Erin Scimeca and models; Image: Courtesy
tFS: What’s the craziest pitch you’ve ever gotten?
ES: This one guy really wanted to be in this business. He kept sending CDs of himself singing and books that he’d write. Every week it was something different. I also get a lot of bathroom selfies in the mirror…
tFS: What are you looking for?
ES: We’re looking for the girl who can do it all. First, she’s got to have the height — between 5 feet 9 inches and 6 feet. Five feet 10 inches is the best because that’s what’s trending at shows right now. The proper measurements are great, but that’s something we can work on. Hips should be around 34 to 35 inches, if you want to do shows. And we want personality.
tFS: What other model trends are you seeing right now?
ES: The industry is going back to beauty again, which is so exciting. It’s trending back to that girl who is all-encompassing — the girl that can be beautiful and interesting. She can do the shows, but she can also do the advertising.
tFS: What do you think about models taking selfies on Instagram?
ES: I’ve never been a fan.
MS: We remind the girls that people in the industry, from client to photographers, are looking at this stuff. If you put up a stupid selfie of you painting your toenails, who wants to see that?
ES: It plays into the stereotype that models are vain and all about themselves. I’d rather look at a girl’s Instagram if it shows me a cool trip they went on or a museum they visited.
tFS: Do you use social media to scout?
ES: Typically not. So much of a model is about her personality. It’s not the same as meeting them in person.
tFS: What are designers asking for now?
ES: It depends, but more designers, like Alexander Wang, are taking risks and asking for more new faces. We usually don’t know what they’re looking for until we see the girls on the runway. Every season is different.
tFS: Is it harder to scout in New York because so many girls are already models?
MS: Absolutely. The Supreme skating shop on Lafayette Street always has a long line around the block about twice a week. We all walk by and look at that line. I don’t scout, but one day I was walking by and saw this boy that I thought was absolutely adorable. I called the office and said, “Send someone right away!” They texted me and said, “Yes, we had him but he left about three weeks ago…” That area by Spring, Prince and Lafayette is crawling with models.
tFS: What’s your role during Fashion Week?
ES: We have sometimes eight appointments a day of people coming in to see the girls we have. Then there’s the support we have to give the girls, who may not have booked the shows they wanted.
MS: There are tears!
ES: I always tell people to take a psychology class if they want to be a model scout. You’re dealing with kids with real emotions. And on top of that, they’re representing your agency. So if they don’t feel sure of themselves, you’re not going to have a good product going out and you’re not going to book a job.
Models posing during New York Fashion Week; Image: Imaxtree
tFS: What can girls who want to be models do before approaching you that may help their chances?
ES: I tell girls to do their model homework. Study the magazines. Know the stylists’ names and photographers’ names. Know the designers. Go onto Style.com and watch how girls are walking on the runway. Know the names of the other models, and watch how girls dress on the street when they’re going to castings.
tFS: What should models wear to casting calls?
ES: In Paris, it tends to be a little more chic and glamorous. New York is more simple. We try to pull out their personality a little bit, so sometimes it can be more grungy rock star and other times it’s more classic. And it’s geared toward the clients, too. You’re going to dress different when you go to Ralph Lauren versus Alexander Wang. It’s important to have a classic black skirt, a plain top with no logos or patterns. You need a classic pair of skinny jeans with a cool jacket. The one thing every model needs to invest in is a cool bag and a great pair of shoes. And shop vintage! That way, when you’re coming out of a show and someone asks you who you’re wearing, you’re not saying Forever 21.
tFS: Do you have a fashion closet that models pull from?
MS: The girls are in here almost every day with just about every piece of clothing in their wardrobe. We go over what they have and if they’re missing something, we look at the model closet downstairs or we go shopping.
ES: We pre-approve a lot of the outfits. It’s great when they bring in their clothes because then we know what they have, so if they’re going to a show, we can tell them what outfit to wear. They don’t always listen, but we like to help.
tFS: What’s the most challenging part of the job?
ES: The disappointment. When you see a girl try so hard and for some reason, it doesn’t play out, it’s hard, especially when her friends are taking off and booking jobs. And so many of the girls are young, so you’re not dealing with a mature mind. They sometimes can’t see that just because they didn’t get this one job doesn’t mean that they won’t get the next.
