Looking to hire a personal stylist or shopper? Read this first.

If you’re thinking about hiring a personal stylist or personal shopper but don’t know where to start, here are some answers to frequently asked questions. We'll explore topics like: how to find a personal shopper, can they help you find your personal style, how to make the most out of your style consultation, and much more. 

We're a capsule wardrobe styling service and our team of personal stylists and shoppers have created this guide. If you have a question you don’t see here, send us an email and we’ll be happy to help.   

Personal stylists curate wardrobe pieces and offer styling advice to help their clients look and feel their best. This may involve a variety of personalized, one-on-one services such as:

• Advice on how to achieve a desired look
• A one-time consultation to choose an outfit for an important event such as a job interview, holiday, work event, or celebration
• A series of consultations for a full wardrobe overhaul
• Ongoing consultations to build a high quality capsule wardrobe over time
• Personal shopping
• Seasonal updates
• Styling tips on how to wear and pair new wardrobe pieces and incorporate them into your current closet
• Styling tips on pieces that work best for your shape, goals, and lifestyle

A personal stylist will typically begin by evaluating your needs, style goals, budget, and lifestyle before curating items they think are best suited to you. There are a variety of ways a personal stylist collects this information from you. Possibilities include a style quiz, a phone call or video consultation, or an in-person meeting.

The more honest and accurate information you provide to your stylist, the better they can understand your needs and find wardrobe pieces perfect for you. 

A personal stylist may offer personal shopping services. But a strictly personal shopper is just that — someone that shops for you. 

The relationship between a personal stylist and a client tends to be quite different from that of a personal shopper and their client. Oftentimes, personal shopper services are offered free of charge within a department store. In that case, the personal shopper works on commissions and may therefore be more inclined to present you with pricier options.

A personal stylist, on the other hand, aims to help you find an outfit or wardrobe pieces that are best suited to you, your needs, budget, and goals. The relationship tends to be more, well, personal! The personal stylist is typically not driven by commissions and they work to ensure you achieve your desired look and find pieces that fit you and your life — not necessarily purchase the most expensive items. 

There are numerous benefits to working with a personal stylist, including:

• Save time. From the moment we open our eyes in the morning until we close them again at bedtime, we all have innumerable choices to make throughout our day. The time and mental energy spent on decision-making — whether at home, work, school, or elsewhere — can be exhausting. A personal stylist can help eliminate some of that stress and save you the time and energy you would have spent searching for wardrobe pieces, researching brands and trends, shopping, and choosing your outfits. 
• Fresh eyes, fresh ideas. If you’re in a wardrobe rut with a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear, the personal stylist’s fresh set of eyes can help you sort through the clutter and identify what to keep, what to give away, and what new pieces to introduce to get you closer to your style goals. They'll do the work of curating a virtual or in-person dressing room for you to help you reach your desired style. 
• Helpful knowledge. A personal stylist brings their knowledge of trends, fit, fabrics, body types, brands, standards, and more. 

Qualifications: There is no formal certification required to become a personal stylist. However, personal stylists often have a background in fashion and have completed some coursework, internships, or apprenticeships prior to taking on clients.
Already an expert stylist? Visit our career page and apply to be a personal stylist at Veneka.  

There are a variety of ways to work with a personal stylist including:

• In-person
• Subscription boxes
• Online styling platform like Veneka

In order to choose which is right for you, you will need to determine what types of services and standards are important.  

Here’s how Veneka’s online styling platform compares to the other two common categories:

Personal styling fees range depending on a number of factors, including services that are included, the experience level of the stylist, and the location.

• In-person styling: In-person styling can range from $50 - $300 per hour. An in-person styling session may start with a style profile or quiz and/or an initial phone or video consultation in which the stylist assesses your needs, budget, lifestyle, and goals. The stylist may arrange a visit to also evaluate your current closet and help you determine which pieces to keep and which to let go to get you closer to your goals. Some stylists will then curate a list of pieces they recommend for you so that you can choose from the list and buy as you see fit. Other personal stylists will accompany you on a shopping trip where they will teach and advise you on fit, style, and pieces to purchase. And some stylists may instead purchase a number of pieces and arrange a time for you to try them on and decide which ones are right for you. Services vary widely by stylist and they may offer packages that combine several services, so be sure to ask what the stylist’s process is, what’s included, and whether packages are available prior to committing your time and money. 

• Style box subscriptions: The styling fee for box subscriptions tends to range from $20-50 per month or per box, and the fee is often refunded when items are purchased (this varies, so be sure to ask). In general, box subscriptions start with a style profile or quiz where you will share your needs, goals, and budget. Then the stylist will select pieces accordingly and you will be sent a box of items to try. You will return the pieces you don’t want and pay for those you keep. Some style box subscriptions involve direct interaction wherein you can work with the stylist to choose which pieces you’d like to receive, but others do not. Some send less personalized boxes and instead offer a general box based on a specific style you’ve selected (so, for example, athleisure or business casual).The services vary so you should familiarize yourself with the service you are interested in, read their FAQ’s, and ask any questions prior to ordering. 

• Veneka's capsule consultation. The consultation fee is $35. Our experience is a combination of subscription service, personal shopping, and personal styling. You will start with a style quiz in which you'll share your style goals, budget, and challenges. A Veneka stylist will curate a collection of pieces aimed to help you build your capsule wardrobe. During your initial consultation, you'll be able to give feedback to get your curation perfect. Shop what you love directly from your capsule. All orders and returns ship free. You’ll have the chance to share your feedback on the items in your curation and ask any questions. Your personal stylist will update your curation based on the feedback you shared and you'll get two rounds of feedback. When the updated curation is ready, you’ll be notified and can then shop directly from it, choosing only the pieces you want. There is no obligation to purchase any or all of the items; the decision is yours. 

