The Philippine Online Chronicles

I am currently taking the fashion styling workshop at the Tan Gan Designer Fashion Workshop Series. Every week, if time permits, I’ll be writing about what I learned in fashion school.

My desire to take a fashion styling class is not a new one. Last year, I announced my intention to do so on one of my social networking sites, only to change my mind when someone replied with, “You don’t need to take up a styling class. You already have a good sense of personal style!” Lately, however, I’ve been thinking about starting a more fashion-related career – one that will develop my creativity and allow me to be a part of the local industry. I have no patience or the talent to become a designer, but styling is something I know I can become good at. Yet I had this gut feeling that becoming a professional fashion stylist will require more than a good sense of personal taste. On my first day at fashion school, I discovered that my intuition was somewhat right.

The fashion styling class at the Tan Gan Designer Fashion Workshop Series is being taught by Millet Arzaga, one of the country’s leading stylists. She styles for advertisements mostly, but also does editorials and handles celebrity clients like Sarah Geronimo. She explained to us that a fashion stylist is responsible for assembling clothes, accessories, and props to achieve a certain look. Your final look is guided by two things – the client’s requirements, and a technical knowledge of current trends, color theory, lighting, and other intricacies of design. This technical knowledge is something you can develop on your own by devouring images from magazines, fashion editorials, and runway photos. You need to be aware of what’s going on at fashion shows and what people are wearing in the real world. It’s also important to pay attention to trends in hair and makeup, and to understand the basics of color theory and design.

The stylist’s job doesn’t end at putting an outfit together; sometimes, you have to pick out the location of the shoot, conceptualize the shoot, and find the right photographers, models, and makeup artists for the job. Let’s say your client asks you style an Alexander McQueen-inspired magazine editorial and asks to find a photographer and makeup artist. Naturally, you won’t choose a photojournalist or a bridal makeup artist for this; you’ll need to work with a fashion photographer and avant-garde makeup artist. But let’s say you were assigned to a photographer who has difficulty choosing locations or composition. You can’t just sit there and let him or her bungle up the project; you’ll have to step in and give your input.

Rarely is the final look a result of an individual stylist’s personal vision; styling is a collaborative effort that requires a skilled team. And the client always has the final say. After all, they’re the ones handing you your paycheck.

The “death of the stylist”, so to speak, was one thing that was stressed over and over again during my first day. What do I mean by this? A good stylist does not impose his or her personal style onto the subject. In the same way that a good hairdresser does not cut a client’s hair short when she wants to keep it long, a stylist's job is to make the subject look good according to the parameters of your client, regardless of whether or not the pieces needed clashes with your personal taste. For instance, you like dressing up like Sid Vicious, and you need to shoot a group of teenagers for a Jollibee commercial. Much as you’d like them to wear skulls and chains, they can’t, as this will tarnish the fast food joint’s reputation for being a safe, family place. So you have these kids wear collared shirts and jeans, even if you hate this type of dress. Unless the project calls for it, a good stylist never leaves traces of his or her personal style in the final look.

Career opportunities in fashion styling are varied – you can work for magazines, advertising agencies, celebrities, or refurbish the wardrobes of individual clients. Unfortunately, the road to becoming a seasoned professional can be difficult and expensive. Expect to spend much and earn little during the first two years of your career as you build your portfolio and make your connections. The Times Magazine stylist Clare Lazaro says that her styling career began with six months of unpaid work, and points out that even the most skilled stylists are motivated by their love for the craft rather than the money. Although there is money in doing commercials and advertisements, it will take years before ad agencies pay attention to your work. When they do, you won’t be able to exercise your creativity because you have to follow their conservative requirements and budget. Styling for magazines gives you the chance to become more experimental, but it doesn’t pay very much.

So I was right after all when I guessed that fashion styling might involve more than just knowing how to dress up. Becoming a good stylist will require lots of hard work, a pulse for current trends, and connections in the industry. Do I have what it takes to earn the right to call myself a professional stylist? Only the next few weeks will tell.

Outfit photo by the author. Some rights reserved.

Sarah Geronimo poster from Chuvaness.