Turn your interest in colour, style and people into professional expertise
Perhaps you’ve always been the person friends ask for help with their clothes. Maybe you’ve experienced your own transformation through colour or style and discovered just how powerful getting dressed can be.
Or perhaps you’re looking for a new career that brings together creativity, problem-solving, human connection and the satisfaction of making a tangible difference in someone’s life.
Becoming an image consultant or personal stylist is about much more than having a good eye for fashion.
A skilled image consultant understands the principles behind colour, proportion, fit, visual perception, personality and personal style. More importantly, they know how to apply those principles to an individual whose body, colouring, lifestyle, preferences and personality may be completely different from their own.
That’s where professional training matters.
At the Academy of Professional Image, we teach you not simply what works, but why it works, so you can develop the knowledge, judgement and confidence to work with real clients.
Could image consulting be the right career for you?
What Does an Image Consultant Do?
Image consulting is more than just personal styling; it’s all about true transformation, both the clothing and the mindset of your client.
Most people think it’s just about fashion and clothing, body shape and colours, but it goes so much deeper than that.
Our clients aren’t just asking, “What should I wear?” They’re wondering, “Who am I now? Why don’t these clothes feel like me anymore? How do I dress for who I want to be?”
Image consultants may work with clients on areas including personal colour analysis, personal style, wardrobe editing, shopping, outfit creation, body proportions and fit, professional image, communication through clothing and confidence in personal presentation.
Image consulting is more than personal styling. It’s about helping clients align their outward image with who they are and who they are becoming.
Clients aren’t always simply asking, “What should I wear?” They may really be asking, “Who am I now?” “Why don’t my clothes feel like me anymore?” or “How do I dress for the person I’m becoming?”
An image consultant may work with personal colour, style, wardrobe, shopping, fit, proportion and professional image, but clothing is only part of the picture. What we wear can communicate identity, values and personality, while also influencing how we feel about ourselves and how confidently we show up.
That’s why clients often seek image consulting during periods of transition: a new career or promotion, motherhood, relationship changes, menopause, retirement, or simply reaching a stage of life where the person they see in the mirror no longer feels aligned with the person they’ve become.
Lives change, and our wardrobes need to evolve with us.
The role of an image consultant is to help clients understand themselves, make informed choices and use their appearance as a tool to express who they are with greater confidence and authenticity.
Image Consultant vs Personal Stylist: What’s the Difference?
The terms often overlap, but image consulting typically encompasses a broader range of disciplines. While personal styling commonly focuses on clothing, outfits, wardrobes and shopping, image consulting may also include personal colour analysis, body and proportion analysis, professional image, communication through appearance, personality and the psychology of style.
At AOPI, we see clothing as the tool, rather than the end result. The goal is to understand the individual and help them create an image that supports their identity, lifestyle and goals.
Do I Need to Be Naturally Stylish?
No, you don’t need to be born with style or have the style gene (if there were one). What you do have to be is willing to learn.
That’s because many of the principles behind colour and style can be understood and learned. Visual perception, colour properties, proportion, scale and the psychology of appearance aren’t mysterious talents available only to people born with ‘good taste’. One of our graduates, Dr Gina Kingston, says her family friends would once have voted her the person least likely to become an image consultant. Discovering the principles behind style made it all begin to make sense and easy for her to apply to her own clients.
I wasn’t born with style; I wasn’t the one everyone asked for fashion advice. In fact, I became one because it didn’t come naturally to me.
But I was always interested because I realised that what I wore affected how I felt and behaved. I wanted to understand why.
Imogen Lamport, AICI CIP and founder of Academy of Professional Image
What Skills Do You Need to Become an Image Consultant?
Colour knowledge
Understanding colour properties, harmony, contrast and the psychology and communication of colour, along with the practical skills required to conduct a personal colour analysis and advise clients on using colour effectively.
Style and visual principles
Proportion, scale, line, shape, fit, fabric, construction and visual perception. Rather than memorising a set of “rules”, you need to learn to think like an image consultant, understanding the principles, the “why” so that as fashions change you can easily adapt.
