Behind the Scenes: How to Style Models for High-Fashion Editorials

While there are many types of modeling styles, it’s of interest to know that high-fashion editorials are what we see in magazines and on ramps, that is, the dramatic visualization of fashion as compared to our simple day to day life. While most high fashion editorials are found in magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Verve, and are more creative in nature, they’re also extremely popular and tough to achieve.

Key Elements Of A High Fashion Editorial Shoot

A high fashion editorial shoot consists of many creative elements, all of which aim to represent a story without uttering a single word. The meaning behind fashion editorial shoots is often more than what meets the eye. The weird and sometimes whimsical sense of fashion can be interpreted through the following elements:

• A Creative Theme
• Vibrant Backgrounds
• The Main Subject
• Dramatic Lighting
• Unique Outfits

All these elements along with other factors such as makeup, trends, perspective, and narration make up a successful high fashion editorial shoot.

3 Ways To Style Models For High Fashion Editorials

Research The Current Trends

If you want to find the right style vision for your high fashion editorial shoot, you must start with the research. While trends may come and go, there is always something interesting happening in the present that you can use to style your models for the editorial. Alternatively, there are recurring themes that are brought to the attention of the viewers time and again such as the idea of self expression often denoted through the combination of different cultural elements, tattoos, and piercings such as plugs, gauges, and septum jewelry. You can start building a vision on how to style your models for the editorial based on which narrative you want to go with.

Define A Theme

Once you’ve taken your time to look at the current trends and have chosen a narrative to present, the next step is to define a theme for your high fashion editorial shoot. For instance, if you want to represent the concept of self expression through the use of piercings, you will need to set all the elements accordingly. Start by finding elements that fit your vision such as models with tattoos, or creating fake tattoos to show the intersection of fashion and tattoos. You’ll also need a street style background, outfit and accessories that match the aesthetic and the right makeup as well as other minor details to set the stage for the high fashion editorial shoot.

Experiment With Expressions And Poses

Once your models are ready to pose for the editorials, it’s important to start by experimenting with different styles, poses and accessories for a perfect photoshoot and to show different sets of narratives. For instance, a model with deep set eyes looking directly into the camera, her face adorned with different kinds of facial piercings, deep set eyes, and a stern expression might be more powerful than capturing a group of models with different aesthetics posing together to show diversity. This is your opportunity to create a story worth telling, so focus on the styling of your model(s) in a way that fits in with the story and is easy to follow through as your audience turns the pages of the magazine.

Final Thoughts

High fashion editorials are a creative way to bring forward a unique perspective through beautiful storytelling. Whether you’re a model trying to make a mark in the fashion editorial world, or you want to style your models for fashion editorials, the tips given above will guide you in the right direction to create mesmerizing high fashion editorials.