Things to consider when hiring a Personal Stylist or Image Consultant

/ The Imagepreneur/
image consultant, personal stylist, hiring a personal stylist, hiring a image consultant

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN HIRING A PERSONAL STYLIST OR IMAGE CONSULTANT

According to Wikipedia, a personal stylist is a person who typically advises individuals on, for example, new fashion trends, clothing styles, colours and make-up. A personal stylist is a recognised profession not to be confused with a 'stylist' whose job it is predominantly to manage fashion photoshoots for leading fashion labels. 

This is a very basic outline, I feel lot more can be said, if you want information about the Value of a Personal Stylist you can read more HERE. 

Today I want to discuss what to consider when you hire a personal stylist or image consultant, so I put together a list below that will help you get started. 

WORK WITH A STYLIST OR IMAGE CONSULTANT THAT YOU LIKE

Every image consultant has their own style and way of doing things, I would suggest visiting their blog, that should give you some indication of how knowledgeable they are and if it would be somebody you would connect with and enjoy being around.  Chat to the personal stylist over the phone or seek them out on Instagram and send them a DM, this should give you some idea of their style and personality,  if you get on and you are happy with the way things went then it's a no-brainer but if your personalities clash then it's probably better to move on to the next stylist, this is a very personal service and you want to be able to feel relaxed enough to get the full value out of this wonderful life changing experience. 

THE PERSONAL STYLIST AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS

A personal stylist should always have the most updated website or social media platforms. This will always give you an indication of how informed and in the know the stylist is are the following the latest style trends for the seasons. Things to look for are brand consistency on all platforms from the website to social media Facebook and Instagram etc.. Is the website modern, stylish and sophisticated. Another great indication is to take a look at their blog and take note of the information shared and when last they posted, also look at the website as a store would you visit the store or shop from it.

PRICING

Are they open and upfront about their pricing structures is it on the website or do you have to email them for pricing, do they work with packages or pricing per hour, remember when you pay for a package you know the hours that are going to be spent with you and you know what you will be receiving, if they charge you per hour make sure that you know exactly how many hours will be utilised for that particular service and with whom you will be (sometimes for a lower amount you get a new personal stylist without experience that may not do the best job) otherwise you may be paying a whole lot extra that you did not budget for just to finish what you started. A seasoned stylist knows the value of her products and services and would therefore not be afraid to share her pricing. 

MEET WITH YOUR STYLIST FACE TO FACE OR ONLINE BUT MAKE SURE THEY CAN SEE YOU.

Personal styling is just that it's personal so if you are not meeting your personal stylist one-to-one and there is a computerised ‘stylist’ purchasing clothes for you from an online questionnaire that automatically decides what would look ideal on you, you may be selling yourself short. A qualified personal stylist knows the rules but we also know by looking at your unique body shape and skin tone when we can bend the rules, so often it's better to have The 'Real Deal' then a machine picking an outfit for you. 

BE WARY OF CHOOSING THE CHEAPEST PERSONAL STYLING SERVICES

Often a new personal stylist will charge a much lower rate because they do not have the experience, skills, expertise or confidence to charge a higher rate, this is understandable but if this is the case keep in mind that If you are happy to go with a lower rate that it may be a learning experience for both of you. 

CERTIFICATION AND YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

How many years has the chosen personal stylist been in business or at least had a background in fashion is she certified as a personal stylist or image consultant and is she certified in both flow colour analysis and style and image development and through which association, international accreditation is always preferable.

HOW WELL DOES THE PERSONAL STYLIST GET TO KNOW YOU

When you meet the personal stylist to start the whole process does she go through a detailed interview with you before you start with any of the services?  As a personal stylist the better you know your client the more capable you are of purchasing the correct items for them. It often happens that someone will become a personal stylist because they were told that they dress well but being a personal stylist is a lot more involved, they need to get to know their clients very well and listen carefully to what they have to say so the client feels at ease to open up enough to share their style story, like and dislikes. So make sure its someone that is attentive and listens to you carefully.

BE CLEAR ON WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ACHIEVE

to invest money in a stylist there needs to be a good enough reason to do so, what is at stake, do you need

  • A competitive edge over the rest of your peers in your particular industry

  • You become a CEO or a director of a company and would like to lead by example by looking and feeling your best

  • Your frustration with your lack of style sense has been taking up too much time in the mornings and you want to simplify, you know that a perfectly curated wardrobe would save you time and money

  • You are in the process of changing careers and you need to look put together for your interview

  • You have goals to meet a new man, be seen in a boardroom meeting and feel confident when you stand up to share your amazing idea

When you wake up in the morning does thinking about what to wear give you an instant headache, you are constantly being underestimated or overlooked because you do not look professional enough, you feel that your look needs an upgrade and you want to feel confident again but you don’t know where to start then maybe it's time to take control of the situation and hire a personal stylist. Hiring a personal stylist is an investment in yourself, its life changing and can in fact save you thousands.

I hope this list will help you find the perfect personal stylist that will suit your needs, remember at the end of the day working with a personal stylist is all about you.

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