Understanding people
Personality, identity, lifestyle, values, preferences and client goals. This is not about using a specific formula; it’s about assessing the individual in front of you – their needs, their values, their lifestyle so you can adapt your knowledge and advice accordingly.y
Communication and consultation
Listening, questioning, explaining and making recommendations without imposing your personal taste.
Practical application
Personal styling, personal colour analysis, wardrobe consultations, shopping, and translating theory into useful client advice.
Business skills
Packaging services, pricing, marketing, attracting clients and running a professional practice.
This is why professional image consultant training involves considerably more than learning a few body shapes and colour seasons.
The course content is first class. Every concept is clearly and thoroughly explained. There is enough material in this program to help you start your business. You have ongoing access to Imogen long after you finish the course, and I guarantee you’ll go back through the materials again and again — they’re chock full and yes, they’re that good. Imogen’s undying patience, openness, and availability is absolutely impressive.
It was the best decision I could possibly make and I urge you to jump right in – you will not have any regrets.
Jo Shiers, The Style Adviser
Do You Need Qualifications to Become an Image Consultant?
There isn’t a degree in image consulting that you can do at a university in Australia (or most countries), but you do need to be well-educated in the principles so that you can easily go beyond your own taste and style to help people who are very different from yourself.
Our courses are CEU-approved by the Association of Image Consultants International (AICI), which is the preeminent professional body to further the education and standing of image consultants and personal stylists globally. Once you have completed your course through the Academy of Professional Image, you can then go through AICI’s professional certification route to become a Certified Image Consultant.
How Long Does It Take to Become an Image Consultant?
Our comprehensive colour and style training involves approximately 101 to 131 hours of learning, depending on whether you choose the in-person or online pathway.
The fastest option is our intensive in-person training, which allows you to complete the program over approximately 2.5 weeks.
Our distance learning program takes a little longer because you can complete it at your own pace. Most students spread out their training to fit around their existing work and family commitments.
Each module is AICI CEU-approved for an estimated number of hours, which you can find in our course outline here. Some people may be able to complete it faster as they have prior experience; others may take longer.
Who Becomes an Image or Colour Consultant?
Before I trained to become an image consultant, I had worked as a Publicist for Penguin Books Australia and also in an IT data centre in the UK in internal communications and transition management. I’m not alone in having a background that had nothing to do with style or fashion.
Our graduates have come to image consulting from an extraordinary variety of careers:
Emma Sovelle was a former lawyer and criminal prosecutor.
Sirine Ben Gabsia, a mechatronic engineer.
Gulinka Shadinuowa, a finance and management consultant.
Ann Blackburn, a professional musician, an oboist in the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
Ailee Molloy, a child protection officer and community services professional.
Fiona Lovell, a personal fitness trainer.
Sheree Laursen, a Government banking and data professional.
Courtney Blood, Corporate People and Culture Executive
And I’ve also had the pleasure of teaching: engineers in the mining industry, hairdressers, teachers, makeup artists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists and IT project managers, just to name a few more.
Your age is irrelevant too; you might be 20, or you might be 65. It’s all about the interest and passion you bring.
Your previous career and life experiences aren’t wasted. They become part of what you bring to your new one.
What Can You Do as a Qualified Image Consultant?
Your options are many and varied, and it’s up to you how you want to use the skills you learn in our training programs.
- One-to-one image consulting
- Personal or fashion styling
- Personal colour analysis and colour activations
- Wardrobe consultations, edits and organisation
- Personal shopping
- Corporate image work
- Presentations and corporate workshops
- Speaking and workshops
- Colour activations and events
- Online consultations
- Boutique owner
- Fashion retail
- Specialist niches – bridal, total makeovers (if you’re also a hairdresser and makeup artist), executive presence, to name a few.
Or you may find a way to combine your new skills into your existing profession.
Meet Your Trainer: Imogen Lamport, AICI CIP
Imogen Lamport is an award-winning image consultant, colour expert, author, and educator who has worked with clients since 2004 and trained image consultants and personal stylists since 2006.
Known for her analytical approach to colour and style, Imogen has spent more than two decades exploring not simply what works, but why it works. Her teaching brings together colour theory, visual perception, proportion, personality, personal style and practical consulting skills, giving students the depth of knowledge to work confidently with real people rather than relying on rigid rules or formulas.
