our interns visit the model lounge!
Yesterday in the midst of shows, we sent our interns Mickie and Carolyn to check out another kind of Fashion Week staple: the UGG Australia Model Lounge, the semi-secret retreat where models chill out between gigs.
See what they found below…
Hidden through an unmarked door off Union Square there lies a cozy, fireplace-heated basement filled with fashion magazines, free Red Bull and Wifi, and (sometimes) complimentary shoes.
It sounds like a dream come true but, unfortunately for us, you can only enter if you’re a model.
Welcome to Model Lounge, a girls-only space for models to relax between castings, photo shoots, and shows.
It opened two years ago and runs yearround, providing a haven for models no matter the season.
Girls from any of the top ten agencies (as ranked to Models.com) may request a member card, which grants access to the lounge as well as discounts and swag from various retailers, cosmetic brands, and other fashion-connected companies.
In addition, Model Lounge puts on two bi-annual pre-Fashion Week events: a panel where casting directors, designers, photographers, and editors speak to the girls about what they look for during bookings and answer any questions they might have, and a “how to walk” event where model coaches teach the girls how to work the catwalk.
The space itself is warm and inviting, and during our visit there were 10 or so girls sprawled on couches, chatting to one another or Skyping on the laptops provided by the lounge.
It’s a popular spot, and the girls we spoke to were vehement fans; there isn’t anywhere else like it in any of the major fashion cities, and it’s a perfect spot to meet their friends after a long day of go-sees.
Check out the photos from our visit to the model oasis!
–MICKIE MEINHARDT