DD Scouted, what to wear to agency

[NunsOnTheRum]

DD was scouted by a model agency whilst out shopping with her friends. She is in her GCSE year, so not the kind of distraction she needs right now but she is obviously excited. The lady from the model agency took some photos of DD there and then in the shop and asked for my email address. I have since received an email from her asking that we come into town to visit their agency during the half term week and they can take some photos of DD. They said she should just come as she is.

DD is in a bit of a style no-man’s-land right now. She went through a grunge/ hard rock era where everything she wore was lose and dreary. Though she still listens to that music she has started to dress in softer, more form fitting clothes but hasn’t hit on any particular look. The shopping trip was with a new group of girls she is trying to become friends with so I helped her dress, opened up some vac pacs of my old clothes and put her in a pair of 7 for all mankind slim jeans and a leather jacket from the 90s, which was too big.

She has really struggled with friendships and very unsure of where she fits in the world and was not particularly pleased with my clothing suggestions but she ran out of time so went dressed as described.

Since I supplied the clothes for the shopping trip where she was scouted, she now wants me to help dress her for her agency visit. The problem is normally she rejects most of my suggestions and there isn’t much left in the vac pac that is wearable. Any ideas on what I should suggest she wear? I don’t want to put too much thought or money into this, revision needs to be her focus this week. At the same time I want to help her have the best chance of success. Help please

Basically, what she wore last time. Different t shirt maybe. I wouldn’t overthink it. They’re looking at her not the clothes and they’ll be very used to seeing through the clothes she’s wearing (as it were).

Go with something more neutral/plain. Not something crazy overehelming or distracting. What was she wearing when she was spotted? Can you find something similar?

Remember they spotted her because of her figure and face, so whatever she wears probably isnt going to matter too much. If she books a job she will not be wearing her own clothes anyway.

The models aren't meant to turn up looking like style icons. Jeans and t shirt is absolutely fine. And she shouldn't wear lots of makeup or lashes etc.

Please be careful. Have you googled the agency? Sometimes these ‘spots ‘ are scams, and the kids/parents are asked for money to pay for the photos so they can be ‘progressed’. Do t fall for it, and prepare your dd for disappointment

After Googling what models wear to castings it seems skinny jeans/leggings and fitted tee with minimal make up is the go to.

I used to model and I'd say her favourite jeans and a black or white plain fitted t-shirt. Hair washed but not overly styled. Fresh faced.

They know what they are looking for.

Yes I did Google them. It is a legitimate agency, they have some well known supermodels on their books. The email address and the address of their agency matches what is on their website. They haven’t asked for anything, just for her to show up with me.

I am trying my best to brace her for disappointment, she is quite accepting that it probably won’t go anywhere she just wants to give it a try.

fantastic! Best of luck xx

(it does happen. One of my kids’ schoolmates is now walking for all the big designers and getting magazine gigs. Has paid for a London flat with the earnings)

They don’t care what’s she’s wearing. Jeans, t shirt and jacket is fine as long as they are clean. She should be polite and friendly and be herself as much as she can. Good luck!

Thank you. I was kind of hoping an ex model would show up with some advice. Far more credible than her dreary mother 🤣

DD is happy. Thanks!

Jeans and vest top or t shirt is fine. Clean, un styled hair and no make up.
If you go on the agency website and look at the new faces or development , you can see the kind of poloroids and test shoots they do.

100% this. Model agents don't generally go up to random children/teens in public, and 'scout' them, whilst they are shopping with their mates. Sounds like this could be the early beginnings of a scam. (Or something more sinister...) Proceed with caution @NunsOnTheRum do NOT let your daughter go anywhere alone, and do NOT hand any money or bank details over.

If it’s genuine, they won’t be too worried about what she wears to the casting. She’s been scouted as a model, not a designer - and more pertinently, a big part of being a model is wearing what you’re told to wear, whether you would be seen dead in it in real life or not!

They need to see whether she photographs well in a professional setting; whether her overall look (facial features, figure, hair) is something they can sell, to be blunt. It doesn’t matter so much about her own sense of style, in the way it would if she had aspirations to be an influencer.

Thank you everyone.

DD has settled on same jeans and flat boots with my old oversized jacket that she wore before. She’s teaming it with a plain navy slim fit t shirt. Hair down. She isn’t a big makeup wearer anyway so just some mascara and lip gloss I think.

Wear exact same outfit. They’ll probably have. Clothes for her to try on. Very exciting but she sounds vulnerable so be careful here it can be a brutal industry

That’s how Kate Moss was spotted, surely. Sopping in Croydon.

I once got scouted shopping in London. Although to be fair it was for one of those “real people” agencies (and I never got a follow-up call 😄)!

This is exactly what model scouts do. My daughter got scouted 5 or 6 times shopping around Oxford Street, at Waterloo train statio and even skateboarding through a car park in our village. They usually give you a business card and you can then check out the agency is legitimate. Give them a call on the number on their website and check that the scout does actually work for them as there are lots of frauds out there and they can be pretty sophisticated. If your daughter is underage they should communicate through you anyway.
You will never be asked for money for photographs or anything, they will usually takes some photos when you go in and then arrange a test shoot with a photographer.

Freshly washed hair
No makeup, clean and moisturised skin. A little Vaseline on the lips maybe.
A black fitted, highish neck, vest top and jeans. She can wear a jumper or shirt that can be easily taken off.
Smile, be polite, say thank you to everyone at the end. Prepare to be measured - they say they don’t do waist and hips for teens-in my experience they do.
Know her shoe and bra size

If nothing comes of it she’s had an experience that many others won’t have had.

if you don’t want to say the agency do you want to pm me?

Looking as plain/simple as possible would be a safe bet, but they won’t care what she’s wearing. The staff at the top agencies tend to be very welcoming and kind and professional. At the less prestigious agencies, they can be a bit bitchy! Congratulations to your daughter, how exciting!

They absolutely do. I was scouted walking down the street in the 90s and my DD was scouted on the metro just before the pandemic. It's exactly how they work, along with going through applications that are sent in.

From what I remember from America's Next Top Model, they wore black scrappy bodysuits / vest and jeans. They need to be able to see her body.

*strappy

This is exactly how I was scouted by a massive London agency. I was in Topshop in Oxford Circus. So yes, they do. Probably less so now with social media, but back in the olden days how else would they find their talent?

Have they asked you for any money for photographs and the like. I would be a bit sceptical. I dont think it matters that much what she wears.