The Role of the Most Powerful Fashion Stylists in the Current Fashion Industry - Research Proposal Example

The Role of the Most Powerful/Influential Fashion Stylists in the Current Fashion Industry By Aim and Objectives The aim of the researcher is to evaluate the role of some of the most influential fashion stylists in the present fashion industry. As far as the objectives of the research are concerned, they include: understanding the relationship between the work and efforts of fashion stylists and the progress of the fashion industry; to identify some of the most influential fashion stylists today and their achievements; and to explore the way some of the most influential fashion stylists influence the fashion industry today. Introduction/Background Fashion stylists and fashion industry are two interdependent entities both of which are equally important for each other to prosper. Fashion stylists have always been a major source of trend setting and fashion revival. Their designs, style, and creative thoughts have always influenced the fashion industry in some way or other. However, there exists a very little amount of literature that includes reference to or acknowledgement of the role of influential fashion stylists in the present fashion industry because of which there is a lack of public awareness and understanding of the role of influential fashion stylists. Therefore, it is necessary to define, evaluate, and understand the role of some of the most influential fashion stylists in the current fashion industry. Literature Review There are many sources that explain generally the role of fashion stylists. The influential stylists today perform the same role as other fashion stylists, only that these are more popular and possess high expertise. Anyan and Clarke (n.d), in their article, addressed the role of the fashion stylist in hypermodern image-making. These trace the rise of the stylist through history and consider the high prominence fashion stylists in the modern society have gained. These are detailed in their study. Although these do not directly focus on the role of influential fashion stylists today, they mention different influential fashion stylists today such as Alexander McQueen, who is famous for doing the wedding dress of the Duchess of Cambridge. This article is highly relevant, as it addresses the role of fashion stylists today in a broad manner. Thomas (2012), in “Being a Fashion Stylist”, has focused on the job responsibilities of a fashion stylist. She has found that fashion stylists play a major role in shaping the fashion industry and identifies the important role that fashion stylists play in styling celebrities and other high profile people. Thomas (2012) asserts that fashion stylists help designers to become millionaires. This book mainly addresses fashion stylists from a perspective that is more inclined on the career aspects. However, it is possible to note some of the important roles that fashion stylists play in the current fashion industry. Ferguson (2009), in “What Can I Do Now”, explores careers in the field of fashion, including photographers, fashion stylists and make-up artists. Regarding fashion stylists, Ferguson focuses on what entails being a fashion stylist, including who a fashion stylist is, what a fashion stylist does, their education background, salary range, and organizations they can work for. This book offers important background information on fashion stylists, and it may be possible to generalise this to influential fashion stylists today. However, Ferguson (2009) does not directly address influential fashion stylists, as the main focus is on the general aspects of the career of fashion stylist. In “Secrets of Stylists”, Morrison (2011) shares the experiences of celebrity fashion stylists in their roles. Her work also features interviews with influential fashion stylists, and works of influential fashion stylists, including Nicole Richie and Kate Holmes. Morrison (2011) notes that fashion stylists in the current highly modern society have become as important as the celebrities they dress. Different TV channels today showcase the works of fashion stylists, and there is nothing as behind the scenes. Morrison is a veteran in the fashion world, hence her work is valid. This source mainly emphasises the importance of fashion stylists today, as opposed to the past decades when these were not popular and their importance underestimated. The fact that this book features interviews from influential fashion stylists provides us with first-hand information from where we can deduce the role of influential fashion stylists in the fashion industry. Choo (2014), on the fashion website “Hollywood Reporter”, lists the top 25 power fashion stylists of 2014. These include Karla Welch, Kate Young, Jeanne Yang, Petra Flannery, Emmanuelle Alt, and others. Choo (2014) also lists the major roles that each of the fashion stylists has been involved in. This information is important, as it familiarises us with some of the influential fashion stylists, whose role in the fashion industry the study is about. A limitation of this source is that it is unauthenticated as the author does not provide the criteria for determining that the named fashion stylists are influential today. Research Question The research question for the research is as follows: ‘What is the role of the most influential fashion stylists in today’s fashion industry?’ Methodology The research will utilise both primary and secondary data. This will be a qualitative study and no quantitative data will be collected. Primary research will include the use of a questionnaire. Secondary research will include a review of books, articles, and research studies. The sample size will be 60, including 25 males aged 18-25 years and 35 females aged 18-25 years. This sample is selected because this age group is usually more interested and knowledgeable in fashion as compared to other age groups. The data collected will be analysed through content analysis, which involves categorising verbal data for classification and tabulation. The questionnaires will be distributed to students who will be selected randomly. The questionnaire will be short and simple, and will bear the following questions; i. Who is a fashion stylist? ii. What is the role of a fashion stylist? iii. Name FIVE most influential fashion stylists of today that you are aware of iv. What are the above named fashion stylists popular for? v. How do the named influential fashion stylists influence the fashion industry today? The researcher will collect data through interviews and questionnaire and will store them in the personal computer system for analysis and preparation of the report. The researcher aims to use ‘induction’ as the technique to analyze the data. There will be no threat to validity of the research because the researcher took information from authentic sources. Results The results of the research are expected to be very helpful in revealing the role of the most influential fashion stylists in today’s fashion industry. It is expected that the results will show that the most influential fashion stylists drive the fashion industry in different ways, such as, determining fashion trends and determining the collections that designers produce to the public. Discussion This research is highly relevant, as it will enhance the public awareness on the position and role of some of the most influential fashion stylists in the fashion industry today. These have been given less attention in the past than they actually deserve, hence, the public lacks sufficient knowledge on their role. Limitations and Weaknesses The data collection process and analysis for this research may not be highly intensive, owing to the lack of experience of the researcher. This may, therefore, fail to capture some of the important information on the topic. Conclusion This research will add to important knowledge in the field of fashion. Fashion styling is an important career in the field of fashion, even though there is insufficient literature on this. This research will therefore add knowledge to the area of role of some of the most influential fashion stylists in the fashion industry today. References Anyan, J & Clarke, P n.d, “The role of the stylist in hypermodern image-making,” accessed 13 Nov 2014 Choo, J 2014, “Power Stylists, 2014,” Hollywood Reporter, accessed 13 Nov 2014 Furguson, A 2009, What Can I Do Now, Infobase Publishing, New York. Morrison, S 2011, Secrets of Stylists: An Insiders Guide to Styling the Stars, Chronicle Books, New York. Thomas, I 2012, Being a Fashion Stylist, Lerner Publications, New York. Bibliography Anyan, J & Clarke, P n.d., “The role of the stylist in hypermodern image-making,” accessed 13 Nov 2014 Choo, J 2014, “Power Stylists, 2014,” Hollywood Reporter, accessed 13 Nov 2014 Dillon, S 2011, The Fundamentals of Fashion Management, A&C Black, London. Forbes, J 2014, “13 of the Fashion Industry’s Most Valuable Female Players,” accessed 13 Nov 2014 < http://www.thefashionspot.com/runway-news/418913-the-fashion-industrys-most-powerful-women/#/slide/1> Furguson, A 2009, What Can I Do Now, Infobase Publishing, New York. Granger, M 2012, Fashion: The Industry and Its Careers, A&C Black, London. Kennedy, A & Stoehrer, E 2013, Fashion Design, Referenced: A Visual Guide to the History, Language, & Practice of Fashion, Rockport Publishers, Massachusetts. Kim, E, Fiore, A & Kim, H 2013, Fashion Trends: Analysis and Forecasting, Berg, New York. Lu, S 2014, “2014 U.S. Fashion Industry Benchmarking Study,” accessed 13 Nov 2014 Morrison, S 2011, Secrets of Stylists: An Insiders Guide to Styling the Stars, Chronicle Books, New York. Shaw, T & Jackson, T 2004, The Fashion Handbook, Routledge, New York. Thomas, I 2012, Being a Fashion Stylist, Lerner Publications, New York. Toth, M & D’Amato, J 2003, Fashion Icon: The Power and Influence of Graphic Design, Rockport Publishers, Massachusetts. Waddell, G 2004, How Fashion Works: Couture, Ready-to-wear and Mass Production, Blackwell Publishing Company, Oxford. Read More