What you need to know about styling and shopping besides FASHION!

I got a message today from one of my new Facebook friends. She wanted to know what tips or pointers I could give her about becoming a personal shopper and stylist. Now if I had a dollar for every time I got asked this question, LOL!!!

Phew!!

Shopping/Styling is not just about popping into a store or showroom and grabbing everything and anything (the horror); putting it on the client and getting your check. Its more about getting to truly know the client and anticipating their every need - closet wise/image-wise ! Maybe it's my Executive assistant background, but it's what I have always used to assist my clients. This is honestly the hardest part of the job in itself. A lot of people know themselves well enough to tell you what it is they like or what they wished they looked like; and quite a few people haven't a clue!!! As a stylist , it's not just your job to dress people, but you have to truly get to know them. Why? Well if you don't, you run the risk of putting a look together that the client cannot possibly own. If you can't OWN a look (as in ROCK the heck out of it) then unfortunately you haven't done a good job.

Is having a passion for fashion enough to be a good stylist or personal shopper? Unfortunately not. Don't get me wrong, you do need to have some kind of fashion sense in order to pull looks together (this is something you either have or don't have to be honest), but there is more to it than that. So here are a few other things you need to possess.

1.You need to have amazing listening skills. Be able to listen and even read in between the lines to hear what isn't said. Why? Well if you can't hear what is being said to you, how will you know what your client wants when you're out and about shopping or pulling for them?

2. Do your research. You have to stay on top of the trends so you know whats going on within the fashion industry. Of course we set the trends ourselves. But a good stylist has pretty much everything in their closet anyway since almost everything comes back around. So knowing what is in season will help you educate your client and if you're really good, have them AHEAD of the trends.

3. You need to have a very thick skin. Why? You're going to get a lot of no's, especially in the beginning. You cant let it get to you or take it personal. But you MUST learn from it. Or else you will start to annoy your client and we can't have that!!!

4. You also need to be trustworthy. The amount of money that you're going to get thrown your way can be a bit daunting and for some even tempting. But if you have gained your client's trust, they will realize that even without seeing you, you've got their back. Never substitute fakes for authentic pieces. Never cut corners, because trust once lost...is LOST!!! I am sure everyone remembers Rick Ross' Louis Vuitton Evidence fiasco...that shouldn't happen to ANYONE with access to a stylist!! If you're looking for anything for a client, even if its from seasons ago, your best bet is to cultivate those relationships. They will help you IMMENSELY!!!

5. Remember its always about the client, you have to be totally unselfish with yourself and your services. Their needs come FIRST!! I can't tell you how many times people have bought items off of my back. I mean there are certain things I WON'T do (especially if its illegal!!) but I am not attached to anything. Its fashion and its business. Making the client happy is my FIRST priority. However there is also a balance between making the client happy and being a pushover. One has to strike a balance...

6. Be discreet. Confidentiality goes hand in hand with trust. I have worked for some people that I will never be able to mention. Sad, but true. I got paid...but there will be no shouting from the rooftops about how much money so and so spent. That's no one's business. You were hired to do a job, some may not care, but a number of them would rather keep such knowledge between the people involved. Respect that and know that the people that know, know. In this day and age where everything is on a blog somewhere or on twitter or Facebook, people value their privacy now more than ever. Yes, you may want the world to know what you did...but if its it at the expense of losing or offending a client, its NOT worth it. Understand that with time and solid work comes recognition. People will refer you and like it or not, that is the BEST kind of advertisement.



These are a few of the things I know I incorporate into everything I do and they have helped me IMMENSELY!! Of course there is a whole lot more to this, but then I can't tell you everything, can I :-)


Happy Mothers day USA!!!

Shoes and me...

Inspiration sometimes comes from the strangest places. My son asked me a simple question today. He said "Mom , why do you love shoes so much?" Lord, where did THAT come from? At first I smiled and asked why he was asking (did his Dad put him up to this??) He simply said , he sees how many shoes I have and how I seem to keep buying more (ouch)!!!

Of course I sat down and explained to him the differences between the various shoes and why his mommy needed so many. But afterwards, I started to think myself , where did this love stem from??

Then it hit me...my MOTHER!!! (May her soul rest in peace)

My earliest memory of shoes honestly came from her. My mother was just shy of 5 feet and my dad is a 6 footer. She was CONSTANTLY in heels. My mothers heels were so high, I actually thought she was closer to my dad's height (NOT). Growing up, she always seemed much, much taller (don't all of our parents?) than she really was. It didn't occur to me until much later that it was the shoes. Now my mother had TONS of shoes. I remember her having so many lovely shoes, all brightly colored too. I remember reds, purples, blues...sigh and she had tiny feet too (where are those shoes anyway???). My sister and I would often take them out and just look at them. They were sooooo pretty. There was a pair of red and white peep-toe pumps that were my favorite to play dress up in. They must have been at least 4-5 inch heels red with white stripes and a lovely bow on the top too. Super cute!!!! As much as I believe in mixing high and low, I DON'T do that with my shoes. My personal pet peeve is poorly made shoes and if I can see the glue on the shoe or the shoe can't stand on its own...thats a classic FAIL for me!!! To me, a sexy shoe is a very well made shoe. It just does something to me...

Ok, let me stop drooling.


Funny thing here is that if not for my son, this isn't really something I have ever fully thought about. I mean we often love what we love, but have you ever bothered to think of why you love what you love? There is always a story behind it. As a stylist, shoes are the one thing I refuse to skimp on, and I do not believe you can ever have too many . And that goes for both men and women. A pair of shoes can make or break an outfit. Wrong shoes on a killer suit? FAIL!!! Sexy dress and scuffed shoes? GAG!!!!


My mother loved her jewelry and her shoes. Guess that means I am definitely my mothers daughter, because I love those two things as well (shoes more than jewelry though). I firmly believe that the right shoes will change how you carry yourself and also how you see yourself. Sexiness and self confidence all come from within. Think about what makes you the most confident...whatever it is, own it and hone it. The results will shock you.


For me...it's the SHOES!!! I guess I should also prepare myself for my son's future love affair with shoes. We'll be saying in a few years that he gets it from his parents. Oh yeah, did I mention my husband is worse than me? LOL!!!!


Happy New month everyone!!!