How to Choose a Personal Stylist - My Closet Edit (2024)

How to Choose a Personal Stylist - My Closet Edit (1)

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Let’s find a personal stylist option that’s right for you. There are a lot of ways to get help with your style from style boxes, to in-store stylists, to independent fashion stylists, and more.

If you’re confused about what styling option will be best for you, this post will answer all your questions.

What a Personal Stylist Does

Personal stylists help their clients make fashion choices. That includes what to keep from your closet, what to buy, and how to wear the clothing you have.

As a personal stylist, I’m passionate about my mission to:

  • Help my clients feel their best
  • Spend their personal style budget wisely
  • Bring together their look
  • Be a good listener
  • Solve problems quickly to find exactly what my client needs

What To Look For in a Personal Stylist

Personal styling is a very individualized experience.

Before you pay a personal stylist, there are a few things you can do to educate yourself about how they work and what sort of references they have.

You can preview their work through the content they post on their blog, Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, etc. As you’re looking at their online presence, do you find their content to be helpful? Do you get “a-ha” moments as you watch their videos, take their workshops, or read their blog? If yes, this may be key that this personal stylist is right for you.

It’s also important to read through their reviews. What have their past clients said about working with them? Reviews are an easy way to find out more about what it’s like to work with the stylist and what clients get from their style session. If the reviews help you feel excited to work with this stylist, that’s definitely a good sign!

Besides content and reviews, there are two crucial elements that you need to look for in a personal stylist:

  1. Someone who is a good listener, and
  2. Someone who stays relevant to trends.

Find a Personal Stylist Who is a Good Listener

First, you want to make sure the personal stylist you hire shows they care and they’re available to listen. Your unique self needs to be celebrated and heard!

You want someone who takes in your requests, whether that’s keeping shoes to a maximum of $150, staying away from anything yellow, or finding clothing that fits your new life at home.

The best personal stylist will listen to your needs and preferences and will not try to convince you to dress like someone you’re not.

Before hiring a personal stylist, ask if you can book a free consultation to ask questions and to share your style goals.

Find a Personal Stylist Who Stays Up To Date with Fashion Trends

Fashion is constantly changing. You want someone who knows the latest trends. This is true even if your style is classic—you still want to stay modern.

A good personal stylist knows when new brands come out. They’re always doing their part to find the best pieces for you.

When Finding a Personal Stylist, Does Their Style Have to Match Mine?

Surprisingly, the answer is no, not at all!

As you look through their Instagram, Youtube, and other social media channels, you’ll most likely find that your stylist does not have your style. Probably not even close.

You do not need a stylist that dresses like you. For a stylist, fashion is an art. The way they dress is usually more creative. It’s all about mixing textures, prints, and wearing pieces that are dramatic.

Great personal stylists know how to shop for different body types and lifestyles. Piecing together styles, stores, and colors is a fun process for them and working with all different personal styles is what they’re best at.

How Much Does It Cost to Work With a Personal Stylist?

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It varies. You’re paying for the level of experience you want.

You can get personal styling for free from an in-store stylist, but you will be limited to the brand or store.

Or, you can hire a personal stylist who will shop for you anywhere.

The more you pay, the more you get from it.

For personal styling online and in-person: the price depends on the experience of the stylist, their target market, and how many years they’ve been in the industry.

With style boxes, you are really just paying for the shipping fee. The stylists that work with you for the style box services are like an in-store stylist, where you are limited to the brands from that particular store, so essentially it’s free.

With personal styling workshops, there’s a small fee but you have to do it yourself.

Here’s a comparison of prices for personal stylists:

  • Personal styling (online or in-person): $80 to $300 dollars an hour. Some stylists charge per package.
  • Style box services: $20 – $60; the fee usually goes towards the items you choose to purchase.
  • In-store stylists: free
  • Online workshops: $15 to $2,000

How Do I Find a Personal Stylist To Hire?

There are a few ways to go about this. You can either ask for a recommendation from a friend, or you can do a Google Search, Instagram Search, or Yelp Search.

Pick your top 3 stylists and look at their online presence. Read the about page, profile, and blog. If you want to move forward, ask to set up a consultation to meet them or book an appointment.

You can search online for a personal stylist with these keywords:

  • Personal stylist near me
  • Online personal shopper
  • Personal shopper

What Kind of Personal Styling Service is Best For Me?