Imogen is the creator of the 18-palette Absolute Colour System and co-creator of 16 Style Types, which explores the relationship between personality and personal style. She is an AICI Certified Image Professional (CIP), recipient of the prestigious AICI Jane Segerstrom Award, former Vice President of Business Development for AICI International and twice President of AICI Australia.
Through the Academy of Professional Image, Imogen has trained image consultants from around the world, many of whom came to the profession from completely unrelated careers.
Her goal as a trainer is simple: to teach you how to think like an image consultant.
That means understanding the principles deeply enough to recognise individual differences, ask better questions and adapt your knowledge to the unique colouring, body, personality, lifestyle and goals of every client you work with.
Professional Image Consultant Training with AOPI
Getting the right training and skill set is crucial to your future success. Our Principal, Imogen Lamport, AICI CIP, has more than 22 years of industry experience and is a past President of the Australian Chapter of the Association of Image Consultants International (AICI), as well as a past member of the AICI International Board.
However, choosing an Image Consultant training school with extensive Image Consulting experience is not enough to guarantee your success. What really sets The Academy of Professional Image apart is:
- You Learn the Why, Not Just the Rules – this is important; many systems teach you to use a tape measure and a computer program, not to become the expert, as those tools don’t take individuals into account.
- Comprehensive, In-Depth Training – plus lifetime access to our online training modules and all updates.
- The Absolute Colour System: Learn Imogen Lamport’s 18-palette colour analysis system, designed to provide a nuanced approach to the diversity of human colouring. (find out more about it here).
- Personality and the Psychology of Style: Go beyond physical appearance to understand how personality, identity, values and preferences influence what your clients want to wear.
- Practical Client Skills: Translate theory into practical consultations so you know how to apply what you’ve learned with real clients.
- Business Development
- 12-month mentoring program that gives you the support you need to gain confidence and start building your business.
- Lifetime Access to Training and Updates so you can review materials at any time.
- Ongoing Professional Community and monthly Zoom Q&A calls, these are your “office hours” to come, ask questions, learn, network and grow so you never feel alone and know that you have support on hand.
- No purchasing contracts – unlike other training institutions, you’re not locked into purchasing deals for the toolkits and products you need to start operating your business. We can provide what you need of course, but you are free to source your own materials.
- AICI CEU-approved training: Eligible AOPI training modules are approved for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) by the Association of Image Consultants International (AICI). These CEUs may contribute towards the education requirements for AICI professional certification.
- Academy of Professional Image Certificate of Completion is awarded when you complete each module satisfactorily.
Training Pathways
You have a variety of pathways into the image consulting industry. Depending on where you are now and where you’d like to go, the option is yours.
Personal Colour Analysis
Personal Colour Analysis is a great place to start if you are a complete beginner or have already completed a personal stylist training program. Colour is key to building a cohesive, more sustainable wardrobe where you can create more outfits from fewer garments.
Find out more about personal colour analysis training online here and in-person here.
Personal Stylist and Image Mastery
Develop a comprehensive understanding of personal style, including the psychology of style, visual principles, wardrobe editing and personal shopping
Find out more about personal stylist training online here and in-person here.
Image Business Development
If you plan to start your own image or colour consulting business, this module covers the practical foundations of business set-up, services, marketing, sales and attracting clients
Find out more about Image Business Development here.
You Won’t Be Left on Your Own After Training
You’re not left on your own after training as we offer ongoing support and advice for all our graduates.
12 Month Online Mentoring Program – Each module has its own online 12-month mentoring program for you to follow, with advice and activities to start and build your image business.
Monthly Office Hours – each month, students and graduates join together on Zoom with Imogen to ask questions, share experiences, and learn from each other. Even if you can’t be on the calls live, you can pre-submit your questions and have them answered, then watch the recordings. You’ll also have access to all our previous monthly Q&A mentoring calls, which have been topic- and timestamped for easy navigation, as someone else may have already asked the question you’ve been wondering about.
Email Support – Imogen will answer your questions via email or video (where relevant) between our group calls so you don’t get stuck or worry you’re going wrong.
