Actors vs. Models: Who Influences Us?

There is a nasty rumor floating around the fashion world that runway models are on their last sashay. As with everything else in life the fashion world is fickle and it is also always looking for an easier and broader way of influencing people with fashion. And designers may have found a solution that would eliminate the need for runway models.

The runway, also known as the "catwalk", has been the center of fashion for decades. The concept of the catwalk was first put into use so privileged women of society who entered a designer's salon could receive a private showing of the latest couture. Designers, realizing the importance of the press, soon evolved their shows into media events that lured journalists and celebrities alike to invitation only shows. The invited would watch beautiful, incredibly thin women float up and down the runway, wearing the designer's latest line of clothing. The shows quickly branched out TV and magazines, allowing people all over the world to see designers' show and the beautiful models. Soon fashion shows would be displayed in magazines all over the world and models like Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington became household names. But the fashion magazine market has become over-saturated, and the invention of the Internet has allowed people to have much easier access to view designer's lines. Designers are beginning to wonder if the runway is an outmoded and expensive method of advertisement.

Designers are beginning to look to the people sitting in the front rows on fashion shows to be their new advertisements for style. Actors, musicians and dancers seem to be the wave of the future as far as influencing the public on what to wear. Peoples' interest in celebrities has grown considerably during the 1990's and its interest continues to grow. The change became most obvious when actors began to slowly nudge models off the covers of magazines. Designers are realizing that using celebrities is a more creative, exciting-and no doubt cheaper-method to attract new customers. Runway models' salaries can range from $10,000 to $25,000 or more to walk down a runway no more than six times. Where as celebrities will wear clothing from designers to premieres, public events and award shows just on the agreement that they get to keep their outfits. Though that may change with celebrity lawyers seeking advertisement rights for their clients when they wear a brand name for a designer.

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