There are so many personal styling options available now. Let’s break these down with the pros and cons of each.

Style Boxes

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Style boxes are best for you if you:

  • Have a good sense of your style but are too busy to shop
  • Can make decisions that will make an impact on your style but will not add clutter
  • Live too far away from places to shop in-store
  • Are on a budget

Style boxes aren’t good for you if you:

  • Have way too much in your closet you aren’t wearing
  • Buy items you don’t love
  • Don’t understand your personal style
  • Buy without a plan

In-Store Stylists

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In-store personal stylists are best for you if you:

  • Trust the stylist isn’t just selling to you for commission
  • Are able to make decisions on your own without outside influence
  • Find a store that caters to your personal style
  • Need new items and know exactly what to shop for that won’t add clutter to your closet
  • Need last minute help for an event, interview, or a special outfit

In-store stylists aren’t a good option if you:

  • Are unsure with what you need to add to your wardrobe
  • Need help figuring out your personal style
  • Want help integrating what you currently own to the new pieces you buy

Online and In-Person Personal Stylists

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Personal stylists are best for you if you:

  • Want to understand your personal style
  • Want to build a wardrobe that’s functional and works for you
  • Don’t want to be limited to one store or one brand
  • Previously tried to figure out your style without success
  • Prefer personalized attention

Personal stylists aren’t a good option if you:

  • Have a tight budget
  • Aren’t ready to open up to new styles
  • Aren’t ready to part with old items

Personal Styling Workshops

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Personal styling workshops are best for you if you:

  • Are proactive
  • Are willing to put in the time to go through each step
  • Enjoy learning something new

Workshops aren’t good for you if you:

  • Aren’t motivated to go through the steps
  • Don’t care to learn about what works for you
  • Feel it’s easier to pay a stylist to do it for you

Are you searching for a personal stylist and want to learn more about the online and in-person styling services at The Closet Edit? Book a free discovery call here.

What’s stopped you in the past from working with a stylist? Comment below!

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How to Choose a Personal Stylist - My Closet Edit (2024)

FAQs

How to Choose a Personal Stylist - My Closet Edit? ›

If you're looking for a new stylist, do as much sleuthing as you can on their professional work. “Look up a hairstylist's reviews online, talk to current and past clients, [and/or] visit a salon in person and ask a hairstylist about their experience and portfolio,” hairstylist Chad Seale says.

How do I choose a stylist? ›

If you're looking for a new stylist, do as much sleuthing as you can on their professional work. “Look up a hairstylist's reviews online, talk to current and past clients, [and/or] visit a salon in person and ask a hairstylist about their experience and portfolio,” hairstylist Chad Seale says.

Do I tip a personal stylist? ›

Personal shoppers provide a much-needed personal service, but tipping is not standard protocol. A professional wardrobe consultant or personal shopper will meet with you, consult on your desired style outcome, and shop with you or for you.

What is the difference between a personal stylist and a wardrobe stylist? ›

Personal Stylists are just that, stylists. They tell you what the fashion trends are, styles, and colors. Stylists can also work to create a unique style for you. Wardrobe consultants on the other hand, go a little bit further as they dress you specifically to your needs, body type, personal style, and lifestyle.

Can I hire someone to help me find clothes? ›

A fashion consultant is a paid professional who will advise you on what to wear and how to wear it to fit your desired lifestyle or career goals. A fashion consultant can provide many services including personal shopping, closet audits, beauty consultations, style consultations and ongoing seasonal services.

What percentage do you tip a stylist? ›

Most sources say to tip around 15%-20%, so a 15% tip is probably OK in most situations. And ultimately, it's up to you how much you want to tip your hairdresser, stylist or barber.

How do I prepare for a personal stylist? ›

How to Prepare for the First Meeting with Your Personal Stylist
  1. Take an Introspective Look. Our consultation process begins with a 30-point questionnaire, with the purpose of understanding your preferences and lifestyle in as much detail as possible. ...
  2. Style Inspiration. ...
  3. Ask Questions. ...
  4. Objectives. ...
  5. Budget. ...
  6. Get Excited!

What are the responsibilities of a personal stylist? ›

A personal stylist helps their clients achieve their image goals. They put together outfits, suggest items for their clients to purchase, and provide advice. Personal stylists take their clients' unique needs into account and then create style plans that meet those needs.

