Fashion Models [Search results for skirt] 

I had a meeting at the school.

It was a ceremony where I was going to be on stage to present awards.

I had taken my time to pick out a nice skirt and sweater and even chose the perfect pair of high heels - for the occasion.

I fixed my hair and makeup, put on my jewelry and touch of perfume and went downstairs to leave.

As I was about to walk out of the front door, my little son, sitting at the dining room table doing his homework, looks me up and down and says, "Hey, Mom. You look small."

I looked at my husband - standing next to me by the front door and we laughed. I said, "Small's good," and we laughed again.

I left my house believing and feeling that this was a compliment - while offered by a 10 year old boy that generally has no clue what he is talking about - about anything - I was feeling SMALL and that made me quite happy.

So ... the night progressed, the ceremony commences, I presented the awards - speeches were made - pictures were taken ... and we went home.

As we entered my house, I turned to my mother - who was also at the awards ceremony - and asked, "How did I do? Did I do okay? Did I look okay up there?"

Now ... keep in mind. My mother is always complimenting me on this thing or that and always generous with her compliments. She is, however, often ... just as generous with her ... MEAN OBSERVATIONS! Also ... keep in mind that she has been dieting for the past several months on Jenny Craig and has shrunk quite a bit - thinks she's SOMTHIN' ELSE!! She says, "You did good. But ... you looked sorta fat."

(*Awkward pause*)

(*blink-blink*)

"FAT!" I screamed. How could I look SMALL to the 10 year old boy just hours before and FAT to my shrinking-Jenny-Craig-dieting-mother NOW? I said it again, "FAT?"

"Well, maybe it was that you were wearing a shorter skirt than you usually would wear," she begins to try to SAVE HERSELF!

"I didn't look fat?" it was more a question than a statement.

"You looked fine," she said, and then she opened the door - and went home. Leaving me and my FAT self standing there in the foyer by the front door.

I raced around the house looking for my husband. He had the camera. "Did you take any pictures of me tonight," I was frantic. He indicated that he had and so I took the camera from his grasp and RACED LIKE A MAD WOMEN UP TO MY BEDROOM TO VIEW THE PICTURES. SEE IF ... IT WAS TRUE!!! SEE IF IT WAS TRULY POSSIBLE THAT I HAD JUST STOOD UP ON THE STAGE OF MY GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL IN FRONT OF ALL THOSE PEOPLE - A BIG FAT BLOB!!

I sat at my desk, flipped on the power button to the camera and sat there scrolling through the pictures of the night until ... I came to those of me.

On the upside ... It's true - I looked fat! There's no upside here - nope - none at all.

(*Note to self: NEVER EVER, EVER take the word of a 10 year old boy! The word small to a 10 year old boy, when describing how you look, is most likely not a good thing. Next time ... ask the boy, "Small? Small compared to what -----A HIPPOPOTAMUS?")

(*Additional note to self: Avoid wearing short skirts - not that the skirt had a thing to do with your FATNESS - but avoid them nonetheless!)

Easy skirt for on the go

So I'm riding my 4th bike of this spring/summer season (the other 3 were stolen, can you believe that?) up Prince street when I spot the most awesome high waisted skirt and striped top off in the distance. Only it was like 2 blocks away and I had to hurry up and catch up with her. So I daredeviled my way past every single tourist on Prince, wove through the crowds, and finally rode up alongside Mauri Weakley, the Visual Merchandiser for Steven Alan.

I asked her if I could take a picture while we were both still pedaling our bikes down the street-- heck I even handed her my business card while we both were still pedaling our bikes. I must admit, I was grateful, in a way, that a beautiful New Yorker like Mauri would be willing to have her picture taken by some stranger who first approached her while huffing and puffing next to her on a bike in the middle of the street. Ha!

top--Steven Alan
skirt--Swedish designer bought at Opening Ceremony

Hosted by Cecily and Mama Geek

I have a Canon Rebel XTi.
I got it last Christmas.
I have very little clue how to use the thing.

So ...

One of the things I swore I would do - once the kids returned to school in August - was to get that Canon out and ... learn how to use it.

The other day, I asked one of Alexis' friends if she'd help me out - model for me - let me take some pictures of her. After I took lots of photos, Alexis helped me put together this little story.

Hope you enjoy our story and photos ...

Sally's Busy Day

"Sally ...! Uh ... Sally!"

"Yes."

