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In September 2008, celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe’s TV show “The Rachel Zoe Project” debuted on Bravo. The series followed Rachel Zoe, who was at the time the go-to celebrity stylist for some of Hollywood’s A-list stars, from Demi Moore to Anne Hathaway. For the first time, those beyond the fashion industry finally got to see what the world of fashion styling entailed.
Prior to “The Rachel Zoe Project” reaching the general American public, when most people heard the word ‘stylist,’ they thought of hair stylists. In the ‘00s, there was also a lot of media glamorizing other behind-the-scenes fashion professions. The blockbuster classic “The Devil Wears Prada” (which has a sequel releasing in May 2026) depicted the world of fashion magazines and what it meant to work as a fashion editor. TV shows like MTV’s “The Hills” and Bravo’s “Kell on Earth” depicted the hustle and bustle of fashion public relations.
Although many people started to see that there was so much more to the world of fashion beyond being a fashion designer or fashion model, Zoe’s TV show became a catalyst for many other TV shows following celebrity fashion stylists. Her former assistant, Brad Goreski, stylist to Demi Moore, Lisa Rinna, and Ashley Park, who went out on his own, starred in the Bravo spinoff “It’s a Brad, Brad World.” Jason Bolden, stylist to Oscar winner Michael B. Jordan, Taylor Zakhar Perez, and Storm Reid, starred in Netflix’s “Styling Hollywood.” Law Roach, stylist to Zendaya, Celine Dion, and Jeremy Pope, has starred in numerous reality series, from HBO Max’s “Legendary” to “America’s Next Top Model.”
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While stylists serve as part of the glam team for entertainment talent, becoming a celebrity stylist has become as much of a dream job for people as becoming a Hollywood star. Contrary to popular belief, though, being a fashion stylist is not just about giving people clothes to wear.
For starters, there are different types of stylists. In 2026, most stylists, especially those based in either New York or Los Angeles, are doing everything. The range of services a fashion stylist offers could include celebrity red carpet, magazine editorials, e-commerce, private clients, fashion shows, and advertising campaigns. (Full disclosure: I myself have worked on and off as a stylist since 2017, and consistently as one since 2024.)
Like so many things in fashion, from the state of media to public relations, the business of styling has changed tremendously over time. Most don’t realize how dramatic the change has been unless they have actually worked as stylists, but for those looking to become stylists in 2026, it’s a very different landscape from how it used to look, and so many other things that people hope would change are unfortunately still the same.
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Unlike so many other career tracks in fashion, there is no formal styling degree or a guidebook for how a career in styling should look. Whereas with other jobs in fashion, there’s often a degree to acquire, a ladder of titles to climb, and a traditional work structure to give an idea of how your future should look, there is no how-to guide for fashion stylists.
Mason Lyle, a Toronto-based stylist, began his styling career eleven years ago and has styled fashion presentations and runway shows for New York Fashion Week, as well as red carpet talent and magazine editorials. He began his fashion career as a designer but quickly switched to styling after one year in design.
“Styling came naturally to me, and I did intern with a few designers and a few stylists, where I was able to watch and learn,” Lyle said. “One of the biggest shifts I’ve seen in the industry is how Instagram changed everything, and everything went fully digital. Brands also now focus more on influencer culture rather than clients who would truly purchase.”
The advent of Instagram led to stylists, who were often unseen legends or very behind the scenes, having to evolve into influencers themselves and really brand themselves as their own one-person businesses. Gone are the days when stylists had physical portfolios. Now, Instagram and business websites showcasing their work are treated as their portfolios. Potential clients will even DM stylists for the opportunity to work together.
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Styling has also turned into an entire creative business, which has been a blessing for creative agents. Top agencies representing some of the biggest fashion stylists include The Wall Group, The Only Agency, and FWRD Artists.
For independent stylists who are hustling for themselves, though, one thing Lyle stresses is the importance of a contract. “Contracts are very important for every client and every situation, and you should also know how much your time is truly worth.”
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One thing many stylists stress when dealing with clients nowadays is the importance of patience. Esther Lamour, a New York City-based celebrity stylist, has been in the industry for nine years. She was originally a schoolteacher, then attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC to receive a certificate in styling.
While she’s been a stylist for almost ten years, she says one of the ways the industry has changed is that stylists are now expected to be jacks-of-all-trades. Where stylists once just had to manage wardrobe, they are now expected to act as full-scale creative production services.
“Stylists are sometimes expected to bring in the makeup artists, the hair stylists, and handle creative management in many cases,” Lamour said. “You have to learn how to do the business side of the business in addition to the artistic side; otherwise, you will sink before you swim.”
One thing Lamour says stylists in 2026 need to understand is how oversaturated the industry has become from many angles.
“Ten years ago, you could have everything you needed for a shoot by going to two or three showrooms, and most of the showrooms were either in New York or Los Angeles,” Lamour said. “Now you have showrooms in Miami, Chicago, and popping up in other cities. There are also a lot more stylists than there were ten years ago. All of this access, brought on by social media, has watered down the business of styling. Meanwhile, the work has become harder because we have to go to twenty showrooms to pull clothes for clients rather than two or three.”
Lamour also stressed how client expectations have increased over the years. “Clients are now expecting more things for free, and I have to clarify that the fee I charge just covers my services, and these clothes are on loan. There is also this idea that stylists sit in our own showrooms worth of clothes with every size available. Clients could come the day before an event expecting full-look styling, and it’s more challenging when they aren’t sample size because these showrooms often only carry runway sample sizes. They are expecting Chanel and champagne with no champagne budget.”
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Despite how the business of styling has changed, one thing Lamour stresses is that aspiring stylists shouldn’t get into this just for money or fame. “It’s a tough business,” she said. “If you’re going to do the job of a stylist, you have to do it because you love it, and you have to be passionate.”
For those aspiring to careers in styling, they now have to brand themselves on social media, deal with a highly competitive market where there are more fashion stylists than ever and realize that their job is now full-on creative direction rather than just acting as clothing secretaries. Client expectations have evolved, as everyone is aspiring to become the next red-carpet darling like Zendaya or Rihanna. The state of styling is evolving, and stylists must evolve with the times as they continue to try to pull great looks for clients.
Kristopher Fraser
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