House model
Encyclopedia
A house model is a fashion model who works exclusively or near-exclusively for a particular fashion brand, house or label. A house model can also be associated with specific cosmetic
or perfume
brands.
gained a reputation for showing his designs to prospective clients upon live models. Worth's own wife, Marie Vernet, had been a model for the Parisian drapers Gagelin and Opigez before their marriage, and she continued to act as a model for Worth's early designs.
The London couturier Lucile
, is widely credited with training the first professional fashion model
s in about 1897. She is also linked with the first runway or "catwalk" fashion shows.
By the 1920s, it was standard practice for fashion houses to employ in-house mannequins. Such a profession was considered normal enough to be the job of the heroine of the 1927 Alfred Hitchcock
film The Lodger
.
before becoming the top house model for Christian Dior
. Dior gained a reputation for his line-up of dedicated house models, all of whom he gave nicknames (including "Alla" and "Victoire").
Dior's house models would also model for fashion photographs, although this was not standard practice. Many photographers preferred photographic models such as Dovima
, who were not affiliated with any specific fashion house. One of the few exceptions to this rule was Joanna Lumley
, who worked as a house model for Jean Muir
in the mid to late 1960s, and was frequently photographed wearing Muir's designs.
Some house models gained insight into the fashion trade through their jobs, and went on to become designers in their own right, such as Emmanuelle Khanh, who modelled at Balenciaga
and then Givenchy
from 1957 to 1963 before launching her ready to wear fashion label.
's widely known work for Calvin Klein
, particularly her Obsession advertisements is a small part of a wide-ranging modelling career. Julia Stegner
, the house model for Hugo Boss
for several seasons, also did modelling work for other fashion houses and brands.
The house model need not be exclusively a model. An actor or celebrity may be invited to act a role similar to that of the house model by being the "public face" of a brand or label. For example, L'Oreal
has many "spokespeople" including Andie MacDowell
and the Bollywood
actor Aishwarya Rai
to endorse its beauty products and act as a public face for the company.
Cosmetics
Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
or perfume
Perfume
Perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils and/or aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents used to give the human body, animals, objects, and living spaces "a pleasant scent"...
brands.
Pre-1945
The role of the house model began to be clearly defined in the mid-19th century, when Charles Frederick WorthCharles Frederick Worth
Charles Frederick Worth , widely considered the Father of Haute couture, was an English fashion designer of the 19th century, whose works were produced in Paris.-Career:...
gained a reputation for showing his designs to prospective clients upon live models. Worth's own wife, Marie Vernet, had been a model for the Parisian drapers Gagelin and Opigez before their marriage, and she continued to act as a model for Worth's early designs.
The London couturier Lucile
Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon
Lucy Christiana, Lady Duff Gordon was a leading fashion designer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, best known as "Lucile", her professional name. The first British designer to achieve international renown, Lucile was a widely-acknowledged innovator in couture styles as well as in fashion...
, is widely credited with training the first professional fashion model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
s in about 1897. She is also linked with the first runway or "catwalk" fashion shows.
By the 1920s, it was standard practice for fashion houses to employ in-house mannequins. Such a profession was considered normal enough to be the job of the heroine of the 1927 Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
film The Lodger
The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog
The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog is a silent film directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1926 and released on 14 February 1927 in London and on 10 June 1928 in New York City. The film, based on a story by Marie Belloc Lowndes and a play Who Is He? co-written by Belloc Lowndes, concerns the hunt for a...
.
Post-1945
From the late 1940s, individual house models began to become well-known by their names or professional names. They could also move from one house to another. "Lucky" (Lucie Daouphars (ca.1922-1963)) was originally a house model for Jacques FathJacques Fath
Jacques Fath was a French fashion designer who was considered one of the three dominant influences on postwar haute couture, the others being Christian Dior and Pierre Balmain.-Career:The son of André Fath, an Alsatian-Flemish insurance agent, Fath came from a creative family...
before becoming the top house model for Christian Dior
Christian Dior
Christian Dior , was a French fashion designer, best known as the founder of one of the world's top fashion houses, also called Christian Dior.-Life:...
