Fashion Modelling And Designing Jobs

If there was one thing about my life that has surprised me so far, it is becoming a fashion model. You see, I have always been very independent. I never put a lot of energy into my dress because I don't really care that much how people look at me. If all they see is what I am wearing then I'm content not to be their friend. As you could probably guess, this is not the attitude most common among fashion models. Fashion models love clothing, and obsess about body image. I just happen to be gifted with a thin body and a winning smile which, combined with my sensational sense of poise, is enough to get a fashion modeling job.

None of the really good clothes models that I know set out to do it. People who set out to become clothing models rarely have what it takes. They are too obsessed with the way people look at them, too driven to be liked, and in general to needy. In the short term, these types of fashion models can be very successful, but over the longer run they tend to burn out. They are the ones who fall victim to all of the pitfalls of the fashion model world. They get into drugs or end up in the hospital with a bad case of anorexia or bulimia. Whatever the case, they are not the runway fashion models who are remembered for years to come.

The problem is that you need such thick skin to look for modeling jobs. I was lucky and stumbled into a modeling job, but this is not usually the case. There are literally tens of thousands of fashion models competing for a fraction as many jobs. Don't get me wrong – if you stick around for long enough, one gig or another will come around – but it is seldom enough to pay the bills.

The real tragedy of it is that a lot of fashion models have their sense of self-esteem tied to whether or not they are accepted into these jobs. Not only do they put their lives on hold while they look for fashion model jobs, but their self-esteem suffers each and every day. It may look like glamor from the outside, but in reality it is not a very good life for fashion models. If you are needy, find some other way to boost your self-esteem!

Fashion Design And Merchandising Projects

I'm often amazed to see the how grand and bizarre the fashion industry has become. For some reason it's difficult for me to fathom people and their utter love for clothing. Don't get me wrong! I like a decent pair of jeans as much as the next guy, but you won't catch me forking out hundreds of dollars for a pair. Forget that. Not that my taste has any effect on the fashion world whatsoever. Oodles of young people are flocking to fashion design and merchandising colleges to better learn the business. Hey, I can't say that I blame them. There is plenty of money to be made there. I'm pretty sure Tom Ford is starving these days.

When I asked my teenage daughter what field she wanted to pursue, she started rambling on about fashion design and merchandising. Hmm, big surprise! What teenage girl isn't interested in the fashion world? As far as I can tell, they all go gaga over clothing, shoes, and accessories. Anyway, she began taking a high school course in fashion design and merchandising her senior year. Unfortunately she hated it. Now she is a bit torn regarding her future plans. She still dreams of a job in the fashion industry, but is naturally worried about whether or not she'll like it. I told her to give fashion design and merchandising another shot when she heads off to college next year. And no one said she had to delve into this particular aspect of the fashion world. There are a few choices out there.

It's certainly a tough business. If you truly want to see how things work, check out the Style network on occasion in order to see real fashion designers in their element. Or you can catch that little reality series "The Hills." Although the main character in this show has plenty of money coming in from her folks, she's getting a fine dose of the fashion design and merchandising world. You can see her work as an intern for "Teen Vogue" and get an idea of what's expected of her. It's definitely not all glitz and glam in the beginning, but I'm sure any successful fashion designer can tell you that. You have to be willing to work hard and vie with the many. The best place to start is a highly recommended fashion design school.