Sterling Style Academy vs FIT Styling Courses: Which Is Better?
Choosing the right educational path is a critical first step for any aspiring personal stylist. Many compare the programs offered by Sterling Style Academy (SSA) and the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). While both are respected institutions in the fashion world, they provide very different learning experiences and career outcomes. This guide clarifies their key differences to help you decide which program best aligns with your professional goals.
This comparison is for those ready to turn their passion for style into a profession. Whether you dream of launching your own styling business or seek to deepen your fashion knowledge, understanding the distinction between a professional styling certification and continuing education courses is essential.
Overview: Sterling Style Academy vs FIT Styling Courses
The fundamental difference comes down to their core mission. Sterling Style Academy is an international institution dedicated to providing professional certification in personal styling and image consulting. Our focus is on producing career-ready stylists equipped with practical, client-facing skills.
In contrast, FIT is a world-renowned fashion school in New York City. Its styling courses are part of its Center for Continuing and Professional Studies, offering education on specific fashion topics. These courses provide a strong theoretical foundation within a traditional academic structure.
What Is Sterling Style Academy?
Sterling Style Academy is a global training institution specializing in personal styling and image consulting certification – winner of the Best of Manhattan Schools from 2019 – 2024. We offer intensive, hands-on programs designed to prepare students for immediate entry into the styling profession. The curriculum is built around practical application, business development, and the real-world skills needed to build a successful styling career. With a diverse, international student body, Sterling Style Academy focuses exclusively on creating competent, entrepreneurial personal stylists.
What Are FIT Styling Courses?
The Fashion Institute of Technology is a premier public college for design, fashion, art, and business. The styling courses in question are not part of a degree program but are offered through its continuing education department. These courses cover various topics within fashion and styling, providing students with academic knowledge and theoretical insights. The learning environment is classroom-based, fitting into a larger university ecosystem focused on the broader fashion industry and does not go deep into the career of personal styling.
Key Differences Between Sterling Style Academy and FIT Styling Courses
Understanding where these two institutions diverge is key to making an informed decision. Their approach to training, certification, and career preparation caters to different objectives.
Training Focus
Sterling Style Academy’s training is laser-focused on the art and business of personal styling for individual clients. The entire curriculum is designed to teach you how to work with people, understand their needs, conduct consultations, and build a client-based business.
FITโs courses place styling within a wider fashion industry context. The focus is more on the theoretical and historical aspects of fashion, often geared toward editorial or commercial styling rather than one-on-one client work. It provides a broad fashion education.
Certification vs. School Coursework
Upon completion, Sterling Style Academy grants a professional certification. This credential signifies that you have met a specific standard of training and are qualified to practice as a personal stylist or image consultant.
Completing a course at FIT results in a certificate of completion for that specific class. It does not provide an overarching professional certification but demonstrates that you have completed academic coursework in a particular subject. A styling certification vs fashion degree or coursework represents different levels of professional readiness.
Practical Styling Experience
Sterling Style Academy emphasizes hands-on, practical experience. Training includes real-world simulations, such as working with mock clients, conducting wardrobe audits, and executing personal shopping sessions. The goal is to ensure you can confidently apply your skills from day one.
FITโs courses are primarily classroom-based, with learning driven by lectures, readings, and assignments. While valuable, this approach offers limited opportunities for the practical, client-centered experience necessary for a personal styling career.
Duration and Intensity
Sterling Style Academy programs are intensive and immersive, typically ranging from 3 to 14 days. This accelerated format is designed for those who want to launch their careers quickly.
FIT courses run over several weeks or months on a part-time schedule, often with one class per week. This structure is suitable for those who prefer a slower, more traditional academic pace while potentially balancing other commitments.
Career Readiness
Sterling Style Academy training includes a significant business development component. Students learn marketing, sales, and operational strategies to launch and grow their own personal styling businesses. The program is explicitly designed to create entrepreneurs.
FITโs continuing education courses provide fashion knowledge that can enhance a resume, but they do not typically include dedicated training on how to start or run a business. The career path is less defined and may require further training or experience.
Which Is Better for Becoming a Personal Stylist?
For individuals whose primary goal is to become a working personal stylist and build a client-based business, Sterling Style Academy is the more direct and effective path. The focused curriculum, hands-on training, professional certification, and integrated business skills are all geared toward that specific career outcome.
FITโs styling courses are better suited for those who wish to enrich their general fashion knowledge, explore a personal interest, or supplement an existing academic degree. It offers a taste of the fashion world from a respected institution but is less of a direct launchpad for a personal styling career.
