Five Tips for Layering Clothes This Winter

With temperatures set to drop in the next few weeks, you should start thinking about how you can ward off the chill. But how do you stay warm without committing a crime against fashion? You could always layer up your outfit! Here are five tips you can use to make sure you master the art of layering the winter.

Mix smart and casual

If you add a designer piece to a high street wardrobe you can craft a killer outfit. The same principle applies here. If you’re looking to make a high-end dress or shirt work for daytime, pair it with more casual items like a light cardigan, a hipster-style leather handbag or a good old fashioned button-up.

Be careful with colours and patterns

By all means layer different colours and patterns to inject a little excitement into your look – but be careful how you do it. If you’re thinking about pairing stripes, for example, don’t team them with more stripes – go for subtle leopard print or polka dots instead. Meanwhile before you wear two items of different colours consult the Pantone colour chart to make sure they don’t clash!

Work with different sizes

How do you layer on a really cold day? You could always team a beautiful cable knit jumper (so in right now!) with a more form fitting shirt or blouse. The loose/form fitting contrast will provide you with an outfit that oozes cool, laid-back sophistication. Add some statement stilettos, subtle jewellery or a pair of ripped jeans to complete the look!

Think carefully about jewellery

Here we need to think about a cardinal rule of fashion – less is more. You really need to think carefully about jewellery before you add any to a layered up outfit. Don’t overcrowd your body; either go for subtle items or opt for one statement piece. Make sure you know how to wear bold pieces – Luxe Models has explained how to pull off statement necklaces, before you even think of trying this out!

Try out a belt

When in doubt, try out a belt. The danger with layering is that it involves so many clothes you can really detract from your beautiful shape if you’re not careful. If you want to avoid this just wrap a belt around your waist or under your bust to add some definition to your shape. Be careful which type of belt you pick though – you don’t want to wear a thin belt with an outfit that’d really work better with a thicker one!

Hunt down some ideas

Now you’ve got the basics down, why don’t you try layering up for yourself! The Luxe Models team has recently written an article which’ll provide you with some fantastic ideas on how you can layer up your wardrobe to create a fabulous outfit this winter! 

How to Wear a Faux Fur Stole

Faux fur stoles are so in right now. They ward off the chill, whilst adding a touch of old school Hollywood glamour to your look – so they’re great for winter. If you’re thinking about buying one in the next few months, keep reading, as Luxe Models reveals five ways to wear a faux fur stole….

Draped over your shoulders

The easiest way to wear a faux fur stole is to drape it elegantly across your shoulders – a look that’ll lend a cool, but sophisticated vibe to your outfit. Drape the stole around the neck and shoulders of a collared jacket or coat, to strike the contrast you need to really make this style work.

With a plain dress

Faux fur stoles make a big statement – so they work really well with simpler pieces. If you team a gorgeous black faux fur stole with a chic plain white dress, for example, you can really jazz up your look. If you go with this, don’t be afraid to team it with big stiletto heels and over-sized shades, for that true A-list look.

Cinched with a belt

If it’s really windy outside, you might want to think about holding the stole down with a classy, understated belt. Be sure to opt for a thin belt – we’ve found that if you team this statement neckwear with a chunkier belt, it’ll detract from the sheer beauty of the stole.

Pinned down

The best way to channel the 40s movie star vibe that’s practically synonymous with faux fur is to pin your stole down with a vintage broach. Here’s how you do it - when you drape the stole around your neck make sure one side’s longer than the other, then bring the sides together until they touch at chest height, and pin!

Over one shoulder

If you don’t care about practicality, you can always drape a faux fur stole over just one shoulder. OK – you may have to stop it falling off every five minutes – but this look is so deliciously avante garde you won’t care!

Think about balance

Whichever look you choose, you need to think about balance. Faux fur stoles tend to make a bit of a splash, so you don’t want to overcrowd it with statement jewellery, big patterns or clashing colours. Keep it simple and you’ll be able to rock winter stoles all season long! 

How to Pull Off Leopard Print

If you want to find out how to rock one of this season’s hottest trends, stick around, as Luxe Models reveals how to pull off leopard print.

Exciting print

If you’re a fan of fashion, you’ll already know that leopard print is set to be huge this season. The striking pattern was everywhere on the autumn/winter 2015 catwalks, especially on the coats and jackets you need to stay warm as the cold weather descends.

The thing about leopard print is that it’s bold; it’s so bold that it can actually be pretty gaudy if you don’t wear it right. Make the wrong fashion choices and leopard print can make you look like you’ve just walked onto the set of EastEnders; Kat Slater is hardly the ideal style role model.

