FAQs
Sterling Style Academy FAQs
Choosing the right training is an important investment. Below you’ll find answers to the most common questions about our Image Consultant, Personal Stylist, Fashion Stylist, Color Analysis, and Personal Shopper Certification Courses.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: All programs include hands-on training, certification, and business tools such as manuals, eBooks, and client templates. Depending on the course length — 2-Day, 3-Day, 5-Day, 7-Day, or 2-Week — you’ll receive professional Color Analysis training, Fashion Stylist Training, Personal Shopper & Personal Stylist Training, Image Consultant Training, and business development support.
A: The 3-Day Course focuses on essential certification (Color Consultant, Fashion Stylist, Personal Shopper). The 5-Day Course adds in-depth body analysis and personal shopping practice. The 7-Day Course expands into personal branding and image management. The 2-Week Certification is our most comprehensive program, covering all modules plus advanced business development skills. You can read more about the differences in our training programs here.
A: Our programs are designed for people who want a career in image consulting, personal styling, fashion styling or color analysis. If you’re passionate about color and style, enjoy helping others look and feel confident, and want to turn that into a business or career, this training is a great fit.
A: Absolutely. Many of our students join with no prior fashion or styling experience. We teach you everything step by step — from color analysis, personal styling and personal shopping, to developing your service packages.
A: No. Our courses are designed for beginners and professionals alike. You’ll receive step-by-step training to launch or expand your career in image consulting and personal styling.
A: Apply online through our website. Seats are limited and reserved on a first-come basis. Venue details are provided only to enrolled students.
A: Enrollment is easy. Simply choose your preferred course — 2-Day, 3-Day, 5-Day, 7-Day, or 2-Week— and click the Apply Now button on that page. You’ll be asked to complete a short application and submit your credit card payment by pressing the BUY NOW button to confirm your seat. Because classes are small and seats are limited, we recommend enrolling at least 3–4 weeks before your preferred date. Venue details are provided exclusively to enrolled students.
A: No. While some students already have a vision for their business, many come to Sterling Style Academy to discover what’s possible. Michelle T. Sterling has a proven talent for helping students develop their own personal brands specific to their goals, skill set strengths, and preferences. We’ll show you how to design services, set your pricing, and launch your brand — even if you’re starting from zero.
A: Yes, all graduates are awarded a Sterling Style Academy Certificate of Completion, recognized in over 50 countries. This certification validates your expertise as an Image Consultant, Color Consultant, Fashion Stylist, Personal Stylist, and Personal Shopper, depending on the course you complete. While image consulting and personal styling are unregulated industries (with no government accreditation), Sterling Style Academy is globally respected as a professional certification institution with over 20 years of international training experience. Our certificate equips you with the credibility and confidence to launch or elevate your career.
A: Many graduates launch their own styling businesses, work with boutiques or luxury retail, or build color analysis and image consulting practices worldwide.
A: In-person tuition ranges from $2,497 to $12,497 USD, depending on the program’s duration and location. This investment includes certification, detailed training manuals, eBooks, stylist templates, and essential business tools to help you launch your career right away. Please note that school supplies, airfare, accommodations, and meals are not included. For a more budget-friendly option, online courses start at just $97 and range up to $697 to $2497 for a fully comprehensive program.
A: Our in-person certification programs are an investment in your career. Unlike many short fashion workshops, Sterling Style Academy delivers:
- Small class sizes (3–5 students) for maximum personal attention
- Hands-on training in real shopping districts and fashion environments
- Proprietary manuals, eBooks, and business toolkits valued at over $1,000
- International credibility — certifications trusted in more than 50 countries
- Business launch guidance so you leave ready to earn, not just learn
The tuition reflects the global expertise of our founder Michelle T. Sterling, who has trained stylists worldwide for over 20 years. When you invest in our courses, we invest in you — and that’s the difference compared to programs like FIT, NYIAD, or Marangoni.
A: Yes. In addition to our immersive in-person certifications, we offer affordable online training programs that let you start learning from anywhere in the world. These include our Fashion Consultant Online eCertification Program, which covers the essential basics of personal styling, our Online Color Analysis Training, and our Online Body Shape Analysis & Clothing Silhouette Course. Each program is self-paced and provides professional instruction at a more accessible price point.
A: No. Sterling Style Academy does not offer discounts, scholarships or government financial aid. However, our online training options provide flexible, cost-effective ways to begin your education in image consulting and personal styling without the expense of long-term fashion school tuition.
A: Yes. We offer payment plans to serious candidates who have carefully reviewed our programs and are confident they are ready to invest in their training at Sterling Style Academy. Payment plans are structured to make tuition more manageable while ensuring you stay committed to completing your certification.
A: No. Due to the proprietary nature of our training materials, all payments are final.
A: We offer courses in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dubai, Paris, Milan, London, Singapore, and other global hubs. Popular sessions include the 3-Day Certification in New York and Paris, and the 2-Week Course in Miami and Dubai.
