Which are the best cities to be a model? Capri Models does a virtual tour of the fashion capitals of the world…

As with many things, location is a key factor in the success or failure of a model. Proximity to jobs means you can get there faster and cheaper, and in the fast moving fashion industry, quick turnaround is often a deal breaker. As a general rule, big cities offer many more opportunities than smaller places, as the clients and agencies are concentrated there.

There are four major fashion capitals in the world: Milan, New York, Paris, London. Capri Models explains what each of them is about.

Opportunities for modelling in Milan

In 2009 Milan was declared the top economic and media capital of fashion. There are a great many world famous Italian fashion brands which have their main headquarters located in the city, including: Valentino, Gucci, Versace, Prada, Armani and Dolce & Gabbana. Milan Fashion Week is held twice a year and is one of the Holy Grails for catwalk models.

Modelling in New York

The only recognised fashion capital outside of Europe, New York is a metropolitan city that never sleeps and is home to the cutting edge of innovation is style and culture. New York Fashion Week, branded Mercedes-Benz FashionWeek in 2009 is held in February and September every year – and was originally the first ever fashion ‘week’.

Becoming a Model in Paris

Paris has a long standing history as a centre of art and fashion and is home to several prestigious fashion houses. It is known for the classic timeless elegance of the designs that are born there. It has an up market high fashion shopping district where all the most exclusive labels can be found.

A major centre for fashion and modelling - London

 

London has a long history as a trendsetter and leader in world fashions, and in recent years has been named as the number 1 fashion capital of the world thanks to the ascendency of Kate Middleton and the London Olympics. The vast majority of the international modelling agencies have their main UK offices in London and it is the base for hundreds of fashion photography studios and the supporting teams, including the best photographers for glossy magazines.

The major modelling agencies are mostly based in Central London, around South Kensington and Leicester Square, including: Elite, Storm, Premier Model Management, Models 1, BMA Models and Next Models.

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Capri Models advice for modelling interviews

So, you submitted your photos to a modelling agency and they’ve invited you in for an interview. Congratulations! You’re already further than the majority of aspiring models. This article gives tips and advice on how to give yourself the best chance of shining in the interview and impressing the agent into wanting to sign you up.

Note – if a modelling agency has signed you up without meeting you in person, they are almost certainly not a genuine modelling agency.

What to wear

 

The objective is to show how versatile you can be as a model, and that means being a blank canvas, so the keyword here is subtlety. Wear something simple, smart and comfortable. Simple means that your personality won’t be too in their face; smart will demonstrate that you’re mature and are taking the process seriously in a professional manner; and comfortable means that you won’t be fidgeting or struggling because of your dandy but impractical outfit.

Avoid brand names and don’t overdo it on make-up. They will want to see what you look like naturally, and if you pile on the cosmetics they will probably ask you to wash it all off. Better to go with a light foundation, clear lip gloss and maybe a touch of eyeliner or mascara.

How to act

Try to stay calm, be yourself and be professional. It’s natural to be nervous and the agents will be used to that. Make sure you listen carefully to what they ask and answer truthfully – don’t try to just tell them what you think they want to hear. They’ve done this hundreds of times and will be able to spot it a mile off. And even if you could fool them, it would only come back to bite you in the bum later. Nervousness often makes people babble. If you find yourself doing this then pause, take a few deep breaths and try to bring whatever you’re saying to a neat conclusion.

Other tips

Prepare yourself early, give yourself extra travel time and make sure you arrive at least ten minutes early. There’s nothing more stressful than arriving late and rushing in all hot and bothered and flustered. Bring something to read in case they keep you waiting, a bottle of water and whatever basic make-up you need to freshen up. And don’t forget to smile!

If you want to break into modelling with Capri Models, then visit our website and register today!

Capri Models – Advice on Avoiding Fake Modelling Agencies

There is so much competition in the fashion industry, there is always a much higher supply of aspiring models than there is available work. The sad fact is that the majority of people who want to be a model will never make it. But those people may get sucked in by scam artists, who tell them whatever they want to hear.

Fake model agencies

This is probably the most common modelling scam. A company poses as a modelling agency, and gets the ‘client’ excited and convinced that they’ve got what it takes to be the next Kate Moss. The client believes that they’re only a few steps away from launching their modelling career, and gaining lucrative modelling work.

All they have to do is pay a small admin fee (which may not be that small after all) and then the modelling work will come flowing. But what actually happens is that as soon as the person has paid their fee, the agency goes strangely quiet.

