Modeling begins long before the final production \u2013 whether a\u00a0sleek glossy ad or a runway show. In our description of editorial\u00a0fashion models above we actually jumped into the middle of the\u00a0fashion design and marketing process. Models are involved in\u00a0creating and developing fashions all along; it\u2019s just the editorial\u00a0and runway models that everyone hears of. Most of these other\u00a0models are supplied by \u201ccommercial fashion\u201d agencies rather than\u00a0\u201ceditorial\u201d agencies; some kinds of fashion models don\u2019t come\u00a0from agencies at all. Let\u2019s see who they are.<\/p>\n
\nFit Models
\nAs a designer creates concepts for his new line he will find\u00a0fabrics to complement them. The next step is to start draping\u00a0those fabrics on a model for inspiration, followed by drawings,\u00a0patterns and a rough sample of each dress. A fit model will help\u00a0along the way, wearing the draft sample as it is fine-tuned through\u00a0hundreds of changes.\u00a0Fit models are similar in dimensions to runway models, although\u00a0they may come in other sizes later in the production cycle. Often\u00a0they are older than runway models, may have an education in\u00a0fashion design and marketing, and have stable, reliable\u00a0personalities. A fit model may work full or part time for the same\u00a0design house for several years, and can make very good money at\u00a0it. A good fit model is part of the creative team, helping make suggestions on fit that can be incorporated into the design.\u00a0The most important thing about a fit model is that their\u00a0dimensions be precise and unvarying. Even a half inch change in\u00a0waist or hips can disrupt the process that leads to the final show\u00a0sample or, later, production patterns. Later in the
\ndesign\/production cycle, fit models in many different heights and\u00a0sizes may be used.<\/p>\n
\nShowroom Models
\nAfter samples are created the designer begins marketing his\u00a0line through shows and advertising. Retail fashion buyers and the\u00a0press are invited to formal presentations, perhaps in a hotel\u00a0ballroom or in the designer\u2019s showroom. Models wear the\u00a0collection in fashion shows. In addition, buyers may make an\u00a0appointment for a showing just for themselves. Showroom\u00a0models will wear the line for the buyer, often coming up for a\u00a0close inspection and interacting with the buyer. It is a less formal,\u00a0more personal type of modeling than runway.\u00a0A showroom model needs to have the height and body type
\nof a runway model, although sometimes the requirements are\u00a0relaxed a little. Designers may use part-time or hourly models, or\u00a0they may have one or more full-time models in-house who can\u00a0present designs to buyers as needed. Hourly showroom models\u00a0may be new fashion models from editorial agencies who are\u00a0gaining experience, but showroom models may not be represented\u00a0by an agency at all. Often they are hired through ads in\u00a0professional publications like Women\u2019s Wear Daily, and they\u00a0may have light office duties in addition to modeling.
\nUsually showroom models are not the ones used on formal runway shows or in print advertising, although a designer may use\u00a0them to produce his look book.<\/p>\n
\nRunway and Campaigns
\nA major part of marketing a new line is formal fashion shows like\u00a0Fashion Week in New York or Los Angeles, print advertising and,\u00a0hopefully, appearance in editorial stories in the major fashion\u00a0magazines. This is where the traditional \u201cfashion model\u201d shines.<\/p>\n
\nThe Road Show
\nDesigners may pack their line up and take it to major retailers\u00a0around the country for local fashion shows and presentation to\u00a0buyers. These \u201ctrunk shows\u201d might use local models, but often\u00a0will use the designer\u2019s normal showroom models, who may be\u00a0either long term employees or hired for the tour from agencies in\u00a0New York or Los Angeles.
\nRetail Modeling<\/p>\n
\nAs the line hits retail stores around the country, the stores\u00a0(individually or in cooperation with a mall or other stores) may
\nhold local fashion shows, or in-store \u201ctea room\u201d presentations of\u00a0their new lines. For these shows local models are usually used.\u00a0These local shows do not demand the full \u201crunway model\u201d\u00a0specifications; any model who looks good in the sizes delivered to\u00a0the store may end up modeling in them.<\/p>\n
\nCatalog\/Fashion Print Modeling
\nNational and local retailers use models to produce catalogs,\u00a0magazine ads and newspaper inserts. These models are usually
\ntall (5\u20198\u201d and up) and slim (not necessarily as rail-thin as an\u00a0editorial model). But they generally have what the fashion\u00a0industry calls a \u201ccommercial\u201d appearance \u2013 attractive, upscale\u00a0mainstream \u201cAll American\u201d good looks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Modeling begins long before the final production \u2013 whether a\u00a0sleek glossy ad or a runway show. In our description of editorial\u00a0fashion models above we actually jumped into the middle of the\u00a0fashion design and marketing process. Models are involved in\u00a0creating and developing fashions all along; it\u2019s just the editorial\u00a0and runway models that everyone hears of. Most […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":13789,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2166],"tags":[2176,21,2172,2175,2174,2173,2171],"class_list":["post-13788","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guide","tag-catalogfashion-print-modeling","tag-fashion","tag-fit-models","tag-retail-modeling","tag-runway-and-campaigns","tag-showroom-models","tag-the-fashion-production-cycle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/map.model.world\/directory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13788","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/map.model.world\/directory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/map.model.world\/directory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/map.model.world\/directory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/map.model.world\/directory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13788"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/map.model.world\/directory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13788\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13820,"href":"https:\/\/map.model.world\/directory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13788\/revisions\/13820"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/map.model.world\/directory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13789"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/map.model.world\/directory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13788"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/map.model.world\/directory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13788"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/map.model.world\/directory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13788"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}