How to be Prepared for Your Fashion Model Shoot

Posted July 30, 2011 By admin

The fashion model session – What to pack in your model case

OK, you’re off to a model photo shoot. But, did you remember to pack your bag? Did you put everything you need in it? I hope this article will be helpful to you and start you on the right foot in making sure your model bag is complete.

What do you bring?

What you bring to your model photo session will depend upon whether this is your first shoot for a portfolio or a paying job. Either way, this section will help you to be prepared for whatever reason you’re doing the model session.

First things first – Know what the client wants

If you are shooting for an agent or client, he will tell you what to bring but you still need to carry basics in case of changes in hair, makeup, etc. All the tips listed here are meant to be a guide and a checklist of sorts so you can always add to the list when you feel it’s necessary.

Ready? Let’s get started to create your model “kit”

Below I’m going to list suggestions for your photo shoot mainly so you don’t forget anything the day of the shoot. In fact, I’d like to see your model case prepared before the day of the session so there’s no rush. You may want to copy and print the section below so that you’ll have a guide handy each time you go for a photo shoot.

You’re now standing lifeless in front of your closet – Wardrobe Essentials

Here are the essentials for your wardrobe. As stated above, some of the clothing listed here will be provided if this is a model shoot for a client.

- Casual – blue jeans, sports & knit tops, button up tops, shorts, cutoff blue jeans, etc.
- Business Suit – for a different look
- Sports (exercise, uniforms, shorts, etc.) – If you plan to do some sports modeling
- Lingerie – If you plan to enter the lingerie market
- Swim wear – needs to be a bikini that really flatters you
- Any props like hats, neckties, men’s shirts, jackets, etc.
- G-string & bra in flesh tone color – This is to eliminate lines that show under clothing
- Hose/nylons in an assortment of colors
- Socks in different colors including black and white
- Bring several different bras including at least one push-up and one in flesh tone color
- A robe to wear between changes during the photo session
- Bring a scarf to wear when changing to help keep makeup off client’s and your clothing
- You may also want to pack an iron or steamer for those wrinkles that are bound to show up from the trip.

Accessories – You’ve got to have something to compliment the clothes, right?

Along with each outfit, try to bring accessories which will accent or match the outfit. Keep accessories simple.

- Assortment of necklaces
- Earrings
- Bracelets
- Choker (these are popular at the time of this writing)
- Wristwatch – You normally wouldn’t wear a watch unless you are doing a photo where you will be looking at the time.

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes

As with accessories, shoes should match or accent the outfit. But, you can also think outside the box on the subject of footwear. For example; High heels have a totally different look with jeans or swim wear than with an evening dress.

- Dress shoes – Bring several different pairs
- High heels – Also an assortment
- Jogging shoes – white
- Boots or high heel boots
- Sandals

Don’t forget about the hair

Below are some items you’ll need for your hair (or hair removal)

- An assortment of combs and hairbrushes
- A curling iron
- Hair rollers
- Straightener
- A couple of headbands
- Shaving cream and a couple of sharp razors
- Anything else you use for hair care

When coming to the model shoot, I would suggest leaving the hair fairly natural with very little (if any) hairspray so that you, or the MUA, can work with it after you arrive.

Makeup and facial

Even if your shoot involves a make-up artist, you still may want to pack the following …

- Your complete makeup kit along with a mirror
- A moisturizer
- Cottonballs and swabs
- Lip balm
- Vaseline
- A good skin cleanser
- Several different shades of lip color (be sure to bring some solid colors)

Nails, finger that is.

A quick tip about nails. Remember that in photos, your eye will move to vivid colors first, especially red. So, take this into account as to whether you want people viewing your hands or your face.

- Here is a checklist for nail products to take to your photo shoot.
- Your complete manicure kit
- Nail polish with neutral color
- Remover kit for nail polish

A nice manicure will really enhance your model photos, especially images where your hand is near your face in close-ups so pay particular attention to your nails.

This should pretty much cover you for most photo shoots but as stated above, listen to the photographer or client and be sure to bring wardrobe he or she wants.

Now, you’re ready so off your model photo session!!!