Five tips

So how can you pull off this incredibly bold, statement print? Here are five tips you can use to rock the leopard print look:

1) Abandon big accessories: Now is not the time for Pat Butcher style earrings. Your best bet with leopard print is to team the pattern with subtle accessories; the style is bold enough on its own without statement jewellery.

2) Pair with neutrals: Don’t pair a leopard print jacket with a bright-pink top or a neon-green t-shirt. The colours will clash horribly, so you should think about wearing pieces in neutral tones such as black and white when you don leopard print.

3) Restrain yourself: One leopard print item is enough – if you’re wearing a leopard print t-shirt, don’t team it with a jacket decorated with the same pattern. We should note though that you can wear it with other patterns such as stripes and polka dots; a look that’ll provide your wardrobe with a cool rock star-edge!

4) Be bold: Leopard print is incredibly bold, so you need the attitude to match. If you don a leopard print coat without ensuring you’re fully confident with your choice of outfit, the item will look distinctly out-of-sync with the rest of your look.

5) Keep makeup light: If you want to avoid clichéd leopard print, you should keep your makeup light. A little bit of gloss and soft eye makeup can set the statement print off just right, but any more than that and it just won’t work.

Look fabulous

Many women choose to avoid leopard print like the plague. However you don’t have to; if you use these tips from Luxe Models, you can rock one of Autumn/Winter 2015’s hottest trends and craft a truly fabulous outfit! 

How to Pull Off a Jumpsuit

If you want to rock the latest trends, you need to embrace the 70s. With this in mind, Luxe Models reveals how to pull off a jumpsuit; one of the hottest style trends doing the rounds right now.

Back in style

Those of you who regularly read the Luxe Models blog will know that nothing stays out of style forever. What was once new and cool does fall out of favour. However eventually some designer gets nostalgic and they update the style to turn it into the season’s newest must-have item.

If you’ve been following the big spring/summer fashion weeks that recently took place in fashion capitals around the world, you’ll have noticed that the 70s are cool again. Everywhere you look designers are using 70s designs, colours and cuts to impart a touch of disco to their creations, which is why the jumpsuit has come roaring back into style.

Tips for jumpsuits

But jumpsuits are notoriously hard to pull off. How can you wear them without looking like you work at the local garage? Here are five tips you can use to look fabulous in a jumpsuit:

1) Think about size: This is vital when you’re buying any piece of clothing, but it’s especially important when you’re buying a jumpsuit. If you buy the wrong fit or size, it just won’t look right on your body!

2) Avoid patterns: It’s best to wear block-colour jumpsuits. This is because patterned jumpsuits, especially ones boasting loud, large prints, are extremely overpowering and detach from the simple, clean look a jumpsuit is supposed to convey.

3) Lightly accessorise: You shouldn’t opt for patterns but there’s nothing to suggest you can’t jazz up a jumpsuit with some accessories. Just keep it simple. We’d suggest you embrace the 70s and opt for a headscarf to really rock the look.

4) Don’t go clingy: Make sure you avoid materials such as spandex like the plague. If you wear a jumpsuit that’s made of something clingy it’ll show off all your lumps and bumps; a distinctly unflattering look!

5) Air confidence: A jumpsuit makes a really, really bold statement. It’s all or nothing – if you’re anything less than 100% confident when you don this 70s fashion staple, you won’t do the look justice.

Tread with caution

You don’t have to avoid jumpsuits. The revitalised 70s trend can make you look like a million dollars. However you should make sure you tread with caution. If you don’t follow these tips when you wear a jumpsuit, you might run the risk of looking like a reject from an Abba music video! 

For more like this, be sure to stay in touch with Luxe Models.

What Clothes to Take to University

With freshers once again taking over the nation, Luxe Models turns its attention to student fashion this week by letting you know what clothes to take to university.

You So Don’t Know What to Pack Right Now!

Right about now, Luxe Models can imagine that you’re sitting in your room, surfing the net and distinctly avoiding looking behind you. That is because we can almost guarantee that what is behind you is a massive pile of your finest glad rags.

You’re packing for uni, and Luxe Models knows what an exhausting task that can be. You want to take everything with you – you have so many beautiful clothes, why wouldn’t you – but you can’t. Your parents don’t have a car big enough, and you know that once you hit campus, you’re not going to want to come back to pick up a second load for your uni wardrobe

A Few Uni Wardrobe Essentials

You have quite a conundrum on hand, but the thing is that Luxe Models has seen it all before, through working with models who are going to uni at the same time. These girls are experts at packing for a year at a higher institution of learning, and they have taught us that you need to pack…

·         The Basics: Don’t ditch the basics like socks and knickers to pack an extra frock just because you think you can get by without. When your clean supply runs out, you’ll so regret it.

