Difference Between Fashion Designer and Fashion Stylist
Fashion designers create trends, while fashion stylists bring those creations to life through styling. Continue reading to get insights about the skills required and courses to pursue to become a fashion stylist and fashion designer.
Swati Kumar5 Apr, 2025
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Difference Between Fashion Designer and Fashion Stylist: With the upscaling of the fashion industry in current years, fashion designer fields are growing at a roaring pace. The two main fields that stand out are fashion designers and fashion stylists. Fashion designers are responsible for creating clothing, accessories, and footwear, focusing on aesthetics and functionality. On the other hand, a fashion stylist selects and assembles outfits for clients, using existing garments to convey specific styles or themes.
While a fashion designer sets the trends and crafts garments from concept to production, a fashion stylist studies the trends and assembles them as per the likeness of his/her clients. Both roles require a deep understanding of fashion trends and aesthetics, but they differ significantly in their responsibilities and creative focus.
What is Fashion Designing?
A fashion designer follows and researches the trends in the fashion industry and combines aesthetic clothing, accessories, and footwear. Fashion designers translate creative concepts into tangible designs using sketching, pattern making, and garment construction. They gain a deep understanding of the materials by studying and infuse them into clothing or accessories that reflect personal style and cultural context.
What is Fashion Styling?
A fashion stylist combines clothing, accessories, and makeup to create visually appealing and harmonious styles. Fashion stylists select and assemble garments to reflect a theme or image, often for brands or individuals. They study the latest trends around color, texture, and proportion for creating cohesive looks.
Fashion Designer vs Fashion Stylist Skills Required
The difference between a fashion designer and fashion stylist lies in their skills. Some of the differentiating skills are tabulated below that make their fields unique and distinctive.
How to Become a Fashion Designer or Fashion Stylist?
Despite being different professions, fashion designing and styling have the same fundamentals. To put a foot in the door, both of them have to graduate in design courses from design institutes or colleges. The eligibility or admission requirements can differ depending on the design course that you choose. To become a fashion designer or fashion stylist, some common steps are as follows.
- Enroll in a Design Course: To step into any design careers, candidates first need to enroll themselves in a design course as per their inkling.
- Get Experience: Participate in internships and workshops held in the colleges to gain experience and knowledge of the design industry.
- Recognized University: Pursuing UG and PG design courses from reputed design colleges such as NIFt Delhi or Mumbai can land up immense opportunities.
- Create a Portfolio: Create a portfolio showcasing your styling work and skills to attract job opportunities after graduation.
Fashion Designer vs Fashion Stylist Courses
Fashion design courses focus on creating garments, covering topics like sketching, pattern making, and textile knowledge. In contrast, fashion styling courses emphasize assembling outfits, understanding trends, and visualizing styles. The courses that candidates can follow to become a fashion designer and fashion stylist.
Courses for Fashion Designer
The following table mentions the courses for becoming a Fashion Designer.
Courses for Fashion Stylist
Candidates can follow any one the given courses as per their preference to become a Fashion Stylist.
Colleges to Become a Fashion Designer or Fashion Stylist
India has a vibrant and growing fashion industry, and aspiring fashion designers and stylists can pursue various specialized courses to build their careers. Numerous renowned colleges across the country offer undergraduate, postgraduate, and diploma programs in fashion design, styling, and related fields. Some of these colleges are as follows.
- International Institute of Fashion Design (NIFT), Bangalore
- Amity School of Fashion Technology (ASFT), Noida
- J D Institute of Fashion Technology (JDIFT), Delhi
- Lovely Professional University (LPU), Punjab
- NIFT Campuses including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, etc
- NID Ahmedabad
Difference Between Fashion Designer and Fashion Stylist FAQs
What is the primary role of a fashion designer?
What does a fashion stylist do?
A fashion stylist selects, coordinates, and assembles outfits based on a deep understanding of fashion trends and styles to convey specific themes or identities.
Can someone transition from being a fashion designer to a stylist?
Yes, transitioning from a fashion designer to a stylist is possible with experience, as both roles require an understanding of aesthetics and trends.
How do I build a portfolio as a Fashion Designer?
A portfolio is a collection of your best work that showcases your design skills and creativity. It should include sketches, photographs of completed garments, and a variety of projects that highlight your versatility and style. Internships and freelance projects can help build a strong portfolio.
Can fashion stylists work freelance or in-house?
Yes, fashion stylists can work on a freelance basis, as well as work in-house for fashion brands or retailers.
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