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The recession has affected just about everyone, the fashion industry included. This can be seen directly in what the designers are creating and the models that are being chosen. Everyone in the industry is taking fewer risks. Is this move towards a more commercial feel here to stay or just a sign of the current times?

You may have noticed the change towards more mainstream models in magazines and on the catwalk. It seems that this is a strategic move after it was noticed that consumers are more receptive to softer, classic faces in times of economic downturn.

The decision made by Prada to use model Ymre Stiekema shows a sign of designers using more classic looks in campaigns, and fresh-faced Peurto Rican model Joan Smalls has revealed that she has been offered a lot more work over the last year.

The fashion and commercial modelling industries have been quite segmented in the past, but this move in a more classic looking direction means that models can transfer their skills across the two sectors.

Designers have also toned down their collections to ensure that people will still want to purchase the designs. In a time when people have less money to spend on luxuries such as designer clothes, it makes sense that designers would take their collections in a more wearable direction, rather than creating more eccentric designs.

Designers are also finding sanctuary in high street shops with hugely popular collaborations between high and low fashion. This is creating the ‘recessionistas’, those who get the designer names but at high street prices, and also liven up outfits with second hand items.

Changes have also been noted in the commercial modelling sector. Coordinators at modelling agency Models Direct have noticed the change in models selected for assignments. More and more advertisers are looking for models who reflect the real world, and many find these realistic models more reassuring in the current economic climate.