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

You may have experience in safeguarding but not modelling! A legit modelling agency, has safeguarding policies in place.

You have basically come on a thread about someone’s teen being scouted by a modelling agency and basically said it’s dodgy without having prior knowledge of that particular industry and are basically accusing model scouts of being paedos. The op didn’t ask if it was dodgy first of all, they asked for advice on clothing. Also to come on a thread about such a subject when you have no experience of that subject makes no sense. You have your opinion fair enough but to spout it on this thread as fact just because YOU think it’s dodgy rather than having any knowledge on this topic, is like I said, nonsensical.

You do worry too much. I modelled in my teens and still got outstanding A level results.

Skinny jeans? In 2025?

Not at all. My advice was to exercise caution.
I can come on any thread I please. This got my radar going because it's teenage girls and unsolicited photos.
All completely kosher according to your experience. Fine. You must realise that there are people out there who do exploit young people

This happened to my DD. She was scouted at 14 and was dressed in her distinctly unfashionable brother's cast-offs, a pair of scuffed shoes and a scowl. She was called into the agency a couple of times (a reputable one) and had photos taken. They are interested in what you look like on camera, not what you actually look like. What you wear won't make the slightest bit of difference - it's all about whether there's any magic on camera

I get your point and nobody is saying people don’t do dodgy things! But in the op’s case their teen was approached and given a business card with details of the agency and scout. The scout will then have asked if they could take a picture. The teen will have had the right to say yes or no.
The op had already stated long before you made your comment about it being ‘dodgy’ that they had checked the agency out and all seemed legit! And despite many other people (most of whom used to be models themselves) commented and also said yes it’s completely normal for model scouts to scout in public places, you still decided to spout off that it’s ’dodgy’ regardless. Despite not knowing anything about this industry yourself.

If she's been scouted it will be because she's tall, thin and has the right 'features' What she wears is basically irrelevent. I'm not a model but I worked with models for years. I often see girls out and about and think they'd be great. Scouts absolutely do just see people.

I object to you saying that I "spout off". I have not said anything personal about you or your posting, so please don't. What I said is valid.
Legit agency? Fantastic.
All good 👍

That's exactly what they do!

Again as I have already said, I get your point. BUT….People had already advised op to proceed with caution early in the thread. Op came back and updated and said they had proceeded with caution, done the necessary checks and found that it was a legit agency. You then still piped up claiming it’s dodgy without having any prior knowledge or experience of the modelling industry.

My DD got scouted at a festival when she was 15 I was with her . They were one of the top model agencies , I had heard of them. We went up to see them about 3 months later , they were all very friendly . Took a few close up shots and measured her height . She wore a Tshirt , jeans , trainers , no make up. She was a bit short for them in the end just over 5ft 7 (not sure they were just being polite!) but said come back in a year . DD not particularly interested so we didn’t bother in the end but overall positive experience and for the shy , slightly awkward girl it was a boost to the confidence!!!

Piped up? Ok.
It's interesting, you're not accusing others of such intemperate posting. "Spouting" and "piping up".
Nowt wrong with emphasising caution.
As my case load would demonstrate.

You're correct, on her way home from a holiday with her parents.

This ^

Do genuine agencies just "scout" potential models of the street?

I'd be very very careful to be absolutely clear about what she is meant to be getting out of this before committing to any expenditure (eg a photo portfolio) at all.

These were your words to be exact

“My thoughts too, @RainCup . There are still people who go round checking up teenage girls and taking pictures of them?
My DD is an adult now, but no way would I have allowed that when she was at school!”

So you were accusing model scouts as going round checking up teenage girls and taking pictures of them without having any prior knowledge of the modelling industry. Ok 👍
And that’s the point I’m making.. by saying to comment on an industry you know nothing about is nonsensical, especially when many others have commented on here before you (who have knowledge and experience) to say it’s actually normal for model agencies to operate this way. Advising to proceed with caution is one thing and it’s good advice, but to accuse model scouts who are just going about their every day job as checking up on teenagers and taking pictures of them’ is quite a far reach when you know nothing about how model scouts work.

Leave it. Seriously.
Have you - by any chance - spotted any other posters on here "spouting nonsense", or is it just me?
Ta ta

I have actually replied to other posters that were equally talking such nonsense as yourself, yes.

This happened with a friend of mine's daughter (Model Freya Lawrence), scouted off the street and she was quite grungy, still is as far as I know! She was still at school at the time. Just let her wear what she wants, they look past that. If she starts to get jobs, those will be in her modelling book for future.

Hope she enjoys herself! It's tough going, going to castings/auditions but also exciting when get jobs here there and overseas. The money Freya has made is good, was signed up to major agency and is now putting herself through university and only doing jobs here and there afaik.

Yes, genuine ones still scout in public as well as online.

Yes, I think so. Happened to a friend of mines daughter. Also famously happened to Kate Moss I think? :-)

Yes. Not everyone adheres to a current trend.

Skinny jeans will always remain for some.

My niece was scouted at Reading festival this year. I imagine it’s a great place for model scouting. She has just earned some good money at London fashion week.

True. Modelling agencies know that many young models they scout will be at an age where they have exams coming up or school/ college/ university. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a model who failed their exams due to their modelling. I have heard of many who went on to pass their A levels and get degrees. I think some people think that if someone is a model then they are either ‘thick’ or that they chose modelling over career when for the most part that simply isn’t true

I love that your original clothing suggestions were vindicated in her mind by being 'spotted'! I hope she'll always remember that. Also, I love that you've kept your favourite older clothes! I used to try on this gorgous wool coat of my mums as a young teen hoping itd fit and be mine one day, then she suddenly gave it to charity :'( she regretted it a lot about 10 years later.

Never understand people that respond to threads they actually know nothing about with silly out of date musings.

Of course model scouts approach girls with the right look. Had an interesting chat with one of dds scouts she was an agent employed by several agencies to approach girls with the right profile. She goes to Reading festival, she scouted Dd at the Taylor Swift concert. Places lots of young girls are basically. It’s not dodgy it’s not pervy they don’t want any money from you. It likely won’t go further so don’t get too carried away. If you’re not over 5 9 it almost certainly won’t go further.