7 Tips For Making a Name as a Fashion Consultant

Fashion styling is visible almost everywhere you look. In advertising, in magazines, and on blogs and banners online. Making a name for yourself as a fashion consultant can seem daunting with the plethora of at-home experts blogging and playing along.

Fashion Consultant Tips

Here are seven tips to get you to stand out from the pack – and make your name shine.
 

Get a Clue

It’s a good idea to delve as deeply as you can into the workings of the modern fashion styling industry.

Doing your research prior to establishing your new career will allow you to understand where certain pitfalls exist, and can allow you to save the time and energy of making these same mistakes for yourself.

Some quick research can also lead you to reputable sources of fashion styling information; whether that’s industry journals (magazines), the online portfolios of fashion consultants you enjoy or admire, or to an accredited course.

Get an Education

A professional course (click here for stylist courses) can teach you more than the basics of the trade.

Though you can expect to brush up on an essential range of fashion knowledge, a professional course can offer you a range of tips across essential skills such as networking, researching, and marketing.

Gaining a qualification also allows you to assert your abilities with the legitimate backing of a formal institution, giving you an edge when you’re positioning yourself against competition.

Get Talking

A large part of a fashion stylist’s job is talking to others in the industry and getting to know their potential peers and mentors.

Ask questions. If you’re afraid of approaching other fashion consultants in person, ask anonymously online.

Message boards, forums and email allow you to reach out and connect with your influences in a way which is non-invasive and helpful.

If you’re itching to talk to people in the know, get in touch, and get talking!

Get Styling

It’s never too early or too late to get a portfolio of work together.

If you’re trying to get a client base or get your name recognised within the industry, you’ll first have to amount a body of work.

Approach friends and acquaintances. Offer your skills at discounted or complimentary rates and ask their permission for testimonies.

Take the time to document your experiences and elicit feedback from your clients. Find out which elements of the process they enjoy and what they hope to get out of the experience.

Make sure to take professional photographs of your clients. These will be handy for your portfolio, but as content for for some of your next steps.

Get Online

Establishing an online presence is an important part of modern creative practice. Information is transmitted and relayed online in ways which enable your name and your content to reach potential clients and collaborators.

Develop a strong social media presence and connect with like-minded businesses.

Don’t be afraid to connect with customers and bring in the warmth and colour of your personality. It will help to establish your name and image as a brand.

Get Into The Groove

Once you’ve committed yourself to an online presence and developed a customer base, it’s time to keep learning and developing your skills.

If you’re interested in offering extra services (beauty, make-overs, counselling), look into ways you can integrate and offer these services into your existing business.

Finding ways to continually connect with your clients will keep them coming back (and bringing their friends).

Get Growing

Business growth is an essential and important part of creative practice if you’re seeking to make a living from it.

In order to grow your name and your business, it may be essential to develop a fashion marketing strategy, or to perform market research.

Make a short term and a long term plan and devise ways to address each point on these plans.

The Gist of it

Creating a name as a fashion consultant can be difficult. With some clever planning and networking, you can step to the front of the fashion pack.

Develop your skills and never stop the learning process. Don’t forget to engage with your customers in a way where you’re creating lifelong customers and allies.

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