For this assignment, choose your ideal client (real or fictional) and create a mood board that shows how you'd style them for a specific project or event. First, research and collect images, color swatches, and materials that reflect your chosen theme, drawing inspiration from various sources like art, architecture, or photography—beyond just clothing. Then, assemble the mood board, either physically or digitally, ensuring the content is organized and clearly communicates your vision. (Close up images highlighting text on Mood Board below)

zoom in above for close ups and to read text on mood  board 

Reflection: For the first module, we were tasked with creating a mood board for our ideal client. I chose the fabulous artist Sophie Tea (https://sophieteaart.com/en-us). Sophie is a young artist whose work focuses on empowering women to feel confident in their bodies. She channels her creative energy into building a welcoming community, creating stunning artwork featuring the nude female form, and hosting events that provide a space for people to come together, celebrate happiness, and practice self-love and mutual support. Additionally, Sophie uses social media to execute publicity stunts that amplify the causes she believes in, spreading her message to a global audience.

Personal Styling Presentation

For this assignment, choose a prospective client you know personally and have a consultation with them to discuss their style and future goals. Begin by researching their current style—check out their social media and what they wear to understand their preferences. During your meeting, evaluate their style personality, listen to their goals, and ask about their budget. Based on the consultation, determine the style changes you’ll propose and create 3-5 sample outfits that reflect these goals, including the label and cost of each piece. Then, prepare a presentation using Google Slides or another tool that includes an introduction to your client, their style personality, goals, and sample looks. Finally, pitch your ideas to your client to see if they want to hire you as their stylist.

Link to Locker

Reflection: For the second module, I chose to style one of my dear friends, Graicen. Graicen is a junior at ECU and often visits her friends in Chapel Hill on weekends. She lives within walking distance of campus, walks to her classes, babysits for young children after class, and works at a restaurant back home in Morehead City, NC. With such a busy and active schedule, Graicen prioritizes comfort and functionality in her wardrobe. While her main focus is getting where she needs to go, she doesn’t always have the time to put together a cute yet functional outfit. She’s noticed how much better she feels on days when she’s wearing something she loves and wants to feel confident walking out the door. To make things easier for her, I curated a collection of adorable basics that she can easily mix and match for everyday wear.

Graicen also shared that her on-the-go lifestyle sometimes leaves her feeling unprepared when it comes to dressing for events. She wants to effortlessly blend in with the vibe of the occasion while staying comfortable and adding her own personal touch. To address this, I styled two outfits for her to wear at an ECU tailgate and two for a UNC tailgate, ensuring she feels both confident and true to her style.

Mock Cover Letter

For the first part, research and find a stylist working in your field of interest. Write a personalized cover letter explaining why you want to work with them, summarizing your experience, and highlighting the skills you can bring to their work. Your letter should reflect your enthusiasm for the opportunity and may reference your mission and vision statements. Be sure to include your name, the assignment title, and the date in the cover letter.

Reflection: For Module Three, the assignment consisted of two parts: crafting a mission statement and a vision statement centered around my personal goals as a stylist. I drew inspiration from Anna Santangelo (https://annasantangelo.com&https://santangelo.studio) because her work exemplifies a remarkable attention to detail and a deep commitment to the craft of styling and creative direction. What stands out most about her approach is her ability to repurpose items for uses beyond their original intent, as well as her creation of a unique framework to categorize and define her work. Her innovative perspective resonated with me and influenced how I approached this assignment.

For the second part of the assignment, choose the type of styling you want to pursue (e.g., personal, wardrobe, editorial) and write a mission and vision statement outlining what you aim to do now and what you hope to accomplish in the next two years. 

Test Shoot

In this module, you will learn the essentials of a fashion shoot, including how to assemble a team and manage creative direction. You will explore the process of casting talent, sourcing garments, and selecting props, while also understanding the differences between editorial and lifestyle styling. Key topics include the fashion calendar, production schedules, and the responsibilities of a stylist before, during, and after the shoot. Additionally, experts will share professional etiquette tips and strategies for managing challenges on set.

The module also covers the basics of image editing and retouching, teaching you how to prepare your photos for printing, digital publication, or your portfolio. You will gain insight into the importance of body inclusivity in fashion, ensuring your work reflects a broad range of models and styles.

Reflection: This assignment pushed me out of my comfort zone, which ultimately benefited me. I knew I wanted to express myself through my model's look, incorporating elements that were fun, playful, feminine, sparkly, and frilly. However, instead of portraying a prim and proper woman sipping tea, I aimed to show that women can get down and dirty, have fun, and still look fabulous while doing so.

I had a blast thrifting garments and upcycling them to bring my vision to life and create cohesive looks. The most challenging part was the actual day of the shoot. I had initially hoped to work with a photographer, but things didn’t work out, so I had to step into that role myself. While I’m very proud of the images I captured, especially since I’m not experienced in photography, there are aspects of the photos that bother me, such as the lighting and shadows. These are issues a professional photographer likely would have noticed and corrected.

Additionally, I wasn’t able to fully channel my creative energy into the execution of the shoot. Normally, I focus on details like ensuring there are no distracting objects in the background or adjusting parts of the outfit, which sets me apart and contributes to my success in the fashion industry. However, during this shoot, my attention was entirely on taking the photos, which meant some of those finer details were overlooked.