Alumni Testimonials

When selecting an image consultant, personal shopper and personal stylist training program, we know you value the thoughts of our graduates and have therefore featured some of their comments regarding our programs for you here.  

For more recent Sterling Style Academy reviews, please click here and visit our Instagram story highlights, particularly Students Say.

Sterling Style Academy Reviews

“Seven years ago, I embarked on a transformative journey at the Sterling Style Academy through their 5-day personal stylist course in New York, complemented by the e-certification program materials. As I reflect on the past years, it’s evident that the knowledge and expertise I gained during that course have been instrumental in propelling my personal styling business to new heights.

Michelle’s guidance and deep understanding of the fashion industry, coupled with her keen insights into personal styling, provided me with the tools and know-how to not only survive but thrive in a competitive market. Her commitment to excellence was evident then and remains a driving force in my career today.

The course content, even after seven years, stands out as comprehensive and ahead of its time. The fundamentals I learned, from body types and color theory to the psychology of fashion, have remained relevant throughout the years. The practical tips on business and entrepreneurship were particularly invaluable, setting the course apart from others in the field.

The e-certification program materials have also proved to be a lasting resource. The continuous updates and commitment to staying current with industry trends have kept me well-informed and positioned me as a leader in the personal styling arena.

She didn’t just teach me how to be a stylist; she guided me on how to build a successful personal styling business. Seven years later, I find myself not only standing out in a crowd of stylists but also evolving with the industry’s changes. I couldn’t be where I am today without you!! Forever grateful!

In conclusion, the Sterling Style Academy’s personal stylist course, taken seven years ago, remains a pivotal moment in my career. I am thankful to the Academy for her unwavering commitment to her students’ success. If you’re considering a career in personal styling, don’t hesitate—this course is an investment that pays dividends for years to come.” – Traci Jeske

“I am so glad I found the Sterling Style Academy online color analysis training! It has been an invaluable tool in helping me become a confident Color Analyst. Michelle is an exceptional teacher – very knowledgeable in the subject and always willing to help and answer questions. The lessons were well-structured and easy to follow! Highly recommended!” – Emily

“My experience with Sterling Style Academy was wonderful from start to finish. Michelle is an amazing instructor who shares her expertise in a way that makes learning about color theory fun and interesting. She brings practical advice into each lesson so you can apply what you have learned in the real world. This course has been so helpful and I’m thrilled with the results!” – Sarah

“I am so glad I decided to take Michelle Sterling’s online color analysis training course. Her approach to teaching makes learning color theory easy and fun. I now feel confident recommending colors to my clients that are outside of the usual seasonal palettes. Highly recommended!” – Joanna

“Taking the training course at Sterling Style Academy was an amazing experience! They provide comprehensive instruction on everything you need to become a successful image consultant and personal stylist. Michelle Sterling is an incredible teacher, mentor, and coach who truly cares about each of her students’ success – I highly recommend taking this course if you’re interested in becoming an image consultant or personal stylist!” – Kanan Neheta 

“I recently completed my training at Sterling Style Academy and am so thankful that I did! The expert instruction from Michelle Sterling was invaluable and the comprehensive curriculum fully positioned me to become an excellent image consultant, personal stylist, and fashion consultant.” – Emma Chan

“Everything was organized perfectly – from the online platform to the resources provided – it made learning a breeze. What stood out most to me during my experience was how knowledgeable Michelle is in her field, inspiring us all to be the best we can be!” – Kathy Lee

“With no prior knowledge about styling or fashion consulting, I felt intimidated but after completing this course I feel like an absolute pro! Thanks to the support of Michelle and her team, I’ve been able to launch my own styling business and the confidence I have gained has been invaluable.” – Angela Fong

“This course has been incredibly eye-opening for me. After taking the course, I feel much more comfortable recommending colors to my clients. Michelle Sterling is an amazing instructor and mentor who makes sure that you gain a real understanding of color theory.” – Laura R., Personal Stylist

“I was hesitant at first to invest in this course, but it has been totally worth it! The video content is well thought out and extremely helpful. I’m now confident in analyzing every person’s coloring accurately. Highly recommend!” – Rachel G., Image Consultant

