FASHION STYLIST MICHAEL DYE PRESENTS
Fashion and Celebrity Stylist Michael Dye
Today´s post is dedicated to Michael Dye, a Fashion, Celebrity Stylist, Artistic Director and Fashion Editor. Michael Dye has been working as a fashion editor for over 15 years, and for us is such an honor to write this post about his career and his work.
Michael Dye's career in fashion spans over 20 years, first landing a position at Vogue Australia as a Fashion editor.
Michael moved to Europe and made Milan his base, from there his career took off; he went on to work for Italian Vogue Gioiello and Italian Vogue Pelle as a freelance fashion editor styling stories with the likes of Jerry Hall, Sophie Dahl and Erin O’Connor. A freelance for Vanity Fair Italia styling high fashion editorials with A-listers such as Mischa Barton, Naomi Watts, Adrian Brody and Pierce Brosnan as well as an array of top models.
Michael currently resides in Europe and the United States, he contributes to various publications worldwide.
His Clients Include
Editorial- Vogue, Elle, Tatler, Harpers Bazaar and Schön.
Photographers
Simon Emmett, Chris Craymer, Simon Upton, Kevin Sinclair, Helena Christensen, Pascal Chevallier, Ben Watts, Anders Overgaard, Chris Dunlop, Andreas Stavrinides, Fulvio Maiani, Marc de Groot, Lee Jenkins, Jason Bell, Giorgio z Gatti, Nick Kelly, Morten Qvale, Matteo Rigamonti, and Michael Leis.
Celebrities
Rene Zellweger, Dita Von Teese, Adrian Brody, Mischa Barton, Sophie Dahl, Devon Aoki, Naomi Watts, Linda Gray, Erin O’Connor, Helena Christensen, Pierce Brosnan, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Alex Wek, Jerry Hall, Jodie Kidd, and Ines Sastre.
To find more about this amazing person please visit: Michael Dye
or you can follow him on twitter: @michaelpeterdye
Instagram: @michaelpeterdye
INTERNATIONAL MODEL AGENCY POSCHE MODELS
International Model Agency Posche Models
Posche Models is an international agency representing models for runway, catalog, editorial, lifestyle print, and fitness. Posche Models was founded in South Florida in 2001 by Partner, Jeffrey Workman. After 9/11 and relocating from NYC to South Florida, I met Jeffrey Workman and became business partners. Posche present in South Florida, Orlando, New York as well as International offices located in China, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila and Mumbai with further expansion planned.
How do you discover new faces?
Several sources…models may recommend other models looking for representation. Our agency website provides a submission portal for models to directly submit themselves. We attend many scouting events throughout the year as well as maintaining relationships with various model scouts.
What does beauty mean to you?
There are several industry standards when it comes to modeling but when we see a talent that possesses unique quality, it can be very engaging. Trends change, but I like to find something inside the individual that creates a spark.
Do you look for a specific tall?
The industry looks for those standards when it comes to high fashion and runway. Each of our offices is located in distinct regions and we direct our vision and talent boards to satisfy a client’s needs. Example: New York City will have much more demands for a fashion model then our Miami, Orlando, and some Asian rosters.
What makes Posche Models different from other Model agencies?
We don’t really try to fit into any particular mold or follow other agencies. We take a chance on talent and what we feel may be interesting for advertising. We try to really listen to the client and represent talent that will best serve the region. Personally, I tend to gravitate towards talent that is interesting but can be flexible for multimedia.
How is the process of recruiting a model?
We receive submissions from all over the world. It is easier if a talent lives in one of the cities where we have physical offices. Castings are prevalent in securing work and talent needs to be able to attend these. Simple snapshots with natural looks will do. I need to see what a model looks like currently. Basic face and body shot will give me a lot of information if we have a clientele for their look. If we call a model in and sign them, then we take the next steps of images, runway walks, media audition techniques. Our staff gives a lot of time in making sure a model is ready to see a client.
How do you decide whether a young candidate has potential?
When someone submits images you have basic information on height, body type, etc. that will work for our clients. The real test is when they come in and interview. Personality, etiquette, professionalism is everything. With technology, modeling is not just taking a pretty picture, models need to know how to move for video, speak on camera, and represent brands.
