ch.1 the fashion stylist

Definition of fashion stylist

Someone responsible for choosing the look and clothing, and often much more, to communicate fashion ideas, trends, or themes or to advertise a fashion project

Does fashion styling always require a model?

No, clothing can be styled alone or without a group of products

Brief overview of the styling process

Selecting and experimenting with a range of garments to establish the perfect composition

Who were the first stylists?

Fashion editors who worked exclusively for fashion magazines

What did fashion editors, “the first stylists,” actually do?

They edited the clothing and magazine pages, and they chose the designers that would be featured

What were fashion shoots like before stylists became a thing?

The relationship between photographer and model was most important and models would do their own hair and make-up and bring their own accessories

When did the first freelance stylists appear?

The 1980s

What are some examples of the earliest style magazines?

The Face and i-D

What was work like for early freelance stylists?

Magazines had no permanent fashion staff, so stylists could do whatever they wanted

Ray Petri

Thought by many to be the first fashion stylist, was known in the 1980s for his “Buffalo” style

Buffalo style

A groundbreaking mix of urban uniform, ethnic dress, sportswear and high-end fashion

What did Ray Petri do that at the time was considered new and exciting?

He used real people instead of models, including Black men and mixed race men

What magazines and designers did Petri work with?

Contributed to the face magazine and worked with designers Jean Paul Gaultier and Giorgio Armani

What was the name of the creative collective Petri was a part of?

Buffalo

What did GQ editor Dylan Jones say about Petri?

Petri is the best stylist

In what areas do fashion stylists work?

Fashion Editorial styling, commercial fashion styling, fashion shows and events, and as personal stylists

What can stylists sometimes be called in the editorial world?

Fashion editors and assistants

What are stylists sometimes called in fashion stores?

Personal shoppers

What is a stylist's work usually the result of?

Their personal opinion

How do stylists move clothing in a new direction?

They challenge perceptions of fashion and style

What are some examples of clothes styled in ways that are not the designer’s intention?

Underwear worn as outerwear, women in men's formal attire, sports apparel placed in a fashion environment

What is the nature of a stylist's job dependent on?

The field they work in

What might be the responsibility of a stylist working for a publication?

Create something in line with a particular aesthetic and as such will have more control over the product

What might be the responsibilities of a stylist working on an advertising campaign?

Likely to be a part of a large team and will defer to the client and the brief