Corporate public relations has always been a very dicey business. When things are going well, you are on top of the world, but when things are going badly you are practically a fall guy. You are ceaselessly in the public eye, being scrutinized by the press and attacked as a spin doctor by anyone who doesn't believe what you are telling. Never mind that the public relations firms are only representing what their clients want them to tell. Never mind that we aren't running the industries, polluting the environment, or exploiting the workers ourselves. We still get the brunt of it.
Fashion public relations always seemed safe up until recently. After all, what could go wrong with marketing relations for the fashion industry? Clothes are not particularly environmentally unfriendly or dangerous. They do not cause violence or addiction. They may cost a little bit more than they are worth, but that is it. Fashion public relations seemed like it would be a breeze. That is why got involved in in the first place – I thought I could make some good money and not have to work too hard. I should have thought twice.
Since last year, it has been nothing but a crisis public relations where I work. I cannot tell you the particular manufacturer that I work for, but it is one of the big ones – the top names in the fashion industry. In the past, fashion public relations was basically window dressing for them. They have always had such a formidable reputation that there wasn't all that much to be done as far as spin doctoring went. Then the news about the sweatshops came out, and suddenly fashion public relations became the most hot, uncomfortable occupation in the whole outfit. I am beginning to regret the day I got into pr public relations.
Apparently, the company I work for has been getting clothes manufactured in Chinese labor camps. Try addressing something like that in a fashion public relations press hearing! There is just simply no way to spin it. You can say that the people are criminals, but then someone will bring up China's record of human rights violations. You can claim that the company doesn't know, but of course that is patently false. All that remains for a fashion public relations official to do in those circumstances is to talk in circles and hope that everyone will go away.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Sensation Of Fashion Modeling Job
If there was one thing about my life that has surprised me so far, it is becoming a fashion model. You see, I have always been very independent. I never put a lot of energy into my dress because I don't really care that much how people look at me. If all they see is what I am wearing then I'm content not to be their friend. As you could probably guess, this is not the attitude most common among fashion models. Fashion models love clothing, and obsess about body image. I just happen to be gifted with a thin body and a winning smile which, combined with my sensational sense of poise, is enough to get a fashion modeling job.
None of the really good clothes models that I know set out to do it. People who set out to become clothing models rarely have what it takes. They are too obsessed with the way people look at them, too driven to be liked, and in general to needy. In the short term, these types of fashion models can be very successful, but over the longer run they tend to burn out. They are the ones who fall victim to all of the pitfalls of the fashion model world. They get into drugs or end up in the hospital with a bad case of anorexia or bulimia. Whatever the case, they are not the runway fashion models who are remembered for years to come.
The problem is that you need such thick skin to look for modeling jobs. I was lucky and stumbled into a modeling job, but this is not usually the case. There are literally tens of thousands of fashion models competing for a fraction as many jobs. Don't get me wrong – if you stick around for long enough, one gig or another will come around – but it is seldom enough to pay the bills.
The real tragedy of it is that a lot of fashion models have their sense of self-esteem tied to whether or not they are accepted into these jobs. Not only do they put their lives on hold while they look for fashion model jobs, but their self-esteem suffers each and every day. It may look like glamor from the outside, but in reality it is not a very good life for fashion models. If you are needy, find some other way to boost your self-esteem!
None of the really good clothes models that I know set out to do it. People who set out to become clothing models rarely have what it takes. They are too obsessed with the way people look at them, too driven to be liked, and in general to needy. In the short term, these types of fashion models can be very successful, but over the longer run they tend to burn out. They are the ones who fall victim to all of the pitfalls of the fashion model world. They get into drugs or end up in the hospital with a bad case of anorexia or bulimia. Whatever the case, they are not the runway fashion models who are remembered for years to come.
The problem is that you need such thick skin to look for modeling jobs. I was lucky and stumbled into a modeling job, but this is not usually the case. There are literally tens of thousands of fashion models competing for a fraction as many jobs. Don't get me wrong – if you stick around for long enough, one gig or another will come around – but it is seldom enough to pay the bills.
The real tragedy of it is that a lot of fashion models have their sense of self-esteem tied to whether or not they are accepted into these jobs. Not only do they put their lives on hold while they look for fashion model jobs, but their self-esteem suffers each and every day. It may look like glamor from the outside, but in reality it is not a very good life for fashion models. If you are needy, find some other way to boost your self-esteem!
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