Port City Ultimate Image-
Wardrobe/Fashion
Styling/Image Consulting (corporate and personalized make-overs,
closet updates, personal shopping, workshops, pageant coaching)
See Press Herald Business Thursday Interview at
MaineToday.com
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Press Herald Photo by Derek Davis
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Q: What advice
do you have for someone attempting to break into the modeling
business?
A:
Start your career by working with a local agency and do not drop out
of school. Keep in mind that within each market there are specific
looks that are in favor at any given time and some models fit the look
of the moment better than others for that market. Try another near-by
city if you are determined and your look isn't right for your
particular city. Gain experience modeling or acting part-time, while
ultimately setting your sights on New York.
Work with several photographers locally to gain experience and
confidence with working in front of the camera before attempting to
work in a major market.
Q: What separates one model from another? How
important is personality?
A: Personality is
extremely important, as important as having the right look. I often
tell beginning models that your looks may get you in the door, but
it will take much more than physical beauty to keep you there. Being
tall, thin and beautiful is not enough for survival in this billion
dollar business. When someone walks into an open call at
Port City Models & Talent, who has all the physical
qualifications that we require: appropriate height, great bone
structure, blemish-free skin, and straight, white teeth, we also
look for a strong, unique personality and individual style, as well
as energy, enthusiasm, intelligence and professionalism. Those
successful in the business will be well-spoken and possess
that 'something special' that makes him/her come alive…an
inner drive…an 'attitude', known as charisma and presence. A
model must have the ability to project a variety of moods from
within to the camera during a shoot and on the runway, have a great
attitude and enough confidence and self-esteem to deal
with rejection on a regular basis. Modeling is one of the toughest
and most sought after careers in the world. A model will get from
the business what she puts into it!!!
Q: How might a model extend her career beyond the catwalk?
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Iman and Caron
Mercedes-Benz
Star Lounge-Fashion Week
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A: If a model is intelligent, driven, motivated and works very hard (as with any business), she/he can
certainly extend a modeling career far beyond the runway. I have had
the opportunity to meet Heidi Klum backstage at Fashion Week in New
York. Heidi made a name for herself beyond modeling through
recognizing and seizing opportunities that came her way through her
many industry connections and went on to create her hit Bravo TV
show, 'Project Runway'. This past September, I interviewed
Supermodel turned Designer, Iman, wife of rock icon David Bowie, at
Lincoln Center during Spring/Summer 2011 Fashion Week in New York.
Having strutted down the catwalks of every internationally renowned
fashion house for 30 years, it would seem that Iman has done it all,
however her latest accomplishment, along with hosting Bravo TV's
'The Fashion Show', is the launch of her exotic fabric collection, 'Iman
Home', inspired, she told me, by the global cultures encountered
during her extensive travels, as a model and by her Somalian
heritage.

To
celebrate the launch, Iman teamed up with interior design guru
Carlos Mota to design the Mercedes-Benz VIP Star Lounge, the
'between-show', backstage, invite-only Fashion Week Lounge for
celebrities, designers and fashion industry press, using Iman's new
fabric line of colorful zebra-skin and peacock-feather patterns to
upholster couches and ottomans, as well as cosmopolitan elements,
such as African stools and with photographs of Iman taken by fashion
greats Bruce Weber and Peter Beard adorning the walls from Iman's
private collection. "Since I stopped modeling, got married, and had
a daughter, home has become a passion of mine. The gods of interior
decoration must have been looking down upon me, because all of a
sudden, here was this great opportunity to create/design the
Mercedes-Benz VIP Star Lounge".
Q: Which Designer's Spring 2012 Collection shown at New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week did you find most inspiring?
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Sam and Charlotte Ronson
Backstage giving Kudos to Caron's
Black/Zebra 'Glam-Rock' Nails
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A: That would definitely be Charlotte Ronson's Collection. I also had the opportunity to interview the Designer backstage following her show. "This Collection is a little more lady-like than usual with less of an edge," Ronson told me, after explaining that elements as diverse as Victorian detailing and 70s Bohemianism had contributed to this season's overall inspiration. Ronson has built her career designing for friends, such as Kelly Osbourne, Whitney Port, Lindsey Lohan and Nicky Hilton, who all attended the show, making for a celebrity-studded event. With her famous twin sister Hollywood DJ, Sam Ronson, in the booth spinning a rockin' soundtrack, the models strutted down the catwalk. Covered buttons and lace were highlights of the Victorian influence, while patch-work flared jeans and crochet crop tops exemplified an undeniable 70s Boho feel. Floral prints adorning sheer off-the-shoulder blouses added a prairie component to the mix, however the collection's easy silhouette and muted palette kept everything tied together. The mostly blue-hued show closed with a colorful bang as orange ombre dresses and a finale sheer, bold citrus embellished gown made its way down the runway. I was also fortunate to score a coveted VIP invite to attend the Sephora Meatpacking District Boutique's Grand Opening held during Fashion Week, debuting Charlotte Ronson's new make-up line sold exclusively at Sephora. Each item in the make-up line is named after one of the family members of her famous rock and roll bloodline. Samantha Ronson's band played at the event and guests of honor included 'Avatar's Zoe Saldana, 'Gray’s Anatomy' hunk Jessie Williams, and tattoo artist Kat Von D, who has a successful make-up line already sold at the beauty mega-retailer.
