WORKOUT WEDNESDAYS: Vinyasa Sun Salutation With Hannah

Posted on March 21, 2018March 21, 2018 by AJR250

Interview with STORM’S Noelle Doukas And Christopher Yianoullou

Posted on March 20, 2018April 4, 2018 by AJR250

FMD: What are the key attributes that STORM looks for when scouting for models?
Chris: We look for standards like height and beautiful skin and great bone structure, but our industry has started to celebrate the more unique aspects of the girl – who she is and what she’s about; her style, her personality. There is much more to it, and you can’t just scout by looking at someone, you really need to talk to that person and get a feel for who they are. Clients like ASOS and Urban Outfitters want to do more profile pieces, and they want real people, so it makes it more fun for us because [models] don’t have to be strictly 5’10” minimum anymore. It’s more flexible, and more fun; so yeah it’s about character more than anything really.

FMD: Whenever you bring international models into London; what is your process, and does STORM have specific facilities to accommodate them?
Noelle: It all depends on how long you are bringing girls in for, and also what you are bringing them in for. There are some girls we bring in for periods of time, say two to three months; in which case you set them up in a house. We do have model apartments, but we also have a wide range of people who are like second moms who look after them, because it is quite daunting if they have never been into the territory before. Obviously, if it’s a girl who has never been to the UK, we take a bit of time explaining how to get around, because the girls have go-sees or castings every day. They probably have four to five castings a day. So, they kind of hit the ground running really. Sometimes, we try to set them up with other girls so they get a feel for what they are doing. We do have an assistant on board that goes through everything with them, and gives them a UK phone and tries to introduce them to transport etc. London’s enormous isn’t it, so expecting these girls to go to appointment to appointment is really quite daunting.

FMD: Are the castings based in London or all over the UK?
Noelle: They are completely sporadic. With castings, you can’t dictate what time it is, what area it is, so a girl could be coming from E1 and then having to go to SE11 (London postcodes with a distance of five miles) and she’s got a small amount of time to do it. If you get a bigger international girl, say she’s here for three days, it’s easier to put them in a car. They are doing a ton of appointments a day, back to back. I mean, since Uber’s come around it’s changed things quite a bit. It’s not that expensive to Uber from one place to another.
FMD: Uber’s made a model’s life a lot easier.
Noelle: It makes it probably a lot easier. I do feel for them though. I have done go-sees and castings with one girl once, and I thought, “I do feel sorry for them.”
Chris: It’s not as glamorous as you think.

FMD: Describe the London Market and Clientele.
Noelle: Well, I think first of all we’ve got the best editorial, I would say in the world, because we have the high-end publications like Vogue, Harpers, and Elle, and we also have the really kind of cool magazines like Dazed, and Wonderland. Now, there are a lot of online publications, there’s a pop-up magazine every day.
Chris: It’s a super creative city, with all the great designers and fashion schools. The students’ work is incredible here.
Noelle: It’s a good market to develop a girl because, as I’ve said, when we’ve got such a wide range of editorials; it’s good to develop their books. But, I think another great thing about London is that we have the advertising, the catalogues, and the E-com, and so a girl is pretty much guaranteed to make a nice amount of money. I mean the British pound is pretty shocking at the moment, but prior to that, it was great! No, it’s a great city! Our Fashion week is better than it ever has been before. I think a lot more girls are coming to London to do the shows, it’s a lot more relevant. So, I would say London’s definitely kind of an all-rounder. You know the only other thing is there is not as much competition, because most girls base themselves in New York, at which point you’re competing with x amount of girls, as opposed to a less amount of cool, international new faces.

FMD: How easy is it for new models to acclimate to the London Market?
Chris: I think for the younger girls it’s actually quite nice. We’re an English speaking country; the Tube (Underground) is pretty self-explanatory, and the English culture is very polite, and we like to help!
Noelle: They do get chaperoned though, if they are too young. We’d never let a girl under eighteen go out on her own, ever.
Chris: Yeah, and that also helps when they get settled in, there’s an English person there to teach them the ropes, the underground etc., how it works. We’ve never had any problems.