“The knowledge I gained from the course has been invaluable. I feel much more confident in my ability to help clients choose colors that will flatter them. Michelle is an incredible mentor and teacher who truly wants you to succeed.” – Julia M., Professional Shopper

“Sterling Style Academy was an invaluable investment for me that I’m so thankful for. The comprehensive course gave me all the knowledge and resources I needed to become a successful personal stylist and fashion consultant – something I could never have achieved on my own!” – Dima Awadi

“Ms. Sterling is the best teacher ever. She makes sure you understand the terminology perfectly and makes classes fun. It was my dream to take the Online Image Consultant and Personal Stylist training course with her. It was so worth it!” – Rebeca Urena

“If you are looking to learn about styling, fashion consulting, or even just want to spruce up your wardrobe – this is definitely the place to go! Michelle Sterling is an excellent teacher, trainer, coach and mentor who not only teaches but cares about each individual student’s success.” – Christoper Carlson

“For anyone considering taking a course to become an image consultant or personal stylist, I can confidently recommend Sterling Style Academy as the perfect option! The knowledge and skills gained are invaluable and you won’t regret your decision.” – Sally Ulizar

“I highly recommend Sterling Style Academy for anyone looking to become an image consultant or personal stylist – it is 5 star rated in my opinion! The comprehensive curriculum provided by Michelle and her team gives you all the tools needed to become a successful professional in this field. They truly go above and beyond with their training and care about each student’s success. It was an incredible experience that I’m so thankful for!” – Emma Hou

“Thanks to the amazing learning experience provided by Michelle Sterling at Sterling Style Academy, I am now a certified image consultant and have been able to launch my own styling business! I am so thankful for the knowledge and skills that I’ve gained through this course, which have allowed me to pursue my passion.” – Manisha Gupta 

“Sterling Style Academy is a 5-star rated training program that provides top-notch instruction from an experienced mentor in the field of image consulting and personal styling. The comprehensive curriculum is designed to equip you with all the tools you need to become a successful professional in this field – it was an amazing learning experience for me!” – Angeline Christos

“Thanks to Michelle Sterling and her team at Sterling Style Academy, I now have all the skills needed to be a successful image consultant, personal stylist and fashion consultant. They provide excellent guidance throughout your learning journey and truly care about each student’s success. I highly recommend the course to anyone looking to pursue a career in this field!” – Mara Rolan

“Sterling Style Academy is an outstanding training program with a comprehensive curriculum that will equip you with all the knowledge and skills you need to become an image consultant or personal stylist. The instruction from Michelle Sterling is top-notch and she truly cares about each student’s success, making sure they have all the tools needed to be successful.” – Elham AlSharif 

“I recently completed my training at Sterling Style Academy and can confidently say that it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! Thanks to Michelle’s expert instruction, I now have all the knowledge and resources needed to launch my own styling business – something I could never have achieved on my own.” – Melanie Carter 

“Taking the Sterling Style Academy training course was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! It gave me all the knowledge and resources I needed to become a successful personal stylist and fashion consultant. Michelle Sterling is an excellent teacher, trainer, coach and mentor who not only teaches but cares about each individual student’s success – she truly goes above and beyond with her instruction!” – Monica Gonzalez 

“If you’re looking for a comprehensive course to learn about styling, fashion consulting, or even just want to spruce up your wardrobe – look no further than Sterling Style Academy! They offer top-notch instruction from experienced professionals in the field that will equip you with all the skills you need to be successful. Highly recommend!” – Agnes Kim

Sterling Style Academy Reviews on Instagram 

We would also like to introduce to you, Sterling Style Academy Alumni, Debra Ovall.  Get the insider scoop on the Sterling Style Academy from this 2009 graduate as she shares her image consultant training experience with you. Debra had the unique opportunity to take both our online and on-location courses. Not only does her testimonial discuss her road blocks in becoming an image consultant, it also explains how she overcame her concerns through the mentoring of our training director, Image Consultant Michelle T. Sterling.  Since Debra has graduated we have changed the way we conduct our online image consultant training courses so that they are more in line with our in-class training experience.

