Fashion stylist

Fashion stylists work for individuals, fashion houses and clothing brands. Their main responsibilities include providing fashion advice; choosing and co-ordinating outfits for models in photo shoots or actors in television and film; and choosing props and accessories and preparing them for shoots.

Types of stylist

Stylists could work in any of the following areas:

• personal
• e-commerce/online
• photographic
• catwalk
• still life
• product
• blogging/social media.
• Film/Television industry

Work activities

• Keeping up to date with current and changing trends in fashion and design.
• Advising clients on fashion styling for visuals.
• Selecting the most appropriate pieces from collections and ranges for the shoot.
• Purchasing props for shoots.
• Supervising photo shoots.

Work conditions

• Travel: travel to various locations for meetings and photo shoots is integral to the job; international travel is usually a feature.
• Working hours: are typically long and irregular.
• Location: Many stylists are based in Dublin and Belfast, and are required to travel.

Salary

• Employed junior stylists can expect to earn in the region of €20,000 to €23,000.
• Senior stylists earn higher salaries of between €26,000 and €34,000.
• Being a freelancer is very common in this industry, and as a freelancer you'll be paid either a daily or hourly rate. An assistant stylist can earn anything from €55 to €170 per day -if paid hourly, this is in the region of €10.10 to €11.10 per hour.

Entry requirements

Relevant degree subjects are fashion merchandising, styling and designing. Institutes such as the National College of Art and Design in offer a variety of appropriate courses. The fashion industry is extremely competitive, making relevant experience essential for getting ahead.