FMD: You mentioned that STORM has model apartments; are there strict rules enforced for the people staying in them?
Noelle: I wish we did, it’s a nightmare! It’s funny, model apartments are generally there for brand new girls, but sometimes girls end up living there for a couple of years. Some girls are actually messier maybe than boys, from what the cleaners tell us. (laugh)
Chris: Yeah, it’s bad! (laugh)
Noelle: It’s not good! It’s not good! I can’t understand it because I think if you can do this to someone else’s house, would you actually do this in your own house? I don’t think they would. Occasionally, we have to get pest control, painters and decorators coming in, or there are doors being broken off hinges or whatever it is. They’re young kids aren’t they; they’re not at home with their parents. I do get girls specifically saying, “I don’t want to stay in a model apartment”. We have a group of really lovely people who rent out rooms, and you know, I think they like it, the international girls who’ve not been here before, they feel kind of nurtured. It’s actually nice to be in a family environment.

FMD: What would you say are the most important qualities models should have?
Noelle: A voice and a personality for sure. I’ve seen the most beautiful girls in the world that have no personality, and I’m not meaning that in a derogative way, I just mean that, I think it’s like dating actually; you can think ‘oh, you’re fairly attractive’, but it’s the connection you have that actually develops how they come across, how you relate to that person – and actually personalities can make or break someone. You meet someone who’s really arrogant and full of themselves, and all that beauty just completely diminishes, whereas someone with a great personality can win you over in a different way, and you see a totally different side of them.
For me, if I were a casting director, it would be that. And it’s interesting to see how [it affects modeling], say you bring in a girl you don’t know particularly well, and she gets 30 options in a month and not one of them confirms, you start to think ‘there’s something not quite right there’, or you can get a girl that you weren’t entirely sure about but she has an amazing personality and her chart is full of red confirmations.
Chris: It’s true though!

FMD: Is there a common mistake that stands out as something models repeat over and over again?
Noelle: I would probably say approaching things with too much negativity.
Chris: Yeah, I was about to say that – or over thinking.
Noelle: When they start to analyze too much, girls can get very down on themselves, and I think that can come across to people. You can get yourself into a hole and it’s difficult to climb back out of it.
But I think it’s like that for everyone, for everything in life. I always write my Gratitudes down every day, things that I’m grateful for. If you try and make yourself feel more positive, then positivity comes back to you. But, I think when you go into anything with a negative view; it’s not going to turn itself around. You’ve got to be strong, and I think you’ve got to have a strong backbone. But saying this, I personally wouldn’t want to be judged on my looks every day of my life. It takes a certain quality of person.
Chris: Yeah, everyone thinks it’s an easy job, but…
Noelle: It’s one of the hardest. The worst thing a girl could ever do is to have a negative view on the industry, or herself, or whatever it is, you know, unless they’re enjoying it, loving it, I try to discourage them doing it at all. Because I think they’re so young, surely in that age group you’re supposed to be having the time of your life, not scrutinizing every part of yourself.

Can You Model With Tattoos?

Posted on March 19, 2018March 19, 2018 by AJR250

Now that tattoos are the norm in today's society, you can be inked and still work as a model. In fact, a number of agencies have broadened their spectrum of diversity – which includes the heavily tatted and pierced. Tattoos generally seem to be accepted in the fashion world, and they are often featured in edgy editorials or campaigns. Even a few models have risen to fame because of their body canvas. Look at Rick Genest, aka "Zombie Boy" who has graced many magazines and campaigns including Thierry Mugler. (See 40 Top Models with fashionable tattoos.)

Rick "Zombie Boy" Genest in Thierry Mugler 2011 Campaign

However, tattoos can still limit the chance of a long-term modeling career. To stand the test of time, as a model, you must be a chameleon and transform into anything the client wants – conservative or edgy, and everything in between. This is why many clients ask for ink-free models, or at the very least, have tattoos that can be easily hidden. Shoots for cosmetics, underwear, and swimwear typically require flawless skin. While Photoshop and great makeup techniques can conceal tattoos, the artists’ time is very costly. Unless the client wants to embrace your artwork, any tattoo that covers a large portion of your body can make them rethink booking you.

It is not advisable to get ‘makeup’ tattoos; such as eye and lip liner. Aside from the fact that they are impossible for makeup artists to work with, they can also change your facial features and potentially jeopardize your career.
If you are a model, or about to become one, you might want to hold off your trip to the tattoo parlor until you speak with your agent.
For those already inked, depending on where your tattoos are, what you are wearing and what kind of job you are doing, you can move your body into poses that can hide your artwork. But, if you cannot get away with that, below are some of our favorite products that can conceal small to medium sized tattoos. (NOTE: Make sure you set the makeup and avoid getting it on your client’s clothing).

