Monday, Nov. 02, 2009

Queen of pencil skirts: Belleville East grad gets a taste of big-time modeling

Brittany Martin works as a hair and makeup stylist, attends college and is a single mom to a 2-year-old daughter. During Fashion Week in St. Louis (Oct. 12-18), she was a runway model.

"The first year, I didn't know anybody," said Brittany, 24, "The more Fashion Weeks I have done, the more people I have gotten to know."

"It's like when you are in second grade and you see who's in your class. You go and see who's in the show with you."

During the show at Lumiere Place on the riverfront, she piled her long dark hair on top of her head when she strutted her stuff in a strapless leather dress from British designers Bolongaro-Trevor. She wore styles from Skif, Maggie Laskowitz (her collection is called ML), and Valerie Mills Boutique in St. Louis.

Brittany, a 2003 Belleville East grad, has modeled on and off since she was 14. She is currently represented by Talent Plus Central in St. Louis.

"My whole junior high, everyone was talking about how skinny I was and yadda, yadda, yadda," said Brittany, whose reed-thin frame makes her look taller than 5-foot-9. So did the 3-inch heels on her black, slouch boots that she paired with black leggings, an olive tank top and a fitted brown leather jacket her parents bought her in Italy.

Modeling has taken her to Chicago, Hong Kong and New York. Now, a young daughter anchors her back at home.

She and Taylor live in Belleville. Brittany, who works at Beauty Brands Salon Spa in Shiloh, is a student at Southwestern Illinois University and plans to major in political science.

"It's real hard to make a career of modeling unless you're in a huge market," she said. "Fashion Week helps bring some fashion to St. Louis and that gives us a job."

What are some fashion trends you've noticed? "Shoulder pads, asymetrical designs such as one-sleeve dresses, showing your socks, leather bomber jackets -- not big and baggy, a lot more fitted. Leggings that were big are now really big. Jackets. Boots are huge. I will be asking for that for my birthday. Over-the-knee boots are back in as long as they're not patent leather."

What were the favorite outfits you wore during Fashion Week? "The (nude-color) leather dress. It fit me like a glove. Gosh, I wish I could afford it. A T-shirt cotton dress (in that style) is 200 pounds; I'm assuming it would sell for more. I loved it."

She also liked a two-piece purple top and pencil skirt with a wide patent leather red belt, and a green and black plaid double-breasted coat with three-quarter sleeves, that was paired with black leggings, strappy heels both from Valerie Mills.

What's your style? "I don't have much of a casual style. I am not a T-shirt and jeans gal. When I go out, I dress up. I love pencil skirts. I am the queen of pencil skirts."

Tip to anyone interested in modeling: "If an agency wants you to be with them, they may ask you to go get pictures taken, but they should never want money from you. If an agency wants you to do well, they will show you how to do things."

Is it tricky to stay model-thin? "I've always wanted to gain weight. Even after I gave birth to my daughter, I was back to this in three weeks."

Best thing about being a mom: "I love just the funny things she says and does. If something bothers her, if she stubs her toe, she'll say, 'Kiss it and make it better.' You always know if she's really hurt. I'll kiss it and it doesn't make it better. I love dressing her up. I'm very happy to have a little girl. I am so girly."

About Brittany

Family: parents Dave and Donna Martin, two older brothers and an older sister and a 2-year-old daughter, Taylor

Goal: "I want to be in local government. To be a politician."

Favorite food: "I love chili."

Favorite movie: Quentin Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs" (1992)

Favorite TV: "I watch Bill O'Reilly ("The O'Reilly Factor" on the Fox News Channel) every night."

Favorite book: "Another Man's War: The True Story of One Man's Battle to Save Children in the Sudan" by Sam Childers

Favorite book to read to daughter Taylor: "She loves everything Dr. Seuss"

Favorite place to shop for Taylor: Once Upon a Child, a used clothing store; Children's Place; and Target.

Favorite place to shop: "If I don't have to worry about money, I like Arden B. at the Galleria, and Forever 21."

Recent purchase: Military-style boots from Baker's and a fitted bomber jacket from Forever 21.