Luxe Models: Our Top 5 Christmas Films

So, it’s that time of the year again – it’s wet, it’s cold, it’s dark and everyone’s broke. Guess what, it’s nearly Christmas! And whilst we can’t help being a little cynical this time of year, here at Luxe Models, deep down, we do actually love Christmas. And so should you.

One thing here at Luxe Models that we’re not a big fan of when it comes to the winter holidays, is the build-up. Big corporations and advertisers with their November Xmas tv ad campaigns always put us in a bad mood. Christmas is a time for sharing and caring, not profits and growth – we like getting halfway through December and waking up thinking “wow, it’s Christmas in 7 days”.

And when the big day is just around the corner, we like nothing better than sitting back with a cup of mulled wine, a box of chocolates and a hard-drive full of Christmas movies.

So, with it being Christmas and all, we thought we’d do a quick countdown of our all-time favourite Xmas films. A selection of five winter classics that will be sure to get you festive just in time.

It’s A Wonderful Life

An undisputed classic, It’s A Wonderful Life tells the beautiful tale of George Bailey and his search for happiness and peace at Christmas time. Directed by Frank Capra, and released in 1946, this black and white piece of cinema gold is guaranteed to warm even the coldest of hearts.

Elf

A surprise hit, modern comedy Elf tells the story of Buddy the Elf, a man raised in the North Pole who travels to New York to find his real family. Staring the endlessly funny Will Ferrell, Elf is an effortless watch and will make you laugh until you feel sick – especially if you’ve been at the Quality Street.

Love Actually

“Love actually, is all around” – says a clean cut, Hugh Grant at the start of Richard Curtis’ all-star hit Love Actually – and in its 135 minute run-time, we actually believe him. It’s an amazingly well-paced flick with one of the best UK casts ever assembled.  If you haven’t seen it, then you haven’t lived.

A Muppet Christmas Carol

A wildcard, A Muppet Christmas Carol is silly, often cringe worthy and contains a rather dishevelled looking Michael Caine for the most part, but, it’s absolutely amazing. If you can embrace the absurdity of the whole thing, then you’re in for a treat.

Home Alone

And finally, one of our all-time favourites from when we were a lot younger, Home Alone is a 90s classic that deserves watching every single year. And, it marks one of the few times when Macaulay Culkin is actually cute!

So, if you find yourself with a free day or two in the Christmas period this Christmas, then line these five bad boys up and be prepared to get festive. 

Is Angelina Jolie Really a ‘Spoiled Brat?’

We’re having to ask a question we never thought we’d have to ask when it comes to one A-List actress here at Luxe  Models this week; is Angelina Jolie really a spoiled brat?

A Universally Held Truth

We’ve used many words to describe the new Mrs Pitt here on the Luxe Models Blog in the past. Common descriptions of the humanitarian include ‘visionary,’ saint-like’ and ‘Mother Teresa.’

OK, so we’re exaggerating, but you get the point. A universally held truth of the A-List world is that Angelina Jolie has somehow avoided the sense of entitlement that’s stricken down many of her peers at the pinnacle of their tenures in showbiz.

“Minimally Talented Spoiled Brat.”

Yet one person doesn’t seem to agree. According to Digital Spy, a recently leaked email conversation between movie producer Scott Rudin and Sony co-chairperson Amy Pascal, saw the latter label Jolie a “minimally talented spoiled brat.”

The pair were discussing the actress’ alleged wish for acclaimed director David Fincher to spearhead one of her latest projects, Cleopatra. Fincher was attached to the Steve Jobs biopic that until last month, Sony was slated to oversee. Since, the picture has fallen under the creative management of rival film industry monolith, Universal Pictures.

A $180 Million Ego-Bath

Rudin was quite vocal in several emails when it came to both his opinion of Jolie and the concept of a Cleopatra movie. One email scathingly read: "I've told you exactly how I want to do this material. It's the ONLY way I want to do this material. I'm not remotely interested in presiding over a $180m ego bath that we both know will be the career-defining debacle for us both."

Rudin went on to say: "I'm not destroying my career over a minimally talented spoiled brat who thought nothing of shoving this off her plate for eighteen months so she could go direct a movie. I have no desire to be making a movie with her, or anybody, that she runs and that we don't.”

