Look Of October...Mad for Plaid

Look Of October

"Mad for Plaid"

  Charlotte Russe 

  Midi Rings - 3 Pack

   Faux Leather Bustier

    Bodycon Plaid Midi Skirt 

Diamante-Trimmed Boyfriend Watch

               

Audition Outfit Do's and Don'ts

I've decided to post a new blog topic one Thursday a month, so my next post will be 10/23!

Now, let's get to it!

 This week is all about the scary and intimidating "Audition Outfit".  Have you ever asked yourself these questions: What should I wear? What should I not wear? How do I leave a lasting impression? How do I keep it professional?

The Audition Outfit Do's

1. Black is the new black, keep that in mind when choosing your audition outfit color, it should always be basic black.

2. Your black pumps ladies (which are mentioned in my previous blog post: Model Bag, along with pictures) should have at least a 4"in heel.

3. Skirt should be moderate length: no shorter than 17" and no longer than 24" or to the knee.

4. Outfit should be completely formfitting (If you wear a jacket, make sure to remove before you walk or audition)

5. Stockings or use spray on stockings (Sally Hanson's spray tan works wonders)

Below are examples of great outfits for females and males. 

Definitely get creative adding your own style and flair!

Sheath Dress

Traditional, professional, simple

Black Leggings and Fitted T-Shirt

         Great form fitting outfit with a personal touch. Just remember to remove the jacket before you begin your audition! They want to see your fabulous figure.

Love Herve Leger! 
Just steer clear of an extremely bulging bust-line and don't go any shorter than a 17" hemline! 
(This isn't the club)

Male Audition Outfit

Chris Brown is displaying the perfect audition outfit for men.

The form fitting turtleneck, the sleek slacks and the polished shoes!

Yes! Yes! Yes! (I love a well-dressed man, Lawd!)

The Button Down

This look is sleek, form fitting and professional.

Muscle Tee

Some auditions will specifically ask for all models (male and female) to wear black muscle tees.

Men: Pair muscle tee with dark washed jeans or tucked inside slacks and dress shoes

 (NOT athletic shoes)

Women: Pair your muscle tee with black leggings, dark wash skinny jeans or black jeggings, and your black audition pumps or platforms.

Audition Outfit Hair:

When it comes to hair, I love creativity, but make sure it doesn't distract from your audition presence. It should be neat, brushed, combed and styled no matter your current look.

Traditional Audition Hair: Hair that is swept into a soft chignon, bun or sleek pony tail

The Chignon 

Traditional, professional and sleek

Sleek Ponytail

High Ponytail or Low Ponytail? Totally up to you.

Natural Hair

You can style into a ponytail, bun or down. 

Just make sure to pin the hair away from the face

The Clean Cut

Neat. Modern. Complimentary.

Shaped Up and Lined

Facial hair is either a definite miss or a definite hit, there are no in-between's.

This example of facial hair is neat, clean, and allows his face and facial frame to be seen.

This facial hair compliments his style and his facial frame.

During audition, clean face is preferred unless otherwise instructed by casting directors and agents.

Non-Traditional Audition Hair: Short hair, shaved hair, color treated hair

Contemporary Hair

This is a lovely cut and color, 

Remember, the hair should be swooped to the side, NOT in the face.

The Modern Buzz

Neat, styled and a clear vision of her beautiful face, you go Megan Good!

Long Locks of Ombre

Ombre is hot, remember to keep the hair out of the face,

 like Jamie Chung is seen doing here. 

(Pin your hair back or use a spray gel to hold hair in place, DON'T constantly play in hair during audition)

Natural Curls

A tad longer than a traditional audition cut. 

This style is so handsome and flattering for his facial frame!

Bohemian Fantasy

This look is perfect because he maintains his individuality, but he keeps his luscious locks in place and away from his face. (Ooh that rhymed)

Audition Outfit Don'ts

There are many Audition Outfit Don'ts but I will list the main Don'ts here.