People who have fallen for this trap find that months pass and not a job is in sight.

How to know if a modelling agency is real

There are a few signs, but the key one is if they ask you for money to be listed on their books. That’s a sure sign – as genuine agencies know that doing so is breaking the law.

Another thing to look out for is if they are willing to sign you up without seeing you in person first. People have been known to send in all kind of nonsense to modelling agencies, including pictures from years ago, photoshopped photos and even pictures that aren’t them. They also lie about height, weight etc. So an agency isn’t going to take you seriously until you’ve been to their offices in person.

If you want to make it as a model, then register on our site for a free consultation and learn how best to approach modelling agencies.

Capri Models – Modelling Agency Facts

If you want to be a model, you’ve probably considered trying to join a modelling agency. But what do you really know about modelling agencies? There are a lot of misconceptions about what an agency is and what it is not. Read on to find out some facts…

A model agency is not an employer

Some people think that when you sign with a modelling agency, it’s like having a job, and they pay you for the modelling work you do. This is wrong. They simply act as your agent (the clue is in the name). They are a middle man who introduces clients to models. What actually happens is that the client pays the model and the agency takes their cut. Now it may be that this transaction is handled by the agency, so the money does appear to come from the agency, but it’s only passing through.

A modelling agency cannot and will not guarantee you work

No modelling agency will guarantee finding you work, and that will be written into your contract. It would be foolish of an agency to make promises like that because so much is out of their hands. It depends on what sort of looks are in fashion, how the clients feel and how the model comes across. The most stunning model in the world might be such a sourpuss at castings that he or she never gets a call-back.

Modelling Agencies do not require a fee to join

If a modelling agency says that you need to pay any kind of admin or any other kind of fee in order to be represented by them, then politely end the conversation. Because this con has been used so much, a law came in to protect consumers from this kind of scam. However, that doesn’t stop these fake agencies, who pretend not to know better.

For more personalised tips and advice on how to approach the right modelling agencies, register on the Capri Models site.

Capri Models works with Plus Size Models

In recent times there has been a backlash against the unhealthy, ‘heroin’ look that’s been popular in the fashion industry for the past few decades. Sometime in the eighties, fashion designers decided that skeletons with gaunt faces and stick like bodies would be the best thing to display their wares on. And over time, Western culture has grown to believe that skinny is attractive and sexy.

This has not always been the case. Throughout history voluptuousness and curves have been considered attractive. This can be seen in historical art, where the great beauties have soft round faces and chunky, well fed bodies.

This is most likely because it’s only a recent development that humans (in the Western world at least) generally have more available to eat than they need. In history, scrawniness would have represented poverty and sickliness, whereas plumpness showed wealth and health – and was therefore attractive.

But this new obsession with skinniness has had some sad and dangerous effects, including a host of eating disorders, depression and numerous deaths.

So perhaps it’s not surprising that society is beginning to think harder about what they realty find attractive and the unrealistic pressures impressionable young girls and boys are put under.

Some industries and even countries are taking a stand by making guidelines, rules and even passing new legislation to discourage and ban the use of unhealthily thin models.

If you want to help be part of the movement towards moreplus size models, then register on the Capri website.

Capri Models Answers your Modelling Questions

Capri Models helps new models take their first steps in the industry, so we’ve written this article to answer some of the most frequently asked questions that come up for new models we meet.

How much can I earn as a model?

Unfortunately there’s no easy answer to this, but as a general rule, brand new models earn slightly over the minimum wage, and the more experience you get, the higher salary you can command. If you have several years’ experience and a bulging portfolio, then you could make thousands of pounds for just a day’s work.

But there are other perks as well as money, including being able to keep clothing and other items, and travelling the world.

Is it easy to become a model?

No, it’s not. There are many people who would like to be a model, so competition is fierce and many people will face disappointment.  That’s why it’s so important to be realistic, and if you are sure that you have a genuine chance, then don’t give up too easily. Even the most successful models faced rejection at some point.

What are the minimum physical requirements for becoming a model?

It varies depending on the kind of modelling you’re doing and the agency you want to sign with. For fashion show catwalk modelling only the tallest models will be accepted, so unless you’re startlingly tall, you will struggle to break into this area. However, catalogue and commercial modelling has slightly more relaxed requirements and there is always the option of petite modelling. There are no specific weight or bust requirements for a model – a teen model will have different statistic to an underwear model and a sports model will be different again.

Get all your questions about modelling answered by CapriModels – register on our website today!