I often get asked the difference between an image consultant, personal shopper, and fashion stylist. Since personal styling is a relatively new industry, these terms can mean different things for different people, and sometimes “stylists,” “shoppers,” or “consultants” use these terms interchangeably without necessarily having relevant training or experience. So here we go:
Image Consultant – when companies realized that their employees needed to have a defined look, or when consumers decided they needed a one-stop image shop (hair, makeup, clothing, appearance, etiquette), the term “image consultant” emerged. Image consulting is still considered the technical term for someone trained in the above, but the term often has a corporate association. Image Consultants often work for or within larger companies, and coordinate with their Human Resources (HR) departments. Their work can include presentations and seminars as well as working one on one. Personally, I enjoy the quality, education and training aspects of being an “image consultant,” but I feel the term is dated and hard to grasp for someone not familiar with Image Consulting. So, I often refer to myself as a “Personal Stylist” or “Fashion Stylist” instead.
Personal Shopper – department stores and sometimes smaller chains offer a personal shopping service. A personal shopper is an associate that works for the store, may or may not have specific training, and is generally paid by commission. Personal shoppers are great if you are loyal to one store and want a one stop shop. The difficulty comes if you like variety (they can only offer you their selection) or are difficult to fit (options and styles are limited). The biggest drawback, in my opinion, is that they are commission-based, so their interest is more about selling you clothes than discovering your style. At the end of the day, you could walk away feeling pressured to buy (since their services are often “free”) and not have pieces that are truly the best for you, your personality and your lifestyle.
Fashion Stylist – the typical fashion stylist does work for photo shoots, fashion shows, and magazine spreads. This is the most artistic/creative side of personal styling, as the idea is to push boundaries and show creativity, not necessarily create everyday looks. Also, models tend to be a certain body type and looks can be adjusted (think hidden pins and clips, plus Photoshop) so what you see on the page may or may not work for your body in real life. One of my favorite parts of fashion styling is the access to the latest trends, designers, and pieces, often before they are even available in stores. An asset of a fashion stylist is the ability to take what’s new and make it look eye-catching and attractive, so you’ll be inspired to try it yourself.
So what about Kaity Moreira and Style Up? I talk about our services as Personal Styling, Image Consulting and also Personal Shopping, since what we do does cover all three. To be more specific, I would say we use an Image Consulting approach (detail oriented and holistic) plus our knowledge of Fashion Styling (creative and fashion forward) to provide one on one services. I’ll go into the details in a later post, but hopefully these definitions have answered some questions and will make your styling choices that much easier!
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