Fashion modelling does not just involve modelling clothes but also accessories, handbags, jewellry and luxury products. It is also fashion modelling that everyone sees in the glossy magazines and billboards of today. Many of these models will tend to work for agencies that deal with the big designers and fashion houses such as Chanel, Prada, Louis Vuitton, MaxMara and Gucci. Today, high fashion has even extended to big high street names, including Topshop, H&M and Next.

Many of these fashion houses will create garments that are hand made or ‘haute couture,’ which means that clothes will be unique, ‘one off’ pieces.' If this is the case, the garment will be designed, pinned, sewn and made-to-fit top models. Therefore the models required will be exceptionally tall and particularly slim to display what is perceived as ‘elegance’ and ‘sophistication’ while wearing these garments.

Vital Statistics

FEMALE MODELS:

Minimum height of:           5ft 8” (1.72 metres)

Bust-Waist-Hip:                 34-24-34 inches ( 86-61-86cms)

MALE MODELS:

Minimum height of:              6 ft  ( 1.83 cm)

Chest:                                  38-40 inch ( 97-102 cm)

Waist:                                   30-32 inch (76-81 cm)

Male fashion models must not be too muscular and, if anything, they must be quite slim and lean, with a body in a slender ‘V’ shape from their shoulders to their waists.

Both Male and Female Models should also possess great skin, great hair, a healthy body and good hands and feet.

In some cases, sadly, you may even be asked to lose weight, even if you are rather slim already. This, unfortunately, is how the nature of this industry operates - your size will determine whether you win a job. This particular industry is EXTREMELY competitive and can be very disheartening. You will be casting a lot and spending a lot of time walking to see lots of clients whilst getting very little work.

What are the hours and working conditions like for a fashion Model?

As a fashion model, you will mainly work in fashion show venues, showrooms and stores. Any fashion, photographic work will be shot in studios or in a variety o findoor or outdoor locations.

The working hours of a fshion model will be long and irregular, depending on the type and amount of work you have.

Many jobs will involve a lot of travel (sometimes overseas) to attend castings, fashion shows and photo shoots, which may mean having to stay away from home for anything from a day to a few weeks at a time.

What are the Earnings/Salary of a Fashion Model?

Despite the hard work and enormous amount of rejection involved, fashion models that do succeed against competition are often paid enormous amounts of money to do the simplest of jobs for big designers. Some campaigns can pay up to hundreds of thousands just to be fronted by the next Heidi Klum or Kate Moss.

Earnings for those just starting can vary from around £50 to £1,000 plus, per booking.

Models working for fashion houses may earn between £10,000 and £40,000 a year alone (depending on how many hours they work). (See Rates and Commission section for more of an idea of rates in general:www.famode.com/info.php )

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Summary:
Anyone considering entering the fashion modelling industry will have to be extremely resilient, have good stamina, a great personality and commitment to succeed. This particular industry is highly competative with large financial rewards and success if you reach the top. Be aware though that not everyone makes it to the top and it can be an extremely 'cut throat' industry.