Is there a specific formula for finding the right model for a specific campaign?
The key is listening to your client’s needs. When presenting models or talent, you may think outside the box on some but researching the brand and company.
Who are your best clients?
Each of the regions is so diverse in its clients. Miami has such a crossover of projects you can work with a designer or show than a resort the next. That’s what makes this industry interesting, you get to work with so many different people on a daily basis. Even some of our more challenging clientele keep it fresh and interesting.
How many models are represented by Posche Models?
In the USA, approximately 400 in total (ages, types, gender) which is small between three offices but we take a managerial approach to representation. I don’t like the factory agency feel. We are involved with every step of their career. We are very loyal in not representing too many of one look or type so our existing talent has the opportunity to be seen.
What’s your recommendation for young models who want to get into agencies? What’s a good age to start and what should they expect?
Don’t spend any money until you know if agencies are interested and what is needed. An agency knows what they are looking for. Send very clear natural digital snapshots of yourself and make sure you include all of your information (height, sizes, location, contact information). If interested, we will direct you to the best sources and information to get you started. Listen and trust your agent, you are looking for someone to guide you and help establish your career. Professionalism! This is not a cookie-cutter business, but it is a business and should be treated as such.
For more information about please visit Posche Models
FASHION STYLIST YANINA NIKITINA
Fashion Stylist Yanina Nikitina
Yanina is a freelance Fashion Stylist with more than 2 years of experience, her career starts in the world of Marketing, just realized that her passion was the fashion world from another perspective.
Yanina Nikitina was born in Saint-Petersburg, Russia, when she finished school and university and she moved to Paris to continue her studies at the age of 25. She studied marketing there and received a Master's degree in Luxury brand marketing and international management. After 3 years in Paris where while doing her master she also had a chance to work for Cartier and Chanel, she moved to London to work for Christian Dior as a trainee manager in retail. She still didn’t have a clear idea of what she wanted to do and my only wish was to move to London.
When did you know you wanted to be a fashion stylist?
I think the first time I clearly realized that I wanted to become a stylist was after 2 years of work in luxury retail as a manager; the job which had nothing to do with the creative process and was all about running a business and managing staff. At first, I was thinking to become a personal shopper but then naturally it transformed into styling. Personal shopping and styling are two different things because when you do personal shopping, you obviously do it for a real person who has her / his own opinion, preferences, fears which you have to take into consideration. When you style an editorial, you can be as creative as the brief allows you to be and you obviously don’t have to explain your choices to the model (for example).
What's it like being in the Fashion industry?
I can’t say that I know the fashion industry from all sides but the only thing I can say that as in any other industry there are different people there: good, bad, nice, not nice, genuine, fake and so on. There are also professional and not that professional, but the point is that sooner or later you will find your “crowd” - a group of people with who you will be happy to work together and with who you will easily understand each other.
Describe what do you do in your work?
I style editorials which means that I get clothes from different designers and put them into looks according to the brief or mood board. I style looks books for designers, photography workshops, I also do styling for some advertising. I also do some personal shopping.
What do you like about your work?
I love it because styling is a creative process, it is never the same thing, it is always new ideas, I work with different people, I meet a lot of new people, it is not 9 to 5 working hours, sometimes it can be 15 hours working day but sometimes it can be 4 hours shoot. You actually never really know what will come next. This is what I find so exciting about this job.
What advice would you pass along to those starting out in the Fashion Business?
I would advise this: it is never late to start no matter how old you are, there is a place for everybody and sooner or later you will get there, be patient, remember that it is about the process and not about destination, don’t be scared to make mistakes, try to work with different people and only by trying different things and working with different photographers, make-up artists, hairstylists you will understand what is for you and what is not, and it will also help you to find your own style. Never try to copy anyone, though you can obviously be inspired by someone else’s works. And always be inspired by something.
What inspires you?
I am a big fan of paintings; I would say I am definitely Tate Britain rather than Tate Modern, and I do a lot of art exhibitions, and I love cinema which also inspires me a lot. I also get inspired by clothes itself, sometimes I can spot pieces of clothing and create an idea for a photo shoot around it. I also love faces and sometimes a particular model can inspire me for an idea for a shoot.
