Hips out and heads high, four Otago rugby players experienced a different style of training yesterday.
Peter Breen, Michael Collins, Fa'asiu Fuatai and Teihorangi Walden were taught how to walk like models for the coming iD Dunedin Fashion Show on April 4 and 5.
The four lads will be the first rugby players to model in the iD show, other than Josh Kronfeld, who skateboarded down the runway for streetwear label Elusiv in 2007.
Dunedin modelling agent Aliana McDaniel, of Ali McD Agency, took the players through their routine step by step along the Dunedin Railway Station platform.
She told them to lead with their hips and demonstrated the difference between a male model's strut and a female's sashaying style.
The Otago boys will model T-shirts heralding the start of capsule collections and will also feature in Tamsin Cooper's latest collection alongside three Royal New Zealand Ballet dancers.
Yesterday's model walk-through was the first opportunity for all 60 or so iD models to synchronise their involvement.
Event co-ordinator Victoria Muir said it offered organisers the chance to perfect model timing and spacing for the show, and identify any elements which needed to be worked on.
The walk-through was also a learning process for many of the models who were new to iD, she said.
As well as local models, models from Shanghai will feature in the shows and are due to arrive in Dunedin next week.
