Rogue Modelling Agencies

Today I would like to talk about an experience I had recently with what I felt was a Rogue modelling agency, I will not be naming names of  who the exact agency was.


I was forwarded details for some shoots & castings that were coming up, I applied for one show, who told me they were interested in working with me, and they would like to book me for an assessment with their affiliated photography studio.


So I thought ok why not.  Luckily for me although i've been modelling for a short while I knew the tell tell signs of a rogue modelling agency and had done my prior research, following all the guidelines and steps from AMA (Association of Modelling Agencies).


The website of the modelling agency was ok, not anything to wow the eyes, I proceeded with caution. The big day arrived, I went for the assessment they loved my look and not so much my portfolio, now in my eyes my portfolio was a decent portfolio nothing to be ashamed of, however they saw differently. They began telling me of taking pictures there and then at a cost of £200 thats when alarm bells began to ring, because they were slowly convincing me sucking me in, some of the models they had in their office I had worked with, so I said I would place a deposit, and left it as that, in which I was not given an official receipt, which rang alarm bell's number 2.


I then spoke with a model who was there in the studio after we left and felt the same way as I did that something about this agency and the way it operated didn't quite smell right, which further increased my suspicion. I went home and did more research and spoke with a few other models, who had worked with them and they all had the same response stay away from them this not how a reputable agency should operate, and they told me their experiences they had with the agency. So I did exactly what they advised me and  I feel much better for it, as I could see like many other rogue agencies, they purely after money.



In some respects i'm glad to be a freelance model as it gives me that freedom, but theres always that risk of falling into that pit, the moral of that story is to be AWARE , although this is said time and time again, just be on your toes for what's out there.

Clerkenwell Design Week

A few weeks ago it was Clerkenwell Design Week, a must for all designers, architects and socialites. We had the pleasure of attending. It was a great experience as it was my first time, all show rooms were open to showcase their new products, it was a great opportunity to network and learn about new products and designers. Each space was transformed, and the sun was out. Jaguar being one of the sponsors had a clay model of the latest vehicle as well as exhibiting their latest two, being the car fanatic that I am I was throughly thrilled.

There was two events which really stuck out for me the lecture of Frank Lloyd Wright at Steelcase and the film at Vitra about Charles & Ray Eames. We are often use to hearing how fantastic their work is and their contribution to the design world, this can never be disputed, however, we are never shown what is behind this the real characters behind the design. For the first time we was given a rare insight into their lives and what made them into the people they are best known as, it was far more interesting than any university lecture I had endured.

Frank Lloyd Wright
American interior designer/ architect/ writer/ educator, who designed well over 1000 structures and completed over 500.

Whilst still married Wright took a liking to the neighbours wife Mamah Borthwick Cheney, this later led to the two having an affair with both spouses refusing to divorce them. They fled to europe, which crippled Wright's ability to practice architecture in America.


Wight's first work in europe was with Ernst Wasmuth, Wright worked on over 100 lithographs which were known as the Wasmuth portfolio.


After being well established in europe, Wright and Cheney  moved back to the US and built a new home in Spring Green, Wisconsin.


Unfortunately happiness was short lived, as a servant, set the house on fire, killing 7 people including Cheney and her two children, the most remarkable event was that Wright rebuilt the house.


In 1922 Wright's first wife granted him a divorce, a year later this allowed him to marry his then partner Maude Miram Noel. However this marriage was short lived due to Noels drug addiction to morphine.


Whilst being separated from Noel met Olga Lazorion Hinzenburg a Petrograd dancer who bore him a child.


 Remarkably the house set alight again this time by a faulty telephone wire, nobody was hurt, but Wright declared a set of Japenese prints, which were invaluable he rebuilt the property again and named it Taliesin III.

Wasmuth Portfolio

House for for Mr. Tomek (Detail) Plate XXXV

Living Room, Avery Coonley Plate LVI

Taliesin III

Image copyright of Papillon0128

Charles & Ray Eames 

Charles & Ray Eames American designers, most influential designers of modern architecture/ furniture/ industrial design/ fine art/ graphic design & film.

Charles Eames whilst at Washington University, met his first wife they later went on to have a daughter, he moved his family to Michigan to pursue his career in architecture & Design

He attended Cranbrook Academy and became the head of industrial design, where Charles and a fellow college began work for a competition for the first prototype of the lounge plywood chair.

Charles  met his fellow colleague Ray, and became close with her this led to the divorce of his first wife.

As a honeymoon gift Charles and Ray Eames set off to Los Angeles, California, to expand and continue work on the prototype of the moulded plywood.

They set up a practice, which was an ever changing studio, filled with artists and designers. Many felt they were not getting credit for their work, or the boundaries of ownership became blurred. "One designer said she did not mind being exploited, as she was being exploited by a master"

Charles and Ray Eames, later went on to build there prefabricated home the Eames House case study number 8, which was erected in days, a milestone in modern architecture.

The Eames continued to be influential figures being commissioned for exhibitions, films as well as furniture to name but a few.

However all was not well behind the scenes, Charles & Ray Eames were in an era, of male chauvinism, the woman's place was seen to be in the home, this often led Ray Eames to fade into the background, even though she offered equal amount of input towards design. They were a power couple ahead of their times. Ray may have not shown the effects, but it was felt amongst the office.

Charles being a well known figure, lacked in human interaction, he lacked a social aptitude he often found it hard to communicate, if diagnosed now may have been considered to be dyslexia, often recognised in many designers.

Charles being a charismatic, good looking man, had a mistress , which was known but never spoken of, something which deeply hurt Ray Eames.

Eames House

Powers of Ten

I know this is unusual to write about designers in such ways, most would probably say focus on their work they are known for, but we all like a bit of gossip. Three remarkable people, feel free to leave comments.

Quintessentially British

Hi all,

I would just like to start off apologising as I haven't blogged in a while, i've been very busy with modelling as you will know, I shall keep you updated, and would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who voted for me.

As we approach the olympics, and are in full swing of the jubilee season it feels fitting to blog about key British trends which stormed the fashion industry.

1. Starting off with the ever so essential cardigan.

An item which is fitting for both male & female as well as any age  the cardigan was named after  James Thomas Brudenell, the seventh Earl of Cardigan.  It was based on the the fur and braid trimmed knitted wool waistcoats that British officers use to wear during the war. Since then it has been adopted by Americans as well as Parisians. It remains a British classic piece emphasising school wear chic. 

2. The mini skirt, aaaaahhhh the classic, defining skirt of the swinging sixties, Mary Quant's skirt was a symbol for  sexual revolution liberating expression of female empowerment. Quant named the skirt after her favourite car, and was sold in the iconic Bazar in London's designer district Kings Road. 

3. One of my favourites The Brogue. The Brogue started off in Scotland bogs and has since elevated to high fashion city workers. The perforated holes were originally used to drain water as the user  walked through wet terrains. Now its often teamed up with an androgynous look worn by women.

4. The trench coat, was named after the soldiers in the trenches during the first world war, this is one of the most well known garments to come from the British fashion industry, and another one of my favourites.

Burberry have been the masters on reinventing the looks each time and time again