist?

Dressing celebrities for a living and getting paid for it sounds like the sweetest gig ever—but how do you get there?
Aspiring stylists, listen up! We are talking everyone from Sonam Kapoor to Lady Gaga and tons of red carpet regulars. Remember, Sonam Kapoor's head-turning looks at Cannes Film Festival 2019, above? That was all thanks to Rhea Kapoor who is not only her sister, but also a celebrated stylist and producer.
We would like to share some of the valuable career advice. Check out the tips below!

• INTERNSHIPS MATTER:

If you want to be a celebrity stylist, an internship at a fashion house or agency is a good place to kickstart. Based on some personal experiences, this industry works on the basis of recommendations. Intern for a stylist or become their assistant. The idea of this is to develop a relationship with stylists so that they can recommend you.
Internships teach you how to start a job, how to finish the job, how to go from the show room to costume houses. This is not something that can be picked up from your institute where you studied the course. It comes from practicising real life situations, on-the-ground experiences and good mentorship.

• PRESENTATION OF YOUR WORK:

To attract opportunities, you must have a portfolio that actively presents your designs & ideas, without you explaining. Also, a lookbook is a collection of photos that showcases your work as a stylist, the purpose being showing-off your creation to the target group, in hopes to build a client base, bigger and more high-profile.

• DIVE INTO THE FASHION & CELEBRITY WORLD:

Know the A to Z of fashion business like all the gossips of the town. Attend fashion shows, keep up with the trends & trades, and study different styles of each celebrity. What fascinates Sonam Kapoor may not work for Aishwarya Rai Bachhan, so having knowledge of their personal style is very important in styling them.

• REGULAR RESEARCH WORK:

It is hard to believe but a lot of research goes in developing a particular style. There will be a good portion of screen time until you finally have a closure. Work of a stylist does not limit to only sourcing the dress, but also gathering all the pieces to complete the look. So, if you think that celebrity styling is only one long photoshoot, think again! Prepare yourself for all the craziness of the celebrities too. The best stylist are also great at planning beforehand, anticipating needs and hiccups, and staying on top of what's going on in the fashion and styling world through the web.

• HUSTLE EVERYDAY:

Being a celeb stylist is not easy, it requires a lot of hard work. A typical day in a life of a stylist is running around town prepping for events, working for press at the same time & not to foget, being the juggler celebrity's clothes and accesories. We also know, this industry never sleeps - neither does their styling needs. Right from planning costumes for after parties to early morning shoots, you have to be ready to lose some sleep daily.

• GET A DEGREE IN FASHION MERCHANDISING:

Getting a Bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising will help you make relevant connections, learn from internships and get hired for amazing opportunities. You will gain more knowledge about design trends, product development, marketing, manufacturing and more. Meeting the right people at the right time will open several doors for you as a stylist in this industry.

There are dedicated fashion and design schoolsthat offer degrees in Fashion Merchandising, a few are listed below:

1. NIFT

2. Pearl Academy

3. JD Institute of Fashion Technology

4. London School of Trends

5. The Istituto Marangoni