Maybe that’s Why We Find Them so Fascinating

In other words, this is just the opinion of one man. Yet his opinion has left Luxe Models wondering, do we really know the true personalities behind the celebs whose wardrobes we admire so much?  Maybe that’s why we find them so fascinating!

Luxe Models Talk Victoria's Secret London Show

For years now, American lingerie institution Victoria’s Secret has been slowly infiltrating our shores over here in the UK. And although we’re more fans of Anne Summers over here at Luxe Models, with the recent success of their London party, we might be seeing a lot more of Victoria’s Secret.

Victoria’s Secret in London

The largest retailer of lingerie in North America, Victoria’s Secret are now a worldwide brand – and supply specialist underwear for women across America and beyond. But as the company look to increase their reach, the bra-busting company have made the long trip over the pond to show their wears in the UK market.

Hosting a massive event in London, showing off their new 2015 collections, a host of Victoria Angels and pop superstars put on one hell of a show for the UK audience.

Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and more

US big gun superstar Taylor Swift was among those at the show, performing a few of her tracks whilst scantily models trotted by. There were also performances from a wide-eyed Ed Sheeran and a model-dodging Ariana Grande – but the models took centre stage for the event.

Super, Super Models!

Showing off their impeccable bodies, and flawless lingerie, we couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed by the whole thing. Sure the bras and knickers were really nice, but there’s something a little unnerving about 50 or so partially-dressed super-models strutting their stuff down a catwalk that doesn’t half make you question your own sanity.

But, all in all it was a good watch. There was music, 2 million dollar bras, neon pants, oh, and yeah, Ariana Grande even walked into a pair of fake wings. What more could you want?

For more stories like this, from the world of fashion and beyond, be sure to stay in touch with Luxe Models on LinkedIn today. 

Sexism Suit Sells for $6,500

When we learned that the ‘sexism suit’ recently sold for $6,500, Luxe Models was reminded that women are judged far more harshly than their male counterparts when it comes to what they wear.

Society Judges Women More Severely Than Men

When you see a woman in an unflattering shade of puce, or sporting a dress cut in a particular way, what do you think? For the most people, the answer to that question unfortunately is often ‘god she looks awful.’

The society in which we live judges women more severely than men, especially when it comes to their wardrobe. A male Australian TV presenter strove to make that point clear over the last year by wearing the same suit on air for 365 days.

Nobody Noticed, Nobody Cared

According to the Independent, Australian presenter Karl Stefanovic of the Nine Network’s Today Show, kick-started his experiment by wearing the blue suit on air for a couple of days in a row.

Nobody noticed, nobody cared. He tried doing it for month; nobody noticed, nobody cared. Then he strove to carry on the experiment for a year, revealing it only recently. Nobody noticed, nobody cared. They did care, and frequently comment on, what his female co-anchor was wearing.

No One Gives a Sh*t

Commenting on the reaction to his experiment to Fairfax Media, Stefanovic said that “no one has noticed; no one gives a sh*t.” He expanded the point by talking about the reactions to his female co-anchor’s wardrobe choices, saying:

“Women, they wear the wrong colour and they get pulled up. They say the wrong thing and there’s thousands of tweets written about them. Women are judged much more harshly and more keenly for what they do, what they say and what they wear.”

Someone Paid $6,500 for a Knock Off Stanky Burberry Suit!

Stefanovic’s efforts to raise awareness of the issue have now stepped up a gear. Recently, he auctioned the suit off on EBay, raising $6,500 for White Ribbon – a campaign designed to help end violence towards women.

In advertising what has come to be dubbed the ‘sexism suit,’ Stefanovic described the “knock off” Burberry number as “super comfy, super stylist, super cool.” Although he added that it may need a good dry cleaning, as after a year of use it may be “a little bit stanky.” With a blurb like that, whoever paid $6,500 for this suit must really dig Stefanovic’s campaign! 

Shedding Light on a Problem Women Have Faced Over and Over Again

A campaign which seeks to shed light to a problem women have faced over and over again at every point in their lives. When a woman dons her outfit, she knows she’s more likely to receive criticism for what she’s wearing than a man would, and that’s a problem that as a society we need to address. 

Fore more stories and news updates like this, be sure to stay in touch with Luxe Models on Facebook.