Scarlet allure: Models flaunt creations in red

Fashion is like a good meal for modelling. We look at fashionable clothes, enjoy trying out new trends and endeavour to make it part of our day-to-day lifestyle.

But behind all those elegant forms sashaying down the ramp, there are many hours of hard work and patient grooming.

Fashion today is the flashiest, most expensive, travelling roadshow in the world. Fashion designers are powerful personalities in the 20th century. They have the charisma and recognition value of international movie stars and top-notch models.

A fashion designer, unlike a creator in the fine arts, is an acknowledged trendsetter. A model with ordinary looks will be admired by dint of her fashionable and stylish clothes.

So be sure to select a dress which compliments your figure. Look at a dress and ask yourself, “Should I wear this?”

And if you can say “yes” then go ahead.

Clothes should be well selected to match the looks and complexion of the wearer. Dresses are the basis of good looks and one should dress by instinct.

His or her wardrobe should match his or her lifestyle, looks and personality. Fashion is a game with no rules and at the same time, you have to know all the rules. It’s not something that sits on your shoulders and imposes itself on you.

When a woman walks into a room, she should be dressed appropriately, and also have a pleasing personality to go with it. It is not necessary that a successful model should be extremely beautiful. Most of the successful models today are ordinary girls from average families and yet have become supermodels almost overnight.

Slender, long face, broad forehead, limpid dark eyes, high cheekbones, straight nose and a well-defined jawline and suitable make-up catch the eye. Sometimes foreign houses find the Indian models fascinating; they are selected for assignments by foreign advertising agencies. However, many young, fresh, beautiful faces vanish after a few press campaigns, simply because they have not taken the overall picture into consideration.

A successful model should be familiar with the art of catwalk. Shyness is a big obstacle in this profession.

Modelling is now no longer a hobby or part-time fancy. Till recently, it was a stigma to be an airhostess or a model and girls from decent families were hesitant to enter these fields. The change today is dramatic and girls from good families are keen to adopt this glamorous career.

The media has also played an important role in bringing about this change.

Aspiring models must undergo grooming classes and be well prepared with a charismatic personality to face the outer world.

So always work hard on the basic foundation before moving to the outer world.

A model should take his or her profession very seriously. Like any other profession, this one is very challenging and one should give his or her best without wasting time to make a place in this glamorous world.

Like any other profession this profession also has many avenues. The fashion scenario in the Northeast is accelerating towards development.

The dedication towards work in designing and modelling has helped the status of fashion to rise in comparison to Mumbai and other cities but overall it needs to have an individual image of its own.

A new dimension is to be added to the fashion scenario in the Northeast by holding fashion shows throughout the region. Northeastern models can also participate in national contests and other beauty pageants. It is seen that models from the Northeast are doing quite well in contests held at the national level and winning much acclaim.

The young blood should be encouraged to take up a disciplined approach to modelling and be familiar with the six types of work involved in modelling.

Editing

Editorial work consists largely of photography for magazines and newspapers. It is often the most creative part of modelling, providing the matter for your portfolio. The better the quality of your pictures, the more work you will attract. For good pictures you require exquisitely clear skin and attractive features. The younger the skin, the better.

Advertising

Advertising covers anything, which is designed to sell a product or Idea to the public and differs from editorial work. In this work, you could be posing for a photograph, which appears in the press as advertisement, such as a show card for cosmetics or on a package for a shampoo or full-sized poster.

Cataloguing

This work is the mainstay of many a model’s income as most models build up as a regular clientele.

Promotion

Promotion differs slightly from advertising. For example, a public relations company handling a fashion account may wish to prepare a series of photographs to send to the press. This may simply be filed for reference or printed in magazines and newspapers, which then usually credit the fashion company.

Ramp modelling

This is a major part of modelling. Some girls and boys are able to alternate ramp modelling with photographic assignments (under the agent’s guidance). Photographic assignments are more highly paid. But models generally find the excitement of ramp modelling more alluring.

House modelling

Here models work for a house for one season before moving on to other assignments.

It guarantees a steady income for a longer period, but this work lacks the atmosphere and excitement of show work and is usually done by new faces wishing to gain experience and boost finances. House models generally work for fixed monthly emoluments.

Mannequin modelling

The dummies you see in showroom windows are actually based on live models, who pose for the original casts. Such modelling involves posing in a variety of postures.

Tips for a great look

A good model is required to be strong enough to stand up to the long hours of work under blazing studio lights or a burning sun yet be smiling and unperturbed.

He or she has to be self-disciplined with an iron will to keep a constant watch on one’s diet.

A successful model has to establish his or her own style. Skin care and a healthy diet is a must.

Remember, no cheating!

Cut back on your portions. Don’t gorge on huge amounts of anything.

Never keep any fattening food in your vicinity. Get them out of your house immediately.

The rule being, if they are not within easy reach, you can’t eat them!

Make being slender and healthy a part of your conscious being and see the magic for yourself.

Drink lots of water and salads daily for a glowing skin.

When you change your clothes at night, take a good look at yourself in the mirror. The real picture will help to motivate you .

Drink a glass of water as soon as you get up in the morning.

Warm water with a little lime juice helps to cleanse the body and get that fresh glowing look.

Make vegetables an essential component of your daily menu. But instead of boiling them, just steam them until they are just tender. This way the vegetables remain more nutritious and even taste better.

Combine dieting with exercise and you will lose weight faster.

Never attend too many late night parties and always try to get eight hours of sleep.

Generally there are three types of skin textures — normal, oily and dry.

Make-up and the basic beauty regime to be followed have to take the skin type into consideration.

Oily skin must be paid special attention, as excessive secretion of sebum from the oil glands lead to accumulating dirt and grime, resulting in blockage of pores, causing pimples and acne.

Dryness, on the other hand, is caused by strong soaps, exposure to sun, wind, indoor healing, air conditioning and unbalanced diet. Proper skin care for dry skin includes cleansing, nourishing and toning, in particular moisturising.

Cleansing is necessarily to remove dirt and grime from the face. Use a mild baby soap for dry skin.

Oily skin is best toned by an astringent and for dry skin use cold water splashes to maintain softness.

Present a great face through skilful use of make up, as the face is the most attractive part of one’s personality. Skilful makeup enhances its appeal and helps one gain self-confidence.

Finally, every girl should learn the art of make-up whether she plans a career in front of the camera or behind a desk, for careful grooming can transform any plain Jane into the cynosure of all eyes.

The writer is a fashion designer and choreographer and can be contacted at prasantt@rediffmail.com