It takes only about one-tenth of a second to make an impression on someone. Psychologists at Princeton University explain that people judge your trustworthiness, likeability, and competence within the first 100 milliseconds. This makes it more than important to make a lasting impression, especially in a corporate setting.
Your appearance, from your grooming to your dressing, everything plays a major role in projecting your credibility and confidence. And in the corporate world, where professionalism should be at its peak, including the way you dress, your wardrobe can either work for or against you. Hence, understanding corporate styling is necessary.
What is Corporate Styling?
Corporate styling focuses on helping individuals create a polished image of themselves in a professional setting. It is aimed at enhancing their appearance through grooming and styling to align with the company’s brand values and culture. It involves wardrobe choices, personal grooming, and overall presentation to create a look that conveys confidence, professionalism, and credibility.
Following are some of the areas corporate styling covers:
- Dress code: Assisting corporate professionals in dressing appropriately for their workplace, whether business casual or formal.
- Personal Grooming: Maintaining a well-maintained, clean, and neat appearance that is appropriate for workplaces. This includes haircuts, cleanliness, and skincare.
- Accessories: Guiding professionals to choose elegant and minimal accessories that complement their corporate look.
All in all, corporate styling helps in grooming corporate employees to feel and appear more confident at their workplace by following the proper workplace etiquette, contributing to a positive organisational image.
Corporate Stylists vs. Fashion Stylists: What’s the Difference?
When you hear the word “stylist,” the first image that may come to mind is a professional who curates wardrobes for photo shoots, celebrities, or fashion shows. While you are not entirely wrong, you are confusing between a corporate stylist and a fashion stylist.
Both stylists, corporate and fashion, work to elevate one’s personal style, corporate styling requires a unique set of skills and a mindset focused on professional environments, business attire, and brand identity. On the other hand, a fashion stylist focuses on creating visually appealing outfits that express individual personality or adhere to current fashion trends. This includes styling for magazines, runway shows, or personal wardrobes, often for clients who want to showcase their personal style or stay on the cutting edge of fashion.
So, if you are looking to work towards helping people become better at styling in corporate events, workplaces, and other business settings, becoming a corporate stylist is your best career option. But are there any advantages to becoming one?
Why Become a Corporate Stylist?
As mentioned earlier, if you are passionate about helping individuals enhance their image in a professional setting then you are a fit candidate for becoming a corporate stylist. But is that enough to make it your full-time career?
There are other reasons that come into play. For example, the industry’s demand in today’s world, your personal preferences, and other factors. And when there are so many other lucrative career options in the field of styling itself, how do you know that the corporate niche is where you belong?
We bring you four reasons that can solidify your calling of becoming a professional corporate stylist with the right certification:
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Work in a High-Demand Industry
The corporate world is ever-growing. With new individuals entering the job market every year, there’s always a growing demand for a dedicated professional who can help them look corporate-ready. Not only do freshers but even experienced professionals may require a helping hand that can guide them into enhancing their corporate appearance and allowing them to be the best corporate version of themselves.
Further, not only do employees themselves are willing to enhance their image in the corporate world, but even employers prefer individuals who dress appropriately for work. A survey by CareerBuilder indicated that 37% of employers were less likely to promote an individual if they came unprofessionally or inappropriately dressed for work. Moreover, companies have started realising that investing in their employees’ personal growth can keep them engaged in the organisation more, resulting in more employee engagement.
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Combine Your Passion for Fashion with Business
If you are someone who has the flair and appropriate industry knowledge for wearable fashion and wants to dive deeper into exploring the world of business styling, corporate styling is your best career option.
Succeeding as a corporate stylist requires exploring diverse workplace cultures, gaining insights into various industries, and delving into business protocols. All of this contributes to helping your clients improve their professional style. If this sounds exciting to you, then corporate styling is definitely your true calling. -
Enjoy a Dynamic Work Environment
As a corporate stylist, you get to enjoy a creative and dynamic work environment that allows you to work with different clients. Your client base can range from corporate employees to entrepreneurs to business influencers who work in different industries and come from varying work cultures. Such a broad category of work scope allows you to grow both professionally and personally in life.
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Flexible Career Path
A deep understanding of colour theory, fabric textures, and body shapes becomes the foundation for creating looks that not only enhance an individual’s professional image but also align seamlessly with an organisation’s culture and values. With a blend of these skills, you can consult on personal branding, help clients fine-tune their appearance for public engagements, or work in corporate branding to ensure a company’s visual identity mirrors its core values.
Further, becoming a corporate stylist opens doors for different career paths, including brand consulting, wardrobe planning, personal styling, image consulting, or fashion consulting. Hence, this is a flexible career option for anyone who loves fashion!
Kickstart Your Career as a Corporate Stylist with ICBI!
Becoming a certified image consultant is a game-changer for establishing yourself as a trusted corporate stylist. It’s more than a credential—it’s your gateway to mastering the art and science of professional image-building. With a certification from ICBI, you’re not just gaining expertise; you’re also stepping into a world of opportunities. From networking with industry leaders to accessing career-boosting resources and earning recognition, you’re setting yourself up for a thriving career in this ever-evolving field.
