How To: Work With a Stylist (And How It Can Save Your Business)
by Laurie Graham,
Ladies Who Launch member, Los Angeles
You’ve worked very hard to create your business, spent
endless hours perfecting your product, and now it’s time to take
your idea to market. But are YOU as polished looking as your sleek and glossy brochures?
Your personal image is the first impression a potential client, vendor, or investor will have of your business. Does your image project an air of success, professionalism, and cutting-edge style? Or do you come across as dated, tired, and behind-the-times? When it comes time for those coveted media appearances, will you be ready to make a lasting impression?
If your appearance is sloppy, people will assume that your product or your services are sloppy too. You can have the most impeccable work ethic in the business and an amazing product, but if your appearance is disheveled you will have a hard time being taken seriously. Dress, talk, and act like the person you want to become.
But what if you just have no clue as to how to put an amazing “power outfit” together, or even where to shop for clothing and accessories with that “Wow Factor?” Then it’s probably time to hire a stylist. A stylist can teach you how to customize a signature look that best suits your lifestyle, personality, body type, and ultimate fashion goals.
Here are the top five questions to ask once you’ve decided to hire a stylist:
1. Does the stylist look polished and effortlessly fabulous him/herself?
Would you hire a personal trainer with flabby arms and a rump bigger than your own? Hardly! That is why it’s so important to investigate whether or not your potential stylist has a look that you admire or that leaves you wary of their judgment. If they can’t optimize their own appearance, then I would be hesitant to think that they are capable of handling yours.
2. Do you feel a good rapport with this person? Are they pleasant, a good listener, and informative?
Working with a stylist is an intimate experience. You should not feel intimidated by their personality or belittled for your own opinions. A good stylist should be willing to take the time to get to know you and your lifestyle before the process begins. Make sure that you feel like the communication lines are wide open for even your “silliest” of questions.
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I am also a personal stylist so obviously, I couldn’t agree with you more on the importance of personal presentation! Great article.
Cathy Phillips
http://www.cathyphillipsfashion.com
cathyphillipsfashion.blogspot.com
Laurie,
Thank you so much for such a great article- you have truly captured the essence of our business.
I am also a personal stylist and coincindentally your 5 questions are the fundamentals of out business plan- We believe what you wear begins with who you are and as stylist our fundamental goal is need to understand our clients- how they live and what their goals are for refining their personal style. And you are so right we need to live our own brand!
Regards,
Kathy Brosmith
Personal Vogue
http://www.personalvogue.com
There is a misconception that you need a great deal of time and energy to look sharp and put-together, and most entrepreneurs would rather spend their time working to grow their businesses. Hiring a personal stylist may seem like an expensive extravagance, but the end results completely eliminate any doubt that the experience is life-changing and overwhelmingly beneficial to the participant. You say so much with the way you present yourself that you can save hours of having to explain how savvy you are with just one sharp first impression.
Nicely done!
Gretchen Berg
Style Gretta
http://www.stylegretta.com
I cannot say how TRUE this is! I am a jewelry designer of all things, and I can hardly be seen in public! I have worked so hard to create my brand and build my line, that I have not shopped in the entire 4 years it took to get my company to what it is today. (I’m so embarrassed!)
I know I shouldn’t be too hard on myself since I bootstrapped the company and spent $0.00 on myself all this time. (Yikes!) But with upcoming meetings and trade shows, now is definitely the time to look as fabulous as my product.
The first thing I did was enroll in the local community college taking two ballet classes a week, to get the tone back and prepare myself for the inevitable dressing room mirror!(Also so I can actually KNOW what size I am.)
I’m lucky, since I’m a designer I know what I’m doing in the fashion department. But there cannot be enough emphasis put on the point that Stylist Laurie makes about your appearance and personal style.
Invest in your business, AND invest in yourself! Otherwise nobody will take you seriously.
P.S.
I’m finally going shopping next week! 
Excellent job!!!
Kristina Moore
http://mooreonstyle.com/blog/
Cannot agree with this article more. I am actually looking for a stylist in the Boston area. Does anyone have one to recommend?
Laurie, thanks for such a great article!
I noticed that 90% of the comments are from fellow personal stylist like myself. I think this is because we seem to always have to explain to others the affinity between your business image and your personal style.
I have been in the fashion industry my whole career and love to teach men and women how to acquire personal style.
I do believe that individuals sometimes feel that hiring a personal stylist is a luxury that only the elite can afford. So thank you for also clarifying the difference between a wardrobe stylist and a personal stylist.
I would just like to add one more benefit. The confidence gained from working with a personal stylist is priceless. You will see the gains in both your personal and professional life.
xoxo
Monica Diaz
Style Matters, Inc.
http:/stylemattersonline.com
Hey laurie:
Look what you started who knew there were all these great talented stylist commenting on your article..i say you should start a group and be our president. With all of this great talent we should band together in numbers Thanks for bringing all of us together and how lucky is Ladies Who Launch, there is a serious glam squad in the making on here.
Barbra Horowitz
Personal/celebrity stylist-The People’s Stylist
Author-Closet Control
Host=Fashion 411/It’s NEVER just about the clothing
West Coast Correspondent-British Vogue Online
http://www.barbrahorowitz.com
Hi Laurie,
This is the best article I have seen that explains to women that a stylist is a necessity, not a luxury. You are your best advertisement! You sell yourself before you sell your product or service. An investment in your image is an investment in you, your business, and your life.
Kara Alford
Style Consultant & Makeup Artist
http://www.karaalford.com
What a great post!
Us women have the unfair female advantage so why not use it to attract our market’s attention?
Especially when there’s so much competition out there. We need to use every fair bit of advantage we have.
Agree, disagree?
Diana “SexyFemale” Sabrain
http://DianaSabrain.com
Urban Darling Wardrobe Stylists could not agree more.
Corinne Phipps
Founder & President
Urban Darling
http://www.urbandarling.com
Ladies - I totally agree. Well done Laurie. And for those of you looking for stylists in areas where they are harder to find, please come check out my website http://www.closetcouture.com - we have an online stylist marketplace - amazing talented stylists who can help you online (we have one of Angelina Jolie’s personal shoppers - she can dress you for $25!!)
See you there, and what Laurie and Barbra are saying is so true!
Chris Elia
Founder & CEO
ClosetCouture.com
Selected as a TechCrunch50 finalist - one of the top 50 start-ups of the year in 2008.