What Makes a Good Fashion Stylist?

A good fashion stylist is often described as a visionary with an eye for detail, a deep understanding of fashion trends and keen sense of aesthetics. But besides that, fashion stylists actually cater to different types of specialisms. When producing creative projects, it’s important to ensure you're working with the right type of fashion stylist for your specific needs, while also recognizing the essential qualities they must have beyond just an impressive portfolio.

3 Types of Fashion Stylists

Editorial Fashion Stylists

Editorial fashion stylists are at the forefront of fashion trends. They work with magazines, photographers, and designers to create visually stunning and trend-setting images that often forecast upcoming fashion movements. Their work involves selecting outfits and accessories that align with the publication's vision, coordinating photo shoots, and ensuring that each piece of clothing fits the overall aesthetic. These stylists are instrumental in defining what’s in style and influencing the broader fashion landscape.

Personal Fashion Stylists

Personal fashion stylists cater to individual clients, including celebrities. Their primary role is to figure out the latest trends and adapt them to fit the unique style and personality of their clients. They work closely with individuals to curate wardrobes that enhance their image, whether for daily wear or special events. This type of styling requires a deep understanding of the client’s preferences, body type, and lifestyle to create a cohesive and flattering look. Personal stylists need to be versatile and attentive to detail to ensure their clients always look their best.

Commercial Fashion Stylists

Commercial fashion stylists focus on wardrobe selection for advertisements, films, TV shows, and other media productions. Their goal is to choose clothing that helps tell a story or sell a product. They need to understand what clothes sell and how to present them in a way that appeals to the target audience. This type of styling is similar to editorial and personal styling, as commercial stylists also need to forecast trends and adapt styles to fit specific narratives or brand images. Their work is crucial in creating compelling visual stories that resonate with viewers and consumers.

What Makes a Good Fashion Stylist?

Good Communication

Effective communication is crucial for a successful fashion stylist, as it ensures they can understand and align with clients' needs, preferences, and visions, whether working with celebrities, designers, or commercial clients. It makes way for seamless collaboration with diverse team members, such as photographers, makeup artists, hair stylists, and models. 

Clear communication ensures everyone is on the same page, which is vital for executing a cohesive creative vision. Plus, being open to feedback and integrating it from clients and team members allows for continuous improvement and refinement of their work.

Adaptability

The fast-paced and ever-changing nature of the fashion industry makes adaptability a critical skill for a stylist. A successful stylist stays ahead of rapidly changing trends, ensuring their work remains current and relevant. 

They also excel in problem-solving, creatively addressing unexpected challenges like wardrobe malfunctions or schedule changes to keep projects on track. Additionally, an adaptable stylist tailors their approach to meet the unique tastes and requirements of each client, whether it's for a high-fashion editorial or a personalised wardrobe consultation.

Professionalism

Professionalism for a good fashion stylist involves several key behaviours and attitudes. Reliability is essential, as clients and collaborators need to trust that the stylist will meet deadlines, deliver quality work, and handle responsibilities competently, fostering long-term professional relationships. 

Maintaining high ethical standards is important, including respecting confidentiality, giving credit appropriately, and conducting business transparently and fairly.

Here are some of our favourite Australian Fashion Stylists

Jessica Dos Remedios

Based in Sydney.

Jessica dos Remeidos is a Fashion Stylist and Creative Consultant whose work has been featured in top publications like Vogue US, Harper’s Bazaar, and Rolling Stone. Her commercial clients include brands such as Coach and Tom Ford, while her celebrity clients range from Hailey Bieber to Susan Sarandon.

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Sara Smith

Based in Sydney.

Sara Smith has a strong background in fashion journalism and editorial styling. She has collaborated with iconic photographers like Gilles Bensimon and styled top models such as Charlee Fraser.

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Sarah Starkey

Based in Sydney. Represented by Artist Group

Sarah Starkey is a Sydney-based stylist and creative consultant who's best known for editorial work. Her extensive portfolio includes styling for top publications like GQ and Harper’s Bazaar, working with brands like Calvin Klein and David Jones, and styling high-profile personalities such as Chris Hemsworth and Charli XCX.

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Charlotte Stokes

Based in Sydney. Represented by DLM

Charlotte Stokes started out as a fashion director for leading Australian magazines like Cosmopolitan and DOLLY. Now a creative director, she specialices in both location shoots and elaborate set designs, with her work appearing in Grazia and Marie Claire, and for brands like Seafolly and Witchery.

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Naomi Smith

Based in Sydney.

Naomi Smith, an Australian stylist with a 20-year career, has held significant roles at Marie Claire, Elle Australia, and Vogue Australia, where she served as Fashion Director and launched the magazine's first digital app. Currently, she contributes to international publications and consults for e-commerce sites and designer brands.

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