Is it bad to not tip your hairdresser? ›

Make sure to always leave a tip in the ball-park of 20 percent whenever you see your stylist. Is it necessary? Not exactly, but it's an important way to show appreciation to your hairdresser for all the hard work they do to keep your hair lookin' good.

Do you tip your hairdresser if she owns the business? ›

Tipping Made Easy

The usual gratuity for your stylist or colorist (yes, even if they are the owner) should be 15 to 20 percent of the service fee. And while assistants are sometimes tipped out by their stylists, it's still a nice gesture to pass a little something their way.

What does personal styling include? ›

Personal stylists help clients create the most suitable image by choosing clothes and accessories that fit clients' body types and individual needs. They may also provide style advice and assist with hair, make-up, and even home decor. Personal stylists should be flexible and willing to travel.

Why do people hire personal stylists? ›

A personal stylist will encourage you to face your fears, go through each and every piece that you have, let go of the things that you are not wearing and come up with a curated wardrobe full of pieces that are hand-picked to make you look and feel good.

How much should I charge as a wardrobe stylist? ›

Personal stylist costs vary depending on the individual and their career but typically range from $50 - $250/hr. Large cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto have higher hourly costs on average of $100/hr.

How do I find my personal style? ›

How to find your personal style
  1. Spend a day looking at clothes—but don't buy anything yet. ...
  2. Use Pinterest as a mood board. ...
  3. Step outside of your comfort zone. ...
  4. Start slow and evaluate the clothes you wear on a daily basis. ...
  5. Mimic the looks of people whose fashion you adore. ...
  6. Clean out your closet regularly.
Apr 6, 2023

How much should I budget for personal shopping? ›

According to Dunn, you should spend 5% of your monthly income on clothing. To find the exact dollar amount you should be spending per month, multiply your take-home pay by 0.05. For example, if your monthly take-home pay is $3000, you should spend around $150 per month on clothing.

How much does one person pay for clothes? ›

The average person spends around $161 per month on clothes – women spend nearly 76% more than men do on clothing in a year. The average family of four spends around $1800 per year on clothes, with $388 of this on shoes.

How much do you tip a $500 hair stylist? ›

A general guideline for tipping hairdressers is 15-20% of the total bill. Based on a $500 bill, you would tip anywhere between $75 and $100. Of course, this amount can vary depending on the level of satisfaction with the services provided.

How much do you tip for a $30 haircut? ›

Should you tip 20% on a $30 haircut? For good service, it's customary to tip your barber 20% for a $30 haircut. The final amount you'd expect to pay is $36.

How much do you tip the lady who washes your hair? ›

Do you tip assistants? A general rule offered by both Waldman and Gottsman is to tip anyone who touches your hair. So, no need to tip the salon coordinator who checked you into the appointment. But if you can, give about $3 to $5 to the assistant who shampoos your hair or rinses color from it.

How does a personal stylist make money? ›

“Offer your services for free until you have enough experience to charge for them,” says Stierwalt. Once you have a few clients under your belt, many personal stylists “charge anywhere from $60 an hour to $200 an hour,” says Stierwalt. “Some charge by project as well: from $500 to $2,000 per day or project.”

What do you wear to a styling session? ›

On the day of your styling session, it is recommended that you dress with comfort in mind. Something that you can easily change in and out of, so maybe a dress and trainers. Not shirts or jumpsuits with many buttons to contend with!

What is the first step as a stylist? ›

The first step is a personal stylist, an image consultant or a personal shopper. At this stage a stylist should be aware of coloristics, visual correction of a figure, stylistics, basics of fashion business, creation of the wardrobe and the main fashion trends of a season.

What is a wardrobe stylist? ›

A wardrobe stylist, also fashion stylist, is a consultant who selects the clothing for published editorial features, print or television advertising campaigns, music videos, concert performances, and any public appearances made by celebrities, models or other public figures.

What are the rules of a stylist? ›

Let us share the ones that professional stylists swear by.
  • Rule #1: Balance proportions. ...
  • Rule #2: Don't focus too much on matching colors. ...
  • Rule #3: Wear trends but in an age-appropriate way. ...
  • Rule #4: Pay attention to your innerwear. ...
  • Rule #5: Find your signature style.
Aug 12, 2020

How would you define a great personal stylist? ›

A personal stylist is someone who helps others look and feel their best. They have a natural talent for fashion, spotting trends and putting together outfits. Their expertise is not limited to just clothing, though.

