“Styling Tips and Tricks in a New Economy”
The Fashion Group International, FGI, hosted a panel discussion which featured the top Image Consultants and Stylists in San Francisco Bay Area including Sterling Style Academy founder, Michelle T. Sterling. Audience members asked questions regarding career opportunities in this relatively new industry which, as Ms. Sterling stated, is no more than 20 years old.
“What are the actual job titles a student can expect once they receive the right styling training?” asked one audience member. Jill Siefert, styling instructor at the Art Institute of San Francisco, discussed corporate opportunities including prop stylist, food stylist, location stylist and creative director for major fashion houses. Ms. Sterling further expanded the upon the subject by discussing the many consulting positions available as personal shopper, executive stylist, image consultant and personal stylist. “San Francisco has one of the highest concentrations of stylists in the U.S,” she explained. Ms. Siefert added by stating, “We welcome the competition! There is a client for everyone.”
Each panelist discussed their successes and lessons learned in their careers, which further informed the audience on what to expect in a styling career and how to position yourself according to the clients you want to work with.
Teresa Morisco, owner of Wardrobe 911, described her first “Aha!” moment when working with the wife of a man who called for wardrobe help. She learned that even though some clients express they want change, many aren’t actually ready to adopt needed changes into their wardrobes and, in turn, their lives. “It is so important to express to each client WHY something works or doesn’t work on them in order for them to move beyond their old habits.”
Ms. Siefert shared an experience of setting boundaries when she explained how she was able to develop a needy, time-consuming client who would contact her at all hours of the day into one of her best repeat business clients who has learned to respect the stylist’s terms. “This is someone who was once the joke of the office and is now one of the most respected people in her firm when it comes to style.”
Ms. Sterling discussed the client she consulted with earlier the same day. “He is from Southern California and the CEO of a major swimwear company, and because his background is in corporate finance, he sought out my services because I come from the financial industry as well.” She further explained his interest in locating a nation wide consultant who could offer follow up services in additional cities including Miami, Los Angeles and New York.
Each stylist also explained what they would be doing if they weren’t an image consultant or a stylist. Most agreed with Ms. Sterling when she explained that, “For me, there is no plan B. Failure is not an option. It’s all about making plan A work. If you are passionate about your career then it is within your power to harness your talents and create a profitable business that best suits you.”
For more information on training to become a successful image consultant, contact Sterling Style Academy, info@sterlingstyleacademy.com.
-Karri Ann Frerichs-
Admissions Director, Sterling Style Academy
The Value of an Education Targeted to Your Specific Career
Fashion schools and art academies offer well-rounded educations in fields including Fashion Design, Visual Merchandising, Merchandise Marketing, Product Development, Beauty Industry Marketing, and the list goes on. Few offer a targeted education in the exact career you are looking for – Image Consulting. In most cases, to achieve an Associate of Arts certificate, students must invest up to 9 months or more and enroll in or already have completed courses including English, literature and composition, science and math. And not every previously completed credit course transfers to every institute.
So what about those professionals ready to switch careers now? What if you worked your way up in a career without a college education? Maybe you are ready to re-join the ranks of the hundreds of thousands of successful entrepreneurs after raising a family. If you are eager to start making now – not 9-18 months from now, where do you go?
The Sterling Style Academy offers not only offers highly targeted, in depth training to launch your image consulting and/or personal stylist career in less than one month, we also provide an affordable alternative to fashion schools and Associate Programs.
Over a 2.5 week time frame and in 71.5 intensive credit hours, our career training boils down to an investment of just $95 per hour! Students enrolled in the 4 week program receive the same professional training in 137.5 credit hours for a very competitive $60 per hour!
Compare that to the costs of the AAS degree in Fashion offered by the Art Institute, New York: a total time investment of 7 quarters, 15 credits per quarter, $509 per credit for a total monetary investment of $54,415.
An Associate of Arts degree from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, California requires 9 months, 45 units and a monetary investment of $21,170 for Fashion Design or $20,160 for Merchandise Marketing.
If launching the career of your dreams doesn’t necessarily require training in fabric draping, history of costume design, math for the retail buyer, or merchandise planning and control then why waste your precious time and money? Enroll in Sterling Style Academy and get ready to hit the ground running in one month or less!
About the Sterling Style Academy
The Sterling Style Academy trains and certifies prospective and aspiring image consultants, personal stylists, and personal shoppers to pursue the career of their dreams. With 10 annual training courses held throughout the year in New York, London, Dubai, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Sydney, Miami, Las Vegas, and San Francisco, as well as Online Training, Teleclasses, and Short eCourses, the Sterling Style Academy prepares you to become a top notch pioneer in the image consulting, personal shopping, and personal styling industry. Master the art of image, fashion and style to become a fashion styling expert. Contact the Sterling Style Academy today to learn how we can help you start a career you are passionate about – shopping and styling! Like us or become our BFF on Facebook.
Want a Career That Will Pay You to Shop at the Most Prestigious Stores?
What is better than New York during the holidays?
Professional personal shoppers and image consultants experience images like this on an everyday occurrence. They are commissioned to shop for their clients because they offer the know-how and expertise to provide exactly the right fashions and accessories within each lifestyle and budget.
Client services are literally endless. Consultants can offer wardrobe expertise for careers, dating, special events and vacationing. They can shop for the largest budgets and completely revamp a wardrobe without buying a thing. Consultants know how to update a classic wardrobe from season to season just by adding a few key pieces, and they know how to give a classic feel to the most trendy of wardrobes by simply adding a few staples.
Learn to shop for different body types and facial features, careers, lifestyles and budgets. A certification from Sterling Style Academy will get you started in your new shopping career!
Sterling Style Academy Launches Miami 2009 Training Course at the Mondrian Hotel!
Students from Europe and the Caribbean began training with the Sterling Style Academy today, January 5, 2009, at the latest hotel to open in Miami Beach, the Mondrian Hotel.
In-class training will take place in an intimate, interactive setting using top-notch curriculum and multi- media presentations. Students will begin working with wardrobes and color clustering before heading into the field of prestigious shopping that Miami has to offer.
Upon their graduation from the course, January 21st, 2009, students will become Certified Image Consultants and will be ready to launch their careers as personal shoppers, image consultants, wardrobe stylists and executive image consultants.
Want to enroll?
The next training course takes place in New York, March 16 – April 1, 2009! Visit our website for further course enrollment information.
Late Registration Fee
The Sterling Style Academy closes registration 6 weeks prior to the commencement of each course to maintain the training standards of excellence expected of us. If you have been approved to enroll into a course after registration has been closed, you may submit your Late Registration Fee below.
Late Registration Fee
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