The Fashion Business Resource Guide
READ THIS IF: you want to start a business in fashion but have always wondered if you can make money & what it’s like behind the scenes
On a random Sunday I pulled up to an abandoned Target parking lot at 6am with a tulle skirt & a fancy cop top, cardigan, and heels with my new DSLR camera and the cheapest tripod Best Buy had in stock. It was fall time in Ohio, which means the early morning temperature was 40 degrees and I knew I was about to brave the cold for some cute “Instagram worthy” pics; and this ladies and gentleman, is how I started my fashion blog.
After working as a social worker for five years, I was over it. My fashion blog days were birthed not only out of a need for a creative outlet, but sheer boredom from sitting at a desk for eight hours a day staring at a computer. I often say I have a creative brain, and as a result, boredom is like a slow death I avoid like the plague. I kept my 9-5 because I liked pricy Japanese Steakhouse meals on the weekends and buying the latest heels, but I knew I had to strive towards something I loved and stumbled upon fashion blogging.
Initially I wanted to work for a style magazine, and I thought my degree in Mass Communications + a fashion blog would get my foot in the door, but it never manifested into my dream fashion editor job and that’s OK. Why? Partly because I realized I didn’t want to live with a roommate in a 400 square ft. studio apartment in New York. Also, because I realized that entrepreneurship is where my heart is, and if I could write for a fashion magazine and make ends meet, I could probably make more writing on my own.
I’ve been down a winding road in my fashion/entrepreneur/side hustle days that started with being a jewelry designer, then a fashion blogger, then a wardrobe stylist, then back to jewelry designing. I’ve dipped my toe in about every fashion side gig possible, and for that reason I wanted to create a resource for those of you who were in the same place I was 11 years ago. You know you want to start making money off your incredible style skills and abilities but have lots of questions. One of my first & constant questions was, if I could really make real money off doing what I love. I’m here to tell you can, and although it’s not easy, with time and dedication you can turn a love for fashion into a viable income.
It's normal to want to jump into the side gig/business realm but have lots of questions about what the experience is like, the pros and cons and how the love of fashion turns into YOU getting paid. I put together a resource list full of extremely helpful & detailed articles, blogs & videos about the three most popular businesses in fashion you can start; Wardrobe Styling, Fashion Blogger/Influencer & a Designer/Boutique Owner. Take a look at the list below to get the foundational resources you need to start a business in fashion.
WARDROBE STYLIST
Here’s an interview with a wardrobe stylist & their experience in this industry: https://jobshadow.com/interview-with-a-wardrobe-stylist/
Here is a good youtube video from a freelance stylist to talk about the realities of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyjEm2hPdXk
This is a look at statistically what a stylist makes by national average: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/fashion-stylist-Salary-per-Hour
Behind the scenes of a celebrity stylist:
https://www.melissamagsaysay.com/the-new-way-celebrity-stylists-are-paying-the-bills
FASHION BLOGGER
Harpers Bazar talks about the 6 common ways to get paid from being a fashion blogger:
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a11902/how-do-fashion-bloggers-make-money/
Another list that gives a few more examples: https://www.wpglossy.com/make-money-fashion-blogging/
This article covers how some of the OG fashion bloggers got started & rose to fame:
https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/make-money/side-gigs/how-to-start-a-fashion-blog/
Here’s some real bloggers that reveal what they made from actual sponsored posts and collaborations on Instagram: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-much-money-bloggers-make_l_5e626ea0c5b601904ea9c107
Designer/Fashion Boutique Owner
A great post on freelance fashion designing: https://sewingnpatterns.com/career-in-fashion-design/
Here’s a general how to for how to start as a fashion designer: https://fashionisers.com/2020/06/23/how-to-make-money-as-a-fashion-designer-from-home/
Here’s my blog post about becoming a jewelry designer & my journey: https://www.allthingsmonica.com/blog-1/nichinginyourbusiness
Here’s an article about one of my favorite jewelry brands and how they got started: https://www.curateur.com/blogs/the-edit/behind-the-brand-dannijo
Thinking about starting a clothing boutique? This video goes through 3 popular mistakes to avoid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shbkmso8oBg
Here’s a thorough walkthrough of starting a brick & mortar boutique: https://sewguide.com/how-to-start-a-boutique-business/
A cool Cosmo article about how a boutique owner found success: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/career/advice/a26999/get-that-life-laura-uhlir-olive-austin/
So, there you have it! No more googling & Youtubing the basics, they’re all here for you on one page. Save this post, share this post with your fashionista friends, and if you enjoyed this post, let me know HERE on Instagram.