Channel 4’s New Model Agency (Zebedee) Wardrobe

I shine the spotlight on Channel 4’s New Model Agency and Zebedee model’s outfits I styled for the title shoot. You might be wondering what the series is about. Well, New Model Agency, is a new and fast-paced ob-doc series offering a fresh insight into the compelling world of fashion. And it’s coming to our screens in the UK on Monday 19th February.

New Model Agency follows a young, diverse and dynamic cast of models represented by the inclusive model agency Zebedee Talent., whom I had the privilege to work with.

In this blog, I have focused on the amazing models: Ade, Shem, Georgia, Dan, Jas, Nan, Ellie, Junior and Kelsi and their outfits.

I am also in the documentary as seen behind the scenes dressing several of the models at London Fashion Week, as well as styling a shoot with world-famous photographer Rankin.

You can also check out my Show The Love Editorial Shoot from January 2024 featuring another group of dynamic Zebedee models for more examples of my styling work.

Styling Ade (they/them) from Zebedee

Outfit details 

• Jewellery models own 
• Triangle bra – From Stylist’s archive (old) 
• Orange faux fur jacket – Gigi’s Dressing Room 
• Silver leggings – M&S 
• Chunky Platform Boots – Models own 

My styling process:   Ade is bold and outspoken, but also very friendly and has a good sense of humour. I wanted their outfit to reflect that. I also wanted their personality to shine through, Ade has beautiful tattoos and piercings and I wanted all of this to be part of their look.  

Funny story – this was my backup outfit. However, colour was a key part of the brief, so this felt like it had more impact on the screen.  My first look was a long green silk dress, with a biker jacket and biker boots. Gorgeous – but it just lacked that instant impact and colour pop.  But once we did the fittings on set, I just knew the orange faux fur jacket with the silver leggings was it. 

Styling Shem (he/him) from Zebedee

Outfit details 

• Jewellery models own 
• Blue Biker Jacket – From Stylist’s archive (old) – and will soon be available to rent
• Black slim fit chinos  – M&S
• Black leather slimline belt – M&S 
• Dark blue and white trainers  – M&S 

My styling process: I had not met Shem before the shoot, so I came up with his look based on how I saw him styling pieces in his portfolio and from feedback from the production company about his character.   Interestingly, the look that the production team were most excited about didn’t work out on Shem, he didn’t feel comfortable with the outfit.  I was secretly quite pleased because I had a gut instinct on which would be my preferred look for him, which was my backup outfit that became the look he instantly stood tall in. 

Colour as I mentioned before was a key part of the brief – and this bright blue bike jacket – just felt too good to not include.  The original look for Shem was a black faux fur jacket, worn without a top underneath with a pair of tight shiny red disco pants with trainers. 

Styling Georgia (she/her) from Zebedee

Outfit details 

• Dress – From Fumalinas 
• Black briefs  – M&S
• Black boots – M&S 

My styling process: I had styled a couple of looks for Georgia as she was booked for LFW, however at the last minute her bookings changed and I didn’t get to meet her.  After reviewing her portfolio shots and talking to the production team I got a sense of her personality. I wanted to go for something feminine and floaty, but bold – but not too girly. 

When the dress I decided upon arrived for me to collect, I tried it on (as I do with all my pieces) and it hit me – something didn’t feel quite right.

As it turned out, Georgia felt the same way I did when she tried on the purple dress. Thankfully I had sourced a couple of extra glitzy glam dresses from Fumbalinas. So we opted for the sequins instead – and toughened up the look by wearing a pair of high-waisted briefs underneath and exposing her legs, whilst rocking a pair of biker books.

Styling Dan (he/him) from Zebedee

Outfit details

• Jacket  – From Stylist’s archive (old). Ganni coat –  will soon be available to rent
• White Cotton T-shirt – M&S
• Black slim fit chinos – M&S
• Black leather slimline belt – M&S 
• Black Waterproof Chelsea Boots – M&S 

My styling process: I had not met Dan before the shoot, so the production team filled me in on his personality. I set to work looking at his portfolio and identifying the looks where I felt he looked truly at ease, like himself. 

I had a gut instinct about how I wanted to style Dan. But I also needed more options that were more closely aligned with the glam rock theme. I just didn’t see him pulling off the topless, shiny pants and fur coat look in the same way.  I also needed to strike a balance across the whole group, which meant looks, textures and colours so the overall aesthetic still appeared as ‘one’. 

As it turned out, Dan felt the same way when I showed him various outfit options. He wanted to go with the Ganni coat – which has such an immense shine on it, that I knew it would look good on camera.  Dan looked smart, edgy and strong. I loved how this understated look came to life on him. 

One of the other key points to mention is the brief said it is super important that the models look and feel like themselves, and that the outfits empower them.  After all, the documentary series is about them and their careers as models.

Styling Jasroop (she/her) from Zebedee

Outfit details 

• Jewellery – Choker by Embellished Truth via Ethical Brand Directory 
• Green Faux Fur Jacket  – From Gigis Dressing Room 
• Black Bra – M&S
• Black High-Waisted Briefs – From Stylist’s Own Archive 
• Black Skirt – From Gigis Dressing Room 
• Black Leather Platform Boots – M&S 

My styling process: I had the pleasure of working with Jas at London Fashion Week, and styling her for an Ethical Brand Directory runway show at the London Represents Showcase. I instantly knew how I wanted to style her. 

