Modeling is a diverse field with jobs for every age, every shape, and every size. That being said, it does come with two very separate spheres—commercial and fashion. What you end up in and, realistically, what you should pursue is very much based on your physical features.
Commercial
The Basics
Commercial fashion is all-encompassing and sports the highest number of modeling opportunities. It’s the type of modeling you see in magazines, on billboards, and on other print or digital mediums. Because of this, there’s no one standard the models are held to. Every product being sold requires a different look so a uniform fit is impossible to impose.
Location
Commercial modeling is possible to do wherever modeling agencies set up shop. While the most successful are located in big cities, like New York and LA, it is possible to find relative success in smaller towns.
High Fashion
The Basics
High fashion is strict with what it expects from its models. This is because they must model clothing and if that clothing doesn’t hang correctly, it’s not meeting the needs of the designers. These models are walking displays. For women, they are expected to be between 5’8” and 6’0”. Men must fall between 5’9” and 6’2”.
Location
Fashion models are globetrotters, flying around the world to walk runways in New York, Paris, and all the major fashion hubs. They are also expected to perform at social events to endorse brands they have contracts with.
Rebecca Lord is the Chief Marketing Officer at John Casablancas Modeling and Career Centers, where she leads strategic marketing to grow brand visibility. With over a decade in copywriting, social media, and ROI-driven campaigns – plus 14 years as a freelance copywriter and designer – she specializes in messaging that resonates and delivers results. She’s based in Greater St. Louis.