With your Veneka subscription, every three months, your stylist will curate a new collection to pair with pieces you purchased so you can build a high-functioning wardrobe over time. Or if you prefer, your stylist can start over a curate a fresh capsule wardrobe for you. Over time, you'll be able to dress for one time events and complete the small details of your closet. 

Most people enjoy their capsule experience because they end up owning less stuff, only own necessary clothing, never have to enter department stores and achieve their goals. 

With so many personal styling options to choose from, you will need to decide what is best for you. Here are some questions to consider:

• Your budget. Which services fit your budget? What is included? Is the fee refunded with purchase?
• Your time. How much time do you want to commit to the experience? For example, do you want to spend a day shopping in-person? Or are you looking for that personal service from a stylist but with less of a time commitment?
• Your goals and their services. Are you looking for a wardrobe overhaul? Do you want to build a capsule wardrobe? Are you seeking regular and/or seasonal updates? Think about your goals and which service(s) may be the best match.
• Your values. Does the stylist or styling company understand and share your values about sustainable, ethical and cruelty-free fashion, and conscious consumption? Read our values on sustainable, ethical, and cruelty-free fashion.
• Live interaction, personalized advice, and education. Is direct communication with a stylist important to you? Are you looking for someone that can help you understand what styles and fabrics will work best for you? Or do you prefer to receive an auto-shipped box of items without the chance to discuss with a stylist?

Although a city itself may have its own unique vibe, generally, a personal stylist — whether in-person or virtual — should have the knowledge and skills to serve clients in any city and all seasons.

However, personal stylists that offer virtual styling services likely interact more frequently with clients across the country and even around the world. You no longer need to live in a major fashion metropolis such as New York or Paris to hire a personal stylist; virtual stylists bring the world of fashion to you via the pieces they curate. 

A stylist’s city is not as important as their ability to connect with you, assess what you need, and curate pieces accordingly.  

Absolutely! Here are some tips for finding a personal stylist that specializes in sustainable, ethical and cruelty-free fashion as well as conscious consumption:

1. Beware of the false front. Some people deliberately use terms such as “sustainability,” “eco-friendly,” and “conscious consumption” in their advertising but not actually in practice. Be sure that sustainable fashion and positive impact are a priority for them — not just a marketing ploy.
2. Take stock of brands and fabrics. Scroll their social media or flip through their portfolio to find examples of brands they work with. Transparency is important. If brand names, fabrics, and standards aren’t readily available, ask about their criteria for curating pieces. Then ask yourself: are they consistently curating eco-friendly and ethical fashion pieces that align with my values? 

Compassion should be clear — not a question mark. Their commitment to eco-friendly fabrics and manufacturing, ethical labor, and cruelty-free practices should be at the forefront, not an afterthought. Ultimately, if you have to dig too much to learn about their stance on sustainable and ethical fashion, that may be an indication it’s not a priority for them.

Industry experts: Veneka's personal stylists have years of experience working with diverse clientele. They stay up to date on the latest trends while also understanding timeless looks. 

Passion for positive impact and interaction with clients: Our stylists share a passion for making a positive change in the fashion industry. They focus on high-quality pieces that last while highlighting and supporting brands with shared values around ethical production and conscious consumption — and empower clients to do the same. Veneka's stylists enjoy working with clients and curating capsule wardrobes that are personalized to each person’s needs and goals.

Capsule wardrobe experts: While some personal styling services may be driven by commissions or quantity, encouraging clients to purchase a higher number of items, Veneka is focused on quality over quantity. In staying true to conscious consumption, our personal stylists help clients build a capsule wardrobe of high quality pieces that pair with other pieces in their closet. Our stylists are passionate about helping clients do more with less and support them in purchasing only what they need and will wear constantly. 

Sustainable, ethical, and cruelty-free brands under one roof: Veneka has the strictest standards in retail for sustainability, labor practices, and animal welfare. Veneka clients don’t have to spend hours searching the internet for brands that share their values, and they don’t have to wonder whether the pieces they purchase meet strict criteria. Veneka has already done that research and we save clients time by curating a capsule wardrobes of clothing that makes a positive impact. Every piece chosen by a Veneka stylist meets all three criteria for sustainable fabrics, ethical labor, and cruelty-free practices.

Responsive styling: Veneka's stylists log all feedback after each consultation so our clients never have to start from scratch or repeat themselves. Pieces are curated based on a client's style quiz, current closet, previous feedback, and previous purchases to help build a high-functioning capsule wardrobe.

Provide accurate information: Whether you work with a personal stylist in-person or virtually, you'll need to share information with them about your body, lifestyle, challenges, and goals. The more honest and accurate information you provide, the better chance a personal stylist has to curate the perfect wardrobe for you.

Share style icons and inspiration: Whose style is most appealing to you? If you could borrow from any celebrity or public figure's closet, who would you pick? If you have any wardrobe or style aspirations, share your influences with your personal stylist. 

Don't be shy: During your consultation, give your stylist honest feedback and as as many questions as you can think of. That what they're there for. 

Have fun: Searching for wardrobe pieces can be time-consuming and stressful. If you hire a personal stylist, you can leave all of that to them. Enjoy the process!