This was one of the strongest looks from my mood board and it was just perfect for showing off the strength and beauty of Jas.  It gave me such 90s Kate Moss vibes, which I knew she’d pull off perfectly.  And I wasn’t wrong Jas loved the outfit and rocked it. I did have a few other barely there dresses and see-through dress options, but we didn’t even need to try them on. 

Styling Nan (they/them) from Zebedee

Outfit details 

• Jewellery – Models’ own
• Corset  – From Gigis Dressing Room 
• Tulle Skirt –  Golden 
• Black Chunky Platform Boots – Models’ own

My styling process: I was briefed on Nan by the team and I was excited to meet them. After looking over Nan’s portfolio I was impressed by how diverse their looks were. Interestingly the producers of the show had a strong idea about how they wanted me to style Nan.  I think this was the one outfit that I had a little apprehension about, and if I interpreted the look for Nan correctly.  But thankfully they loved the concept and looked amazing in the pieces.

I initially sourced the skirt preloved, and it was delayed arriving, then when it turned up I tried on the whole ensemble – and it didn’t work.  After an emergency online order, with next-day delivery, I got the style I had in mind.  The skirt arrived and it had a much fuller circle and longer length – which was exactly what was needed to complete the look.

There’s always so much drama when it comes to sourcing preloved items online, it’s a risk but one I prefer to take so that I can limit my purchases from unvetted brands. 

Styling Ellie (she/her) from Zebedee

Outfit details 

• Pink faux fur Jacket (seen on the show) – From Gigis Dressing Room 
• Gemstone Corset Top  – Sourced Preloved 
• Nude Tulle Skirt – Sourced Preloved 
• Black Parachute Skirt (seen on the show) – From Gigis Dressing Room 
• Black Shiny Flatform Boots – M&S 

My styling process: I had the opportunity to work with Ellie at London Fashion Week, putting her in a rather special floor-length evening dress, which she sashayed away to the beat of the music, before breaking out in a dance on the runway. 

Styling her for the Title Sequence offered me a great opportunity – to find something that she could dance in, that created great shapes (knowing we had a wind machine) and that reflected her fun and bubbly character – but also her strength! Have you read her book Against All Odds? Ellie has true strength and determination, but also a wonderful sense of humour.  

We did play around with a few other looks, as the parachute skirt was a little long on Ellie’s petite height. But we ended up coming back to the black skirt as when Ellie danced the skirt danced with her and it looked amazing! 

Styling Junior (they/them) from Zebedee

Outfit details: 

• Bra Top – Vintage Topshop from stylist’s archive – available for rental soon
• Faux Shawl – (Vintage) from stylist’s archive – available for rental soon
• Leggings – M&S 
• Black Chunky Boots –  M&S 

My styling process: I had the opportunity to work with Junior at London Fashion Week, and it was exciting to dress them again, but in something opposite to the last look I created. I had to factor in Juniors’ wheelchair and make sure their outfit didn’t get caught in the wheels. The styling brief mentioned dancing and a wind machine! So no floaty skirts this time.

I wanted to go in for the 90s grunge look Junior, and they pulled the look off so well. I was particularly pleased that my vintage snake print top worked out too, as it completed the look. None of the alternative tops that I sourced (preloved) looked quite as good. 

Styling Kelsi (she/her) from Zebedee

Outfit details 

• Black faux fur Jacket – From Gigis Dressing Room 
• 2-piece Swim Suit   – Sourced Stylists Own Archive: Styelle Via Ethical Brand Directory 
• Black Chunky  Boots – M&S 

My styling process: I only met Kelsie on the day of the shoot. I was prepped by the team about her personality and style and then I reviewed her portfolio pictures. I wanted to give her something where her sassiness could shine through. There’s an inner strength I didn’t want to lose by dressing her in anything that stole focus from her being herself. 

In the end had multiple outfit options for Kelsie, but it was the day before the shoot I had an alternative idea. I pulled out a bikini set and started to style it with some other items on my rails and then I found a look that I couldn’t stop smiling about.

I’d found it. It was feminine but also packed a punch. It had the right attitude for the shoot’s glam rock theme, and it showed off Kelsi’s gorgeous legs! 

Styling for Channel 4’s New Model Agency

It was an honour to style the amazing models from Zebedee, with Salamanda Media and the Channel 4 team.

Salamanda Media were instrumental in bringing the vision they had for this series to life – it was driven by pure passion. Everyone on the production team was great. No matter our role, all of us who were part of the ob-doc series have been inspired by all of the Zebedee models’ strength and determination.

Once you meet these models you are immediately invested in helping them succeed.  They are humble, have no sense of entitlement, hard-working and professional with respect for those working around them. This has to be the first time I have worked with so many models that have all these attributes – Zebedee is doing a great job mentoring and supporting them.

Diversity in fashion

This year is going to be a significant turning point in fashion for diversity and sustainability. I think Zebedee is proving to be a much-needed disruptive force for good.

My hope this year is that we can push the ethical rhetoric more in fashion too, and not forget about the people who make our clothes. Fairness in fashion must be represented throughout. There’s such an opportunity for sustainability, inclusivity, diversity and ethical production to reshape fashion as a force for good.

New Model Agency – Your Favourites

Let me know which is your favourite outfit and which episode of New Model Agency you loved the most. Comment below