"I need you to model for me - let me take some photos of you with my Canon Rebel XTi."

*silence*

"Would that be okay? Sally! Would that be okay?"

"I'm really very busy - you know. I have lots to do. I have a very busy day."

"Oh well ... that's okay. I'll just follow you around - snap some pictures. You won't even know I'm there," I sling the Canon Rebel XTi over my shoulder. "Hey, Sally - I see you got yourself some fabulous new sunglasses."

*silence*

"And ... is that a new hat?"

*silence*

"It's lovely. And ... I just love your pink Crocs! They're those lace up ones - aren't they?"

"Where you going? Sally! Where are you going?"

"I told you ... I have things to do."

"Okay, then -- I'll just follow along," and off we went. "Whatcha doin' now, Sally?"

"I was thinking about going for a swim - if someone would leave me alone."

"Oh - but Sally! You still have on your hat! And your skirt. And ... your lace-up Crocs!"

"You just back off! I have so much to do and you are talking too much and just getting in the way!"

*SPLASH*

"Did you have a nice swim, Sally? Did you?"

"What are you going to do now?"

"I'm getting my exercise. Thought I'd go down the slide a few times."

"Can that really be considered - exercise, Sally? I mean ..."

"Be careful ... Sally!"

"Oh, Sally! You lost your new sunglasses!"

"Wheeeeee ...!"

"I thought I'd swing for a while."

"What are you doing now, Sally - working in your garden?"

*silence*

"Are you taking a break now? Who is this, Sally? Is this your little dog?"

"What is his name?"

"HER name is - Fifi."

"Oh ... she is cute! Can she do anything? I mean - like tricks?"

"Well ... she does know one trick," Sally said, and took Fifi out of her bag. "If you pull her tail," she showed me, "The hair on the top of her head gets shorter and ... her tail gets longer. See ..."

"WOW! That is some trick, Sally. I've never seen any dog ever do that trick."

"Oh ... is that the door bell? Are you expecting someone?"

"Who is your friend, Sally?"

"This is Lelo . She's here to teach me to hula dance."

Oh, Sally - you dance the hula beautifully!

"OH MY, Sally! You were swinging your hips so hard - your skirt fell off!"

"Time for a nap now, Sally?"

*SNORE*

"Okay, then. I guess I've taken up enough of your time and took plenty of photos. I'll leave you to rest - you've had such a busy day."

"Bye, Sally. See you later."

With fashion month soon to be upon us, models will be attending casting calls in between fittings, shows, and visits to their agencies. If you haven't seen what a casting call for a runway show is like, it can be quite anxiety driven. Girls are literally lined up by the 10's and 20's outside in hallways. Some Casting Directors have pre-casting castings, in which they will see hundreds of girls in just 2 days time, so they can edit down their choices for runway shows accordingly. Just try mentioning the name Russell Marsh to a model and watch her reaction. Because of the timing, I thought it was appropriate to republish an interview I did with Sarah Doukas, the founder of Storm Model Management and the one who discovered Kate Moss at JFK airport. In it, we talked about the impact of style on a models career.

We sat down for a chat at her agency in South Kensington and what follows is a brief glimpse of the modeling world, distilled ultimately into two major categories: how a models personal style can help create more opportunities for them and how press (think my blog here) can help create more opportunities for models as well.

I must add that everyone at Storm Models from their Press Officer Paula Karaiskos to their entire New Faces Division was a pleasure to work with. Many thanks to everyone at Storm who helped me along the way and especially to Sarah for breaking from her hectic schedule for the interview.

THE IMPACT OF PERSONAL STYLE ON THE SUCCESS OF A MODELS CAREER

Craig: Can a models sense of style positively impact her career?

Sarah: I definitely think it can positively impact her career. It's got to be simple but the point about that question is, that if they have absolutely no style and they go out just not looking great, they're wearing very unflattering clothes and things like that, then it's definitely going to have a negative impact.

Craig: really?

Sarah: Oh god yes, there's no question. I'm obsessed with finding British girls. It's my big thing....and it's hard to get them to the point of going out to do shows...I know that once they hit that international circuit, and they're sitting in a Paris agency and seeing those Parisian clients, if they don't look the part...you know they're wearing some kind of scraggy old t-shirt...(sighs)..they don't have to go and spend a great deal of money, but style is really important, very simple. So I think it is important.

