Difference Between Stylist and Designer

The words Stylist and Designer come to our mind when we talk about the fashion industry. Both these positions hold important roles in the fashion industry. The fashion industry or even the word fashion in our daily context would be much irrelevant without a stylist and a designer. Both stylist and designer have an in-depth understanding of garment construction, the specific fabrics, shapes and forms that hide flaws, and are flattering to different body types. Both stylists and designers can conceptualize color, texture, and design to create unique styles for a client or the audience. When discussing the difference between stylist and designer, it is vital to notice that if an individual wants to switch his or her profile from a fashion designer to a stylist it can be possible, but doing it the other way around can be a bit difficult.  In simple terms, a designer can be described as a person who creates something new from already existing things around them and stylist can be described as a person who creates something new without using what is already available. This is the key difference between stylist and designer.

Who is a Stylist?

A stylist is a person who creates a style – this style can be an original or a renewed version of an old existing fashion. It can be for a clothing line, wardrobe, a person (e.g. a well-known figure or a celebrity).

Ex:

She is the hair stylist of the famous actress Susan.

          She is the food stylist for the newly opened restaurant.

He is a famous stylist from New York.

Who is a Designer?

The term designer was originated in the 1640s from the words dih – zahy- ner. During this era, the word designer meant one who schemes. In the 1660s the word meant someone who makes an artistic design or a construction plan.

In today’s context, the term designer is used to refer to a person and a brand.

Ex:

She was carrying a designer handbag. (Brand)

Tom Ford is a famous designer. (Person)

What is the difference between Stylist and Designer?

  Stylist

Designer

What do they do?

  • Select clothing, accessories
  • Help with streamlining closet
  • Restructure Wardrobes
  • Educate people on the best colors and shapes for their bodies
  • Develop good shopping habits among people
  • Change the relationship of the client with clothing
  • Create clothing
  • Sketch styles, items, outfits
  • Create the pattern
  • Pick out the fabric and trimmings
  • Sew the garment
  • Fit the garment to the individual
  • Produces actual garment
  • Creating garments, handbags, shoes, or other accessories

Who do they work for?

  • Fashion advertisements, editorials
  • Potential clients
  • Exclusive projects like music videos and costume designs
  • Clothing lines
  • Potential clients
  • Industries

 

What are their Areas of Work?

Fashion Industry

  • Hair
  • Clothing
  • Makeup
  • Shoe
  • Wardrobe

Food Industry

Photography

  •   Fashion Industry

What are the Skills Required?

  • Needs to be ahead of the up and coming trends
  • Should understand client needs
  • Persuasive
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Time management
  • Problem-solving ability
  • Ability to think in three-dimensions to translate them into garments they visualize
  • Knowing the current trends
  • Goal oriented
  • Resilient
  • Business acumen
  • Interest in sketching
  • Ability to create something new or recreate the existing

What is the Knowledge Required?

  • Garment construction
  • Color theory
  • Fashion history
  • Visual merchandising
  • Branding
  • Apparel design
  • Drawing techniques
  • Merchandising theories
  • Marketing
  • Garment construction
  • Color theory
  • Textiles
  • Fashion history
  • Visual merchandising
  • Branding
  • Apparel design
  • Computer aided design techniques
  • Drawing techniques
  • Merchandising theories
  • Marketing

What are the Qualifications they need?

 

 

 

At least one of these should be obtained in order for the individual to succeed in the industry.

  • Advanced Diploma in Clothing Management, Fashion Designing, Textile Management, Apparel Management
  • Advanced Diploma in Fashion Designing, Apparel Merchandising
  • Diploma in Apparel Merchandising, Fashion Designing, Accessory Design, Garment Production Technology, Garment Quality Control
  • Certificate course in Garment Merchandising
  • Bachelors in Textile Design
  • BDes Fashion Design
  • Advanced Diploma in Clothing Management, Fashion Designing, Textile Management, Apparel Management
  • Advanced Diploma in Fashion Designing, Apparel Merchandising
  • Diploma in Apparel Merchandising, Fashion Designing, Accessory Design, Garment Production Technology, Garment Quality Control
  • College Diploma in Fashion Designing
  • Diploma in Apparel Design
  • Diploma in Textile Design

Similarities

 

  • Original and inventive
  • Sensitivity to colors, shades, and tones
  • Eye for detail
  • Fashion conscious
  • Persuasive
  • Observant
  • Good understanding of market and customer lifestyle
  • Creativity

Conclusion

Stylists and designers may work in similar fields yet their work and pattern of work, the way they use their brain and skills for the job is different. The stylist creates styles that are produced by the designer. A designer can always be a stylist, yet for a stylist to be a designer it takes knowledge, skill, and interest in drawing and sketching.

When talking about that job market, a stylist has a stable career, but in the long run, a designer may earn more than a stylist. Both these roles or professions can survive in any place as long as people like to look good and wear beautiful clothes, wherever they go and whatever they do.

Image Courtesy: 

“Paul Mitchell Hair Stylist” by Michael Dorausch (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Flickr

 “Hayden Ng – Singapore Fashion Designer” by Gnsnake – Shot at Hayden Boutique Previously published: www.haydensingapore.com (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia