Sr. Stylist, Visual Direction

The Gap•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

We are seeking a highly skilled Sr. Stylist, Visual Direction to elevate and advance our Lay Down (PPLD) work. This role sits under Styling and brings together advanced styling skills, visual direction, and the ability to support a smooth, efficient workflow. You will work closely with Photo, Retouching, and Brand partners to ensure premium, consistent, intentional imagery across all categories while helping modernize our workflow through new tools, including AI. This role supports both the creative bar and the systems behind it: coaching stylists, maintaining standards, strengthening workflow, and pushing our styling practice forward.

Requirements

Highly skilled in PPLD styling with exceptional attention to detail and taste.
A strong teacher and mentor, able to give clear, actionable feedback.
Comfortable partnering deeply with Photo and Retouching.
Open and curious, interested in new tools, including AI, and how they can elevate or streamline styling work.
Creative yet grounded in operational realities (timing, shot count, accuracy).
Calm, collaborative, and an excellent communicator.
Excited to build systems, elevate craft, and strengthen the Styling function.
10+ years of advanced styling experience, with deep roots in PPLD and a sharp, editorial eye.
4+ years in a stylist leadership or management capacity, guiding quality, coaching the team, and maintaining high creative standards.

Nice To Haves

Art direction experience is a plus, but styling expertise is a must.

Responsibilities

Act as the studio’s PPLD styling expert: techniques, tools, composition, shaping, folding, texture, shadow, and accuracy.
Style as needed across categories; on-figure experience is a plus.
Train and coach stylists directly on set, reinforcing elevated techniques and best practices.
Provide markups in Axis and ensure photographers and retouchers receive clear, actionable direction.
Partner with Photo and Retouching teams through weekly touchpoints to align on angles, lighting, quality expectations, and post-production needs.
Conduct regular site audits to evaluate accuracy, consistency, and customer impact; translate findings into styling and retouching updates.
Track styling trends, pull swipe, and incorporate new creative references, including AI- generated concepts when appropriate, to keep our work modern and forward-thinking.
Curate daily and weekly workloads based on skill sets, product complexity, and volume.
Serve as a daily resource for stylists — reviewing work, making decisions, and supporting growth.
Maintain a strong understanding of shot complexity, timing, and retouching needs to support accurate planning and meet deliverables.
Build and maintain style guides, decks, and documentation for both internal teams and freelancers.
Support product walk-throughs with clear interpretations of brand intent.
Act as a liaison between Styling, Photo, Retouching, and Brand to ensure alignment and consistent communication.
Identify opportunities to streamline or enhance the workflow — including exploring AI tools that improve ideation, documentation, or efficiency without compromising craft.