Q: Which Fashion Designer's Collection most impressed you for Fall/Winter
2011/2012?
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Christian Siriano and Caron
Backstage after his
Runway Show
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A: Christian Siriano's Fall 2011 Collection showcased the 25-year-old
Designer's growth and represented a big step in his evolution as a Designer...
away from the over-the-top style with which he's become associated and into
a purer, more toned-down aesthetic. The first half of the primarily black
collection was anything but boring. Siriano diversified black in a couple
of ways... through meshing his knits, chiffons, silks, leathers, and
cashmeres and pairing those textures in such a way that made the color luxe and
rich and through the shapes and structures of his exquisite designs. As he
moved on to color... gone were the loud fuschias of the past, replaced
instead with more muted mauves and moss greens shown in his dresses. His detailed
blazers were tailored to perfection. Amongst the jackets, skirts and pants
were the Designer's signature red carpet dresses and fantasy gowns.
Siriano, who designs for Payless Shoes, showcased his edgy, chunky, claw-heeled
stilettos throughout the show. They were to blame for at least one major
model runway fall, a couple of stumbles, and a handful of awkward walks. But,
hey... what are a few casualties next to a slouchy black knit turtleneck
with a gorgeous satin-faced organza tulip skirt? I'd be runway roadkill for
that, too. The show's final look was perhaps its standout and telling of
where Siriano is heading as a Designer... a charcoal short sleeved blouse
paired with a beautiful mauve ruffled ball gown skirt that achieved all of the
edgy 'fierce' theatrics of his past collections, but with a more
sophisticated and refined, pared-down sensibility.
Q: In what direction do you see the Fashion Industry headed for
Fall/Winter 2011/2012?
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A: Step back into the swingin' 60s and take some style notes from Prada,
Yves Saint Laurent and Alberta Ferretti... Channel 'modern-day Twiggy' meets
'It Girl', Brit, Alexa Chung, with androgynous mod silhouettes and shiny
textured fabrics in shift dresses with high crew necklines, updated to short
modern lengths. The 60s continued their mark on the Fashion World for the
Fall/Winter 2011/2012 season. Bottega Veneta and Prada runways displayed the
era’s Mod hallmarks from bell-bottomed trousers, boxy silhouettes and
peter pan collars to patent leather shifts and fitted knee high boots... a la
60s iconic model Twiggy. The season's dresses and coats are sleek fitting,
maxi-length and feminine. Dolce & Gabbana and Libertine showcased an
energetic dose of bright geometric patterns and the collections of Anna Sui and
Versace featured bold flowers. Gucci showed prominent polka dots and Stella
McCarthy... broken glass prints in their transparent dresses. Wild animal
prints... maxi skirts to coats, from bags to boots, coupled with over-sized
feather adornments were all the rage on the runways of Givenchy, Marc by
Marc Jacobs, Topshop and Ungaro.
As always, boots are a 'must have' for this season. Over the knee versions
were either flat (Giuseppe Zanotti) or high-heeled (Stella McCartney,
Louis Vuitton). Ankle Booties, still a very hot accessory, were prominent on
the runways of BCBG and Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B. worn with opaque tights.
They have the power to transform an ordinary little black dress or skirt into
something fresh and trendy.
Fitted Military Jackets were seen on the runways of Marc Jacobs, Balmain
and Charlotte Ronson. Statement Necklaces, chunky cuff bracelets and large,
eye-catching cocktail rings are go-to pieces this season, as are trendy,
over-sized shoulder grazing feather earrings and clip in hair extensions.
Whether you are looking for a necklace or a belt, using metal is an easy way
to purchase a stand out piece that can be worn with a variety of looks...
the more unique, the better, to put the stamp on your personal style.
Q:
How has the Internet's global reach impacted the Model/Talent Industry?