Sashay Shante

Fashion shows are becoming a common staple in a lot of major cities. So with that, comes model calls/auditions. Let me first say this. Not everyone is meant to be a model. Just because you take a good picture of just because you are tall does not mean that you will be good at modeling. Now that I have that out of the way. Let me touch basis on a few other things.

As a Fashion Designer, I'm constantly having to attend casting calls for models. There are a lot of misconceptions that people have when they decide that they are going to model. First, one must have a passion for fashion. You must be as in tuned as the designer when it comes to form and functionality. I say this because, you are going to be showing the features of the clothing you're wearing. If that jacket has a hood, you would want to flip it on or off. If that skirt or pant has a detachable feature you must figure out a way to showcase that while on the runway, etc. etc. A good model walk and presence is what designers look for when selecting models. I, personally, have picked models based on the notion of can he/she sell the idea that I'm going for. It's more than just a pretty face and physique. Runway modeling is something that requires lots of work.

This video gives good pointers for those who want to stand out at model calls/auditions. Being that I also design plus sign clothing, I want to give plus size models a little bit of a tip. In my opinion, the crossover walk (foot over foot), does not look well for plus sized models. As stated in the video the crossover walk is meant to eliminate the leg gap that thinner models have. When I see a plus sized woman walking in that manner, it breaks up her proportions and makes it look like she's about to tip over. Check out the video and let me know what you think.