Do you think you have what it takes to be a celebrity style maker? If you do, join the club because over the last five years, "styling" has exploded into a full-scale professional career track. Starting in September, Solent University in Southampton, UK will start its very first vocational degree program geared towards fashion styling. Students will focus on catwalk production, costuming for film and advertising imagery. Suzie Norris, who heads the design program says, "a unique feature of the course will be its emphasis on cutting-edge styling for media publications and events plus live and filmed productions. Graduates will not merely follow established trends but will set new ones."
As exciting as this program sounds, I have a sneaking suspicion that the "design school" track will not replace the traditional channels for succeeding as a stylist. In essence, if you want to be a successful stylist you better resign yourself to years of thankless grunt work in the hopes that someone, some day will appreciate your efforts.