. Dior gained a reputation for his line-up of dedicated house models, all of whom he gave nicknames (including "Alla" and "Victoire").
Dior's house models would also model for fashion photographs, although this was not standard practice. Many photographers preferred photographic models such as Dovima
Dovima
Dorothy Virginia Margaret Juba , later known as Dorothy Horan, and best known as Dovima, was a model during the 1950s....
, who were not affiliated with any specific fashion house. One of the few exceptions to this rule was Joanna Lumley
Joanna Lumley
Joanna Lamond Lumley, OBE, FRGS is a British actress, voice-over artist, former-model and author, best known for her roles in British television series Absolutely Fabulous portraying Edina Monsoon's best friend, Patsy Stone, as well as parts in The New Avengers, Sapphire & Steel, and Sensitive...
, who worked as a house model for Jean Muir
Jean Muir
Jean Elizabeth Muir, CBE, FCSD was an English fashion designer .-History and early career:...
in the mid to late 1960s, and was frequently photographed wearing Muir's designs.
Some house models gained insight into the fashion trade through their jobs, and went on to become designers in their own right, such as Emmanuelle Khanh, who modelled at Balenciaga
Balenciaga
Balenciaga is a fashion house founded by Cristóbal Balenciaga, a Basque designer, born in the Basque Country, Spain. He had a reputation as a couturier of uncompromising standards and was referred to as "the master of us all" by Christian Dior. His bubble skirts and odd, feminine, yet ultra-modern...
and then Givenchy
Givenchy
Givenchy is a French brand of clothing, accessories, perfumes and cosmetics with Parfums Givenchy.The house of Givenchy was founded in 1952 by designer Hubert de Givenchy and is a member of Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture et du Pret-a-Porter...
from 1957 to 1963 before launching her ready to wear fashion label.
Present day
The definition of the house model in the present day is less clear. Couturiers continue to employ house models, although it is rare for the model to be affiliated exclusively to a specific brand or label. A model may be called a house model for a certain designer due to being frequently featured in that designer's advertisements or catwalk shows, without working exclusively for them. For example, Kate MossKate Moss
Kate Moss is an English model. Moss is known for her waifish figure and popularising the heroin chic look in the 1990s. She is also known for her controversial private life, high profile relationships, party lifestyle, and drug use. Moss changed the look of modelling and started a global debate on...
's widely known work for Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....
, particularly her Obsession advertisements is a small part of a wide-ranging modelling career. Julia Stegner
Julia Stegner
Julia Stegner is a German model.- Biography :Stegner, the daughter of Günter Stegner, the Director Central and Eastern Europe for LSI Corporation, and Erika Stegner, an accountant, was raised in an animal-loving household with many dogs alongside her older sister Jeanette, who currently works in...
, the house model for Hugo Boss
Hugo Boss
Hugo Ferdinand Boss was the founder of clothing company Hugo Boss.-Early life:Boss was born in Metzingen, Germany. After completing his apprenticeship and one year of employment, he founded his own company in Metzingen in 1923.-Support of Nazism:Boss joined the Nazi Party in 1931, two years before...
for several seasons, also did modelling work for other fashion houses and brands.
The house model need not be exclusively a model. An actor or celebrity may be invited to act a role similar to that of the house model by being the "public face" of a brand or label. For example, L'Oreal
L'Oréal
The L'Oréal Group is the world's largest cosmetics and beauty company. With its registered office in Paris and head office in the Paris suburb of Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France, it has developed activities in the field of cosmetics...
has many "spokespeople" including Andie MacDowell
Andie MacDowell
Rosalie Anderson "Andie" MacDowell is an American model and actress. She has received the Golden Camera and an Honorary César.-Early life:...
and the Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
actor Aishwarya Rai
Aishwarya Rai
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is an Indian film actress. She worked as a model before starting her acting career, and ultimately won the Miss World pageant in 1994...
to endorse its beauty products and act as a public face for the company.