How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Wardrobe Stylist?
People often assume to hiring a wardrobe stylist should be reserved for the rich and famous, or for people whose jobs put them in the spotlight. In reality, all of my clients (as well as the clients of other stylists I know) are regular people—busy moms, executives, retirees, avid travelers—definitely not the rich and famous set.
One thing to consider before hiring a personal stylist is how much it's going to cost and learning the true value of hiring one. The biggest hesitation my prospective clients often have is the price, and I get it - it IS an investment.
Kirsty Noakes, a personal stylist, author, and speaker says, “Based on Census results and the information I collect on my style profile questionnaires we are spending between $2,500 and $4,000 a year on clothing, shoes, and accessories. 85% of women have clothes in their wardrobes that don't fit (I personally think it's closer to 100%), and of the clothes we do have, we only wear between 20% and 30% of what's currently in our wardrobes,”
She continues, “if you're spending let's say $3,000 a year on clothes and only wearing 30% of your wardrobe, you've just wasted $2,000.”
While most people are willing to invest in themselves and their self-care with a spa day, vacation, or great meal out at an upscale restaurant, sometimes services are looked at in a different light. Consider, though, what personal styling could do for you long term: boost self-confidence, promote body-positivity, take the stress out of getting dressed daily, save time, finally have an organized closet, and get more cost-per-wear out of each item in your wardrobe.
Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? Let’s break down the different types of personal styling services and the costs related to each service.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Wardrobe Stylist?
Subscription Wardrobe Styling Services $20-$100+
The pros of using a styling subscription service are convenience and affordability. They often use familiar brands, offer a variety of styles, and usually employ great personal stylists and customer service professionals.
The cons of working with a subscription-style service are that you are not working with a stylist in person and they don’t know what is already in your closet, nor do they know much about your lifestyle and preferences. Sometimes, these boxes can miss the mark, and you end up adding random pieces to your wardrobe a la carte.
These types of programs are great IF you have a strong sense of your personal style and know exactly what you need. However, each item you decide to keep (usually offered at a discount), is added to your subscription fee automatically.
When I personally experimented with these types of services, I found the items sent to me were pretty generic, and not nearly as chic as something I could find myself or a seasoned shopper could find for me.
Virtual Wardrobe Styling Services $450+
Over the last few years, personal styling has adapted from in-person only to virtual styling. In my virtual styling program, I offer a number of personalized services. Here’s what the process looks like for my virtual styling service and what you’re paying for:
First, I teach you how to properly edit your closet. We then schedule a 1-hour wardrobe appointment via Zoom, where we go through the closet edit process virtually as much as needed. Once the client has fully edited their closet, we take time to go over any “maybe items” and look at all the pieces being kept.
Next, I take about an hour and a half to shop online for items needed to fill the gaps in the wardrobe. Using a tool called Hue & Stripe, I pick out pieces that will not just enhance the existing closet, but also build a fantastic new wardrobe.
After you select and purchase the desired items, we then have an additional try-on via Zoom to help build looks with the new items and integrate each piece.
Ongoing: Access to digital and shoppable virtual lookbooks to continue to shop, create looks, and further develop your individual personal style.
This is a great option because it’s affordable and can be completed anywhere. You will be able to get more wear out of each piece and be able to efficiently pull outfits together, gaining more costs per wear from your closet.
In-Person Signature Styling Services $2500
During my in-person Signature Styling service, we take a holistic approach to styling and do a full closet overhaul. There are several stages of this styling service which include: scheduling an in-person closet edit and cleanup, purchasing items for each season, and creating an Individualized Wardrobe Action Plan. Here’s a quick outline of how this service works:
Phase 1
One 3-hour in-person closet edit and cleanup
Create an Individualized Wardrobe Action Plan, which includes a body and color analysis and an itemized shopping list with brand and store recommendations, based on your body shape, style preferences, and budget.
One 3-hour Personal Virtual Shopping session
PHASE 2
Two 1-hour Wardrobe Restyling Sessions to go over new looks and integrate each into your existing wardrobe.
Access to Polly via text during the window of service (3 months)
There are a variety of options when it comes to hiring a stylist and paying for wardrobe styling services. And just like with fashion - it’s not a one-size fits all approach. Make sure before you hire a wardrobe stylist or pay for a styling service that you feel like it works with your lifestyle, meets your needs, and helps you achieve your style goals.
You can learn more about me over on this blog or check out my services page if you think we’d be a great fit and you’d like my help as a wardrobe stylist!
