Fashion Models

Fashion models are known to promote lines of clothing and accessories for potential customers. The first thing that comes to mind is the catwalk, where fashion shows take place with buyers invited to admire designer’s creations. But modeling does not restrict to that. There is a live show, as mentioned above, but this can also be organized as an exhibition, focusing not only on clothes. Fashion models can promote other products –from vehicles and furniture to household devices – at promotional launches or fairs.

Then there are models that have their pictures taken inside studios or other locations. They film commercials and make TV appearances to promote certain products or to contribute to campaigns. These fashion models are called photographic models. Fashion house models work for designer’s companies, where stylists fit the fabric together on them. These models usually present final products to private customers or journalists.

A fashion model doesn’t need special qualifications but she/he has to be good looking, well proportioned, with a pleasant demeanor. If you look closely, especially at photographic models, each has that “je ne sais quoi” that makes them stand out as beautiful, interesting or captivating. Some models are chosen for certain features like their legs, eyes, hands or hair. Even if you don’t fit the requirements (34-24-34 for females and 38-32 for males) or height (1.72m for females and 1.83m for males) you can successfully become a photographic fashion model.

Most of fashion models start a career at a young age, as early as 13, although it has been disputed using such young models, especially for runaway shows. The career of fashion models is a hard, demanding one that requires them to keep a diet, exercise, travel with the agency and have a busy schedule, starting very early in the morning and finishing late in the night. The glitter and glamour from the outside is built with hard work, self discipline and seriousness, because the product’s presentation depends on the perfect appearance and presence of fashion models. They are the ambassadors of a designer’s line or a company’s cosmetics. They also need to appeal to the common customer – to keep that authenticity of a “real” person.

There are modeling opportunities for people of all sizes: high fashion, glamour petite, plus size, teen or character modeling. Lately, celebrities- movie stars, singers or TV presenters – have been toying with modeling because of their appeal and ability to relate easier to a wider public. Halle Berry (actress), Hillary Duff(actress, singer), Oprah Winfery (TV presenter) are such examples of celebrities that campaign for certain products. The ‘90s represented a peak for professional fashion models, when Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Eva Herzigova or Tyra Banks dedicated themselves exclusively to the fashion industry; they were the legendary supermodels gracing covers like Vogue, Elle or Vanity Fair.

Today there is no clear delimitation for models or celebrity figures. The shift took place from and towards both directions. Models being involved in movie projects or celebrities treated as models have reshaped these industries. Fashion models have been criticized for their slim figures. Some stated that their skinny shapes encourage eating disorders and distort young girls’ image perception of their bodies.