Categories: Fashion Week
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Hair Dryer Shopping Guide and Buying Tips

Posted July 23, 2011 By admin

When purchasing a hair dryer you may want to first take a few minutes to consider all the different types available. There are many different styles and types on the market today to choose from that it makes sense to shop the variety before making a final decision.

Depending on your individual needs you want to take some time to see which of the many different hair dryers would be suitable for your hair type. The different structures of hair like for example curly hair, thin or coarse-hair are just one important fact to be considered when choosing a hair dryer. Even your favorite hairstyle may play a role when choosing the right tool for hair styling.

If you are a person who loves to travel or who has to travel quite frequently for business, you may take a look at the styles available that are suitable to travelers. Conair hair dryers are no doubt one of the most popular hair dryers today. They carry compact Conair hair dryers that you can take with you while traveling.

The Conair pro Li’l Bird hair dryer is perfect for traveling. It most conveniently fits into the smallest spaces while it is still the right tool to create a perfect hairstyle. This Conair hairdryer also has a diffuser and a sock or regular bowl included. This Conair hairdryer is a must have for anyone who is on the go. You can easily take it with you even for a short overnight stay. It also makes for a great gift idea for friends and family.

The Conair pro Yellow Bird with its lightweight, AC motor and 1875-Watt power makes hair styling easy and simple. It has 2 speeds and 4 different heat settings, nozzle and pick are included. The straightening comb works great, even for the curliest hair.

Another great choice is the Conair Infinity Hair designer dryer. It offers the latest when it comes to hairstyling. With its Tourmaline Ceramic Technology your hair will look good with silky and shiny all the time. Tourmaline Ceramic is a material commonly used by all of the top brands in hairstyling, including Solia and Sedu flat iron products. This technology takes hair styling to a higher level. The new infrared technology, available in today’s top products will protect your hairs natural luster. That’s important, because keeping the natural moisture level of your hair (not dried out) protects the long-lasting beauty of a person’s hair. The Conair Infinity Hair designer dryer performance will allow you to dry even thick hair in a very short time.

In order to save space, the wall mount dryer units become more and more popular with many people. These units allow you to keep your hair dryer handy at all time, while saving drawer and cabinet space. You may find some of these units in fine hotels and luxurious resorts. There is no reason however why you should not have your own unit at home. Among the more popular wall mount hair dryers are the Jerdon and Oster brands, among others. They can be fixed securely and safely to your bathroom wall away from water and wet places. The Bion wall mount hair dryer comes even with a night-light. The Bion ionic tourmaline hair dryer will dry your hair quick and easy, which is perfect when you’re in a hurry.

Here are 3 points to keep in mind when purchasing a hair dryer:

1. Don’t ever buy a used hair dryer. This item is often displayed in second hand stores and yard sales. As with all electrical items you need to be cautious when buying second hand. If you have to use your hair dryer quite frequently, it is always safer to buy a brand new model.

2. To keep your hair healthy and vibrant, when styling with a hair dryer, keep your hair conditioned regularly. Use a good conditioner! This will help you to keep your hair shiny and prevents hair from getting brittle. This is important especially when using chemicals such as hair colorings. Always use a moisturizing shampoo along with your conditioner. This will help to restore the needed moisture for your hair. It will help to make your hair soft and healthy looking. You may choose one with a natural blend of herbs such as chamomile, rosemary and nettle. These ingredients are some of the best natural herbs known to keep hair healthy and strong.

3. Before buying your next hair dryer take a look at the website shown below and just spend a few minutes and compare the different models. As mentioned earlier, consider your type of hair and your hairstyle when choosing the model that will best fit your lifestyle and your hair. Some will dry your hair faster with higher heat settings than others. The advantage of this is that you can dry your hair quickly. The disadvantage is that it will also tend to dry your hair out faster.

No matter if you are a person that travels often or if you are a person that needs to save some space, there is something for everybody.

Categories: Fashion Week
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Guide To Choosing A Fashion Design School

Posted July 12, 2011 By admin

A successful future in the fashion design industry depends on the right choice of school to attend. Although fashion design is not one of the more popular careers to pursue, if your talents lie in this field, there is ample opportunity awaiting you. However, the first thing to hurdle is your choice of school.