As a certified image consultant based out of the Washington DC Metropolitan area, Debra touches and empowers the lives of others – helping them to develop and maintain their undeniable personal style. Uncovering each client’s potential, Debra guides them through a process to help them put their best look forward. Debra understands the importance of looking good and how that directly relates to a positive self image. Having a positive self image can give you the boost you need to go after life’s opportunities and dreams. Her clients have one thing in common; they have decided to make a personal investment in themselves. They realize the way they look represents who they are from the inside out.

Next join some of the April 2010 graduates of the 2.5 Week Image Consultant Training Program in New York and see what they have to say about the Sterling Style Academy.

“My experience at Sterling Style Academy exceeded all of my expectations. When I enrolled in the 2.5-week program, I was preparing to launch my own business, Miss Helen’s Image Consulting, and I knew that I wanted to be educated by the best in the industry. Ms. Sterling provided me with comprehensive technical skills, business strategies, pricing schemes and, above all, confidence. Each topic was thoroughly explained using videos, demonstrations, and hands-on interaction with clients. Her ability to work collaboratively with the class while teaching each lesson quickly and effectively was outstanding.

My experience at the Sterling Style Academy was most rewarding and I feel that I now have the confidence and the direction to move forward with my own career. Ms. Sterling, herself, is most knowledgeable, she presents well, and she is extremely dedicated to her program. I have, indeed, learned from the best in the business!”

Helen MacGillivray
Sterling Style Academy
Certified Image Consultant Graduate

Since Helen’s graduation in April 2010, she has developed a lovely website, blog, and internet radio talk show that is both informative as well as engaging to prospective clients – leading them to hire her.  We congratulate her on all her achievements within her first year of business.  Now that is what we call a go-getter and we wish Helen much success in her future endeavors!

To hear about our other student’s experiences during the 2.5 week training program in New York, please watch their video testimonial below. These two ladies from Nigeria loved our program so much they enrolled in our Corporate Image Consultant Training Program in Las Vegas in September 2010 as well.

Increase your business success with the Sterling Style Academy Image Consultant Sales, Marketing, and Business Brand Identity Launch Kit. It has helped students like Helen to successfully be prepared to launch their business in this exciting industry. You too can be the Sterling Style Academy’s next success story!

Next we would like to introduce to you, Yekatherina Bruner. As a current student enrolled in the online image consultant training program, Yekatherina shares her experience with you as a Sterling Style Academy online student.  Rather than waiting to complete her online training before starting her business, Yeka decided she could do both at the same time.  For more information about Yekatherina, please visit her website at  www.ykstudioonline.com. 

Yekatherina’s true passion is helping women express when they dress. A dedicated and highly-sought after image consultant and owner of YK Studio L.L.C., she has recently been named as a Glamour Magazine “Glambassador” for 2009 and has been awarded with the “Rising Star Award” from the Sterling Style Academy in San Francisco. A world citizen, Yekatherina’s global travels and living experiences have shaped her culturally-diverse approach to style.

Yekatherina helps women realize their full potential by teaching them how to shop strategically and acquire a wardrobe most appropriate for their lifestyle, personality, and body type. Her intuitive love for quality design shines in her master selection of fabric, color, and style that allows for genuine expression and enhances the unique qualities of each woman she works with. Her rarified talent extends to pulling together outfits that help women exude confidence and joy.

Through meeting with clients individually, Yekatherina can professionally remove closet “trauma” and replace it with closet “bliss.” The journey begins with “editing” – selectively removing non-flattering styles and colors, then she “shops” the closet discovering looks you never knew you owned. She enthusiastically arranges “personal shopping therapy” experiences that transform her clients from head-to-toe, including make-up, hairstyle, accessories, and complete outfits.

In addition to her love for style, Yekatherina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and International Relations from Universidad Externado de Colombia, in South America. She is a native of Colombia and lives in Tucson, Arizona with her husband and two young daughters.

Ferosa George, originally from South Africa, currently residing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia comments on our 3-Day Short Course in Dubai and Online Certification Program on our Facebook.