Craig: so the lack of style can definitely negatively impact

Sarah: Impact. There's no doubt that lack of style can negatively impact. I'm not talking about wearing Balenciaga, but very simple High Street stuff. That elongates your legs and is just flattering.

STORM AGENCY TAKES ACTIONS TO IMPROVE A MODELS STYLE

Craig: do you guys tell models how to dress here?

Sarah: yeah

Craig: for castings?

Sarah: yes

Craig: So if you don't mind me asking in what? just jeans...stuff that shows their body?....is that what they're supposed to wear?

Sarah: I think if they walked around in a great big smock it would be a bit a problem for a client and I'm not suggesting that they look provocatively, you know wearing sexy stuff but certainly stuff that shows the length of their body and that they're slim. You can get somebody with the most fantastic figure and they come in here and may be in a dress like this (motions wide with hands) the client would say, "well I wonder what's going on there....have you put on weight?"...They can look at their book but they don't really know...so it's advisable to dress in something that can really see, you know show your shape. That's what I think.

Craig: so the key for style...there's not many options if you're having to wear skinny jeans and t-shirts??

Sarah: well you can wear leggings, they are back in fashion. You can still layer up. You can wear a really nice cardi with a longer tightish dress with leggings. There are lots of options. You can wear a short skirt with leggings. With boots. Again with layers. But just not, you can't walk around in sort of voluminous clothes as the clients are going to say "Hey whats going on under there? Maybe she's pregnant?"

Craig: So you do intervene then? On occasion, when it comes to a girl's style?

Sarah: Well I sit at the booking table. I do all the time. I like everybody to be autonomous in their job here and do their thing. I don't want to look over peoples shoulder. I hate that kind of thing because I work at the booking table with everybody and I don't have an office. You know, I'm just one of them, I'm not the boss or any such thing.

But yeah I do because I know its going to have a negative impact if they go out looking like that. And they appreciate it. You can say it in a really nice way. You don't have to say, "listen you have terrible style. We need to completely change you." You just have to say, "now listen, when you go out I want you to look great."

GREAT PERSONAL STYLE CREATES MORE SALES VALUE FOR BOOKING AGENTS

Sarah: You know they go into a French agency or a New York agency, the bookers are looking at them for the first time and at the end of the day we have to be realistic about this job: they are selling a product, those booking agents. So they have to believe in it when they see it. So they have to see somebody looking -- great. The book can look fantastic. But you know what? You need to believe to sell something, of course you do. You can't make any bones about it. It's a human business. And I really like these girls or I wouldn't do it. But we are selling something. So you must look good.

THE IMPACT OF PRESS ON A MODELS BOOKING VALUE

Craig: regarding press as opposed to runway shows, advertising campaigns and editorials, press like a girl gets her photo taken and she's in the New York Times...or interviews...like this is a form of press (I pointed to 1 of 4 of my Teen Vogue solo pages)

Sarah: does it have their names?

Craig: it does

Sarah: Exactly, that's very important. Years ago nobody knew who models were. Apart from those famous models, they were never given credit in a magazine or anything so there were was no credits given. So that was one thing that people were quite anonymous. And i think press is huge and I think it's really important.

We started with PR in 89 or 90. Because I just thought it was hugely important and Richard Branson was my partner for many years and he was like, "Sarah" we know he likes the press...he was like "it's really important"

I think it's important. Kate Moss is the first one that we did it with. And I build press books and I've done it on all my models. Whether it be Sophie Dahl, Lily Cole, Devon Aoki, Jourdan Dunn, Behati Prinsloo, Liberty Ross....

Craig: one thing that really gets me about press is, yeah it's cool because the model gets her name circulated in the public, but how does that impact the booking value of a model?

Sarah: Huge, because you know you've got a model "Ann Smith" who doesn't get any press, who is a great looking girl, and works alot. And you've got somebody else, say "Paula Reed" who gets press, is out in the public domain, if you went and asked somebody in the street do you know who this is? They'd say yes. Well that's what market research is. So then you get a big company going, "I want a name." So you put this beautiful girl up who hasn't got press and you put this one up who has got press. Who are they going to choose? Does the general public know this person? So they sell masses and her value is much higher than this one's is. Way higher.

ALL THINGS EQUAL, THE MODEL WITH MORE PRESS GETS MORE OPPORTUNITIES

Craig: so everything else being equal, they both walked the same amount of runway shows, they both did the same advertising campaigns and editorials, but one just got the press, that one is going to be the more valuable one then?

