Your Basic Guide to Becoming a Professional Stylist
Image Courtesy: @mckeyterrellstyling via Instagram
When preparing to work in the fashion industry, there are so many different paths that a person can go down. Whether you’re looking to go into retail buying, fashion or textile design, or consulting, each faction in the fashion field requires its own specific training and experience. The styling field, specifically, is one of the most sought after fields in the fashion industry, and for many hoping to head into that direction, it can be a very intimidating and confusing road to work towards. If this is the field that most interests you, you might find yourself asking, “Where do I even start?”
For Mckey Terrell, a professional stylist based in New York City, she began by graduating from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science from the Department of Clothing, Textiles, and Interior Design. “My teacher at the time wasn’t very supportive of my choice,” she shared, explaining how she chose to focus on styling instead of designing or buying. “She would tell us how it was very unlikely that we could become stylists because it’s a really hard thing to get into.”
It didn’t take long for Mckey to prove that teacher wrong.
Before Mckey ran the consulting business she does today, she spent her time working for unpaid internships, and taking any and all job offers to further put her name on the map. “My biggest piece of advice for anyone wanting to become a stylist is to never say no to an opportunity. When you are just starting out, there is no project that is too small for you.” She credits the experience of these internships as being part of the reason she is able to have her own Consulting Business today. “Having experience under your belt is the main thing that matters when you are trying to get more styling jobs.”
Image Courtesy: Mckey Terrell Styling
Today, her business consists of closet consultations, personal styling, event styling, and seasonal edits. When asked about determining the personal style of a client, Mckey shared how her first step is always a simple one. “I always begin by asking a client to describe their style in three words.” Some clients are able to do this, but others are utilizing Mckey to help them find the style that works best for them. “I’ll also ask for reference photos, like Pinterest boards or things they have saved from Instagram.” From there, Mckey will either begin the shopping, or she’ll take a personal look into their closets, the shapes, colors, and patterns being the biggest way she can get a sense of someone’s personal style.
Not all of her clients particularly care about keeping up with today's trends, but having a firm knowledge of the styles that are popular today is a must for any stylist. “I’ve been obsessed with pointed toe shoes for so long,” Mckey shared, describing her favorite trends at the moment. “I’ve also been loving how not everything has to be sexy right now.”
While dressing to accentuate and flatter your body is important, Mckey has been enjoying styling herself and others in things that may be “slouchy or oversized”. When asked about any predictions she has for future trends, she anticipated a rise in “cobalt blue, cargo pants, and a lot of denim.” Personally, I already have my denim maxi skirt pulled out of the closet in preparation for this spring.
Image Courtesy: @mckeyterrellstyling via Instagram
Her time working as an intern and running her own business opened many doors, and Mckey has styled names such as Kim Kardashion, Bella and Gigi Hadid, Adriana Lima, and Timothée Chalamet. Celebrity styling is a very different job than personal styling, and also brings its own misconceptions and challenges. “Sometimes clients tend to think that this stuff just falls into my hands and that there is not really much of a process that goes on behind the scenes, but like any other job, it doesn’t happen overnight.” Specific to celebrity styling, Mckey not only has to determine a personal style and build a look for an event, but also has many more hoops to jump through. “With styling, there’s more of a process that goes into it and a lot of back and forth. There is sample trafficking, working with PR companies, getting approval, and a lot of research that I need to do before requesting pieces for these clients.” All styling takes a multitude of effort and time, and Mckey shared how celebrity clients don’t always understand how much work goes into styling them.
Image Courtesy: @mckeyterrellstyling on Instagram
From beginning her study of fashion at the University of Alabama (it physically pains me to type that—Go Dawgs always), to years of taking odd jobs and unpaid internships, to working as an assistant to professional stylist, Elizabeth Sulcer, Mckey now runs her own fashion consulting business. For anyone training to become a stylist, her journey is one that can resonate with you. Afterall, she started in the same place we all do: a college student with a love for fashion.
Mckey’s website is a great example of what life in the styling world could look like. I cannot recommend her as a stylist more, and for anyone needing help developing a personal style, finding a look for an event, or looking for someone who has been in your shoes going into the styling profession, she can be an amazing resource. Starting your personal journey in the styling field can feel like an uphill climb that never seems to stop, but Mckey has proved that this dream is attainable. Through all of her hard work and determination, Mckey has grown from a clueless freshman in her first fashion course into an accomplished girlboss running her own business.
Mckey’s website reads, “A fresh wardrobe incorporates old and new. Fashion is a way to express yourself. A way to tell the story of who you are, and when you feel confident and look confident.” Confidence and hardwork go a long way, and if Mckey’s story can teach you anything, it’s that you can be successful in the styling field, too.
Strike Out,
Ann Harper Covington
Editor: Grace Maneein
Athens