In an image-conscious world everyone from retailers to social media stars need to look better than ever. Our personal stylist course curriculum includes the fundamentals of fashion history, design principles, trends, and forecasting and teaches you how to apply them as an image consultant, personal shopper, or just to your own wardrobe. Enroll today and gain practical skills for developing personal style for yourself and others.
Orientation: Ashworth College Career Program
Learning at Ashworth
The goals and values of Ashworth College; time management; creating a realistic weekly and monthly study schedule; the nature and purpose of assessments; how to study effectively to prepare for and take an online examination; developing the skill sets necessary for success in the twenty-first century.
Concepts in Business and Self-Employment
Evaluating your business idea; setting yourself apart from the competition; market testing; investment funding and donation funding; qualities of an entrepreneur; crowdfunding and angel investors.
Lesson Group 1: The Educated Fashionista
Birth of a Designer
The history of several famous fashion icons of the industry; the role of fashion in society; the importance of developing a comprehensive understanding of the global applications of fashion.
History of Fashion
The historical trajectory of fashion development and stylistic changes across the globe; how style has changed and grown throughout history, from the Golden Age of French fashion to 1960s Youth Culture Designers.
The Wide World of Fashion
The distinction between the personal shopper and the personal stylist; careers in the style industry.
Vocabulary of Style
The terminology needed to navigate the fashion world; the historical context to certain fashion language.
Lesson Group 2: The Elements of Style
Color Theory and Analysis
A foundation of understanding color for the personal stylist; creating striking ensembles; complementing and flattering personal coloring.
Design and Fit
Conventions of fashion as a storytelling platform; how fashion designers blend color, texture, and fit to create styles; practical style tips from working stylists.
Fabric and Textures: Quality and Care
Discussion of fabric and texture in terms of a garment's particular characteristics, quality, advantages, and disadvantages; synthetic, natural, and blended garments; how to care for garments.
Tailoring: Men, Women, and Children
Altering garments: when to alter, what can be altered, and how to alter; saving time and money; how tailoring can add polish and sophistication, particularly to men's business suits; the importance of tailoring to personal and professional prospects.
Lesson Group 3: Focus on Fashion
Fashion Interpretations: Art and Hollywood
The cyclical nature of fashion trends; the past and the present inspirations in contemporary fashion design; European and American fashion design; trends in Asia.
Fashion Trends and Trend Forecasting
Why some fashion fads catch on and others don't; the origins of certain trends; an introduction to Fashion trend forecasting.
Style and Look: Types of Looks and Images
Crafting a fashion "look" or signature style for yourself and/or your clients.
Fashion's International Focus: Hotspots of Design, Cultural and Ethnic Variations in Style
The international playing field of fashion; the domination of fashion trends by global brands; the effects of the globalization of fashion.
Lesson Group 4: Shapes and Colors
Body Types: How to Dress to Flatter
How to flatteringly dress clients of various body types; analyzing a client's body type; determining what clothes will minimize flaws and accentuate the positives.
Shapewear, Loungewear, and Bra Fit
The importance of addressing the details; complementing an outfit with shapewear and the proper bra; how to make the most of your own and your client's body.
Accessories: Shoes, Jewelry, Belts, Scarves, Handbags, and Eyewear
The fundamentals of shoe (and boot) quality, care, and style; selecting shoes, boots, scarves, belts, jewelry, and sunglasses according to body type, height, facial proportions, coloring, the occasion, your budget, and the overall look you are trying to achieve.
Cosmetics
The relationship between style and makeup; partnering with a professional makeup artist; making your own cosmetic recommendations; weaving the cosmetic element into the overall look.
Lesson Group 5: Complete the Look
Men's Wear: Looks, Staples, Body Types
A review of men's body types; how to buy clothes and styles that flatter and camouflage figure flaws; shoes and accessories, quality, fit, design, and style; the finishing touches needed to get the entire look assembled.
Age-Appropriate Dress
Fashion etiquette and the best way to dress clients of all ages; avoiding certain trends; choosing tasteful accessories; developing flattering, age-appropriate wardrobes for any client demographic.
Maternity Clothes
The best ways to work with pregnant women when selecting a flattering, fashionable wardrobe; considering comfort and practicality; the best stylistic choices and the most effective ways to satisfy clients in a number of different settings.
Children and Teen Wear
The retail fashion world for children and teenagers; issues confronted by a personal shopper or stylist; children and teenagers as consumers in the largely uncharted and rapidly growing retail world of fashion.
Lesson Group 6: Putting It All Together
Wardrobe Staples and Closet Evaluations
Key steps in doing closet work; the items that should be staples in anyone's closet; how to effectively identify clients' color and style preferences, buying habits, go-to ensembles, the care they take with clothing, how organized they are, and how they accessorize.
Planning a Personal Shopping Trip and Working with a Budget
Going on location with a professional personal shopper; following a day in the life; exploring the day-to-day dynamic of the career.
Industry Career Paths
Career options available in this growing industry; effective interviewing skills; developing your first design portfolio.
Starting Your Own Business: What You Need to Know
The most effective methods for launching a sustainable, professional business; developing a mission statement and logo; marketing and networking; taking your style skills to the professional level by starting your own business.
