Have you ever considered a career in style? Maybe you are always getting complimented on your own style, have a passion for fashion and often dream about turning this interest into a vocation?
If you long to help others to look and feel their best maybe this is the career for you? But first, do you know the difference between an Image Consultant and a Personal Stylist or Fashion Stylist? Even though the titles are used interchangeably in practice there are quite marked differences.
If it’s the bright lights of the fashion industry and the draw of styling exotic photoshoots in far flung lands or the hustle and bustle of a big-city studio then being a Fashion Stylist is probably what you’re after. If you really want to make a difference to real lives, have someone leave you feeling better than when they arrived, embarking on transformational journeys where their image grows to complement their lifestyle and personality then an Image Consultant is what you’re thinking of.
A Personal Stylist may have a knack for putting the right clothes on the right body; they may have a keen eye for a trend and they may leave you with an immediate dopamine hit of ‘Oooh I would never have thought of wearing this before’ type of feeling. But that feeling, I’m afraid, wears off. A trained Image Consultant will empower you to spot the right outfit for the right occasion for the body you have and the life you lead right now. Imagine that!
So if you are wanting to deliver a service which gets to the core of the person and sets them on a journey of transformation and self-discovery then be sure to select the right starting point for your own growth and development because, let’s be honest, honing these skills will not happen overnight. Image consulting is a dynamic profession that focuses on enhancing an individual’s appearance, associated behaviours, and communication to align with their personal or professional goals. Whether it’s guiding clients on wardrobe choices, shopping habits, body image, or celebrating the body they have right now, Image Consultants help people present the best version of themselves.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to becoming an Image Consultant:
1. Understand What an Image Consultant Does
Before diving into this career, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of what image consulting entails. As an Image Consultant, your role extends beyond fashion advice.
You’ll need to be able to:
Make an assessment of your client’s personality: ask the right questions and know what the answers suggest in terms of image, observe their body language, their choice of words, the way they talk and their non-verbal communications too.
Listen to, and make sense of, your client’s preferences and choices: afford them the opportunity to share their style likes and dislikes. Similarly encourage discussion about their style aspirations. Your client is coming to you because there is something about their image they are not satisfied with. You will need to be able to see the balance between their comfort zone and the gentle nudge into discomfort but not panic. It’s a fine line and probably the subject of another blog for later.
Review your client’s lifestyle: You might wonder why this is important? Believe me, I’ve known many an ‘Image Consultant’ to skim right over this element. But I believe image consultancy done well is a holistic process. How can I really know my client if I don’t know what they do? What makes them tick? What motivates them? How do they spend a typical day? Who do they share them time with? What activities do they need to be able to perform across their week?
Look at your client’s body: Assigning somebody a body shape is not enough. It’s highly likely your client has tried to do this themselves and sometimes they will have got it right, sometimes completely wrong and other times they feel they don’t fit into any of the archetypal body shapes. Of course! Every body is unique. You will need to recognise shapes, body lines, scales, proportions and so much more. And can you do this without the embarrassment of numbers on tape measures? The answer is yes with the right training.
Know about clothes: Clothing is great isn’t it? It keeps us warm, it protects us from the elements and it stops us getting arrested for indecent exposure. But it’s much more than that. It tells the world something about us without us having to utter a word. It psychologically prepares us for action. Think about the feeling you get when you tie the laces on your gym shoes, when you put on your uniform for work or pop your sequins on before a night out. Each clothing choice prepares us for something quite different. Before you can give your client the best advice you need to know about the impact of clothes AND about the manufacture of clothes.
Clothes are made for standard bodies. What is a standard body? I hear you cry. Exactly! Even catwalk models and our favourite influencers do not have ‘standard’ bodies which is exactly why when we order something that looked great on them it looks nothing like that on us. You need to know about this if you want your client to feel better about themselves and not a whole lot worse!
Successful Image Consultants balance style with psychology, helping clients build self-confidence while achieving ‘their’ desired image, but also recognising the fine line between them staying comfy and tackling the discomfort of trying something new and evolving.
