Fashion Styling and Creative Direction

From planning creative concepts, scouting models and locations, to selecting clothes and accessories for photoshoots, a fashion stylist and creative director is the ultimate multitasker.​

Throughout this course you'll acquire skills not only in styling, but also in make-up and hair, photography, retouching, trend forecasting and branding – making you a complete fashion stylist or creative director with the skillset to become a distinctive and visionary voice within the fashion industry.

You'll be supported to increase confidence in your understanding and use of independent learning and show an awareness of professional and personal development. And you'll be taught how to professionally apply the practical and technical skills developed throughout your studies for a diverse range of media and design platforms.

Crucial for this is collaboration and working as part of a creative team, with the ability to have an open and flexible approach to ideas. You will be encouraged to show initiative and demonstrate the ability to research and discuss sociocultural issues and perspectives that are related to the progression of visual design practice.

You'll evaluate both contemporary, and historical fashion and lifestyle trends for the formulation of creative and visual communication. And throughout this process, will practice self-reflection and critically challenge your own work and that of others, to develop a deeper understanding of your own development as a creative practitioner while being conscious and aware of how their work and research can impact on the wider community, both locally and globally.

To enhance your learning, you'll have access to specialist hair and make-up studios which boast airbrush guns, studio lights and other industry-standard fixtures. And you'll have use of our large professional photographic studios and infinity cove studio. You'll also be able to use other professional-standard facilities, including a digital reprographics lab, colour and black-and-white darkrooms, finishing and film processing rooms, and a multimedia lab featuring 24 iMacs with Adobe Creative Suite and Final Cut Pro

You'll also be taught by award-winning industry professionals who have worked with some of the world’s leading fashion magazines, brands and designers, including UK Vogue, US Vogue, Glamour, Alexander McQueen, Paul Smith, ELLE, The Guardian, and The Observer.

Work from our final year students across our fashion-related degrees is showcased at Graduate Fashion Week (GFW). In 2023, seven students have been shortlisted by the Graduate Fashion Foundation across a number of different categories at the GFW23 awards. Read more about the students and their work.

If you’re looking to study our fashion styling and creative direction degree but don’t have the relevant qualifications or experience, the art and design foundation year will help you develop the core skills and knowledge to progress. Find out more about the art and design foundation year.

Fashion studios at Solent University:
Play Fashion studios at Solent University video
Video transcript, with a description of visuals available.

Who is this course for?
This course is suited to students who want to hone their creative skills, and learn how to channel these into the hands-on development of visual concepts. Applicants should have a keen and broad interest in the creative industries, from fashion and design, to art and graphics, and will need to show a varied portfolio of both visual and written work upon application.

What does this course lead to?
The course can lead to a wide range of exciting career prospects in roles such as magazine editor, brand consultant, art director, catwalk stylist, celebrity stylist, studio manager, content creator and e-commerce styling.

YEAR ONE
CORE MODULES

Icons and Image
Fashion Moments
Beauty Futures
Fashion Stories: Concept to Print

YEAR TWO
CORE MODULES

Future Focus
Fashion in Motion
Creative Campaign Direction
The Fashion Statement

FINAL YEAR
CORE MODULES

Major Project: Create
Major Project: Ideas and investigation
Professional Identity
Professional Perspectives

You will be assessed by:
Assignments
Final major project
As part of this course, you will study one module at a time, giving you the chance to build a deeper understanding and see the results of your hard work more quickly. With regular assessments and feedback, rather than exams all at once, you’ll also benefit from improved focus, and a more manageable workload.