Sarah: yes, much more. Look at our magazines. Look at the campaigns. They're all celebrities. Actresses. Somebody well known, they take up what, 80-90% of fabulous campaigns. You know that's because that's the power of somebody whose got a name....

But if you're in the business. If you see your chance that somebody can go that route and if they want to, you've got to take it because it's going to be a huge benefit financially to them and it's going to be a benefit to the agency...it feeds on itself. As soon as you do some press, it's unbelievable. You get so many opportunities open. People are calling. It opens doors.

Craig: so being that press is so important, do you train models in self-publicizing?

Sarah: There are definite pitfalls. Of course you say to them "look, don't open up too much about your private life, or things you don't want to say." You have to learn how to talk to press, but you need to keep it professional but you still need to keep it real. They need to be interested in you as a person. At the end of the day you've got to understand that you can just chat away and end up saying something that you wish you hadn't said. So you do have to be guarded. Open but guarded...Paula would sit in if it was somebody young. Like when Jourdan had done press. She would sit in....

PRESS MUST INCLUDE A MODELS NAME TO BE IMPACTFUL

Craig: Regarding press, it's valuable as long as it includes the models name?

Sarah: Oh it has to. It has to be all about her.

Craig: So just a photo without the name isn't necessarily valuable?

Sarah: nobody would know who you were....if they don't have the name, then the general public just don't know. It's interesting now when people ring and they say they, "Ah, I want somebody well known." Well it's not easy. Not that many models are well known anymore. They're just not -- for the general public. For our world, we know who they are, but the man walking down the street doesn't. They have to constantly see the image of a person and interviews on her, with her name, with her name, constantly for it to get into their head and they suddenly say, "Oh I know who this person is"

WORDS OF WISDOM TO THE COMMERCIAL MODEL

Craig:....commercial versus high fashion...who makes more money in the short-term?

Sarah: the commercial girls make a fortune

Craig: they make tons

Sarah: they make tons!

Craig: why is it then that every girl aspires to the high fashion?

Sarah: because we all want to be driving a Ferrari don't we?

Craig: but you don't necessarily make as much money do you if you go the high fashion route?

Sarah: no, You know you always get these girls that make a load of money. You know they're fantastic looking girls and they're doing brilliantly. And they're like, "you know what, I'm going to cut all my hair off. I'm going to go seriously edgy. I want you to get me into...." And I'm like "You're taking a massive risk. You're going to ruin your market in the short-term" And it happens. It does happen. I can mention lots of girls who it has happened....I always think, "You should be glad for what you've got. I understand wanting to aspire to better and greater things. But, you could in the short term lose your whole market "

Craig: so a girl can start off as a commercial model and then go the high fashion route?

Sarah: it happens

Craig: does it really?

Sarah: yeah

THE MONETARY VALUE OF OPENING AND CLOSING A SHOW

Craig: when a model opens and closes a show, do they get paid extra?

Sarah: well I don't know that they get paid extra per se, but if a model is good enough to open and close, she may well be on a much higher rate than somebody else. I mean it's negotiated. It's all negotiated.

NEW MAGAZINES NEED GREAT PHOTOGRAPHERS WITH A GREAT TEAM TO BOOK TOP MODELS

Craig: I've got another question for you. A new magazine, a start up magazine in London calls you up and they say "we want your top girl" What are the credentials that someone has to bring for a new magazine?

Sarah: They'd have to bring an amazing photographer, stylist, hair and make up...all the jazz.

Craig: What if they don't have a famous photographer?

Sarah: You would have to be very careful with the top talent. Because you don't really know what it's going to look like. You'd ask for a dummy copy. And this that and the other but you wouldn't give top talent.

Tallulah Morton (Marilyn, NY) in a gothic (Electric Wizard t, shoes) femme (skirt) outfit.

Laura Blokhina from DNA Models
shirt -- ACNE
skirt -- Promod
Look out for Laura to exhibit a strong presence at the shows this season. In under one year she's appeared in 3 French Vogue editorials, walked the fall 2009 shows in New York London and Paris, and even walked for Christian Dior and Valentino at the Couture shows this summer.

Anna Schilling from Fusion Models NY
vest -- Alexander Wang
shoes -- Christian Louboutin

She walked for Margiela and Yamamoto at the Paris shows, did the campaign for Anthropologie, and has appeared in French Vogue and Wonderland editorials.

