Have you ever gone online and diagnosed yourself with tonsillitis when all you really had was a simple cold?
There’s a reason we go to professionals for things we don’t have the experience to do ourselves. The same is true with a personal fashion stylist.
Why struggle to match colors and styles yourself (and risk looking like a disaster at that business meeting your sister’s wedding) when you can have a professional help make those choices with you.
Here are five tips you need to know before you hire a personal stylist.
1. Why Do You Want a Personal Fashion Stylist?
This may sound obvious, but before you hire a personal stylist, make sure you know exactly what you want.
Are you hiring a personal stylist because you don’t have time to shop yourself? Are you hiring them to create outfits from things you already have in your closet? Are you hiring them to completely redefine your business or personal look?
A stylist will do their best to help you if you’re not sure where to start, but you will get the best results if your stylist already knows what you’re looking for.
2. Make Sure You Hire an Experienced Stylist
Though someone can pursue a course in fashion styling or image consulting, a person does not have to take those classes in order to call themselves a personal stylist. This means there are a lot of people out there calling themselves personal stylists without any real experience or education.
As you’re looking for a personal fashion stylist, make sure they have good reviews. Ask a stylist you’re interested in for some references to see what past customers thought of the stylist’s services.
Be wary about a stylist who doesn’t treat what they do like a real business.
A good stylist will have a good social media presence, but they will also have good customer service and be very clear about their policies and what they offer.
You should also ask about refunds before you hire. If you purchase a stylist for a certain number of hours but don’t end up using all that time, you’ll want to make sure you can get some money back.
Overall, if a stylist doesn’t treat what they’re doing with respect and professionalism (even in things as small as emails), you should look for a different stylist.
3. Find a Stylist You’re Comfortable With
Depending on why you’re hiring a personal stylist, you may have to get slightly personal with them.
If a stylist is helping you try on different outfits, they may see you in your underwear. In order for them to get clothes that fit you right, they’ll have to know your measurements.
You may even have to tell your stylist personal information about yourself for them to really get to know you and pick the best clothes for you.
Whatever the reason, make sure you feel comfortable being alone and vulnerable with a stylist before you hire them.
4. Be Willing to Try New Things
If you’re looking for a new wardrobe, be willing to try new things.
A stylist may have you try on some clothes you would never pick on your own, but they may flatter your figure or help you stand out.
Remember, a good stylist will have experience fitting people of all sizes and personalities, so they know what will look good with your hair color, eyes, and shape.
You won’t know if you like it if you don’t try!
5. Get What You Want
While you should hire a stylist with an open mind, make sure you are still getting what you want.
You should never feel pressured to buy something you aren’t comfortable wearing or end up with a hairstyle (if you hire a personal hairstylist for a wedding or fancy event) you don’t like.
A personal fashion stylist is catering to your needs.
If you are feeling pressured or don’t like the options they are giving you, politely suggest another way to go about it.
A Personal Fashion Stylist Is Worth It
Hiring a personal stylist doesn’t mean you aren’t capable of putting outfits together yourself. Instead, a stylist will give you confidence that no matter what you’re wearing at what event, you’ll still look great.
Need some help putting together your wardrobe? Contact me and I’ll get you started!