Model Beauty: Skincare with Marizza Delgado

Posted on March 16, 2018March 16, 2018 by AJR250

Agent Drop-In: STORM Management

Posted on March 15, 2018March 22, 2018 by AJR250

WORKOUT WEDNESDAYS: Heavy Hitting Playlist

Posted on March 14, 2018April 28, 2018 by AJR250

PFW F/W2018. We’ll Always Have Paris.

Posted on March 13, 2018March 23, 2018 by Katerina Stamatopoulou

February 27, 2018

Christian Dior
First, it was the “We should all be feminists” T-shirt, now the “C’est non, non, non et non!” sweater. It’s been 50 years since the student riots in May 1968, and Maria Grazia Chiuri decided to make another social-political statement. Inspired by the tumultuous protesters of 1968 and Diane Vreeland’s “youthquake”, Chiuri wanted to target younger customers but retain Dior’s high-fashion aesthetic and legacy. A wardrobe that is revolutionary but also highly creative.

February 28, 2018

Maison Margiela
Décortiqué. John Galliano loves to name his collections with French adjectives. In this collection, he stripped down the garments to their essence and just kept their skeletal structure. Unconscious glamour was the collection’s name, but it looked more like ‘Rushed Dressing’ glamour. Coats worn before dresses, blazers before sweaters, holographic coats and a lot of deconstructing garments all over the catwalk. Galliano loves the pair-if-you-dare game of fabrics.

March 3, 2018

Comme des Garçons
Rei Kawakubo always loves to deconstruct the shape of the clothes and create theatrical figures inspired the history, even if she has stated that she doesn’t like to look back. For this season, CAMP was the name of her collection. She referred to Susan Sontag’s 1964 essay “Notes on Camp”. “I think camp can express something deeper, and give birth to progress,” Kawakubo wrote in her show notes. The progress of thinking and feeling the world around us.

The Model Closet: The Casting Outfit Of Sarah Gullixson

Posted on March 12, 2018March 12, 2018 by AJR250

How To Recover From Fashion Month

Posted on March 8, 2018March 26, 2018 by AJR250

DRINK WATER!: Between all the flying and cold temperatures during fashion month, it is easy to get dehydrated. Since your body is 50-60% water, drinking water will give you an overall recovery. Avoid caffeine and alcohol for a little while as they increase dehydration.
EAT FOODS RICH WITH PROTEIN AND CALCIUM: Such as meat, fish, eggs, almonds, and tofu. Not only do these foods boost your energy and metabolism, but they also give you vibrant skin and strong nails and hair.
BIOTIN: If you can't consume enough nutrients in your food, take a biotin supplement. It contains Vitamin B which helps strengthen your hair, nails, and skin. CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE TAKING ANY SUPPLEMENTS. Nature's Bounty Super Potency Biotin ($13.49 Walgreens.com)
INCREASE YOUR VITAMIN C & ZINC INTAKE: They have multiple health benefits, but the one that is most important after all the travel and long hours is their ability to strengthen your immune system. Foods to include in your diet are; citrus fruits, pumpkin seeds, oatmeal, almond milk, broccoli, red and green bell peppers, cabbage and chickpeas.

LEAVE THE MAKEUP ALONE: With a month of makeup artists painting your face at least 2 or 3 times a day, let your skin breathe! Avoid wearing makeup - unless you have a job or modeling appointment that requires it. This will keep your pores clean and also minimize dryness. Plus, you may notice that your eyelashes and eyebrows will grow back!
EXFOLIATE: It's not only makeup, and the dullness from late nights, that you are removing, but also bacteria from the recycled air in airplanes. Exfoliate a couple times a week, or better yet - go get a facial! We love Lush Ocean Salt Scrub. ($21.95 Lushusa.com)
FACE MASKS: Cold weather, copious amounts of makeup application and air travel wreak havoc on the skin. Rehydrate it with a face mask or two. We recommend GLAMGLOW SUPERMUD® Clearing Treatment. ($59 Sephora)
FACE BALMS AND OILS: Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! It's the keyword post-fashion month. Continue repairing dry skin with a face oil or balm. We absolutely love Epicuren's Soothe Dermal Repair Balm. ($68.50 Epicuren.com)
WEAR SPF: While you are in the repair phase, you will need to protect your healing skin from the sun's rays. But, no matter what the weather, always apply sunscreen! Try Avène Antirougeurs Day Redness Relief Soothing Cream SPF 25.($37.00 Aveneusa.com)

