Hello again! I've been wondering, what is the height requirement for commercial fashion? Can one really do it at less than 5'7"? I thought jobs for down-to-earth catalogues and things like that still went to more commercial looking fashion models as opposed to commercial print models.
Hey, Marla! Great question. Commercial fashion is a subcategory of commercial/print and according to industry standards, the preferred height range for female models in this field is between 5'5"-5'7". So yes, print models do mainly get submitted for catalogs and other similar print work for commercial fashion. However, this is mostly the case for medium to smaller modeling markets. The larger markets (NYC, LA, etc.) have recently started submitting their fashion girls for commercial fashion, although they must possess more "commercial" features and a mainstream look that would appeal to consumers.
Model hopefuls that want to do commercial fashion in particular should not only fall within the height range I mentioned above but be on the slimmer side (not necessarily catwalk slim, though)--after all, there is fashion involved--but even though the clothes aren't on the haute couture level, models are still required to work with sample sizes. The strength of a model's agency, in addition to their location, will play a huge factor in booking these kinds of gigs.
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I guess the main reason why I'm confused is because I always hear that a tall model is important because of the designer's sample sizes. But the "commercial fashion" beyond the runway, in catalogues or at the mall is made for women with an average size of approximately 5'5" to 5'7", right? Or am I mistaken here?
So, are high fashion sizes different or do the designers want the whole focus on the dress (as opposed to how a dress looks worn) which is easier if you're really tall and really skinny and in effect a human hanger?
When exactly do model agencies want one to measure one's height? Or haven't they ever considered this phenomenon?