Modelling Advice

Modelling Market

Modelling is one of the very few industries where women seem to have it better than men. There are more opportunities for female models, and they typically command higher fees.

It's only in the last ten to fifteen years that men's fashion has really become part of the mainstream.

The market for men's fashions is still way behind the female market, however, which is considerably more established, both through the print media, and through runway events like London Fashion Week.

According to TNS World Panel, a research company, men account for only 32 per cent of the £27 billion that was spent on clothing and footwear last year globally.

The large fashion houses and prominent designers now design collections for men as well as women, but the women's collection is always more feted than the men's range and there's no sign of a reversal. Consequently, male models often play runner-up to their female counterparts.

Less work equals less kudos equals much smaller pay packets than for the girls. And for the past few years there has been added competition from male actors who might once have spurned a modelling contract but are now happy to take the money and bask in the glory of being shot by a top photographer.

Top male models can earn around £5,000 for a day's work, whereas female models can earn £20,000 or more. Although men can be signed to promote certain fragrances, there aren't nearly as many promotional opportunities for them as there are for women, and so their earning potential is much less.

Male models also start their careers later. They don't see modelling as the be-all and end-all. Quite a few do it for a gap year or use it as a way to make money through university. Until the Hedi Slimane thing started a craze for very thin male models, it was unheard-of to find 15 or 16-year-olds in the business.

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