PREVENT ADDITIONAL HAIR LOSS AND BREAKAGE: If you have suffered hair loss due to the hours of teasing, combing, crazy updos and blowdrying, avoid pulling your hair back into tight ponytails or buns. Instead, use small hair claws to keep a few strands back along the temples or do a low loose chignon, bun or pony if you need to pull it all back. We love No Slip Grip Tortoise Shell Hair Claws ($5.99 Claires.com)
SKIP A DAY OR TWO OF HAIR WASHING: Shampooing your hair on a daily basis strips its natural oils which will increase dryness and breakage. Try washing your hair every other day or better yet, every three days - unless of course, you have bookings or castings! Don't forget to add a deep cleansing shampoo and rich moisturizing conditioner that contain natural products, like Aveeno® Active Naturals® Pure Renewal™ Shampoo. ($5.99 Target.com)
NO BRUSHING OR TOWEL DRYING WET HAIR: Use your fingers or a large tooth comb to detangle your locks. If you need to dry your hair, gently pat with a towel. Being too rough will cause more breakage, and knots that you will have to try and comb through.Try Mason Pearson Rake Comb ($35 Neimanmarcus.com)
AVOID HEAT DAMAGE: Unless your job requires it, put down the hair dryer, curler and straightener. Heated appliances will cause more damage to your hair. If you really have to use them, apply some heat protector beforehand. Also, keep the temperature of the appliance on its lowest level. We like Insta Natural Argan Oil Thermal Protector Spray ($9.97 Instanatural.com)

NAILS IN THE BUFF: If you were given multiple manicures during fashion month that involved acrylics, gels, and rhinestones, your nails are probably paying for it now. Try to keep your nails bare and natural for as long as possible, so they can restore to their natural state. Of course, you can still visit the nail salon and get your manis and pedis, but request that your nails be buffed - not polished.
APPLY CUTICLE OIL: Not only will extensive nail art cause your nails to get brittle and dry but also the cold weather in the fashion capitals. Rehydrate your cuticles with oils or creams. We like CND® Nail & Cuticle Treatment Solar Oil - 0.5 fl oz ($12.49 Target.com)
WEAR GLOVES: Cracked skin and flaking nails are really difficult to treat during the winter months. By wearing gloves, it will keep your hands warmer, therefore locking in moisture. If you are lucky enough to be back in warm weather, you may still want to consider wearing household gloves while doing any chores. They will protect your hands and nails from dryness when over washing hands and handling cleaning products.

STAY OFF THE HEELS: After walking miles and miles in sky-high stilettos, it's time to stay grounded and let your poor feet rest. With the exception of any modeling duties, wear well-supported flats for a couple of weeks.
TREAT BLISTERS: Clean any blisters that you might have and then apply ointment, such as Neosporin, followed with a band-aid. This will help them heal faster and prevent any infection.
SOAK AND EXFOLIATE: Aside from the fact that it feels like heaven to soak your feet in warm water, it also softens them to help remove dead skin. After 20 minutes or so, apply a foot scrub. If you have callouses or a large amount of dry skin, you may want to exfoliate with a pumice stone afterwards. Finally, finish off with some foot cream to lock in the moisture. We love L’Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream. ($29 Sephora.com)
MASSAGE FEET AND CALVES: Yes, a tennis ball! It works like a charm to loosen stiff muscles and tendons in your feet and calves.

Workout Wednesday - Vinyasa Flow Sun Salutation with Hannah Tokuno

Mother Agent: Stars Management

Aline Weber (Buzzfeed)

TATTOO MAKE UP

Dermablend Leg and Body Makeup www.dermablend.com

Mehron Tattoo CoveRing www.mehron.com

Rio Skin Camouflage Concealer www.riobeauty.co.uk / www.ebay.com

Model Beauty with Marizza Delgado.

Mother Agent: Stars Management

New York: Marilyn

Miranda Cantacuzene-Speransky - STORM Management London

Workout Wednesday - Heavy Hitting Playlist

By Katerina Stamatopoulou

The Model Closet - with Sarah Gullixson

Mother Agent: Stars Management

New York: Marilyn

Paris: MP

Milan: Why Not

Germany: M4

Sydney: The.MGMT

Photo: Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times

Has Fashion Month Left You Feeling Like You've Been Hit By A Wrecking Ball?

From The Inside Out

Skin

Hair

Nails

Feet