The Prelude

As more people are turning towards stylists to help them with their day to day looks and public appearances, the more scammers are starting to see wardrobe styling as an opportunity for monetary gain. Fashion styling is not a formal trade which makes it more challenging to verify who is legitimate and who is not. Moreover, the technology and apps available today don’t make spotting a scammer any easier. Nonetheless, identifying a scammer is still possible and in this article I show you exactly how.

While reading you can expect to learn how to minimize your chances of getting scammed out of your money and how to spot red flags early. My hope is that after you read this article you leave feeling prepared, vigilant, and ready to challenge this person if needed. If you would like to learn more about fashion stylists, how we operate, and what to do before investing your money into a styling service please look out for my future blog posts. You can sign up for my email list to get notified about new blog releases as they become available by clicking here and then scrolling to the bottom of the page.

How To Identify A Counterfeit Fashion Stylist

1. They don’t have a client base or social proof of clientele. The first thing I need you to understand is that anyone can call themselves a fashion stylist. There are no educational requirements, required training, or trade needed to identify as one. This means that all someone has to do is put fashion stylist in their bio, create a couple of fashion collages, and BOOM they can pose as a professional. My advice to you is to look for proof or ask for proof. Look around their profile and website to see if they have styled anyone other than themselves. If you can’t find anything and you really want to work with them, send them a message expressing your interest in their services and ask if they could send you some different examples of their client work. If they refuse to or try to divert the conversation this is indeed a red flag.

2. They don’t have a website. Always remember that serious professionals and legitimate businesses have a website and web presence. If the stylist you want to work with doesn’t have a website then this should raise a HUGE red flag for you. Additionally, some counterfeit stylists create scam websites so you should also watch out for those as well. Scam websites typically have misspellings, no contact information, are not secure, and overall look sketchy.

3. They use Cash App or Zelle as their payment system. Legitimate stylists have an entire system in place all the way from payment software to precise invoices. Majority of the time a career in fashion styling is pursued by owning your own business or through freelance work. This means that taxes have to be accounted for, the proper billing hours need to be calculated, expenses and revenue need to be taken into account, and a variety of other things. As a business owner or freelancer you can’t solely rely on Cash App or Zelle because you can’t track the accounting accurately (that’s not what these platforms are intended for). Counterfeits base their “business” around these platforms because they are easily accessible, convenient, require no investment, and are easy to make a quick dollar from (not build sustainable business). Remember, you want to work with someone who is professional. That means you want someone who can provide you with payment receipts that include a description of the services you received, the total project hours, and the amount paid. If Cash App, Zelle, or something similar is all that they use stay away!

4. They don’t reply back to your emails, texts, or social media messages after you have paid them. I hate that it has to get to this point for some people, but the reality is…your money is gone. If this has happened to you, I would suggest writing them a bad review, reporting to them to the BBB, or taking the high road and move on. Trying to pick fights and arguments with them is a waste of time. Plus, if you have a business getting into an argument could potentially ruin your reputation. Remember, God see’s all things and he will handle all wickedness on your behalf.

Now that you know the red flags, are you ready to hire a fashion stylist?

If you are serious about hiring the right professional then I recommend reading my blog post “How To Find A Good Fashion Stylist”. This article walks you through how to find the perfect stylist for your budget, lifestyle, and needs before spending a dime. This article also has guided questions that you can ask yourself and your stylist so that you can personalize your experience!