A: Yes. Our Online Image Consultant & Personal Stylist Training provides the same curriculum as our 7-Day course with live sessions and e-learning modules, allowing you to train from anywhere in the world. In addition, we offer specialized programs such as our Fashion Consultant Online eCertification Program, which covers the essential basics of personal styling, and our Online Color Analysis Training, designed to help you master professional color analysis techniques. These online courses give you the flexibility to study at your own pace while gaining recognized certification in image consulting, personal styling, and color analysis.
A: For in-person courses, you’ll attend live training over 2, 3, 5, 7, or 10 days depending on your program. For the online training, you’ll receive both live sessions and self-paced modules — giving you the flexibility to study on your schedule while still earning full certification.
A: Class sizes are intentionally small — typically 3–5 students — to ensure personalized attention and hands-on practice. This boutique approach is part of what sets Sterling Style Academy apart from larger schools.
A: We recommend enrolling at least 3–4 weeks before your preferred date to secure your seat, as courses often sell out early due to limited capacity.
A: Every program includes live coaching, direct feedback from trainers, and access to proprietary business tools. Online students receive support through live Q&A calls, email, and structured assignments. In-person students receive one-on-one guidance during practical exercises.
A: An Image Consultant looks at the whole picture — including color analysis, body shape, wardrobe planning, and even professional presence — to help clients project a certain image and confidence in every setting. A Personal Stylist focuses specifically on clothing choices and outfits that suit an individual’s lifestyle, personality, and daily needs. At Sterling Style Academy, our training blends both skill sets so you can work with clients on a professional and personal level.
A: A Personal Stylist works one-on-one with clients to define their personal look, build their wardrobes, and shop efficiently. A Fashion Stylist, on the other hand, often works behind the scenes for magazines, campaigns, fashion shows, and celebrities — curating looks for media or public appearances. Our programs prepare you to work as a personal stylist with paying clients, and also give you the tools to branch into fashion styling if that’s your goal.
A: A Personal Shopper saves clients time and stress by selecting clothing, accessories, and beauty items that fit their needs and budget. They may shop in stores, online, or both, often on behalf of busy professionals. At Sterling Style Academy, personal shopping is part of our certification training — so you’ll graduate ready to guide clients through every stage of the shopping process.
A: To succeed as a personal stylist or image consultant, you need more than “good taste.” Professional training in color analysis, body shape evaluation, fashion styling, wardrobe planning, and personal shopping as well as good people skills gives you the credibility and confidence to work with paying clients. At Sterling Style Academy, our certification programs combine hands-on techniques with business development skills, so you graduate with both the artistry and the tools to launch your career.
A: The best way to start is by enrolling in a professional personal stylist certification course where you’ll learn proven systems for color, style, and shopping. From there, you’ll practice with clients, build a portfolio, and design service packages that reflect your strengths. Sterling Style Academy guides you through each step — from building confidence in your styling skills to marketing yourself and attracting your first paying clients.
A: No. Personal styling and image consulting are not regulated industries, so you don’t need a government license to start working. However, having an internationally recognized certification sets you apart, builds client trust, and allows you to charge professional rates. That’s why our graduates choose Sterling Style Academy — to gain credibility and confidence from day one.
A: Earnings vary, but many stylists begin charging $75–$150 USD per hour, and experienced consultants often earn six-figure incomes through premium packages, personal shopping retainers, and corporate image consulting contracts. At Sterling Style Academy, we teach you not only how to style, but also how to price and package your services strategically so you can reach your income goals.
A: Traditional schools like FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) and Instituto Marangoni do offer short courses in image consulting and fashion styling, but their approach leans more toward fashion theory than practical application. Their longer programs emphasize design, merchandising, or industry theory, and often require months or years of study. NYIAD (New York Institute of Art & Design) provides online-only training that is mostly self-paced, with limited live interaction. The experience can feel surface-level and less immersive, since students move through materials on their own without the same depth of hands-on guidance. In these types of programs, students are often part of very large classes, and instructors may not be able to provide individualized attention — you can sometimes feel like just another student moving through the system.
By contrast, Sterling Style Academy is a professional certification school specializing exclusively in image consulting, personal styling, color analysis, and personal shopping. Our courses are immersive, practical, and results-driven, giving you hands-on experience in just 2 days to 2 weeks — so you can start working with clients right away. Classes are intentionally small (3–5 students) to ensure personal attention, mentorship, and direct feedback. When you invest in our courses, we invest in you — your success is our priority.
A: Sterling Style Academy attracts ambitious students from around the globe. Our graduates include career changers, boutique owners, fashion professionals, hair stylists, make up artists and entrepreneurs who want to launch their own color analysis and styling businesses. Students have enrolled from over 50 countries — including the United States, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Venezuela, Peru, Singapore, Japan, Korea, China, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, India, Nigeria, South Africa, and Australia. This international diversity enriches the classroom experience and expands your professional network worldwide.