By Marquise Brown

The fashion industry is a widespread market for many different platforms, such as editorial, runway, print, or commercial. Designers create the clothing, have shows to promote the new designs, and models wear the clothing in photos and on runways, but is the modeling field still too exclusive? Do all models have to be skinny and fit, or tall and lean? What sets models apart from other people? Some models travel to many different countries and cities across the world. Many cities have fashion weeks, which are very important in the fashion industry. Bill Cunningham once said, “Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life.” Modeling is not always fun and easy. Models are important because they show the use of products.

The Global Apparel market is worth about three trillion dollars, as stated by Fashionunited.com. For some, modeling can have many highlights and be a profitable career. There are many designers in the world of fashion, some are the extremely high end such as Givenchy, Gucci, Balmain, Prada and Versace. These types of designers will normally seek out better-known models to be the “face” of their project, such as GiGi Hadid, Winnie Harlow, and Candice Swanepoel. Being the face of a product means, that this person is of a high stature and can represent this brand in the intended fashion. “I think there is beauty in everything. What ‘normal’ people perceive as ugly, I can usually see something of beauty in it,” said by Alexander McQueen. When certain models are selected as the “face,” normally the designer can see the beauty they have to offer.  Working on certain projects can get a model more exposure and opportunities to work with other models and designers on different projects.

For years, the problem with the fashion industry was that there was a lack of diversity and different body types. Models are frequently criticized for being too skinny or too large. Media and editing has a part to do with this as well. This can promote unhealthy eating habits or eating disorders. Many agencies tell models that if they did not lose weight that the agency would no longer represent them or they no longer find work. Sara Ziff founder of Model Alliance fights to promote healthier living among models and people in the fashion industry. Models go on intense diets to be even more desired. About 40 percent of models had eating disorders.

Many models have to do a lot of traveling to work with certain photographers or achieve a certain look. Some shoots are in uncomfortable positions or in frigid waters. In 2012 Cara Delevingne did a cover of D-1 magazine and had a very large tarantula on her face. There have been some shoots that have been planned months in advance. Models have to look the part for each shoot, and sometimes go from shoot to shoot, which can be very tiring. Models are relative to the current looks, so with looks changing models rotate. Models looks are constantly changed, if the agency wants them to have different look, their hair will be cut, or dye their hair, or they may have to tone certain muscle groups. Models sometimes have their hair dyed winter colors in summer, and summer colors in winter for certain shoots. When models are in public places doing shoots, they often get odd stares or baffling looks and take photos. Harry Winston stated, “People will stare. Make it worth their while.”

In today’s fashion world there are cities called the ‘Big Four,’ Paris, Milan, New York City, and London. These four cities generate the most fashion capitol, but why? These cities are home to the biggest fashion houses and brands. The most influential designers work there, hold fashion fairs and events, award shows take place, in these cities as well.  The biggest fashion magazines, Vogue, Elle, GQ, and Glamour are published there, so everything concerning the world of fashion starts from these capitals.

These cities also hold the most anticipated fashion weeks each year. These cities have been centerfolds for being extremely rich, so in the 20^th century only the rich were fashion forward. Within this time, Coco Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent made the French capital the most important fashion city in the world. After Paris had made its mark, New York’s fashion market was growing rapidly also. Now there are other big cities such as Miami, Los Angeles, and Tokyo are being bigger and bigger for fashion. These cities started to get noticed due to the media within the art that was being produced. For American fashion, Los Angeles is making a quick come up for the lead fashion capital compared to New York. Many designers are now making the west Coast their home bases, which is giving these cities more notoriety. A writer for the site, HighSnobiety.com, stated that, Los Angeles has a “better quality of living, a plethora of high-profiled personalities and an overall essence of ‘cool.’” Gaining fashion inspiration from many different places is what highlights diversity and uniqueness of cultures that make fashion so exciting.

Even now many celebrities are taking the leap in to the fashion world. Rihanna has teamed up with companies like Puma and even has started her own clothing and makeup lines. Beyoncé has started her own higher-end clothing line, called Ivy Park. Many celebrities are even seen on runways and the faces of major products. When celebrities wear certain clothing by certain designers, they create not only possible trend, but also publicity for the designer. A bonus in using celebrities for ads and campaigns, creates the ‘Halo Effect.’ When there is a celebrity whom is influential, people normally tend to do what that person does. So when a campaign is given celebrity backing, the product may possibly be more valued to others. Having celebrities in fashion is important because, they also propel trends and can be used to help deliver a message.

In conclusion, models help shape the fashion world by showing us many different looks and styles. “Fashion is what you’re offered four times a year by designers. And style is what you choose,” said by Lauren Hutton. We as individuals all have our own sense of style and are models in our everyday lives. Fashion models give us the guidance and looks that are trending from all over the world. Some models have been granted opportunities that others may never have, such as extensive travel and having higher end campaigns. There is fashion inspiration all over the world, the reason why there are fashion capitols, and other flourishing fashion cities. Models can command rooms, and turn heads. They are the first representation of the products we use and see. Rachel Zoe once said, “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.” Models can tell a story without speaking!

Header photo from vogue.com

Works Cited

Kokemuller, N. (2014, July 03). Modeling Facts. Retrieved November 20, 2017, from http://classroom.synonym.com/facts-4924908-modeling-facts.html

“Models and Modeling.” Encyclopedia of Management. . Retrieved November 28, 2017 from Encyclopedia.com:

Merryweather, C. (2015, October 02). 14 Shocking Industry Secrets Kept By Fashion Models. Retrieved November 21, 2017, from https://www.thetalko.com/14-shocking-industry-secrets-kept-by-fashion-models/

Leach, A. (2017, June 16). The 15 Most Important Cities in Fashion Right Now. Retrieved November 28, 2017, from https://www.highsnobiety.com/2015/08/24/fashion-capital-list/