When choosing a fashion design school, consider the following factors.

Area of Focus

Look into the nature of the school. Is it solely a fashion design school or does it offer other courses. Is this school well-known for its emphasis on fashion design?

Fashion design schools are few and far between. This makes it harder to choose one that fits your bill. Your first task will be to find a reputable school that will aid you in your training.

Also, look into whether the school participates in any fashion design competitions or has accomplished anything of reknown in the industry. This is a sure sign of their commitment to the fashion arts and its education among students.

Different schools have different strengths, find a school that plays to your strengths and has specializations in the field of your choice.

For example, you might choose a very well-known fashion design school only to find out that they specialize in childrens clothing, while the field of your choice is adult formal wear. This could diffuse your interests, and dull your specialization.

Make sure you know what field the school you are scouting focuses on. This will help you specialize in that area too.

Alumni and Job Placements

Does the college offer job placement assistance? And has the alumni from this school gone on to be successful professionals? Always learn from others previous experience. If you see that those that had gone through this school before you received proper training and are successful in their field, that is an indication of a good school.

Most of these reputable schools have numerous connections in the graphic arts industry. They usually offer job placement services. You may want to consider this when choosing a school.

It would do no harm to start looking at the educational background of your admired fashion designer. Checking out the schools they came from will give an idea of the sort of training these artists went through. From here, you may make decisions as to whether you would like to choose the same school as they did.

Curriculum

You must assess whether the curriculum is relevant to you field of study. You may want to compare the curricula of different schools to see which offers the best form of education.

It would also be wise to check the quality of the teaching staff at that school. Having established artists who teach at a fashion design school is also an indication of a good training program.

Student to Teacher Ratio

Ask yourself: how big are the classes and how many teachers and classes are available at this school before you choose it. The more the students, the lesser the efficacy of the teacher. However, if there are too few students per teacher, that could tell of a different problem that of quality. If this is the case, it may be that the school is not popular or is suffering from anemic academic performance.

Accreditation

Accreditation means the school has passed certain standards of educational quality. Accreditation is performed by the U.S. Department of Education. Fashion design schools must be accredited to prove their level of competence.

Check with the State Postsecondary School Licensing Bureau to see if the college you are investigating is accredited. Also, check the National Approval and Accreditation for this concern.

Cost

Some people may proclaim that to obtain their education, they would spare no coin. Unfortunately, it also pays to be practical in your choice of fashion design school. If the school you choose has a tuition rate that is beyond your financial capability, you might find yourself working and unable to pursue your studies consistently due to the financial stress which may lead you to look for part-time work.

Scholarships

You might want to consider whether the design school you are looking at offers any scholarships. You also might want to know the terms to them too. Some schools offer scholarships based on academic performance. Some offer them based on fashion design competitions they hold regularly.

Your choice of school is an investment that will last you a lifetime. Proper care and investigation in choosing such is truly important. When you are comfortable with your choice of fashion design schools, you can now chart your path towards a successful career.

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Why Do Teens Want To Be Fashionable

Posted July 11, 2011 By admin

Why is it that teens want to become fashion trendy? Could this just be extravagance? Would this cause an alarm to parents?

One thing for sure, teens want to dress according to their interests and affiliations. Unlike grownups who wear clothes depending on their upbringing, their work environment and social standing in the community, some teenagers wear clothes to identify themselves with somebody who is famous. Usually, wearing branded clothes would give them a sense of belongingness to that star and his distinct group. They might be the yelling fans or the silent admirers, but in adopting that fashion trends, they feel to have belong to the same group. They are the teenagers who feel that the clothes they wear would more popularize these stars and that they could benefit from such fame having been identified with them. This is the reason why designer clothes being endorsed by actors, actresses and pop stars are becoming selling hits.

Other teenagers feel that wearing clothes with its distinct cut would identify them to a certain type of set; whether they are hip hop, the sporty type, the romantic type or the alternatives. Through fashion, they had successfully revealed their true personalities; unlike the grown ups who weighs other factors, teens want to become fashionable as clear manifestations of their true selves.