For more information about Yanina, please visit: Yanina Nikitina
Credits:
Photographer Rhian Cox Make-up and hair Alisha Bailey model Dayana @ BMA models (left Image)
Photographer Rhian Cox Make-up Alisha Bailey Hair Andy Dowall model Ellie Rosa Simmons (right Image)
ELISA D’OSPINA A MODEL WITH REAL CURVES
Italian Plus Size Model Elisa D’Ospina
What does Beauty mean for you? For every person beauty can be represented in many different ways, for me, beauty is something from the inside more than from the outside, because we are all going to grow, and our body is going to change through the years, but inner beauty is something that you were born with it, and nobody, not even time can take away.
Coming from Venezuela where the beauty standards are difficult to reach unless you go under the knife, it always keeps me thinking how difficult it must be for young generations to reach this beauty, or how much pressure they must feel.
I think is important to change this mentality, and to focus more in who we are from the inside out, instead of how we look, It is important to accept us by who we are and embrace ourselves.
Don’t take me wrong I am not saying to take care of us and make our hair, and makeup every day, I am saying for those of you who are not sized, to embrace who you really are.
But who’s better to tell us more about this topic than Elisa D’Ospina, Elisa is a plus-size model, who knows what she want and how to get it, she is not one of those woman’s dying to fit in a particular beauty standard, she embraces herself and brakes all the rules she can find on her way, to be Beautiful, be Independent and be herself.
But Elisa D'Ospina is more than just a model, she also has a degree in Communication Studies with a major in Psychology, she wrote a book "Una vita Tutta curve" (A curvy life) but more important she is an example to follow.
How did you get into fashion? How did you start your modeling career?
I started in 2007, a bit late, I was already great. I had tried to enter a modeling agency when I was 15, but I was told that I had to lose 30 pounds in fashion otherwise I would only have to clean the bathrooms. Instead, my path was different. I entered the fashion system with my physicality and it was just the one to take me to be who I am.
How your career in Science Communication influences your Model career today?
Communication has always been everything in my path. I always wanted to communicate other than being a simple body on the catwalk. In 2015 there is need not only strong signals and image
What does Fashion mean to you?
To me it means freedom. And what I want, my little revolution wants to ensure that fashion becomes an expression, a form of art but also a form of freedom. Women should be free to find in stores their sizes, to dress as they like and not with a diktat
You are breaking the beauty standards today, how do you feel being a role model for so many women?
Is challenging. Many will write their stories, I have collected more than 1000 mails in recent years and I must say it's nice that people understand your force it. Every revolution starts with small steps and I must say that today my motto has become the motto of many. Only in this way, being together, we can change something
What is the perfect diet for you?
Mediterranean diet. Eat little, but everything
Today young girls have a lot of pressure to be perfect, size 0, have the right proportions, and I feel there is so much insecurity in the society today, that a lot of women are choosing to get plastic surgery in order to be let say ''perfect'' what would you advice to this woman’s?
I wrote a book called "Una vita Tutta curve" and one of the chapters is titled "Perfection does not exist." There is that which is perfect. There is a line that may be common too many. It 's our fault at times to become a strong point. If I had stereotyped I never made my path. Being unique has a price, but nature has chosen well. Why homologate?
How International society is accepting the new plus-size models?
Society looks plus size models with curiosity. Now we are part of the system.
How was your collaboration with the Health Ministry of Italy?
In 2009 I will be a spokesperson for the Italian Health ministry about eating disorders. Now my battle continues in schools where I met every year thousands of young people and together made a way to understand how important is to be healthy
How would you describe your personal fashion style?
I'm rock chic
Tell us about your book. To who is your book dedicate?
My book was born for these people I met in my way. For young people who don't believe in herself. My book is a hand that can help you in your body image. You are beautiful, you are great, and you are unique.
Do you think the beauty standards are changing now? Do you think in 5 years we will be able to see a model size 8 in the Italian fashion Week?
I hope. I hope something can change. We need it. We need to be different women in media
Photo Credits:
Sandro Ferrone
