Are models useless?

[Wintergreen]

I think models are awesome and sometimes I care more about good models than fashion itself, but models nowadays have the worst modeling skills ever and yet sales in fashion aren't being negatively affected by it at all, moreover they continue to grow.

So do models, as skilled and awesome as they can be, have no effect on fashion whatsoever? Or are we simply in the middle of a calculated "drought" of good models, feeding on the inertia caused by mid and late 2000s supermodels just so that an awesome new crop of models a la Mariacarla, Carmen, Vlada, etc. can get people talking about fashion again once they grow tired of the Gigis and the Kendalls and the generic clones with no modeling skills? Personally I'd go with the 2nd option, after all when people think of Versace for example 9 times out of 10 the first image that will come to their mind is a confident supermodel strutting down a runway.

 

[softgrey]

sales are actually in the total toilet right now, in fact...

not that it has anything to do with the models...
but just so you know...they are not continuing to grow...
stores are closing...all over the world...

 

[Wintergreen]

sales are actually in the total toilet right now, in fact...

not that it has anything to do with the models...
but just so you know...they are not continuing to grow...
stores are closing...all over the world...

Oh okay, I read somewhere a while ago that fashion kept growing I'm too gullible.

 

[rosiecheeks]

sales are actually in the total toilet right now, in fact...

not that it has anything to do with the models...
but just so you know...they are not continuing to grow...
stores are closing...all over the world...

Which stores? And for which reason? I'd say fast fashion chains like Zara are not closing. They are growing like crazy. Sure, there are difficulties to overcome when competing with online shopping.

I don't think models are useless; but a lot depends on photographers/stylist/make up artists. Much more than on the models. Sure they have to have the right look, and be at least a bit comfortable, but you can have a suitable girl and still get terrible results if the team isn't good.

I think you are just experiencing nostalgia. I bet in 15 years people will be yearning for the models of today. Things change.

 

[Koibito]

Louis Vuitton, for example.

 

[eizhowa]

Supermodels makes people interested in fashion do they not? I know I wouldn't be here if Kate wasn't who she is, and I can imagine Cara and the likes might do the same for the younger generation.

I think it is a universal truth that everything was better "when we were young"

Surely there have always been loads of bad models?

 

[Elite13]

No. There is a wide variety of models for designers to choose from nowadays, especially with the likes of social media making it easier for guys and girls to be scouted.

As for modelling skills.. well, I think you're making a generalization there. You mentioned the celebrity models but apart from them I certainly think there are lots of fabulous models out there. Julia Nobis is one. Lexi Boling is another.

 

[Aoedele]

Imo, the majority of people shop based on their tastes. Every generation shades on the one before.

 

[mepps]

Fashion is a business about selling clothes, not the models who are wearing them. Certain brands are selling, while others may struggle or lag but it has nothing to do with models. It's about the clothes. It's always been about the clothes.

Models are not popstars, or movie stars. The general public don't relate to them in that way. They create nothing, and can always be replaced. The ones who last in fashion, are the ones who are able to capitalize on their success, and brand themselves in fashion, or other areas of interest.

People who can afford high fashion, buy it because of the designer, and heritage of the label. I doubt most women would by a 10 thousand dollar dress, just because Freja wore it in an ad.

The only "model" the public is interested in, is Kendall Jenner, and that's because of her bizarre family.

 

[Wintergreen]

Models are not popstars, or movie stars. The general public don't relate to them in that way.

Not anymore that is, models were bigger than movie stars in the 90's.

They create nothing, and can always be replaced.

That's just not true, every fashion designer will tell you that a good model will make the clothes look much better than a mediocre one. I've lost count of the number of times I've seen Carmen Kass make one of Donatella's frumpy messes work for example.

 

[AD011620]

In the 90ies models mattered more than clothes. I remember reading Tom Ford's interview where he said that they simply didn't sell clothes at all. That might just be Gucci which was in a very sad state when Tom took over... The hype was created by the supermodels and the whole focus was placed on them too. I think fashion probably never had so many beautiful and different looking models involved thoughout its history. Past 1997 this changed dramatically, I think the models of 2000s were great because they had beauty, they were fresh but weren't as captivating and overpowering as the supers were... This is when the clothes started selling. This was followed by the celebrity takeover which I think will never go away because they sell... I think it is in fact the worst period in fashion and that includes the modelling world...

 

[AD011620]

P.S. Personally, I am more interested in models. They are the ones who bring clothes to life for me and they are responsible for making me interested in fashion. Apart from that I don't really care about fashion because nowadays we all dress differently and as we like and I think it is great. I hate trends and I am super happy when I see differently dressed people in the street. I think probably consumers are the best models nowadays. You see more interesting and inspiring fashion on streets that on catwalks.

 

[Elite13]

The only "model" the public is interested in, is Kendall Jenner, and that's because of her bizarre family.

The public are interested in way more models than Kendall though.

 

[Aoedele]

I agree with comments except for this:

The only "model" the public is interested in, is Kendall Jenner, and that's because of her bizarre family.

What does that even mean?

The public are interested in way more models than Kendall though.

Subjective...

 

[eizhowa]

^I'm a part of the public, and I am interested in other models than Kendall. So no, it is not subjective. It is a fact I just proved.

 

[Aoedele]

^I'm a part of the public, and I am interested in other models than Kendall. So no, it is not subjective. It is a fact I just proved.

The public is interested in models period. Kendall is one of those models. Fact.

 

[squilliam]

I think now that brands are trying to desperately target the youth market by getting instagram famous models and celebrity kids and models who are friends with taylor swift or whatever. For a brand like VS, models are important. But for some brands like chanel and dior, the brand is more powerful than the model. I do think the quality of models has gone down, it's all a bunch clones who can't pose or walk and have bland forget able faces and bodies. VS has lost its model prestige, And the big models are fading away

 

[RedSmokeRise]

I don't think they're useless, social media (for better or worse) has certainly made us more aware of models. Yes the role of a model has become less important but we'll always need them. Unless something drastically happens to the way we look at fashion, season after season we'll keep seeing them on the runway.

If we're talking in terms of modeling ability (lol) then well that's certainly declined - even from just the mid 2000's girls.

 

[ErnstLudwig]

useless is the wrong word, I would say absolutely replaceable.
Until CGI gets even better.. scan once & done = useless

 

[VersaceVixen009]

Models aren't useless but the industry is definitely not as intriguing and glamorous as it was back in the early 2000s. Nowadays, marketing is the ultimate facet of a brand, becoming more of a priority than creativity. Brands/designers chose people who are appealing and who are highly influential to the public. The number of Instagram followers reflect this. Gigi with 9 million followers is going to be casted at Versace because when she posts pictures of herself at the show in the clothes, the public will potentially take an interest in the brand and maybe consider buying the clothes (Yes I know, that is if they are not teenyboppers). So of course Gigi with her cult-following of 9 million followers is going to be chosen over an upcoming ethereal beauty with a Gisele walk who only has 2,000 followers.

I watch old Dior and Versace shows and I get sad missing the old days of eclectic mixes of beauties with killer walks. Nowadays, practically all the girls look so similar and contain the cookie cutter androgynous walk. However, I think that could be due to the clothing designers produce nowadays.