How do you create a fashion portfolio for the luxury sector ?
Essential for showcasing your work, the fashion portfolio is the key tool to present at an interview in the luxury goods, fashion and, of course, art industries. It reflects your creativity, your eye for detail and your understanding of industry codes. Find out how to create a stylish and professional fashion portfolio to break into the demanding luxury sector. These skills, along with other essential aspects of management and strategy in fashion and luxury, are at the heart of Sup de Luxe's Master of Science Fashion & Luxury Business programme. A course designed to prepare you to succeed in this demanding world, with your portfolio!
What is a fashion portfolio ?
A fashion portfolio is an essential tool for any professional or student wishing to enter the fashion and luxury industry. A showcase for your skills and creativity, it brings together your most significant achievements and illustrates your ability to meet the aesthetic and technical requirements of the sector. It's not just about showing what you've done, it's about telling a coherent story, demonstrating your thought process and your ability to transform an idea into a finished product.
A good fashion portfolio should be tailored to the job or opportunity in question. Recruiters and luxury houses are looking for talent that combines creativity, innovation and an understanding of trends. That's why a well-constructed portfolio reflects not only your personal style, but also your ability to adapt to the codes of the brand or company.
The most common portfolio formats
There are two main types of format for displaying your content:
The printed portfolio (often required for fashion designers): For your fashion portfolio, opt for an A4 or A3 format, landscape or portrait: this size is large enough to present your work and is not too bulky for easy transport.
Digital portfolios: Increasingly used, digital portfolios are gradually replacing printed portfolios. More practical, you can upload your work online via specialist platforms.
Specifications of a fashion portfolio for the luxury sector
Creating your own identity
Be unique! Don't be afraid to show off your different moodboards, which trace your intellectual development and represent your DNA. A fashion portfolio must express your style, so choose visuals that make an impact and stand out from the crowd.
Selecting the right work
Even if you have a large number of pieces/photos/sketches to display, choose the most visually powerful ones. Take the time to make a real selection and put together an airy portfolio, keeping only your best work.
Update your portfolio regularly
Creating a good-looking portfolio is all well and good, but improving it regularly is even better! Pay attention to detail and revise your presentation often to stay on trend and stand out from the crowd. For a stylist's portfolio that's both functional and coherent, keep an eye out and update your various shoots and latest sketches to stay up to date!
Tips from fashion stylists to enhance your portfolio
Whether it's for a future employer or to get into a school, the first thing to do is to introduce yourself. Like a CV, the first part of your fashion portfolio is an opportunity to talk about your career, your qualifications, your strengths and weaknesses and your various future projects.
To add weight and credibility to your fashion portfolio, don't hesitate to include references that testify to your seriousness and commitment. To stand out from the crowd, it's also important at this stage to highlight your different production techniques (photography, angle, choice of setting, etc.). These kinds of details will help to identify your creative approach and therefore your personality.
Of course, don't forget to add your personal details so that we can contact you (telephone, social networks, e-mail...).
Once you've finished the presentation stage, you now need to classify, sort and present your various works in an organised layout. Your fashion shoots, complete works, moodboards, sample sketches... This presentation is the heart of the fashion portfolio, the showcase for your aesthetic. Each of your works must be accompanied by a description explaining your approach and your process, the key points and specific features.
Important information: A fashion portfolio is very often required by employers in the luxury industry, particularly for positions as stylists or in marketing. To help you prepare for the world of luxury, the MSc Fashion & Luxury Business is a benchmark programme offered by Sup de Luxe, preparing students for management positions in the international luxury sector. Art management and specificities, design and creative team management, introduction to product design and communication design... These are all essential concepts for entering the fashion and luxury industry.
Where can I build my portfolio ?
When it comes to digital portfolios, there are suitable platforms for laying out, conceptualising and putting your content online. Free or paid, here are a few examples of how to create a good portfolio:
- Canva: Very easy to use and with many free versions, Canva delivers high-performance results and has a wide choice of templates.
- Behance: A real social network for creative people, this site also lets you create your portfolio and distribute it online.
- Webflow: Conceptualise your showcase via this fun site with original templates and create a real site around your portfolio.