Crafting a CV that effectively showcases your diverse portfolio and unique style vision can be a daunting challenge for a fashion stylist. Our comprehensive guide provides expert tips to help you create a polished CV that captures the essence of your aesthetic flair and professional experiences, ensuring you stand out in a competitive industry.
- Design and format your professional fashion stylist CV;
- Curate your key contact information, skills, and achievements throughout your CV sections;
- Ensure your profile stays competitive by studying other industry-leading fashion stylist CVs;
- Create a great CV even if you happen to have less professional experience, or switching fields.
When writing your fashion stylist CV, you may need plenty of insights from hiring managers. We have prepared industry-leading advice in the form of our relevant CV guides.
How to ensure your profile stands out with your fashion stylist CV format
It's sort of a Catch 22. You want your fashion stylist CV to stand out amongst a pile of candidate profiles, yet you don't want it to be too over the top that it's unreadable. Where is the perfect balance between your CV format simple, while using it to shift the focus to what matters most. That is - your expertise. When creating your fashion stylist CV:- list your experience in the reverse chronological order - starting with your latest roles;
- include a header with your professional contact information and - optionally - your photograph;
- organise vital and relevant CV sections - e.g. your experience, skills, summary/ objective, education - closer to the top;
- use no more than two pages to illustrate your professional expertise;
- format your information using plenty of white space and standard (2.54 cm) margins, with colours to accent key information.
Once you've completed your information, export your fashion stylist CV in PDF, as this format is more likely to stay intact when read by the Applicant Tracker System or the ATS. A few words of advice about the ATS - or the software used to assess your profile:
- Generic fonts, e.g. Arial and Times New Roman, are ATS-compliant, yet many candidates stick with these safe choices. Ensure your CV stands out by using a more modern, and simple, fonts like Lato, Exo 2, Volkhov;
- All serif and sans-serif fonts are ATS-friendly. Avoid the likes of fancy decorative or script typography, as this may render your information to be illegible;
- Both single- and double-column formatted CVs could be assessed by the ATS;
- Integrating simple infographics, icons, and charts across your CV won't hurt your chances during the ATS assessment.
PRO TIP
For certain fields, consider including infographics or visual elements to represent skills or achievements, but ensure they are simple, professional, and enhance rather than clutter the information.
The top sections on a fashion stylist CV
- Professional Experience to show a history of styling work.
- Styling Portfolio to highlight visual work and successes.
- Education & Training to present relevant fashion qualifications.
- Skills Summary outlines unique stylist capabilities.
- References upon Request to offer credibility through testimonials.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Detail your hands-on experience with various fabrics and clothing pieces to highlight your versatility and adaptability in styling different looks and adapting to fashion trends.
- Emphasise any high-profile collaborations, editorials, or celebrity stylings you've contributed to, demonstrating your reputation and reliability in the industry.
- Include a link to your online portfolio showcasing your best work; visual proof of your style range and capability is essential for employers in the fashion industry.
- Discuss your ability to anticipate and interpret fashion trends, as this shows an understanding of the market and the foresight needed for a fashion stylist.
- Highlight any additional skills such as fashion photography, knowledge of designer collections, or digital styling tools, as these supplementary skills enhance your value as a stylist.
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How to present your contact details and job keywords in your fashion stylist CV header
Located at the top of your fashion stylist CV, the header presents recruiters with your key personal information, headline, and professional photo. When creating your CV header, include your:
- Contact details - avoid listing your work email or telephone number and, also, email addresses that sound unprofessional (e.g. koolKittyCat$3@gmail.com is definitely a big no);
- Headline - it should be relevant, concise, and specific to the role you're applying for, integrating keywords and action verbs;
- Photo - instead of including a photograph from your family reunion, select one that shows you in a more professional light. It's also good to note that in some countries (e.g. the UK and US), it's best to avoid photos on your CV as they may serve as bias.