2. Develop Relevant Skills
Already I hope you can see a diverse skillset is critical in image consulting. You need to have a knowledge of fashion but more importantly style. To provide a holistic service you should learn about body shapes, colour theory and colour analysis, and personal styling to create customised and unique recommendations for each individual client.
You will need to be adept in active listening and able to use clear and diplomatic language when imparting your advice. We may think we actively listen but the truth is many of us listen with the intent to speak when, in fact, listening actively is with the intent to learn more about our client.
You’ll need to understand your clients’ goals and how they want to be perceived to craft a personal brand that suits their lifestyle for both home and work life if required. Are these both the same? For some clients they will be and for others, not!
Part of image consulting is boosting your clients’ self-esteem, so developing a positive, motivational approach is vital. Some of these skills may come naturally, but formal training can significantly enhance your expertise. To enter into image consultancy without training is rather naïve and not a good model for business growth and/or satisfied clients.
3. Get Professional Training
Professional training will provide you with credibility and ensure that you have the knowledge to provide top-tier services. Consider enrolling in a programme through an organisation that echoes the values and concepts described above.
The Style and Colour Academy was founded by me, Jo Gaffney, a Mental Health Occupational Therapist and Wendy Thompson, a teacher, both established Image Consultants amalgamating our combined areas of expertise to create a programme which encompasses the principles required to train holistic Image Consultants when they complete the required modules.
Members of the Continuing Professional Development accreditation service, our courses have been created to meet the initial learning needs of the consultant so they can then embark on the development of their skillset. The Style and Colour Academy prides itself on it’s growing Stylist Community membership where consultants can build on and develop their skills over time. Leaving the training room is just the start.
Members get to share all their questions in the community group as well as attending a monthly hub where guest speakers share nuggets of wisdom to help create a healthy, workable business and continue to build on existing skills. The Academy offers certifications that range from colour analysis, styling, wardrobe editing, personal shopping and bridal styling with exciting plans to develop more in-depth training to members in supporting clients with body confidence, menopause, or other image related style challenges that come with all manner of life stages. The company prides itself in it’s approach to encouraging stylists to promote a more sustainable way of wardrobe management and shopping whilst fostering a sense of community where they can continually add to their existing knowledge and skills.
4. Gain Practical Experience
Like any profession, practice makes perfect. Training is just the start. The Academy course for personal styling is unique in that it is designed so that after just two days of training you start to offer mini services to friends or family as part of skill development and the building of your work portfolio. Returning for a further two days of in-person training you have real life examples to discuss and relate your learning to. After four days, their membership programme enables you to ask all the questions you need as you create your business and grow your confidence.
But remember, building experience and credibility takes time. Remember when you first passed your driving test? Did you feel like a confident experienced driver at that point or was it much later when you had been driving frequently and by yourself? I’m going to guess it was the latter. I know when I first qualified as an Image Consultant I really didn’t know what I was doing. I had the theory but that’s not enough on it’s own. I needed to talk to lots of individuals and see lots of bodies before my expertise began to evolve. Even now I will come across scenarios I have not seen before but I am far more confident in dealing with them than when I had only seen my first 10 or 20 clients.
5. Build a Strong Personal Brand
As an Image Consultant, your image is your brand. It’s important to cultivate a strong personal brand that reflects your expertise in style, professionalism, and personal development. The Style and Colour Academy includes this in it’s training. Or you can opt to have your own personal consultation prior to training. Being totally comfortable with your own sense of style will give you far more credibility with your clients and potential clients.
Following training you will be encouraged (but not forced) to consider creating an online presence, networking locally, engaging in marketing and sharing your experience with other members as you grow. How you appear both in-person and in a virtual space is crucial to gaining clients and establishing yourself as an expert in your field.
Still want to become an Image Consultant? (or Personal Stylist)
It’s a truly rewarding career and if you still feel like it is for you then don’t delay. Look at the courses available and enrol. Investing in professional training with a company that shows good values as well as expertise, growing your practical experience, and building a strong personal brand, you can position yourself quickly as a trusted consultant who enables others to look and feel their best self. I can’t think of a better career but then I am biased.
Still not sure? Book a no obligation FREE discovery call and ask all your niggly questions before making your decision. You have nothing to lose!
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