How much do you tip for $400 hair? ›

Remember the golden rule: "You should tip 20 percent on the entire service cost, not per individual," says Schweitzer. So if your haircut and blow-dry cost $40 total, and your color was $60, your total service cost comes to $100. That means you should tip $20 divided between the colorist and stylist.

What should you not ask your hairdresser? ›

5 things you shouldn't say to your hairdresser
  • Just take an inch off. Your definition of an inch is not the same as your hairdresser's. ...
  • I have never dyed my hair (but there was that time…) ...
  • I cut my own hair. ...
  • I have lots of time to style my hair in the morning (but you really don't) ...
  • I'm running late.
Jun 2, 2016

Is it better to tip hairdresser in cash? ›

Should You Tip With Cash or on a Card? “Cash is still king,” says Hegdahl. In general, hairdressers prefer receiving their tips in cash, she adds, mainly because they'll get to keep more of it than they would with tips added to credit card payments.

Should you tip your hairdresser when you have to go back for a correction? ›

Our four celeb stylists all agreed that they don't expect clients to tip if they are not satisfied. "If a client is still unhappy after I've tried fixing their haircut, I wouldn't expect them to tip. I would expect little or no tip until you redeem yourself the next time," says Abrio.

How much should I give my hairdresser for Christmas? ›

First, the bottom line: How much should I tip my hairstylist during the holidays? The general rule is to double the 15 to 20 percent you usually give, says colorist Sharon Dorram-Krause of Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger Uptown salon in New York City.

What are five examples of personal clothing? ›

Clothing is the articles that are worn on the body to protect and beautify the body. It could be dresses, shirts, blouse, trousers, wrappers etc. other are shoes, hand bags, jewellery, make-up, and accessories.

Do stylists use their own clothes? ›

Stylists frequently borrow items from showrooms to dress models, celebrities, and notable socialites for photoshoots and red carpet events. A stylist may occasionally be approached by a member of the public asking to borrow clothing.

What should I ask my stylist for? ›

Keep reading to find nine questions your stylist wishes you would ask.
  • What Is the Overall Health of My Hair and Scalp? ...
  • How Can We Customize My Haircut to Best Suit My Face Shape? ...
  • Which Tones Look Best With My Eye Color? ...
  • What Hair Color Complements My Skin Tone Best for This Season? ...
  • How Often Should I Be Shampooing?
Apr 18, 2019

What qualities should a stylist have? ›

7 Traits of a Good Stylist
  • Communication Skills. To make sure that you achieve the look that your client wants, constant communication is the key. ...
  • Patience. ...
  • Flexibility. ...
  • Adaptability. ...
  • Organization. ...
  • Technical Skills. ...
  • Mental and Physical Stamina. ...
  • Conclusion.
Aug 21, 2019

What is the best level of stylist? ›

Level 4 Stylists are masters of their craft. They are established, respected, and carry a reputation for excellence that has earned them this title.

How do I ask for a specific hair stylist? ›

Very simple, ask for her and only her. Make an appointment when she is available and make sure that both of them know that. If he says, “Oh, she's busy right now, I'll do it”. Say, “Sorry, but I want the haircut done by her.

Is the stylist hard mode? ›

Due to how difficult it can be to deal with Black Recluses in early Hardmode, it is recommended to find the Stylist in pre-Hardmode. Once obtained, the Stylist is one of the easiest NPCs to make happy.

What to expect from a personal stylist? ›

A personal stylist will help you pick the right clothes and also give advice on how to wear them. They can do this because they look at your body type and what is currently in style for men's fashion to tell you the best outfits that work for you.

What do you say to your stylist? ›

Be honest but tactful—try leading with something like, "I'm sorry if I didn't make myself clear," or "I wanted something more like this—let me explain it better." You and your stylist need to be on the same wavelength, and if that offends them, maybe they're not the right stylist for you.

Is it worth getting a stylist? ›

In the long run, getting a personal stylist is more cost-efficient than doing it yourself, because you are guided by experts who have been in the industry for years, providing straightforward yet effective process on how to style yourself, preventing the trouble of exploring for long hours on fashion, trial-and-error, ...

What is a stylist supposed to do? ›

A stylist is responsible for providing fashion advice, choosing the appropriate clothing for models, maintaining the fashion style, and supervising photoshoots. Stylists must always be updated with the latest fashion trends for recommendations.

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