What image comes to mind for you when you think of a personal stylist or color consultant? Another word for image is archetype. In this article, I’m going to unpack what the different archetypes of stylists and color consultants actually do, so you can decide who to hire based on what kind of help you need. And stay through to the end because I am going to share how you can begin to find your own personal style archetype.
I’m Rebecca Mielke, owner of Signature Style Systems. I take you on a journey of self-discovery to create harmony with who you really are, so you can have more resources left to achieve the impact you are here for.
TBH, Nobody really knows what the rate is for people in this industry. Hi like the term visual identity guide for myself because how you present yourself says something about who you are and I think it’s important for it to be accurate and authentic, more than an image put on for effect.
Common Archetypes of Stylists and Color Consultants
- Makeover artist. A few weeks ago, I drew the hot seat in my business community. When the facilitator asked what people thought I did, the first answer given was like What Not to Wear but with some qualifier, like without the budget or something like that. Here are some of the questions that go through my mind when I watch these kinds of shows (which I do like):
- does the person really feel like themselves?
- Is the change gonna stick?
- Will they be dressed some days like the new look and other days like the old?
- It feels like these makeovers are unlikely to make a sustainable difference in a persons life, but I could be wrong.
- Celebrity Stylist. This person manages a celebrity’s image and style and maintains relationships with designers and brands for that purpose. Because celebrities need a staff of people to manage all kinds of things for them. This is a whole different world! But stylists are not only for celebrities.
- Personal Stylist. A personal stylist has training in the Technical aspects of what looks good on different body types, proportions, and all that stuff.
- These professionals could also be called style coaches or image consultants. They should be able to tell you about their training.Â
- Stores seem to be starting to call their workers stylists, and I would not necessarily count on these people having training.
- People who just generally have a good eye also can go into business as a stylist
- Why it matters whether the people have training is more in whether they can teach you to replicate what they do
- Some personal stylists will offer more hands-on doing work for you, like shopping and closet clean outs, while others focus more on helping you learn to do that for yourself. (I consider myself more a teach a Man to Fish stylist and the people at the business hotseat who were disappointed were the ones who hoped I would come and do their closets.)
- Color Consultant. Seasonal color draping has become all the rage again. These professionals mostly work by draping swatches of color below your face and evaluating which are the best on you, then giving you a color season with a predefined palette. People who consult on other uses of color, such as interiors or branding, may also call themselves color consultants.
- Color Designers. Color designers work a little differently, choosing each color or color range specifically for the individual, resulting in a custom palette for each client. This is what I do when you get your signature color palette and guide.
Lessons from the Hot Seat
Ok, so back to the business community hotseat. The next person who raised her hand said she understood what I do to be more like business branding, but for yourself. This is getting alot closer!
The other thing that came up is that $247 feels like alot for opening price point. So I’ve got something exciting in answer to that: a branding palette! I’ve taken my $97 simple digital palette and added a page where I select five colors for you to focus on. You can use it for business branding or for a capsule wardrobe or just to take the overwhelm out of having 48-60 colors to choose from.
Get the Branding Color Palette here!
What is My Archetype?
Now switching gears: Recently I attended a personal development retreat where we were working through the Jungian cognitive functions and how we relate to them based on our own Personality and experiences. I have been experiencing significant challenges in my extroverted thinking which is all about achievement and getting things done and managing resources.
During my coaching, it became apparent that my problem wasn’t actually with a function, but more with an archetype. I felt limited in my life by people who embody the queen archetype. Or I did until the paradigm shifted. Because the group sees me as a fairy godmother. And in that paradigm there is no reason to feel limited by the queen, is there?
How We Find Your Archetype
Now, I know that it is common practice to choose a style icon and model yourself after that person as an archetype, but I want to share a little how it works in my online Visual Identity program, your self-discovery journey. Rather than modeling yourself after someone else, I have a system for discovering your aesthetic, the version of beauty that connects to your essence. Then you become your own archetype.
Here’s your homework for this episode. Journal about the impact you believe you are here to create in the world. And consider this question: if you knew what you were wearing was right for you, how much more time and energy and money would be available for you to pursue that dream?
That’s what I want for you!