What do other industry professionals include in their CV header? Make sure to check out the next bit of your guide to see real-life examples:
Examples of good CV headlines for fashion stylist:
Lead Wardrobe Stylist | Celebrity Fashion | Editorial Campaigns | BA Honours Fashion Styling | 10+ Yrs Experience
Fashion Stylist Assistant | E-Commerce Merchandising | Emerging Trends Expert | Fashion Design Diploma | 2 Yrs Experience
Senior Personal Stylist | Luxury Retail | Client Relationship Management | Certified Style Coach | 8 Yrs Expertise
Freelance Fashion Stylist | Photoshoot Direction | Brand Consultancy | Vogue Published | AAS Fashion Styling | 5 Yrs
Junior Stylist | Visual Merchandising | Trend Forecasting | BTEC Level 3 Fashion | High-Street Brands | 1 Yr
Creative Fashion Director | Runway Styling | Talent Coordination | Master's in Fashion Marketing | 12+ Years Leadership
Choosing your opening statement: a fashion stylist CV summary or objective
At the top one third of your CV, you have the chance to make a more personable impression on recruiters by selecting between:
- Summary - or those three to five sentences that you use to show your greatest achievements. Use the CV summary if you happen to have plenty of relevant experience and wish to highlight your greatest successes;
- Objective - provides you with up to five sentences to state your professional aims and mission in the company you're applying for
CV summaries for a fashion stylist job:
- Seasoned fashion stylist with over a decade of proven expertise in celebrity styling and high-end editorial work. Commanding a rich portfolio featuring collaborations with notable fashion magazines and personal styling for A-list clients. Instrumental in defining and broadcasting fashion trends on various prestigious platforms.
- Innovative visual merchandiser-turned-fashion stylist, bringing five years of experience in creating compelling storefronts for luxury brands to the world of personal styling. Adept at translating brand stories into visual delights and possessing a keen eye for detail and accessory coordination.
- Dynamic marketing professional pivoting into fashion styling, armed with a strategic eye for trend forecasting and a robust network in the fashion industry. A track record of crafting impactful campaigns for fashion retailers, eager to apply marketing principles to innovate personal and editorial styling projects.
- Creative fashion stylist with six years of freelance experience, specialising in innovative wardrobe design and image consultancy for emerging talent in the music industry. Renowned for crafting signature looks that have graced international award shows and red-carpet events.
- Enthusiastic recent graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, eager to embark on a career in fashion styling. Keen to apply comprehensive knowledge of garment construction, colour theory, and design principles to assist in creating trendsetting looks for diverse clientele.
- Passionate individual with a zeal for fashion and an extensive background in customer service, seeking to leverage interpersonal skills and a fresh perspective to exceed expectations in fashion styling. Determined to create unique and memorable fashion experiences through meticulous attention to detail and a personalized approach.
The best formula for your fashion stylist CV experience section
The CV experience section is the space where many candidates go wrong by merely listing their work history and duties. Don't do that. Instead, use the job description to better understand what matters most for the role and integrate these keywords across your CV. Thus, you should focus on:
- showcasing your accomplishments to hint that you're results-oriented;
- highlighting your skill set by integrating job keywords, technologies, and transferrable skills in your experience bullets;
- listing your roles in reverse chronological order, starting with the latest and most senior, to hint at how you have grown your career;
- featuring metrics, in the form of percentage, numbers, etc. to make your success more tangible.
When writing each experience bullet, start with a strong, actionable verb, then follow it up with a skill, accomplishment, or metric. Use these professional examples to perfect your CV experience section:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Coordinated outfits and styled models for over 50 fashion editorial shoots, keeping a close eye on detail to ensure that each look captured the intended aesthetic and theme.
- Successfully collaborated with fashion designers and brands to pull garments and accessories for styling, establishing strong relationships and an extensive professional network within the industry.
- Consistently followed and predicted fashion trends to ensure that styling choices remained current and relevant for clients, leading to a 30% increase in client retention.
- Organised and maintained a comprehensive wardrobe and prop inventory, enabling quick turnarounds for last-minute shoot requests and stylistic changes during assignments.
- Provided bespoke personal shopping services for high-profile clients, selecting items based on their personal taste, body shape, and the occasions for which they were dressing.
- Contributed to the creative direction of photoshoots by presenting mood boards and style proposals, ensuring a cohesive vision that aligned with brand and project objectives.