“Every fashion diva should flutter and lust after not only the 3 day short course in Dubai but any course offered by Sterling Style Academy. I did the online Image Consulting course over 2 yrs and the 3-day short course in Dubai brought it all together for me. It’s inspiring to work with Michelle and it motivated me to go out and thr…ow fashion tantrums because I feel so empowered by what I learnt. Only problem is, I feel like a female version of Tim Gunn with a bit of Coco Chanel sprinkled in here and there, attitude and all. I’m not sure if it’s a good thing because I’d rather feel like Heidi Klum but I’m intent on saving all the fashion victims of the world, first stop…Saudi Arabia. That’s a challenge in itself but Michelle created a fashion femme fatale that’s ruthless about not only blazing trails in the fashion world, but about living the dream that I’m passionate about. In my case, the devil didn’t make me do it…Michelle did.”

Esther Henze, from Cologne, Germany comments about our 4-Week Image Consultant & Personal Stylist Certification Program in New York.

“Hello.  I am on my way to the airport and sad to leave New York, however there are new challenges waiting for me back home.  Thank you for providing us with an excellent training program.  I had a great time and feel well prepared for whatever comes.”

Katty Lopez-De Gull from Caracas, Venezuela comments about our 4-Week Image Consultant & Personal Stylsit Certification Program in New York.

“I attended the 4 Week Image Consultant Certification Program in New York in 2010 and the training was a fully comprehensive and intense experience. Being Latin, at first I was skeptical as to whether or not the Sterling Style Academy was a real institution and I needed to be certain it was established and accredited.  However after seeing the level of detail within the course prospectus, website and blog, I felt the program was of value and a good training investment.  When watching Michelle Sterling’s videos, she seemed confident, credible, and knowledgeable in the field of image consulting.  She made me feel comfortable about my decision to attend Sterling Style Academy.  Despite the language barrier, the Sterling Style Academy training program exceeded my expectations.  I learned more than was described in the course prospectus. I am glad that I took this class because it adds important value to my image consulting skills and to my resume. I mastered the science and art behind working with different body types, personal coloring, fashion styles, business attire and lifestyles.  My overall training experience has allowed me to work with a wider variety of clients, to make them feel confident of working with me, so that they can see a quicker return of their investment.  Looking back after taking further educational courses, I still think the Sterling Style Academy was the best educational investment of excellent value – providing me with the most complete training to prepare myself to become a professional in the industry.”

Dzigbordi K. Dosoo, CEO and Founder, Allure Africa Limited, and the host of The Dzigbordi Show in Ghana, Africa comments on our 2.5-Week Image Consultant & Personal Stylist Certification Program in Miami.

“Sterling Style Academy’s Train to Become an Image Consultant Program is a uniquely developed course for potentials who are only looking to be the BEST in the area of Personal Styling, Personal Shopping and Image Consulting. I am privileged to be one of the graduates of this program and I can definitely say that my experience was intense yet fun and I was challenged intellectually with every single topic covered. After researching various other training programs, I selected the Sterling Style Academy because it sets itself apart by creating an environment of structure, sophistication, superb interaction and practicality, and I could relate to the founder. You will walk away knowing that you have actually been in school, done research and worked in the field at the same time.  It’s an awesome feeling of confidence. Michelle Sterling is truly a fashion, image and shopping expert with a wealth of knowledge regarding the industry worldwide. Her excellent abilities to facilitate and teach training programs will make you stand out as an image consultant and personal stylist upon graduating from the program.  Hats off to the Sterling Style Academy.  If you want to succeed – choose Sterling!”

Luigina Campos from Costa Rica propelled her image consulting business in Costa Rica to the next level upon taking our Curso Intensivo de Personal Shopper y Personal Styling: 3 Días en Español en Miami in 2015.

“Estoy muy agradecida con el curso de asesoría de color y estilo ya que he podido ponerlo en práctica con mis clients, actualmente he tenido más de 10 clientes solo en el mes de mayo, todas están muy interesadas en ser asesoradas por mi persona por el gran conocimiento que he adquirido y por estar respaldada por un Instituto tan prestigioso como Sterling Style Academy. Este curso ha consolidado aún más mi experiencia de más de 5 años y ha sido un gran complemento para aplicarlo como Personal Shopper, me ha abierto la visión a un mundo de mayores posibilidades, todo con el fin de poder seguir embelleciendo y empoderando más mujeres tanto a nivel nacional como internacional. Mi meta siguiente será realizar el personal shopper en Miami con mis clientes de Costa Rica, todo gracias al excelente apoyo de su Instituto.”