·         Winter Wear: It’s not quite winter yet, but it’s just around the corner. That’s why you should avoid packing light summer clothes, which you can pick up when you’re back for Christmas break, and pack winter gear like coats, jumpers, cardigans, scarves etc.

·         Bags: Of course, you’re not complete without a bag, but which bag should you bring? Generally, we’d suggest a two pronged approach. Pack both a satchel and a going out bag, as you’ll need both. You’ll regret it if you have to take a glittery clutch to lectures!

·         Little Black Dress: A big part of uni is going out, but you don’t have space for a different frock for every night. That is why you should always take an LBD with you, so that you can accessorise it and use it again and again, leaving space in your wardrobe and your suitcase for other things!

·         A Selection of White T’s: Basically, you never know when you’ll need one for a themed night out, and you don’t want to be spending money that you could be spending out on the tiles on a white T to decorate. Also, pack glitter pens to decorate!

Focus on Looking and Feeling Fabulous!

Your three years at uni are the best time of your life, and you need to make sure you look fabulous for every single second, which is why ultimately, Luxe Models would suggest that when you’re thinking about what to take to uni, you just focus on looking and feeling fabulous!

Top Five Wardrobe Essentials for the Well Dressed Gentlemen

The rise of the metrosexual has meant that it’s more important than ever for men to take care of their appearance, which is why Luxe Models has decided to share its top five wardrobe essentials for the well-dressed gentleman, to help you on your way.

At Luxe Models We Know Life is Hard for the Modern Gentleman

Being a modern man is hard. Gone are the days when you could buy a one size fits all kind of suit for work and jeans and t-shirt to slob around in on your days off. The modern gentleman is well-groomed, expertly dressed and magnificently quaffed – it’s enough to give you a head ache.

If you’re the type of man who’s never going to read Vogue or follow what’s happening on the world’s runways, wardrobe staples are investments – they allow you to pull off the modern gentlemen look without actually putting too much thought into it. Stocking your wardrobe full of male fashion staples is like the sartorial version of cheating on your school exams – but no one will mark you down for it!

The Top Five from Luxe Models

Saying that, there are some staples that your wardrobe just cannot do without, and in Luxe Models considerable fashion experience, these are the top five:

1)      Black Blazer: A black blazer with quality tailoring can turn a slobby casual look into an elegant evening look, sure to melt the hearts of ladies across the four corners of the bar, lending you an understated professional air.

2)      Patent Leather Black Dress Shoes: With a pair of patent leather black dress shoes on you’re always ready for a long day ahead. They provide the perfect touch to finish off the professional look, but also work well for a casual night out, teamed with the black blazer.

3)      Statement Scarf: Statement scarves are a wonderful thing. They have the ability to turn the drabbest of looks into a bona fide hipster hit, making them a staple that simply must hang in your wardrobe.

4)      Dark Wash Boot Cut Jeans: Jeans are easily the most versatile item in any wardrobe, but if you want the perfect pair to sport on a night out, or lounge around in on your day off, go for dark wash (always slimming even when you’ve had a few too many pints) and boot cut, which never goes out of fashion.

5)      Plaid Shirt: Plaid is probably the most flexible pattern in existence.Teamed with frayed levis and classic boots for the laid back look you can rock in your free time, or match with the black blazer, statement scarf and patent leather black dress shoes for a night on the lash!

FFor more stories and articles like this, stay in touch with Luxe Models on Twitter. 

What Top Five Timeless Classics Hang in the Luxe Models Wardrobe?

At Luxe Models we know that some pieces simply never go out of style, and you should do everything you can to cling onto them; what are the top five staples you should keep in your wardrobe?

Some Clothes Just Never Go Out of Style

The nature of fashion is change; trends come and go, pieces flit in and out of style and you’re often left in a daze simply keeping trying to keep up! That’s because a trend is something that seems interesting at the time, but eventually looks stale and dated.

However even in fashion there are some styles of clothing so vaunted, so beloved, that they simply never go out of vogue. They’re pieces that are versatile, that you can match with just about anything, and that always come in handy when you have no idea what to wear.

The Top Five from Luxe Models

So that begs the question, what in your wardrobe will never go out of style? It’s a hard thing to pull off, but these top five pieces definitely work as timeless classics that you’d be an idiot to throw away:

1)      Little Black Dress: We couldn’t have had a conversation about wardrobe staples without mention of the Little Black Dress (LBD). The LBD is suitable for just about any occasion, can be matched with every accessory under the sun and always looks fabulous!

