The drapey dress!
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I have lived, worked and played in New York City for the better part of 25 years. It’s the city I love the most, yet am now glad to call Lincoln home. In the two or three trips I make to the city each year, I always come away having a clear vision of what styles will dominate the next season, what’s happening in the modeling world and what we need to do to compete.
Here is my top 10 lessons learned, or simple observations, from my most recent trip last week:
1. If you can make it here…It was true when Sinatra sang it and it’s still true today. New York is the toughest city to make it in. Whether you want to act, model, design or break into business, you must be the cream of the crop, the best of the best, the one with the spark! So whatever your passion is, if you want to end up in this city, keep your nose to the grind stone and do your research!
Typical modelesqe wardrobe
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2. NYC really is oh-so-stylish. Even in the 100 degree temperatures, men and women both looked fresh. I don’t know how they did it. Cute drapey dresses and tops, strappy shoes and hair up in mostly “undone” buns made the women look relaxed yet fashionable. As for the men in their suits…I don’t know how they keep looking so fine!
3. Make-up is so low key. Even though the MAC store was always busy, women don’t seem to wear much make-up in New York. Young and old alike showed mostly fresh-faces. That’s probably how they look so good in the heat – no make-up melt! At the agencies, NO ONE wore any make-up. As for me, I don’t leave home without my
eyebrows fixed and my mascara. But I’m a mid-westerner now. Sigh.
4. The middle part is still modern. When hair was down, it was parted in the middle and never “done.” Especially the models rocked a messy, just-got-out-of-bed look. No flat ironed hair and absolutely no hot-rollered hair. Gasp!
5. The eighties are back for models. When I visited IMG, my former workplace, they had several models
Black is still very NYC.
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in for a casting. The were all wearing short shorts or skirts with tank tops or drapey tops. And they all had on combat boot type shoes. They carried their heels for castings, but they walked in the boots. Some heeled, some flat. I did see one model in a colorful maxi dress and sandals. Needless to say, she stood out. Beautifully.
6. Models are taller than ever. Again, because I was able to see and talk to the girls coming into IMG for a casting, I was able to witness increased height. These girls all must have been over 5′10 in their bare feet. Now they were well over 6′
Take taxis to go-sees? No way. It’s the subway or walk!
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in their heels. Amazons. Gorgeous amazons! Height does matter in the city. If you aren’t 5′9 or taller, focus on a different market or profession.
7. As tall as models are, they are just as thin. Imagine being face-to-face with a gorgeous Russian who stands 5′11 and whose hips measure 34 inches. They are simply made that way. No diet can get you that small if you aren’t built narrow. I don’t say this to discourage, just alert you to what it takes. If your hips measure more than 35 1/2 inches, you need to do some work. See number 1.
7. Clients love the eastern European girls and Brazilians. The agencies are dominated with eastern European girls and Brazilians. They are beautiful. However, I did hear several agents say that there is a movement to return to the beautiful American girl too. I hope they are right. We’ll be ready when they are!
Yuki, Brooke, Hannah and Joseph @ their shoot in Brooklyn
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8. Photos must be clean. If you are in the city to see agencies, remember, digitals with no make-up, jeans and a tank are better than over-styled, made-up photos. The latter are way more fun to do, but agents want to see what you really look like. For examples, see Joseph Paridiso and Yuki’s work. They are the favored testing photographers for all the top agencies in NYC. Thank you Karen Lee for the introduction!
9. Development is a must. I meet girls and guys everyday who tell me “everyone thinks I should be a model.” They are beautiful. But they are not always a model. If you want to model, you must do your research. Get on Models.com and see who is working where and with whom. What does it take. And know that it takes development. The more you are in front of the camera the
The girls meeting with the grand dame of modeling, Louise Roberts of APM.
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better you are going to get. And someone who knows the business must be directing you and willing to tell you the truth! That’s where Springboard comes in, of course! Seriously, it takes time. Models don’t arrive in the city and become stars anymore. There are more models and only about one third of the jobs available than were available a decade ago. Fees have come down and shoots are shorter and often not on location. The business has changed. You need to know how it works. Research, research, research.
10. July is no time to be in the city! Did I say that New York is my favorite city? Well, not in July and August! I can’t take it anymore. No matter how drapey I dress, I will never look fresh like those who live there all year. They have something we don’t. I can’t put my finger on it. But we have a lot that they don’t, so don’t get to feeling too bad. Just plan your trip for anytime other than summer. That’s my biggest tip!
If you have questions or want to try your luck at modeling, please give me a call.
Also, I am organizing a group trip for a Karen Lee workshop in the fall. Please let me know if you want more information about this incredible opportunity.
with “Question” in the subject line.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:
“Modeling, manners and style expert, Robin Jones Gifford, publishes the Model Student e-zine bi-weekly. If you’re ready to jump-start your career, make more money, and look good doing it, get your FREE tips now at www.springboardforsuccess.com.”
Want to SEE more of what’s happening at Springboard? See Robin’s blog at
www.springboardforsuccess.com/blog
Or, join the Facebook group Springboard Models.
Sixteen Year Old Designer
