Talk is cheap, unless it comes from Shi Dashi, a fashion consultant who gives out style advice for 1,000 yuan per hour.
Shi has over a decade of experience in the fashion industry. She said many are willing to pay her price so they can feel like a million bucks.
“Initially people do not think it can be a proper job” Shi said. “They think they can buy whatever they want as long as they have money. But as time goes by people realize what they are suitable with is the key. That is reason why the market for fashion consultant is expanding now in China.”
HSW.CN
Shi accompanies her clients as they shop. They are charged 1,000 yuan per hour of shopping with Shi, but she’s not the only one in this new line of work. The number of fashion buyers or fashion consultants is rising in China, and they charge between 300 to 1,000 yuan per hour.
Consultants like Shi offer detailed advice such as daily ensembles, hair colors, eyebrow styles, and the shade of colored contact lenses they should wear to match their outfits.
HSW.CN
“It is not as easy as going shopping with your friends,” said Shi. “People generally pay for fashion based on their personal preference or fashion on magazines, while I attempt to make a standard of the process, being rational and objective.”
According to Chongqing Business Newspaper, demand for fashion consultants in China continues to grow. Several organizations now hold training sessions for people who think they might be a good fit.
HSW.CN
Trainees learn about 20 to 30 brands, including their history, main features, and target markets. Apart from the usual fashion subjects of colors, materials, and history, students also learn about psychology and different design principles. Good fashion consultants can earn 30,000 to 40,000 a month.
