Freelance Stylist Jobs in Ohio (NOW HIRING)

Overview
About PHOENIX
PHOENIX Retail, LLC is a retail platform operating the Express and Bonobos brands worldwide.
About Express
Express is a multichannel apparel brand dedicated to a design philosophy rooted in modern, confident and effortless style whether dressing for work, everyday or special occasions. Since its launch in 1980, the brand has embraced a design philosophy rooted in modern, confident and effortless style. Express ensures you look and feel your best, wherever life takes you. The Company operates over 400 retail and outlet stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, the express.com online store and the Express mobile app.
Responsibilities
Note: This role requires monthly travel.
POSITION OVERVIEW
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.
KEY 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.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• 5-7+ years of experience in fashion styling
• Retail, brand, and/or e-commerce styling experience strongly preferred
• 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
• Previous experience at a fashion brand, luxury lifestyle brand, or creative agency preferred

CRITICAL SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

• 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

Closing
If you would like to know more about the California Consumer Privacy Act click here.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work full-time in the United States. PHOENIX does not sponsor applicants for work visas (e.g., H-1B or TN status) for this position.
An equal opportunity employer, PHOENIX does not discriminate in recruiting, hiring or any other terms and conditions of employment hiring on the basis of any federal, state, or locally protected characteristic. PHOENIX only hires individuals authorized for employment in the United States. PHOENIX is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you need an accommodation to search and apply for a job position due to a disability, please call 1-800-964-9793 and say 'Associate Relations' or send an e-mail to AssociateRelations@Express.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
Notification to Agencies: Please note that PHOENIX does not accept unsolicited resumes or calls from third-party recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Master Service Agreement and approval from HR to submit resumes for a specific requisition, PHOENIX will not consider or approve payment to any third-parties for hires made.