Lead Stylist

Express•Columbus, OH

About The Position

The Lead Stylist is accountable for total brand styling, setting and executing the overall styling vision across all omnichannel touchpoints. This role owns the end-to-end styling direction and execution for the brand, including—but not limited to—brand campaigns, activations, ambassadors, creators, partnerships, and product-level e-commerce photography. This is a highly hands-on individual contributor role with responsibility for leading styling direction while providing day-to-day supervision and guidance to internal team members and freelance styling talent. The Lead Stylist leads the execution of brand styling across editorial, social, marketing, and e-commerce content, ensuring fashion storytelling supports brand initiatives, seasonal strategies, and product priorities. The role partners closely with Creative, Marketing, Design, Merchandising, and Production teams to ensure styling is cohesive, elevated, and relevant—from initial concept through final execution—and reports into senior creative leadership.

Requirements

5–7+ years of experience in fashion styling
Extensive on-set photoshoot experience
Demonstrated ability to lead while remaining highly hands-on in fittings, on-set styling, and execution
A well-rounded portfolio showcasing both e-commerce and marketing/campaign styling
Strong ability to balance creative vision with strategic and business-driven deliverables
Excellent communication and presentation skills
Proven collaborator with the ability to build effective cross-functional partnerships
Highly organized, detail-oriented, flexible, and self-motivated
Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
Strong work ethic with a high standard of professional integrity

Nice To Haves

Retail, brand, and/or e-commerce styling experience strongly preferred
Previous experience at a fashion brand, luxury lifestyle brand, or creative agency preferred

Responsibilities

Owns total brand styling direction and execution, remaining deeply hands-on while ensuring consistent application across campaigns, activations, ambassadors, creators, influencer partnerships, PR, events, and all e-commerce photography.
Leads the execution of seasonal, monthly, and ongoing styling needs across all brand, marketing, and e-commerce initiatives.
Partners closely with senior creative leadership to define and deliver seasonal fashion and styling direction in advance of campaign and content production.
Ideates, conceptualizes, and presents a clear visual point of view through inspiration, mood boards, styling frameworks, and styled looks for leadership and cross-functional teams.
Develops and personally executes comprehensive styling directives for on-model e-commerce and campaign shoots, including on-set styling, fashion notes, casting guidance, grooming direction, and production references.
Participates in and often leads fittings and on-set styling for e-commerce, campaign, and special production shoots.
Provides on-set, project-based supervision and mentorship to internal stylists, styling assistants, and freelance talent, ensuring alignment to brand standards and creative direction.
Ensures consistently high-quality imagery that meets brand aesthetic standards across all channels.
Partners with Sample Operations to oversee organization, tracking, and distribution of samples across photo studios, campaigns, influencer initiatives, PR, and events.
Builds strong cross-functional relationships and operates as a solution-oriented collaborator across Creative, Marketing, Merchandising, Design, Visual, and Production teams.
Maintains a high level of awareness of fashion, retail, and cultural trends, translating insights into relevant, brand-appropriate styling direction.
Maintains a strong understanding of the brand’s aesthetic, seasonal priorities, and business needs, with the ability to adapt quickly in a fast-moving environment.
Performs additional duties as needed to support business and creative objectives.