Epic Magazine

“Fashion Boot Camp with Amy Lu, is an intense fashion styling course for those who want to get started in the business or get an edge in your current fashion industry position. Get over 10 years of insider tips from one of Canada’s top fashion stylists with hands on experience.”

You should never have to pay for this kind of experience. 

As a stylist (albeit an amateur, I’ve been only doing this for a year or two), I would say that this particular fashion profession has the VERY least to contribute to society. Its basically, the most worthless job ever.

I know I shouldn’t say that its a complete waste of time, but I do it for fun. And I don’t think that it should be your be-all-and-end-all-career. That can make you crazy c*nt.  Trust me, I’ve worked for fashion magazines and stylists. All of them nut-bar.

Back to this “styling course” though. It reminds me of modelling school scams. Honestly if you don’t got it, you don’t got it. You should never have to pay for something that you can learn for free with hard work.

The two full day weekend classes (which will run you $350) will not transform you into Grace Coddington, Rachel Zoe or the next big thing. However, it will be the waste of time that you blew nearly half a month’s rent on, because a semi-successful/established stylist, (who doesn’t make as much as she would have you believe) tuned into the idea that lots of stupid little girls would pay big bucks to sugar coat what I already know. 

Let me save you 3 and 1/2 hundees.  

The secrets of success in styling comes from:

1. Extensive networking - making relationships with good photographers, magazines, modeling agencies etc.
2. Having access to a car/strong arms - lugging bags of clothing sucks without a drivers license.
3. Good credit - most photo shoots are last minute, so pulling from an fashion representation agency isn’t always possible
4. Years of experience - trial and error are the best teachers.
5. Knowing your tools - taping bottoms of shoes, clips, safety pins, using tights to rub out deodorant marks on clothing, steaming, etc.
6. Good care of products borrowed - nobody likes someone who returns things stained, and if you do ruin something, pay for it. 
7. Being able to write an awesome cover letter to borrow clothing from designers, showrooms, and companies. 
8. Being a good liar - Buying and returning clothing constantly puts you on the offensive at malls, and sales people soon become aware of what you’re up to. bottom line is, no commission, no service.  Most stylists are hated by stores, and no one likes to be hated!
9. If you are styling for a magazine, make sure that you have insurance! all damages done to clothing must be paid for by the magazine. 
10. Maintain credibility and be polite - Most stylists act like entitled spoiled brats, and think that they are wonderful members of society and should be decorated as so. Try to bring it back down to earth. 
11. Assisting - Be a stylist’s assistant for a while, and learn from experienced individuals. See how you like it. 
12. Don’t shop for yourself - You will want to keep 15% of the pretty things that you see, ultimately losing any profit that you may have gained. This means that you are going to lose money on almost every shoot. 

I lost a pair of red heels on one pull I was doing at the mall. That’s $100 gone. 

A model got a popsicle stain on a $400 Alexander Wang shirt I had borrowed. Who had to foot the bill? Me. Fighting with the editor of the magazine is never fun. I basically had to harass him for 5 months, and finally met up with him in Mississauga in a sketchy abandoned parking lot. 

It’s a fucking frustrating business. As much as I love getting my pictures back, I can’t help but wonder that my talents are being wasted. 

So, if you’re going to contribute to the world, plant a tree or something. That’s what I’m talking aboot*.

*(Editors Note: I may have added that last line.)