Window Dresser v. Fashion Stylist

Lately students have been asking which of my two classes should they take?  They can’t decide if they should focus on visuals or styling?  I scratch my head with a bemused look and say why not do both!?!

Some give me an incredulous look and say, “really?”   I reply, “think about it, what’s the difference, between the two jobs?”

A visual person is a stylist ,and stylists do visuals.  I guess most people never really thought about it, but it’s true.  It’s how I can teach both subjects – the skill set is interchangeable.  If you can dress a mannequin, you can dress a model.  If you can prop a window, you can prop a set.  Both employ the principles of design, take loads of creativity, and are hard work.  Sure there are some differences to working in a store, as opposed to a photo shoot, but we are all cut from the same cloth.

I’ve had a few arguments with myself trying to decide which is harder, visuals or styling?  Sometimes visuals win the argument, and sometimes styling.  When doing a store, it’s very physically demanding, but there’s fewer people I have to deal with, as I change out mannequins, set-up interior displays, or do floor sets.  I oftentimes, just follow my store directives and do my thing!  When styling there’s a lot of people on set, but the atmosphere is very fun, jobs are almost always catered, it’s not too physically demanding (unless you are a prop stylist, and working with big items), and you get to play with clothes all day.

Which is more fun?  Only you can answer that.  I don’t really like styling as much as I like building and making things, so visuals win out for me every time!  Yet visuals can get boring if you work for a chain retailer, because you don’t get to be as creative as the old days.  Now you just follow a store directive and almost everything is sent to you to assemble and install.  Freelance projects is when you get to use your own ideas.

Styling still requires your creative skills, as the client is looking to you to bring their idea to life – so this can be really fun!

You will find that lots of visual folk, freelance as stylists, or are repped by an agent for styling work, and some stylists also do the occasional window.  You should too!

Is this a display of bracelets in a jewelry case at a store, or was this image ripped from a magazine?

Is this a makeup display in a cube at a store ,or was this image ripped from a magazine?

For both images above does it matter?  They could have easily been created by either a visual display person or a fashion stylist!

(images via Pinterest)

 

FASH 49: Store Design

Last week in class the lecture was on Store Design, and why it’s so important to a store’s brand identity or the image they wish to project.  I know the lecture took the whole three-hour class time, and I hope I didn’t bore too many of you, but once you see a store design done really well, then you understand it’s importance.

Such as this picture.  When I saw this, I immediately thought, “Now that makes a statement!”

These individual shadow boxes would be fun to dress!

(image via pinterest)

FASH 54A: Re-style Yourself

Today I will be in introducing your first class project called “The clothes off your back”.  Whatever you wear to class today will be photographed and documented.  Your assignment is to re-style these clothes into two different looks.

You will pair up in teams (2 or 3 people, no more than this).

You can ONLY use the clothes you are wearing today.  You are allowed to switch out the accessories or change items of clothing with your partner, but you can not change the tops or bottoms of the outfit you are wearing TODAY!  Last semester I warned the class when this assignment was approaching, so most people “dressed up” for that day of class.  This time I’m springing it on you!

Have fun with this first styling project, and don’t play it safe.  A hand-out is given in class outlining all the details of the project and the due date.  Here are some good and some great pictures of last year’s students:

These two ladies did a good job!

 

 

 

This is one of my favorites.  Nancy did a great job and really thought outside the box!

 

 

 

 

 

The point of this exercise is to:

• get you comfortable working with clothing, especially for my students who are new to fashion.
• get you use to styling others, which is why you work with a partner, as s stylist you will be styling other folk, not yourself.
• get you to start thinking of tops and bottoms in a non traditional way.  I love how Nancy took her coat and wrapped it as a skirt in the second photo, and used her sweater as “pants” in the first photo!
• Most importantly have fun with this exercise!

See you in class!