Professional Community – our monthly calls are a great way to get to know other consultants on the same journey as you who may have great experiences to share.
I have had the great pleasure of being trained as an image consultant by Imogen Lamport, and of still regularly receiving her generous instruction via monthly webinars.
I chose training with Imogen after researching numerous image consultant training agencies, and concluding that her Academy of Professional Image had by far the most thorough and scientific approach to the whole issue of personal colour analysis. I was not surprised therefore, that Imogen herself was very thorough in her approach to training: she provides the student with an enormous amount of knowledge, well thought-out exercises and all the tools necessary to set up business as an image consultant.
I have met few teachers this willing to impart what know-how they have. Imogen truly aims to arm the student, the client, the blog reader, everyone really, with the knowledge they need to make a difference, whether it be in their personal wardrobe, their career opportunities or their business endeavours.
I completed the Certified Advanced Personal Colour Analysis and Certified Personal Stylist and Image Mastery for Women and Men In-Person training courses and got soooo much value out of it. The knowledge I learned throughout these courses far exceeded my expectations. It really helped me in the running of my own Image Consulting business.
Imogen was wonderful, so passionate and was so happy to share all her knowledge, experiences and love of colour, style and people.
When I was making my decision about who to train with I took the time to research the industry and find the most reputable training, as I highly value competence
I will definitely be referring the Academy of Professional Image to others.”
Emma Sovelle, Style Energetics
Frequently Asked Questions
Click on the heading to find the answer
An image consultant helps people use colour, clothing, personal style and presentation to express who they are and achieve their personal or professional goals. A skilled image consultant considers the whole person, including their colouring, body, personality, lifestyle, preferences and needs, rather than simply telling them what to wear.
The roles often overlap, but image consulting typically encompasses a broader range of skills. A personal stylist may focus primarily on clothing, outfits and shopping, while an image consultant may also be trained in personal colour analysis, body and proportion analysis, wardrobe development, personal style, professional image and the psychology of appearance.
Requirements vary between countries, and image consulting is not a licensed profession in many places. However, professional training gives you the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to work competently with clients. It can also help establish credibility when you’re building your image consulting business.
No. Image consultants come from an enormous variety of professional backgrounds, including law, engineering, finance, education, healthcare, marketing and corporate careers. An interest in colour, style and people is useful, but the principles and practical skills of image consulting can be learned.
No. In fact, struggling to understand your own style can make you curious about why colour and clothing work the way they do. Image consulting isn’t about imposing your personal taste on someone else. Professional training teaches you the principles behind style so you can apply them to people who may be completely different from you.
The fastest option is our intensive in-person training, which allows you to complete the program over approximately 2.5 weeks.
Our comprehensive colour and style training involves approximately 101 to 131 hours of learning, depending on whether you choose the in-person or online pathway.
Yes. Image consultant training can be completed online when the course combines comprehensive theory with practical exercises, assessments and professional feedback. AOPI offers online training alongside in-person options, allowing students around the world to develop their skills.
Yes. Many image consultants begin their training while working in another profession and gradually transition into their new career. Studying part-time can allow you to develop your knowledge, practise your skills and begin building your image consulting business before making a larger career change. Some choose to build a part-time image consulting practice alongside their existing career rather than making it their full-time profession. The choice is yours.
Depending on their training, image consultants may offer personal colour analysis, personal styling, wardrobe consultations, body and proportion analysis, personal shopping, outfit creation, professional image consultations, workshops, speaking and online consultations. Many consultants also specialise in particular clients or areas of expertise.
Start with comprehensive professional training so you have the knowledge and practical skills to work confidently with clients. From there, decide who you want to help, choose the services you’ll offer, gain practical experience, establish your pricing and business systems, and develop a clear marketing strategy to attract the clients you want to work with.
Is Image Consulting Your Next Chapter?
Changing careers, adding a new professional skill or starting your own business is a significant decision. You don’t need to make it without understanding what you’re getting into.
Explore the training, experience some of the introductory lessons and ask questions.
If you’re fascinated by people as much as you are by colour and style, and you want the depth of knowledge to help clients make informed choices rather than simply telling them what to wear, image consulting may be the career you’ve been looking for.
