In my years as a Fit Model, I’ve noticed that when one says “Fit Model,” most people assume that it means Fitness Model. And to be perfectly honest, I probably would have thought that too if I had ever heard the phrase before I got into it. So, fear not. I’m here to explain this to all who care, if you’re out there somewhere. (Disclaimer: I am not a fashion/fit expert, but simply sharing my personal experience!)
What is a Fit Model?
Fit Models are like human mannequins… with an opinion. Our main job as Fit Models is to maintain certain measurements so that clothing designers and fit teams can assess the fit of a garment before it hits the shelves. Fit Models are “required” to maintain the same measurements at all times for consistency purposes. Now, this doesn’t mean you’re constantly being put on a scale and fired if you have too many pigs in a blanket on Super Bowl Sunday. There is some wiggle room, but maintaining the same measurements makes it easier to market you to clients, and you’re more likely to keep clients once you book them.
The fashion industry has evolved SO much in the past decade, and we now know that not everyone’s body will fit comfortably into 1 of 3 sizes (or, even worse, one-size-fits-all). Every body is different, and it’s part of our job to represent those real bodies!
Fit Models are able to assess how the garment feels and how it moves when on an actual body (picture a pair of jeans that fit everywhere but the waist, so they fall down when you sit- yikes!). The fit team takes notes, takes photos of the garment on the body, and goes back to the production team with changes. Fit Models fit everything from bras and dresses to shoes and Halloween costumes (yes, this is my favorite).
Fit Models make such a difference in the industry, and so most people have no idea how many steps a single garment goes through before shipping out to stores. Sometimes a garment will go through four or five rounds of fittings before designers decide that it is perfect and ready to go!
Almost 5 years later, I am still learning something new on this job every single day. I’ve met people and seen things that Little Kari could only have dreamed about, and I’m so grateful for the experience.
Reach out to me if you’re curious or have questions, and check out my other posts on modeling here.
If you’re curious to see some behind-the-scenes, check out my Modeling Instagram Story Highlight!
Click here to see my STATE Management portfolio!
xo kae