Pros and Cons: Sterling Style Academy vs FIT Styling Courses
To make an effective personal stylist course comparison, it helps to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Sterling Style Academy Pros
- Hands-On Training: Real-world simulations prepare you for actual client work.
- Fast Certification: Intensive programs allow you to get certified and start your career quickly.
- Client-Focused Skills: The curriculum centers on the practical skills needed to serve personal styling clients.
- Business Training: Integrated modules teach you how to launch and market your business.
Sterling Style Academy Cons
- Intensive Format: The fast-paced, immersive schedule may not be suitable for everyone’s learning style.
FIT Pros
- Brand Credibility: Association with a world-renowned fashion school.
- Academic Structure: A traditional classroom setting with a structured syllabus.
- NYC Institution: The prestige and networking potential of being part of a major New York City fashion institution.
FIT Cons
- Less Practical Styling: Limited hands-on experience with client simulations.
- Longer Path: Coursework is spread over weeks or months, delaying career launch.
- No Business Training: Lacks dedicated instruction on building a styling business.
Cost Comparison: Sterling Style Academy vs FIT Styling Courses
When evaluating the investment, it is important to consider the total cost to become career-ready.
Sterling Style Academy offers all-inclusive tuition for its intensive certification programs. This single fee covers the complete training needed to start your career.
FIT prices its courses individually. To gain a comprehensive education, you would need to enroll in multiple courses, and the total cost could accumulate. A full FIT personal styling course pathway would require stringing several classes together, potentially costing more and taking longer than an all-in-one certification program.
Career Outcomes: Sterling Style Academy Graduates vs FIT Students
Graduates of Sterling Style Academy typically launch their own businesses as personal stylists, image consultants, and personal shoppers. The program’s entrepreneurial focus directly supports this outcome, with many alumni running successful styling firms worldwide.
Students who complete FITโs continuing education courses often use the knowledge to move into various roles within the fashion industry, supplement other degrees, or simply satisfy a personal interest. While some may pursue personal styling, the coursework alone does not fully prepare them for the business side of the profession.
Who Should Choose Sterling Style Academy?
You should choose Sterling Style Academy if you are:
- A career-changer ready to enter the styling industry.
- An aspiring entrepreneur who wants to start your own business.
- Someone who learns best through hands-on, practical application.
- Looking for a direct and efficient path to becoming a certified personal stylist.
Who Should Choose FIT?
You should consider FITโs styling courses if you are:
- Exploring a personal interest in fashion without a specific career goal.
- Seeking to supplement a fashion degree or existing industry experience.
- A student who prefers a traditional, slower-paced academic environment.
- Primarily interested in the theoretical and historical side of fashion.
Final Verdict: Sterling Style Academy vs. FIT Styling Courses?
The choice between Sterling Style Academy vs FIT styling courses depends entirely on your career aspirations.
For those serious about building a career as a professional personal stylist or image consultant, Sterling Style Academy offers the most direct, comprehensive, and business-focused training available.
For individuals seeking to explore fashion as a hobby or supplement existing academic studies with theoretical knowledge, FIT provides excellent coursework from a prestigious institution.
Ready to transform your passion into a thriving career? Explore the comprehensive and career-focused programs at Sterling Style Academy.
Take the first step toward your future as a professional stylist. We invite you to explore our Sterling Style Academy training programs and find the perfect fit for your goals.
FAQ: Sterling Style Academy vs FIT Styling Courses
Is FIT good for personal styling?
FIT offers quality fashion education, but its continuing education courses are more theoretical. They are less focused on the practical, client-facing, and business skills needed to launch a personal styling career compared to a dedicated certification program.
Is a styling certification needed to be a stylist?
While not legally required, a reputable styling certification provides you with structured training, credibility, and the business acumen to succeed. It significantly accelerates your ability to attract clients and build a professional practice.
Which styling course is better for my career?
If your career goal is to be a self-employed personal stylist, a certification program like Sterling Style Academy’s is generally better because it includes business training. If you want to work within a larger fashion company, a course from an institution like FIT might be a good addition to your resume.
Can a FIT image consulting course make you a personal stylist?
A single FIT course can provide valuable knowledge, but it is unlikely to fully prepare you to be a professional personal stylist on its own. It lacks the comprehensive, hands-on client work and business development training essential for launching a service-based business.
How long does Sterling Style Academy training take?
Sterling Style Academy offers intensive certification programs that typically last five days to become a personal stylist, depending on the course. This allows you to get certified and start your career in a short amount of time.