The wholehearted devotion to follow teen fashion trends are considered by some as mere extravagance. Not all teenagers are that rich enough to spend money on apparels in order to catch up with these trends. But creative teenagers have their own ways of fulfilling their passion and others know how to sacrifice their allowances in order to buy the clothes and accessories just to be in with the trend. Teens want to become fashionable, and they expect everybody to understand them.

The need for teen fashion has reached its competitive level in schools especially during the opening of classes. Here, the teenagers are likely to wear the latest trend for this is the time to have a great new look and these teenagers feel that they ought to be impressive. Do first impressions last? Yes. And these teens are scampering who can impress their peers first. Teens want to be show off their wares just to catch the attention of other young people.

Teen fashion trends have become a lucrative business that capitalized on the insatiable appetite of the teenagers for distinction. And do you know that teens are behind the success of these companies? Most companies are not only using teens as models, they also utilize multi-talented teenagers. The comments, suggestions and ideas for new designs are made by experts with the assistance of these talented young people. Promotional blitzes including those well crafted fashion shows are done to suggest that teen fashion is really a part of the lives of the teenagers. Teens want to craft their world.

To some people, catching up with the teen fashion trends are just useless lifestyles. They will not do any good except as a way of showing off that these teenagers have money to spend for these expensive clothing. Why go to the extent of catching up with new styles in order to be identified? Each one has the capability to be known, the ability to excel above others. Teens want to show that they have a world of their own and that they could also become contributors of value.

Whether the teenagers want to catch up with teen fashion trends or just wear any appropriate clothing, what is important is that these teens must work hard to become successful individuals. These teens do not only want fame, affiliations or distinction, they also want success and fruitful lives. In order for teens to succeed and to remain right, the parents must always be at their sides to guide, support and advise them. After all, parenting and parental guidance are also what the teens want.

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Watches for Fashion and Time

Posted July 8, 2011 By admin

Although the main purpose of a watch is to tell time, it has evolved as a fashion statement over the centuries. The era of the hourglass watches and sundials is long gone. Watches are now considered to speak volumes about the wearers standing in the society.

Earlier, there were only pocket watches that were carried in a pocket and hung with a chain to the neck. The wristwatch is a smaller version of the pocket watch and is a fairly recent invention. There have been and are watches that are powered differently, like the self-winding, battery, digital, kinetic, light powered, and thermal powered watches.

The varieties of watches that are found in the market are mind-boggling. There are watches that show two times. If you are traveling, the time back home is also shown along with the time of the place you are in. There are waterproof watches that can be used under water too. They have a covering on them that protects them from getting wet. In fact, you can buy them just to protect your watch from getting spoiled during day-to-day activities or when raining. Stopwatches are used in sports to track exact timing, to the second.

Watches that have heart monitors show the heart rate when exercising. This is really good for those with heart problems.

Today, watches are also dressy, classy, and exude style. You get watches to match every outfit, every mood, and every occasion. The various features combined with a great look make the most in demand accessories.

There are several brands in watches today, like Invicta, Casio, Seiko, Timex, Citizen, Rolex, Swiss watches and hundreds more.

Watches come in all metals, including gold and silver. They are also set with precious stones, the most popular are diamond watches. Diamond watches are a craze in spite of being the most expensive. People are spending as much as they would on jewelry, or in some cases more. Even jewelry stores stock watches these days.

These jewelry watches made from precious metals and precious stones such as diamonds, sapphires, rubies etc., are available for both men and women. Mens watches have totally undergone a transformation, and even if they are still large and have a different look when compared to a womens watches, they come in all styles and shapes and look very fashionable.

There are many leading brands that are making these jewelry watches, and they include big names in the watch business, like Gucci, Rolex, Tag Huer, Tiffany, and Tissot, Swatch and some others.

If you are also fashion conscious and wish to wear a watch that does its duty of telling the time as well as attracts envious glances, go in for one of these jewelry watches that are the order of the day. They also make the best gifts to that special someone. If you are a guy, go ahead and gift a precious watch for your girl. She would be thrilled to receive on and she sure doesnt expect only jewelry anymore.

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