Fashion Design Feature

LIGHTS, ACTION, RUNWAY

MODEL EXPECTATIONS

By Jennifer Petrini

I am often asked by so many aspiring models, how to break into the industry. As in any fashion trade, modeling is an extremely competitive and cutthroat business. You've seen "Americas Next Top Model" and "Janice Dickinson's Modeling Agency" which glamorize the world of fashion shoots, runway shows and designer clothing. However to get to that working model stature, it can be quite a challenge.

However, models are needed on any level, from local boutique fashion shows to regional advertising campaigns to national cover girls. The steps to get to the top can be extremely difficult but not impossible. It is important to expect to work hard, listen to industry experts and build your book.

FIND A REPUTABLE AGENT

Don't be scammed into paying thousands of dollars by an agency that promises to make you famous. If living in a small town or city, research the agencies that actually work with professional clients, such as advertising and film production companies, and show producers. Don't sign with a company that claims to bring in outside scouts from LA and NYC. A real agent will help build your book so that you are ready to actually work in those markets.

START EARLY

It's no secret that models keep getting younger and younger. Some of the freshest faces on magazine covers are as young as 13. Getting an early start is an advantage that is worthy to explore if possible. However, models of every age continue to work in the industry every day.

BUILD YOUR BOOK

When going to a "Go-See" for a potential job, the client will ask to see your book or portfolio of pictures. Make sure your book is current with all of your previous experience and has a range of different looks you can achieve. To build your book, many new models work with professional photographers on test-shoots and even offer to model for student photographers. These jobs may not pay but can give you some amazing pictures for free.

TAKE A CLASS

Ask your reputable agent where you can take a class to work on posing for the camera or walking the runway. Many agents offer classes onsite to help their clientele improve their modeling skills, while some professionals also teach classes at fashion schools or on a private level.

SALARY EXPECTATIONS

Remember an agency will take 15-20% of what you earn on a paying job. This is unavoidable if you want to book the good gigs. Based on your current market, models are often paid a flat fee for the job. For example, an advertising client may pay $250/model per day for a 2-day shoot. Your agent will take their commission before taxes and then you will receive your check.

BE A REALISTIC SUPERMODEL

Giselle and Heidi Klum didn't expect to become internationally sensations and neither should you. Clients can spot the divas a mile away and are really looking for the fresh face that will work best for them. Have a positive and confident attitude and think big and you just may be the girl on the next cover of VOGUE.

Dress for Success for Women

The standard job interviewing attire for women is a conservative dark navy or gray skirted wool blend suit. Job experts and employers seem split on the notion of pants suits, so a skirted suit is a safer choice.

[For more information, read: The Great Pantsuit vs. Skirtsuit Debate: What Should Women Wear to a Job Interview?.]

Other conservative colors -- such as beige or brown -- are also acceptable. Red is a power color. A blazer with blouse and skirt is a possible second choice to a suit. You should always wear a jacket.

Skirt length should be a little below the knee and never shorter than above the knee -- no night club attire here. Avoid wearing a dress (unless accented with a jacket). Blouses should be cotton or silk and should be white, or some other light color. Shoes should be low-heeled.

Make-up should be minimal, with lipstick and nail polish conservative tones. Pantyhose should be flawless (no runs) and conservative in color. Do not have excessive body odor or cologne.

You should opt for a briefcase rather than a purse.

So, what are some sample outfits?

Here are some dress for success examples:

Sample skirted suit dress attire

Sample pantsuit dress attire

Sample combination suit dress attire

Sample skirted suit dress attire

Sample skirted suit dress attire

Sample pantsuit dress attire

Sample pantsuit dress attire

Sample skirted casual attire

Job-Hunting Dress Fashion

It's probably one of the most overused phrases in job-hunting, but also one of the most underutilized by job-seekers: dress for success. In job-hunting, first impressions are critical. Remember, you are marketing a product -- yourself -- to a potential employer, and the first thing the employer sees when greeting you is your attire; thus, you must make every effort to have the proper dress for the type of job you are seeking. Will dressing properly get you the job? Of course not, but it will give you a competitive edge and a positive first impression.

Should you be judged by what you wear? Perhaps not, but the reality is, of course, that you are judged. Throughout the entire job-seeking process employers use short-cuts -- heuristics or rules of thumb -- to save time. With cover letters, it's the opening paragraph and a quick scan of your qualifications. With resumes, it is a quick scan of your accomplishments. With the job interview, it's how you're dressed that sets the tone of the interview.

How should you dress? Dressing conservatively is always the safest route, but you should also try and do a little investigating of your prospective employer so that what you wear to the interview makes you look as though you fit in with the organization. If you overdress (which is rare but can happen) or under dress (the more likely scenario), the potential employer may feel that you don't care enough about the job.

How do you find out what is the proper dress for a given job/company/industry? You can call the Human Resources office where you are interviewing and simply ask. Or, you could visit the company's office to retrieve an application or other company information and observe the attire current employees are wearing -- though make sure you are not there on a "casual day" and misinterpret the dress code.

Finally, do you need to run out and spend a lot of money on clothes for interviewing? No, but you should make sure you have at least two professional sets of attire. You'll need more than that, but depending on your current financial condition, two is enough to get started and you can buy more once you have the job or have more financial resources.

Hints for Dress for Success for Men and Women
Attention to details is crucial, so here are some tips for both men and women. Make sure you have:

• clean and polished conservative dress shoes
• well-groomed hairstyle
• cleaned and trimmed fingernails
• minimal cologne or perfume
• no visible body piercing beyond conservative ear piercings for women
• well-brushed teeth and fresh breath
• no gum, candy, or other objects in your mouth
• minimal jewelry
• no body odor

Finally, check your attire in the rest room just before your interview for a final check of your appearance -- to make sure your tie is straight, your hair is combed, etc.

Dress Fashion for Success

Your clothes are an expression of you. Everything you wear is an expression – from your socks and jocks to your frocks – it is an expression of you. Ask yourself now, what do your clothes say about you? Do they scream “success!” or do they say “yeah, right!”?

You have your own vision of success. For a few moments, close your eyes and visualise what you would be wearing if you were successful. What would you wear to work? What about on the weekends? How about on the sports ground? What about at night?

How do you see yourself? Do you see yourself as having those clothes now? Chances are that you may not, or only partially have. The secret to power dressing is to dress now, who you wish to become. If you’re a junior accountant, and you want to be a partner in your firm, then you need to dress like that now. There’s a two-fold reason why: firstly, it oozes confidence and self-esteem and I guarantee people will do a double take. Secondly, it starts creating it in your life via the subconscious mind, and increases the desire to want to get there.

So, now for the fun things. Go to your wardrobe and start identifying the clothing that scream “success!” Toss the rest of them in a pile and give them away or donate them to charity. If you don’t have the clothes there that make you look and feel good, then guess what? You need to go out and buy them. It doesn’t have to be really expensive or involve maxing out the credit cards,

but it does have to be of good quality, something that will make you proud of wearing it, something that will make you feel like royalty, something that will make you feel like a million bucks! Be financially responsible here too – this isn’t a license to spend your life savings or refinance your house to look good. If you need to save up then go out and put a lay-by on the clothes you want.....