The fashion industry is a fast, complicated institution full of many eccentric individuals and models london. To please one individual may not be pleasing to another, while to please the RIGHT one may launch a young model’s career. There is an element of trend “followers” involved in responding to whatever the trend “setters” say is IN the moment, so the industry is truly guided by the elite, high fashion magazines. What does an editorial model look like? Back to the trends of models agency london this answer can have variations dependent upon the moment or particular designer. On average, an editorial model is not the standard, classic beauty that most people think of as being considered “pretty”. There are exceptions, but there must be something very unique and special that can make the model stand out. Often, editorial models have a somewhat quirky look that stands out as obviously unusual. Odd and exotic looks, very tall height, slim built bodies, and models who have the ability to be “chameleon-like” in their appearance are candidates for consideration as an editorial model. It sometimes is an odd personal experience for the model that felt awkward and different growing up and then they are placed in a unique position where they are made into fashion objects of beauty.
Editorial print pictures are artistic and expressive without words, but at the same time are meant to show the garments you are wearing, or whatever image the model is promoting in the best way possible. The poses are much different than catalogue, and the way the body is expressing the story requires a talent. Some may call the talent “acting”, and it’s a modeling skill that only emphasizes the importance of what every good model should possess. The skill of being a chameleon that can change to the mood of the moment easily is much easier to work with versus having the same looks over and over all of the time. When an editorial piece in a magazine is about showing an “edgy” look and a pretty model just wants to show how pretty she is…she has failed. She has failed herself, the photographers, the stylists, the designers, the magazines, and ultimately the consumer who sees this editorial pictorial story and gets the entirely wrong concept from her “pretty” picture. It’s not about how the model is supposed to feel about themselves, but rather doing the job that the model is booked for…a.k.a. whatever the client wants the model to portray (for instance, a.k.a. “edgy looking” model or “retro looking”, etc.). The model should always have a mental note in their mind of the “concept” that the client wants to see and bring it out in front of the camera (or on the runway). Editorial jobs are for the top potential models. If a model feels ugly or weird in what they are modeling for a magazine editorial, they must dig deep and find a way to make the concept exciting or very interesting to match the conceptual idea of what they are modeling.
One job leads to another very quickly when the models start doing editorials, but remember that this stage may not last very long. Enjoy the adventure and any perks because they just don’t happen for most models in their careers. There are so many people all over the world who dream the same dream of being a famous model and their fantasy never gets fulfilled to what they expected. So, when the elite opportunity arrives you should be aware of how fortunate you may be considered in the eyes of other models that may not have “walked in your shoes”.
For any given number of reasons, modeling is not always a highly successful occupation even for the talented person. The work is not always glamorous, either, even though the finished product in a magazine or couture fashion show may appear that way. On a positive note, models can be exposed to some small and very large perks, too. Perks are based on what you may each consider above and beyond what you actually earn in money as an extra bonus that’s not measured on your income tax statement (such as meeting celebrities, attending parties, etc). Your booking rate can increase with the more you become in demand, too. When a model is seen doing editorial spreads in different magazines…they are becoming in demand! Even though the “editorial” rate is low, this popularity branches out into a variety of other options for the model’s career that makes them very, very busy as a professional, working model.
Editorial modeling in a high fashion magazine is a PRIME booking for a model that is serious about having a career in modeling. It is not the type of assignment that you can get in most U.S. cities. New York City is the fashion capital of the United States and it is where the opportunities are for high fashion editorial work. There are other cities internationally that have a lot of editorial work, too, so a model’s willingness and financial ability to relocate and travel is a “must” in order to increase their chances in appearing in any magazine spreads. Not all American models start their high fashion careers in New York City. Many obviously want to, but few get the right opportunity. Agents may recommend that they gain more experience and exposure overseas where there are many magazines and opportunities that may help their career get better established before they venture around New York City. (We’ll discuss more about international modeling, later.)
It takes a special type of model (physically & mentally) to get a grasp on what is required of them in this type of specialty. Rejection is a big part of this career as common as the many, unfulfilled dreams. A model must cope with the reality that they are always being critiqued by many others. For the individuals who have been “good-looking” and socially accepted their entire life, it sometimes is very hard to deal with rejection based upon their “looks”. It’s not easy to take personal criticism, but the better you are at preparing for the worst comments, the better you may be at not being caught off guard. Letting it ruin your day is much better than ruining your career and self-esteem because you will need to have confidence in your skills as a model.
Your personality should adapt as you see more of the modeling industry as an insider. It may sometimes feel as if you are using every bit of your patience and self control in not trying to stick up for yourself to the many different people who may drive you crazy, but always remember what will be best for your success as a model in the long run. Don’t lose control nor lose focus of what your job is as a model and who you represent regarding the client and your modeling agency. Anything that you experience as a model that is unpleasant is usually nothing new to most other models that have worked for a little while, so hang in there and do your best to cope because there will many other models who will not be able to take the heat and drop out of modeling as quickly as they began their dream. It may sometimes be lonely or scary when you’re far away from family and friends, so you may quickly assume more independence without their support over time.
You’ll be facing issues in a modeling career that other people your age may not encounter in their job description such as nudity. In high fashion, there’s no room for too much modesty, either, because the model’s body is stripped down, dressed up, and stripped down again from client to client and garment to garment as part of the fashion business as a live mannequin (a.k.a. models). Your face and your body are part of the package used to promote the fashion story on the runway or in magazines (versus nudity for pornography). There’s a fine line between what is “accepted” in fashion that uses partial nudity versus that what the model is “expected” to portray intimately for pornography. Fine art using nude models or a revealing high fashion designer’s haute couture versus modeling nude on a website or in a pornographic magazine have different standards and is viewed by the industry as such, so be aware from the very beginning of what you are comfortable with.
Often, it’s not just modesty that is sacrificed in a model’s career that causes their parents to be on guard. Models may be placed in many scenarios that they are not familiar with and they need to trust that they are safe when they feel vulnerable. This is where the high fashion model’s agency is the key to managing its’ clients and models. Models change in front of each other and clients sometimes, wear provocative garments, and sometimes are told to act sensually with others (male and female) in front of the camera and on the runway. This is a part of high fashion editorial modeling, too, where modesty can hinder the model’s ability to perform and get the final results.
It appears that when you add in the actual physical requirements of the editorial model you may see the numbers dwindle down to who actually gets an opportunity and succeeds as an editorial model. The female editorial model is anywhere in her teenage years aged 14-19 (on average) and is very, very thin (size 0-2…maybe size 4, depending on trends) and very tall (5’9 -6’0″). She won’t have very large breasts (under 34 C-cup), nor body piercings and tattoos. (*unless approved special circumstances). Add to her body’s physical requirements a “uniquely” beautiful face with interesting features and the average number of qualified females dwindles down even further. Remember, sometimes it’s not a typically “pretty” girl who photographs like a strong, chameleon-like, editorial model…sometimes a “pretty face” just photographs as a “pretty face” and that’s not always interesting in the fashion world.
The standards for male models are somewhat similar, but their age is older (average 18-25) and their height should be 6’0″ wearing a size 40 suit with approximately a 34 inch inseam. The male models should be lean, cut, and fit versus having too many bulging muscles that don’t fit in his clothes. He, too, must be where the editorial work is either in the U.S. or internationally. The male model may face his own obstacles when faced with what is expected of him, but there are many shared basics of modeling between female and male models relating to the industry and facing rejection.