1. DON'T wear athletic shoes (Unless otherwise directed before the audition by casting directors)

2. DON'T wear low cleavage or bottoms shorter than 17" (This is NOT the club)

3. DON'T wear heavy amounts of jewelry and piercings. Stick with basic earrings and a single ring. 

4. DON'T wear heavy amount of makeup (think Day Makeup or Natural)

5. DON'T wear perfume or scented lotions (Agents, Casting Directors or other staff may be allergic, that will leave a bad impression)

6. DON'T chew or smack on gum. If you are worried about bad breath carry mints or breath strips 

7. DON'T gossip, trash talk, be a Negative Nancy, constantly complain, discuss your hangover from last night, brag about your one-night stand, partake in illicit drugs or alcoholic drinks. This is a job. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is connected and news of a bad attitude or unprofessional-ism travels faster than lightning. Not Cute.

TIPS:

• Break-in your shoes and test out the grips underneath the bottom before strutting on the runway. There is nothing worse than waddling like a duck from painful shoes, losing a shoe on the runway or tripping because your shoes aren't smooth enough to pivot.
• Be aware of your style of underwear for your audition outfit. No bunched boxer briefs that create lines or bulk, and no granny panties to create lines underneath your formfitting clothing.
• Pasties are a great investment, they won't add false inches to your bust line and will help in the runway measure tape line.
• If your shoe bottoms are not slick enough to pivot on the runway, places strips of duct tape at the bottom of your shoes and it should add slickness for pivoting ease.
• Refer to my previous post about what to carry in your Model Bag, such as: portfolio, business cards, resume, etc. You never know who you will network with, always be prepared.
• Always smile and say, "Thank You" to agents, casting directors and judges. Be friendly to everyone you meet; looks get attention, however personality keeps it. Sell yourself!

While, I could go on forever about Audition DO's and DON'Ts, these are the main points to aid you in Audition Day success. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment. I love to hear your thoughts!

Look out for the next blog post on 10/23! 

However, I may just post an outfit of the week soon, oh I can't stay away too long.

 Stay tuned and Stay Fabulous. I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes:

“What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today, when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language.”  —  Miuccia Prada 

Pack it, Pack it good, Your Modeling Bag of course!

Here is the list of important items that you should pack in your model bag for set life and shows.

Female Model Bag:

• Oil Blot Wipes
• Toothbrush/Travel Size Mouthwash
• Mints (NO gum!)
• Water Bottle (Carry a straw, as not to smudge your lipstick)
• Snacks: Almonds (great for abs), rice cakes, trail mix, beef jerky, cheese sticks, etc.
• Lip Balm/Gloss (Always keeps lips moisturizer between takes)
• Basic Makeup Kit: Foundation, press powder, mascara, eye liner, drop, extra eyelashes
• Hair Products: Bobby pins, hair spray, brush, comb, hair ties
• Bra(s): nude, black, flesh-colored, sticky bra, pasties, double-sided tape 
• Panty Liners, tampons or pads
• Moisturizer (unscented), Lotion (unscented)
• Extra Underwear: Seamless underwear, G-string, boy shorts
• Make-up remover, towel, wash-cloth
• Deodorant 
• Safety pins, clothing pin/clamp
• Sally Hansen Body Spray
• Audition outfit: Black top, black slacks/skirt, pumps (4 inch heels, NO flats or sneakers!)

 Male Model Bag:

• Extra Underwear: Boxer Briefs, low-rise (NO boxers, might bunch or create bulk underneath clothing)
• Make-up remover, towel, wash-cloth
• Safety pins, clothing pin/clamp
• Hair Products: Bobby pins, hair spray, brush, comb, hair ties (for long hair), gel
• Snacks: Almonds (great for abs), rice cakes, trail mix, beef jerky, cheese sticks, etc.
• Water Bottle
• Mints (NO gum!)
• Toothbrush/Travel Size Mouthwash
• Oil Blot Wipes
• Foundation
• Razor, shaving cream
• Undershirt
• Socks
• Audition outfit: Black shirt, black bottoms, black dress shoes (NOT tennis shoes or sneakers)

Children Model Bag:

• Extra Underwear
• Socks
• Make-up remover, towel, wash-cloth
• Safety pins, clothing pin/clamp
• Hair Products: Bobby pins, hair spray, brush, comb, hair ties, gel
• Snacks: trail mix, beef jerky, cheese sticks, juice packs, animal crackers, goldfish, etc.
• Water Bottle (carry straw)
• Toothbrush/Travel Size Mouthwash
• Oil Blot Wipes
• Foundation
• Undershirt
• Audition outfit (See criteria above)
• Lip balm/gloss
• Blanket, pillow
• Toys, games, book, etc.
• Lunch Bag
• Recreational clothing (change for breaks between shooting or before the show)
• Bib for eating (I've even used a plastic rain poncho to cover outfits on set)

