One Cycle of the Blame Game

It's a viscious cycle...sample sizes from designers that are made very small require very small sized models.

Consumers often do not relate to the size of the high fashion editorial model, so they can blame the magazines for enabling poor body image and underweight models.

Magazines and stylists blame the "designers" for creating that small sample size. Then the agents need to maintain a surplus of models in their agency in competition with other agencies that will favorably "fit" the garments.

Models want to work, so they try to keep up with the size that agencies want them.

Where does it leave room for shared responsibility? I don't think that the blame game is going to help the industry unite because magazines can "opt" not to include designer garments that are sized so small, therefore easing some pressure off of bookers and models.

There will always be a designer on the heels of all of the current ones that would love getting recognition in magazine editorials. It's NOT like it's a paid advertisement that supports the magazine's revenue. The magazines do have the ability to communicate with the Council of Fashion Designers and help maintain "industry standards".

It's a twist of art and business, so change is something that all careers can face from time to time. One simple size varience between a 0-2-4 is not like a major investment of extra textiles like claimed with the cost of reproduction of Plus Sizes!

Compared to the health and well-being of the models, it is a small movement toward doing the responsible thing.

We hope that the sample sizes universally improve on the upside without designers feeling like they're sacrificing "artistic integrity". Tall girls over 5'10" as a size Zero? How about a few decades ago? Those models had to diet, as well, and work on their figure, too, but they were size 2/4 even 6. Is there a compromise from everyone? What more can a model compromise in the name of Fashion that they're not already doing to be size zero's?

Explore Modeling - Tips on Posing for Catalogue Modeling

Explore Modeling - Tips on Posing for Catalogue Modeling 

I promised some of the models that are perfect for Catalogue that I would share this! They have a ton of instructional videos as a great resource, too!

GIRL MODEL Notable Video of 2013

Shared from Girl Model-The Movie Facebook Page:  "Great news just in American Library Association announced Girl Model as one of the Notable Videos of 2013!"

A.K.A. Models still is hoping to have an opportunity to to see this documentary. I'd like to see more documentaries that are accurate to the industry.

 

http://www.ala.org/news/pr?id=12326

Congrats to SAG-AFTRA (good luck media artists that are Models, though)

I wasn't planning on writing anything tonight. Change of plans. I just heard Morgan Freeman earlier talking about the "union" of SAG-AFTRA and how all kinds of media artists standing in front of a camera (or microphone) are included...We know that they don't mean the "profession of modeling".

Again, another exclusion of guidance, protection, etc... In an ideal industry, no model would even need anyone looking out for them because everyone would use ethical professionalism. There is really a lack of documentation OR even anyone holding people accountable that misuse their power over many vulnerable models.

For example, one huge issue I see in contrast: Child Actors are protected under Labor Laws, but Child Models do not share the same consistant rights in the US...they are not guaranteed their breaks, education, appropriate hours worked in a day, nor adults that are speaking up for them in any Union.

The Model Alliance is the closest collaboration that is working hard to bring awareness LEGALLY (in NY, for now) Children are in an industry where they are following the lead of adults that they are "supposed to listen to". What if those adults abuse their power and are not caring about the best interest of the child?

Officially, models are not an adult until age 18, so that teenage "stage" before adulthood when many fashion models are sought after...that's a child model.

There are so many shades of grey in the modeling industry that people are not aware of, so if you ever hear that models have it so easy...it's the perspective of what people see in the media that is not placing value on the truth.

The Basics of How to Practice Your Walk

This is a popular time of the year for Fashion Weeks to start regionally and internationally. There is no lack of watching them live or recorded on video via the Internet.  You may notice that they may have different locations (and designs) for runways that they walk on styled for individual shows.  It can be interesting to see what's being choreographed and the themes they're using that season!

 

Self-Education:

If you are an aspiring model that would like to learn the confident "walk"...watch those on-line runway shows and see if you can catch on to your own visual tips. Have a friend video tape you and take pictures, so you can see random looks on your face and how the camera catches your looks. Use this as self-critique.  

 

It is not overly difficult or super easy to learn, so expect to practice (and practice) until it feels consistent and looks like it's comfortable for others to watch.

 

Here are some ways to practice in the privacy of your home or on a mock runway:

 

At my house, I fold my area rugs in half to get them out of the way, so that the walking space is a solid, flat surface for the model. I use masking tape on the floor to place one straight line from the "start" to the very end of the walking area.  Try to make the length as long as possible. The tape is to act as a visual aide to keep the model straight as they walk by learning not to "look down." They will cross one foot over the other foot as they keep their posture.

 

The trick is to maintain a "focal point" to keep your balance. For practice, take a piece of tape and place it on the wall at least a few feet away from the end of the runway. As you begin your pace, step out straight by looking at that focal point on the wall.  Out of your "peripheral vision" you can see the line on the floor.  As you get toward the end, step into a stance before you turn to walk back.  After you master the balance in high heels of all heights, you can work on different degrees of poses at the end of the runway.

 

Other details that will enhance your walk will be your effortless flow and different degrees of looks on your face. You will take into account where your arms move, the kind of garments you are wearing, the type of shape that the runway is, the props, make-up, hair, other models, possible stairs or obstacles, and special instructions that you receive.

 

How many videos do people love to watch of models wiping out on the runway?  Answer: Too many if you are the one that falls!  Do the designers like it?  What do you think?  It's their show, but it's your reputation.  Models are expected to practically be able to walk on air with toothpicks as heels, so it's "never" any ones fault, but the model. It can be unrealistic, but you need to keep your confidence. 

 

If you trip, Get Up and keep making it work...sometimes a simple acknowledgement or nod of the head will draw some empathy out of the audience rather than the secret...or, not so secret, laughs. Either way, it'll be on YouTube, right? ;) Have a sense of humor. Try?

 

Remember, your safety is a priority, but take extra care of what you are wearing and show the garment off as if it is a work of art on your body even if it's the cause of your secret embarrassment. Backstage, keep treating that garment like gold until it is in someone else's possession.  

Human Trafficking

It's exciting to talk about great opportunities that some models can encounter in the industry. It is SCARY to imagine what some models have gone through in the pursuit of having a modeling career.

CLICK HERE TO SEE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I"M TALKING ABOUT! 

 

I'm not trying to educate models that the industry is ONLY about "Gloom & Doom"!

I wouldn't be doing anyone any favors if I didn't share the "other" side of negatives that models may be more vulnerable to. This is to keep people informed, so they can make wiser choices and know that they are not alone. Share what you learn, too. You are a diverse group of people with many talents.

If you feel that

A.K.A. Models can offer info to others within and outside of the industry, too...your personal recommendation goes a long way when you share our FB Page or non-commercial website with your friends and family.

Thank You.
Carol-Anne :)

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/16/jill-mourning-sex-trafficking-nonprofit_n_2489153.html 

"Circuit Switching"...

"Circuit Switching"

...Although this can happen in everyones career each time they find a new job, work in sales, etc... in modeling it's the term (talent) to go from one type of modeling into another while appropriately being able to switch the type of look and character.

 

Example: The ability of edgy, young editorial models being able to re-boot their careers as commercial models to clients. The money is not in "editorial fashion" for the model, but if they can take their unique, edgy look and spin it into society's look of what appeals to the consumer...they've got a chance to acquire some success financially.

 

--A.K.A. Models Educ. Series