this is what models make

We've been roaming the streets and especially the shows of New York with our cameraman, Sacha. Now Sacha has a lot going for him (great looking, sweet and he is very good at his work) but knows nothing about the fashion world. Using football metaphors we try to explain to him what someone's status is. For example Karlie Kloss is the Lionel Messi of the model world.

Now Sacha knows that he always has to film ‘that lady with the bob’, but the questions still keep on coming. Yesterday he asked how much a model earns. This is for you, Sacha. And you guys of course, because I'm guessing you'll want to know this too.

I'm asked this question so often. “Do these girls earn something?” The answer is yes. There was a time the fashion houses preferred to pay models in clothes. However you just can't pay the rent with clothing so the agents dug their heels in. For instance the New York model agency DNA stopped their models working in the Marc Jacobs show because he never wanted to pay them. And what happened? Now Marc Jacobs pays everyone, including models not on the DNA books.

How much you make depends on your status. Starting point is $500 for the youngest, $1000 for the bigger girls and $10,000 for the star attractions like Naomi Campbell or Doutzen Kroes. Then you have models who do shows ‘exclusively’. In this case a label requires that you work only for them and don't do a single other show. Such an ‘exclusive’ is just for a certain fashion week. Then you're hired for New York, or London, or Milan, or Paris.

“They flew her mother in, got her to buy an extra suitcase and then flew the two back home together”.”

Rianne van Rompaey opened the Jason Wu show as an exclusive. She was especially flown in (business class), stayed at the Four Seasons, did the show then flew back to The Netherlands with a full purse. Now that's the better type of job.

The girls also get heaps of goodies of course. After the Michael Kors show, I spoke with Maartje Verhoef and Julia Bergshoeff: the bag meter was reading five. Alexander Wang, Michael Kors, Jason Wu, and a few other designers that they couldn't quite remember, were giving away bags. Next to bags, they were given sunglasses, clothes, shopping vouchers and make-up.

The topic of discussion was how on earth they were going to get all that stuff home. Alexandra Elizabeth thought up the nicest solution at the fashion week back in September. She flew her mother in, got her to bring an extra suitcase and then they flew back home together. With a suitcase full of goodies and a head full of memories.