Klara is with NEXT DIRECT

boots -- vintage
suede skirt -- vintage
jacket -- Donna Karen
blouse -- Zara
bag -- Mulberry

Discovered outside of the Apple store on 9th and 14th, I took about 20 pictures of Heesung (L) and Anne (R) and I'm pleased that some of them turned out well enough to post, considering how cold it was at the moment. It's great that despite my shivering cold fingers and hands and their shivering cold bodies, we still were able to work together in a short moments notice to create a somewhat decent night shot. Remember to click the photo to enlarge the details.

Heesung (L)
scarf -- Rag and Bone
2 toned coat -- Balenciaga
skirt -- Opening Ceremony, check out the button down details
boots -- Lanvin

Anne (R)
cardigan -- Comme des Garçons
jeans -- 7's
boots -- Fendi

This is Kinga's first appearance on my blog, photographed here exiting the SS17 Balenciaga show at Paris Fashion Week. In this case, I'd say this outfit is all about the volume: the scarf, the oversized blazer, and the skirt.

This is Paola, originally from Ecuador. Classic Chic.

blouse -- Marc by Marc Jacobs
Skirt -- Michael Kors
shoes -- Steven

Known for Opening AND Closing the F/W 2010 Prada show, Samantha has yet to complete a full season of fashion shows. Samantha keeps her personal style equally high end with her Prada Bag and Alexander Wang skirt.

exiting the SS17 Marc by Marc Jacobs show at the Armory.

shoes -- Christian Louboutin
skirt -- Intermix Prive
top -- American Apparel

Muse Model Management's Heide Lindgren. Heide's resume reads a mile long: campaigns for Agent Provocateur, Champion, Sebastian, Wella and Kohls...a face of Abercrombie, a face for Avon...features in Vogue, Elle, and Cosmo round up an impressive list of industry accomplishments. On a final note, make sure you get a copy of the October issue of French Elle, you will love her feature.

This is Bonnie Calean an actress and a model. Bonnie has appeared in editorials in the New York Times and Oprah magazine, which you can see by clicking her name above.

hat -- H & M
coat -- GTG
skirt -- wool, Highland
sweater, stockings -- Forever 21
shoes -- vintage

Oversized cardigan, great glasses, and a cool hat!

She was really fun. The details on her skirt matched the details on her boots and her coat is colorful.

Almost the Vivienne Westwood Pirate boots, but with a twist!

Wow. Blue and Black. Gothic elegance at its finest!

Wait, is that Judith Bedard??

Let me get a closer look...It is Judith Bedard. It IS! Where have you been??

Walking dogs??? Noooo...

Having someone else's dog walk you, ha? No....

Being a global Vespa Venturer?...no

Judith Bedard is back in New York after being gone for a year (big hugs)! After spending time in India and Thailand working as part of a U.N. sponsored non-profit World Educational Peace Project, she's ready to tap into that special power that made her a muse for Maison Martin Margiela (2007) and Jean Paul Gaultier (2008). Her current campaigns with European lingerie lines and editorials in Spanish Vogue and Italian Amica should certainly help propel her career progress in New York.

skirt -- vintage
dress -- Sonia Rykiel
boots -- Japanese, Viva Circus
necklace -- Brazilian, Monte Carlo Joias
bracelet -- vintage
bag -- Louis Vuitton

A circle skirt encircled by yellow cabs.

I don't usually make a habit of taking night shots, but when I saw this girl with a press pass in her right hand, having a great time with the NYPD. It just appeared like a spontaneous moment in front of the tents worth capturing on camera.

Gloria Baume, Fashion Director, Teen Vogue
coat -- Barbour
skirt -- hand made kilt
cardigan -- J. Crew
boots -- Sonia Rykiel

Carolyne Rapp, Fashion Stylist

Chiko Ohayon, Fashion Photographer in an 80's Paul Smith suit designed with a 30's cut

Scarlett Tull, Central Saint Martins student
shoes -- Kurt Geiger
dress -- Marc by Marc Jacobs
Cardigan -- Vivienne Westwood
Jacket -- borrowed from little sister
scarfs -- from grandmother

Fingerless gloves, stud accessorized skirt, structured leather jacket....mixed in with stiletto heels and a soft scarf makes me think Arizona was mixing masculine with feminine here.