- Managed on-set styling during photo shoots and runway events, making quick adjustments and ensuring that each look was impeccable before the camera started rolling.
- Handled the logistics of garment returns and exchanges, meticulously ensuring every item was accounted for and returned in pristine condition, thus upholding brand relationships.
- Conducted educational styling workshops and seminars, sharing industry knowledge and personal styling tips with aspiring stylists and fashion enthusiasts.
- Developed and executed thematic concepts for seasonal fashion editorial spreads for Vogue, resulting in a 25% increase in readers' engagement.
- Collaborated with renowned photographers and models to create visually impactful content that elevated brand presence and style narratives.
- Curated a diverse range of wardrobes for celebrity clients, enhancing their public image and securing 10+ high-profile event stylist contracts.
- Managed a team of assistant stylists and coordinated with designers to successfully deliver 15+ runway shows during New York Fashion Week.
- Liaised with fashion designers to negotiate clothing loans and ensured timely return of high-value pieces, maintaining excellent industry relationships.
- Implemented an inventory tracking system that reduced garment misplacement by 40% and increased overall operational efficiency.
- Orchestrated the rebranding of mid-level fashion retail outlets through strategic wardrobe curation, lifting company sales by an average of 20%.
- Provided personalized fashion consultations for VIP clients, resulting in a client retention rate improvement of 30%.
- Conducted workshops for sales teams on the latest fashion trends and proper garment care, contributing to an enhanced in-store customer experience.
- Established an online personal styling service that caters to over 500 clients globally, with a consistent month-over-month client growth rate of 15%.
- Crafted a signature styling approach that blends sustainable fashion with luxury brands, positively impacting brand collaboration inquiries by 50%.
- Curated and launched a digital lookbook series that showcases seasonal fashion trends through social media platforms, accruing over 100,000 combined followers.
- Provided on-set styling for television commercials and music videos, ensuring wardrobe accuracy in alignment with directors' visions.
- Sourced unique wardrobe pieces from emerging designers, which helped to spotlight new talent in the industry.
- Managed wardrobe budgets effectively, often coming in under budget, allowing for reallocating funds to enhance other production areas.
- Designed the opening season styling strategy for a large department store chain which resulted in a 30% sales increase for their luxury fashion segment.
- Directed photo shoots for the store's advertising campaigns, heightening the brand's market positioning and consumer appeal.
- Streamlined the stylist department's workflow through the introduction of digital mood boards and collaborative tools, achieving a 20% reduction in project turnaround time.
- Coordinated with clothing brands to feature their products in influencer marketing campaigns, doubling the brands' social media engagement rates.
- Guided fashion start-ups in developing a coherent brand image and merchandise assortment resulting in a successful launch and press coverage.
- Generated comprehensive trend reports for fashion industry clients, assisting them in making informed decisions for upcoming product lines.
- Designed and executed the wardrobe for a nationally acclaimed theatre production, which was praised for its historical authenticity and attention to detail.
- Maintained meticulous records of costume fittings and alterations for a cast of over 50 actors, ensuring deadlines were met ahead of schedule.
- Worked closely with lighting and set designers to ensure coherence in color schemes and historical contexts across all visual aspects of the production.
- Spearheaded the launch of an experiential pop-up shop for a luxury brand, attracting over 3,000 visitors within the first week.
- Developed stylist training modules focused on luxury market trends, product knowledge, and customer engagement techniques.
- Fostered partnerships with emerging luxury accessory brands to complement clothing selections, expanding the diversity of styling options for clientele.
- Crafted personalized styling strategies for high-net-worth individuals attending red carpet events, with many featured in 'Best Dressed' media segments.
- Negotiated with fashion houses for exclusive garments for clients, often securing one-of-a-kind pieces for high-profile events.
- Built an extensive network of designers, makeup artists, and hair stylists to provide a comprehensive and tailored service for each client.
