Jul 06, 2026 to Jul 24, 2026

Business of Creative & Fashion Styling (College/Adult)

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photo courtesy of Cody Gallegos - MFA, Fashion Design & Society, Proenza Schouler 2026 Mentee

What to Expect

Course Description

In this hands-on course, students explore creative and fashion styling as both a visual practice and a fashion business function within the global fashion industry. Designed for emerging creatives, career changers, and aspiring stylists, the course combines studio-based styling with the strategic, commercial, and operational knowledge required to work within fashion business environments. Students begin with foundational creative methods, including primary and secondary research, image and data analysis, concept development, and exploratory styling exercises. Visits to showrooms, retailers, and production spaces provide insight into how styling operates within fashion business systems, influencing brand image, merchandising strategy, and marketing objectives. Building on this foundation, the course examines how styling functions across various contexts, including editorial, commercial, e-commerce, product, and lifestyle, and how visual strategy influences brand positioning, consumer behavior, representation, and sales within competitive market landscapes. Through individual and group projects, as well as engagement with industry professionals, students learn professional workflows that include creative direction, collaboration, strategic budget planning, and business decision-making. Students will develop a professional styling portfolio and a career or business blueprint supported by research and process documentation. Whether your goal is to build a styling business, join a brand or retailer, or expand your creative career, this course equips you with the creative vision and business strategy to start your styling journey.


NOTE: This course requires students to bring a modern computer laptop to class to complete course assignments. The New School provides all degree and credit-seeking students (enrolled in the current term) with subscriptions for the full Adobe Creative Cloud suite of applications.

Learning Outcomes

  • Develop and communicate creative styling concepts through visual research and presentations, including trend reports, mood boards, and creative direction presentations that articulate the narrative, brand identity, and target audience

  • Manage professional workflows, including pulls, budgets, merchandising systems, production planning, and on-set logistics

  • Collaborate effectively within creative and corporate teams, communicating styling direction while working with brand partners, merchandisers, designers, and production teams to support both creative and business objectives

  • Analyze consumer behavior, competitive market landscapes, and future-of-fashion trends to inform styling decisions

  • Apply styling practices across industry contexts, including editorial, commercial, e-commerce, product, and lifestyle formats, demonstrating technical and aesthetic judgment

  • Analyze how styling influences brand strategy, merchandising, and selling, including its role in shaping consumer perception, commercial outcomes, and representation across race, size, ability, gender identity, and culture

  • Apply foundational business skills relevant to fashion styling, including understanding the fashion pyramid, contract agreements, budgeting strategies, intellectual property, and client communication

  • Produce a cohesive professional styling portfolio and career blueprint, supported by primary and secondary research and process documentation, articulating a clear creative identity and strategic plan

Additional Information

This course is one offering from our Parsons Summer Intensive Studies program. For more information on schedule, registration, and refund policies, see program details.

How It Works

  • Application Requirements

    The program is open to all students, regardless of skill level, who meet the age requirements, complete the application, and demonstrate interest in art and design.

  • Application Overview

    All interested students must submit an application and pay a $50 non-refundable application fee. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The summer program team will share application statuses within 7-10 business days of submission. Registration opens on January 5, 2026. Early applications are encouraged as capacity is limited. Students who apply early and are approved in November and December will be able to log in and register on January 5, 2026 and secure their seat.

    Application Deadlines:

    • May 1, 2026

    • April 1, 2026 for international students (apply early to allow ample time for visa processing)

  • Written Personal Statement (150-200 words)

    Parsons New York Summer Intensives is a credit-bearing college experience—not a summer camp—taught by Parsons faculty. All classes in the program challenge students to expand their creative making and thinking skills. Please describe a past time when you were challenged in your creative or academic abilities. What skills or resources did you use to overcome this challenge, and how can you also utilize these skills in a Parsons summer intensive? How do you hope the intensive will evolve your creative skills and work?

  • What You’ll Gain

    • Deeper understanding of fine arts and design in a variety of specialized fields

    • Knowledge of innovative techniques to further a career in the arts or design

    • Technical and creative skills

    • Three college credits

  • Lecture Mon Jul 6, 2026 9:00AM - 3:50PM New York - Greenwich Village

    Lecture Tue Jul 7, 2026 9:00AM - 3:50PM New York - Greenwich Village

    Lecture Wed Jul 8, 2026 9:00AM - 3:50PM New York - Greenwich Village

    Lecture Thu Jul 9, 2026 9:00AM - 3:50PM New York - Greenwich Village

    Lecture Fri Jul 10, 2026 9:00AM - 3:50PM New York - Greenwich Village

    Lecture Mon Jul 13, 2026 9:00AM - 3:50PM New York - Greenwich Village

    LecturTue Jul 14, 20269:00AM - 3:50PM New York - Greenwich Village

    Lecture Wed Jul 15, 2026 9:00AM - 3:50PM New York - Greenwich Village

    Lecture Thu Jul 16, 2026 9:00AM - 3:50PM New York - Greenwich Village

    Lecture Fri Jul 17, 2026 9:00AM - 3:50PM New York - Greenwich Village

    Lecture Mon Jul 20, 2026 9:00AM - 3:50PM New York - Greenwich Village

    LectureTue Jul 21, 2026 9:00AM - 3:50PM New York - Greenwich Village

    Lecture Wed Jul 22, 2026 9:00AM - 3:50PM New York - Greenwich Village

    Lecture Thu Jul 23, 2026 9:00AM - 3:50PM New York - Greenwich Village

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