 Extra Gear

• Portfolio and Head shot
• Composite "Comp" Cards
• Business Cards (as a backup plan to comp cards)
• Vouchers (For agency models)
• Thank You cards (I'll cover why in my upcoming post: "Model Manners")
• Directions to set (Important!)
• Cell Phone Charger 
• Book, Tablet, iPod, MP3, Magazines, etc. (For wasting time on set during breaks)

Items to Consider: Travel Size Kit

Deluxe Travel Kit: for overnight shoots and out-of-town shows

Benefits of a Travel Size Kit 

• neatness and organization, with items such as: moisturizer, lotion, hair crème, toothbrush, mouthwash, etc.
• Great for jobs that include airplane travel or promotional jobs

Bonus Tips:

 I pack Extensions and Wigs. Why you may ask? While I have an amazing personal hair stylist, who accompanies me to every shoot, I prefer to prepare for the worst.  Here are a few reasons why I carry prosthetic hair.

• I can slap on perfectly styled hair in minutes, if surprise weather and extreme humidity occurs. (which blows my naturally curly hair back to the era of the 70s.)
•  It offers versatility to an outfit and the shoot design
• It protects my natural hair from extreme heat and damage, if I have back-to-back shoots
• I can add length or take away length or even add color, without damaging my natural hair
• If the hair stylist doesn't show, (and you don't have a personal stylist at your convenience) you'll have a backup plan.

The Spray on Panty Hose

Traditionally panty hose were a required item to complete your audition look. However, if you're like me, who can't stand wearing those itchy things (bad childhood memory, thanks mom). I use the spray on tan, Sally Hansen specifically, which gives my legs a smooth finish and emulates the look of panty hose.

If you have any items that you carry in your model bag, that isn't listed above, please list it in the comments! I definitely love to learn about new items that I can cram in my gigantic model bag.

Stay tuned for the next blog post: "The Perfect Audition Outfit", with examples of audition outfit Do's and Don'ts for both sexes!

Until next time, stay tuned and as always, stay fabulous! I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes!

"He who fails to plan is planning to fail" - Winston Churchill

Look of the Week

 Look of the Week:

Crop Top: Bebe

Mini Skirt: Forever XXI 

Jacket: Kim Rogers 

Shoes: Vintage Manolo Blahnik

Sunglasses: Michael Kors 

Stay tuned for the next LDM blog post "What to Pack in Your Model Bag" this Thursday, 9/4!


"Fashion fades, only style remains the same." - Coco Chanel

Ready...Set...Shoot! The 5 Essential Items for Set Day.

 Okay, so there are a few crucial items to always pack in your modeling bag, five items to be exact. Doesn't matter if you're on set for a model shoot or a film set as an extra, these items come in handy!

So, to illustrate, I've included some pictures, to get my point across.

1.  "The Model Bag"

  My personal model bag is huge, like hiding the Titanic kind of huge. It fits my personality, larger than life. Your model bag is up to your discretion, as long as you can fit all of your shoot and show necessities inside.

(This is a certified LDM Model Tote, if interested in purchasing, comment below.)

  2. "The Model Robe"

Once again, my robe suits me, it is most definitely satin and most definitely bling'd out. (Is that word even relevant? Oh well.) The robe is a necessity, always pack the robe.

Reasons for "The Model Robe"

• The robe eliminates the problem of destroying your hair or smudging your makeup. Easy to put on and easy to take off, unlike your personal clothing.
• Wasting set time. As a model, we all "Hurry up and wait"; well, as you're waiting, protect your outfit (especially if it is NOT your own). You can't risk sitting on a dirty chair, makeup stains or bumping into a random who happens to have an open water bottle in hand or worse...coffee.
• Wear while chewing! While you should try to avoid eating or drinking while donning a designer's clothing, sometimes during long set days, you have to do what you have to do. Wear your robe to protect the design!
• "The Fleece Robe". This robe can protect against harsh weather temperatures. As we all know, designers do not shoot the current season's styles. So, if you're modeling bathing suits, it will more than likely be during the chilly season not bathing suit season. So pack a fleece robe to retain body heat between shots.
• In addition to the life saving robe tips, a fashionable robe is just too classy and too professional not to wear around set. Can we say future Victoria's Secret Supermodel in the house! (I promise you, someone will take note of your model robe.)