Lacking professional expertise: how to write your CV to highlight your best talents
Don't count on your lucky stars when you're applying for a role, where you happen to have less (or almost none) professional experience. Recruiters sometimes do hire inexperienced candidates if they're able to present their unique value from the get-go. So, instead of opting for the traditional, CV experience section:
- List any applicable expertise you happen to have - no matter if it's a part-time job, internship, or volunteer work. This would hint to recruiters that your profile is relevant;
- Focus your CV on your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your whole life and work experience. In effect, you'll be spotlighting your value as a candidate;
- Separate more space for your applicable academic background and certificates to show you have the technical know-how;
- Ensure that within your objective, you've defined why you'll like the job and how you'll be the perfect match for it. Always ensure you've tailored your CV to individual applications.
Looking for more good examples for your first job? We'll show you how other candidates, with less professional experience, have created their job-winning CVs.
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PRO TIP
If applicable, briefly mention a situation where things didn’t go as planned and what you learned from it, demonstrating your ability to learn and adapt.
Describing your unique skill set using both hard skills and soft skills
Your fashion stylist CV provides you with the perfect opportunity to spotlight your talents, and at the same time - to pass any form of assessment. Focusing on your skill set across different CV sections is the way to go, as this would provide you with an opportunity to quantify your achievements and successes. There's one common, very simple mistake, which candidates tend to make at this stage. Short on time, they tend to hurry and mess up the spelling of some of the key technologies, skills, and keywords. Copy and paste the particular skill directly from the job requirement to your CV to pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. Now, your CV skills are divided into:
- Technical or hard skills, describing your comfort level with technologies (software and hardware). List your aptitude by curating your certifications, on the work success in the experience section, and technical projects. Use the dedicated skills section to provide recruiters with up to twelve technologies, that match the job requirements, and you're capable of using.
- People or soft skills provide you with an excellent background to communicate, work within a team, solve problems. Don't just copy-paste that you're a "leader" or excel at "analysis". Instead, provide tangible metrics that define your success inusing the particular skill within the strengths, achievements, summary/ objective sections.
Top skills for your fashion stylist CV:
Knowledge of Fashion Trends
Garment Fitting and Tailoring
Visual Composition and Styling
Fashion Forecasting
Brand Awareness
Fabric Selection
Wardrobe Curation
Understanding of Colour Theory
Fashion Photography
Clothing Care and Maintenance
Creativity
Communication
Attention to Detail
Interpersonal Skills
Flexibility
Time Management
Problem-Solving
Teamwork
Adaptability
Networking
PRO TIP
If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.
Further professional qualifications for your fashion stylist CV: education and certificates
As you're nearing the end of your fashion stylist CV, you may wonder what else will be relevant to the role. Recruiters are keen on understanding your academic background, as it teaches you an array of hard and soft skills. Create a dedicated education section that lists your:
- applicable higher education diplomas or ones that are at a postgraduate level;
- diploma, followed up with your higher education institution and start-graduation dates;
- extracurricular activities and honours, only if you deem that recruiters will find them impressive.
Follow a similar logic when presenting your certificates. Always select ones that will support your niche expertise and hint at what it's like to work with you. Balance both technical certification with soft skills courses to answer job requirements and company values. Wondering what the most sought out certificates are for the industry? Look no further:
PRO TIP
If there's a noticeable gap in your skillset for the role you're applying for, mention any steps you're taking to acquire these skills, such as online courses or self-study.
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Key takeaways
What matters most in your fashion stylist CV-writing process is for you to create a personalised application. One that matches the role and also showcases your unique qualities and talents.
- Use the format to supplement the actual content, to stand out, and to ensure your CV experience is easy to comprehend and follows a logic;
- Invest time in building a succinct CV top one third. One that includes a header (with your contact details and headline), a summary or an objective statement (select the one that best fits your experience), and - potentially - a dedicated skills section or achievements (to fit both hard skills and soft skills requirements);
- Prioritise your most relevant (and senior) experience closer to the top of your CV. Always ensure you're following the "power verb, skill, and achievement" format for your bullets;
- Integrate both your technical and communication background across different sections of your CV to meet the job requirements;
- List your relevant education and certificates to fill in gaps in your CV history and prove to recrutiers you have relevant technical know-how.