A. The Satin Robe (LDM Robe available for purchase, comment below)

B. "The Fleece Robe", to retain body heat on cold sets. (Yes, I had to add a fabulous VS Model)

  3. "The Garment Bag"

     This is handy for fittings and shoot days. I have worked on a few movie sets as an extra, for the fittings, I was required to bring clothing that could be used in the film, I used the "The Garment Bag". The garment bag comes in handy to keep your outfits contained, neat, wrinkle-free and organized. If you don't have one, consider it. 

Or you could just go boogie on a budget and place a black trash bag over your clothes. (Okay, but seriously invest in a nice garment bag, it will speak volumes of your experience and professionalism)

 Louis Vuitton garment bag. La perfection absolue!

4. Slippers/Flat Shoes

  The reason you should pack these, are quite obvious. If the reason is not clear, I'll explain. Try waiting on a set for 8+ hours in stilettos, or better yet having to walk through unknown terrain to arrive at your shoot destination (if outside a studio setting), the results are potentially painful and you may damage your heels in the process. Pack flats or comfy slippers.

NUFC Knit Slippers. (Kmart or outlet stores also provides cute slipper options)

    5. "The Pump"

   The style of pumps have evolved over the years, from round toe to platform. No matter your style, always pack a pair, you never know who will ask you to walk or if you may need an emergency backup pair. 

Pumps should have at least a 4 inch heel, preferably black, especially for auditions or call backs. While personal creativity is essential to our own identity, remember, when auditioning, your personal creativity may clash with the personal creativity of the agent or judge. Your goal is to make a lasting impression for your professionalism, grace, poise and skills, not your fashion faux pas. 

You can however pack a separate bag with a cornucopia of colorful shoes, just for when. However, for your model bag, pack basic, black 4 inch pumps.

A basic pump, although Louboutin's are never basic

Just because I love a good platform, the Daffodile by Christian Louboutin

In this article, I have listed 5 key essential pieces to never leave home without:

1.  "The Model Bag"
2.  "The Model Robe"
3.  "The Garment Bag"
4.   Slippers/Flat Shoes
5.  "The Pump"

 The next post will detail the little things that should always be packed in your model bag for all shoots, shows and events. The little things can make a HUGE difference between a professional model and a novice model. 

Stay tuned and as always, stay fabulous!

I will leave you with a favorite quote of mine:

"Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman." - Coco Chanel

To Be or Not To Be... A Model that is.

 In a world where Instagram, Tumblr and the Facebook Fan Page exists, everyone these days seems to be a "model". 

I was raised as a traditional model. Definition. Traditional Model: 1. "A girl that is professionally trained and groomed for the career of modeling, before she's even fit for her first training bra." 

So, I went through professional modeling and etiquette school at the age of 11 years old, I was then signed by ICE Management and then Avanti by the age of 14 years old. Growing in the industry was hard, but I chose the life and receiving a check before I was even in college, definitely helped to alleviate the hardship.

So, what's the point of this blog? I'll tell you, so listen up. 

With the increase of SMM or "Social Media Modeling" the basics of professionalism and professional modeling has fallen between the cracks. Novice models are trying to figure out what to pack in their modeling bags, how to discuss compensation, the basics of walking the Catwalk or the difference between a test shoot and a TFP shoot. So that's where I come in.

Linée de' Modèle is a brand, a design brand that assists in training the beginning model, refreshing the intermediate model and empowering the professional model. I began a little over a year ago designing shoots for models who were fresh out of creative ideas for their shoots, portfolios, training runway models who didn't know the difference between a model stance and a straddle stance, even simply just cultivating women, men, and youth into becoming an Everyday Model (AKA "A Lady" or "A Gentleman"). Linée de' Modèle or LDM provides consultation with models, photographers, designers and MUA's to design a photo shoot, promotional event or runway show that effectively shows-off and sells their product.

I decided to bring LDM online for the novice model. Here, she or he will have available resources at their fingertips. Available resources such as: The Model Bag, Model Bag Contents, Pre-Photo Shoot Prep, Photo-Shoot Day, Contracts and other areas of the industry.

Feel free to print out any lists and carry it with you, just leave the LDM name and logo attached.

Until my next post, I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes:

“Everyday is a fashion show and the world is the runway”~Coco Chanel