2)      Dark-Wash Boot Cut Jeans: It’s amazing what you can do with a classic pair of jeans; wear them for work, jazz them up with a sparkly top for a night out etc. It comes no more classic than dark-wash, always slimming, and boot cut, which is neither slim enough, nor wide enough, to make you look as though you’ve fallen victim to the latest trend.

3)      A White Dress Shirt: A staple of any work wardrobe, the white dress shirt defines simple elegance, however it also works on a more casual basis, if you lightly roll up the sleeves, untuck it and leave it un-ironed for that sexy ruffled look.

4)      A Black Blazer:  A classic black blazer looks good no matter what. Sharp, simple and elegant, you can wear it in the summer, winter, at work, on a night out, to a coffee date etc., it never not looks good!

5)      Ballet Flats: When you get sick of heels you’ll want a pair of ballet flats, and the best thing about them is that they really do look good with anything. Wear with jeans for a classic look or team with a cocktail dress and tights for a night on the tiles. Glamorous, yet so amazingly comfortable!

There’s a rule to remember when thinking about what pieces your wardrobe can’t do without; if it’s versatile, comfortable, yet can be accessorised to look glamorous, it’s a timeless classic you should never let go of!

For more stories like this, make sure you stay up to date with Luxe Models on Twitter. 

The Luxe Models Guide to Matching Colours

Every women (and any fashion conscious man) has felt the fear of wearing a mismatching outfit. Banish this worry forever, with this week’s Luxe Models guide to matching colours.

Get to Know Your Colour

You open up your wardrobe and it’s all like Sophie’s Choice up in there! You have a top and a skirt you love, but you’re not sure if the colours complement or clash. Rather than taking the risk, why not get to know your colour.

As far as fashion goes, colours generally fall into several categories; neutral colours (black, white and grey), cold colours (blue, green and bluish shades of purple i.e. lavender), warm colours (red, orange, yellow, pink and pink tones of purple i.e. plum) and last, but not least, warm neutrals (cream, beige, and brown).

Combine Your Colours

Once you’ve gotten familiar with the colours on offer, use these as a benchmark on how to match. From here, there are general rules that you can follow to make sure you've got colours that complement each other:

• 2 colours, 1 neutral: green and yellow and white
• 1 colour, 1 neutral: black and red
• 1 colour, 2 neutrals: purple and black and grey
• 2 or 3 neutrals: black and white

Luxe Models and the Two Ways to Wear Colour

For the actual colours themselves, remember that there are two ways of wearing them. The first is by wearing complementary colours. These are shades that stand opposite each other on a standard colour wheel. They are complementary because they bring out and emphasise each other. Examples of complementary colours include blue and orange, purple and yellow etc. Try wearing a lighter shade of one colour with a darker shade of another, for the best effect.

The other way to match colour is to use analogous colour. These are shades that are next to each other on a standard colour wheel. Essentially, because they are next to each other, the subtlety is pleasing to the eye. An analogous combination would include light blue, dark green and light green. A good tip for wearing analogous colours is to either limit yourself to three, or two with a neutral thrown in.

Luxe Models knows that it’s not always easy to know which colours will complement each other, and we hope this guide helps, however we would also remind you to rely on your intuition. If something looks wrong, it probably is!

For more stories and articles like this, make sure you follow Luxe Models on Facebook. 

What Do You Need to Pull Off the Penny Dreadful Look?

This week critic favourite Penny Dreadful hit UK screens, and that’s why we thought we’d take the opportunity to let you know what you need if you wish to pull off the Penny Dreadful look!

Penny Dreadful is a series that reimagines the characters of classic 19^th Century literature such as Frankenstein, Dorien Grey and Dracula, using them to tap into the popular appeal of the era’s gothic literature. With stars such as Josh Hartnett, Eva Green, Timothy Dalton and Billie Piper involved, it’s sure to achieve cult following by the time the end credits roll on the last episode of the first series.

The Rise of Gothic Fashion

There’s something extremely powerful about the gothic genre. Tales such as Dracula and Frankenstein have stayed with us, even after their authors have long since shuffled the mortal coil, and part of the knock on effect of their popularity is the modern gothic fashion that typified the 1990’s.

The 1990’s were very much a decade of counter culture. The bubble gum pop of the 80’s had passed, and teenagers were very much ready to re-embrace their angst. Thus gothic fashion became more popular than ever, and even stars such as Madonna, Marilyn Manson and Rose McGowan took the trend to their hearts as the decade progressed.

Luxe Models Top Four Tips to Pulling Off the Penny Dreadful Look

Penny Dreadful is sure to bring gothic fashion back to the fore, and if you want to rock this darkest of trends, you might want to try these four tips, courtesy of Luxe Models.

1)      Black on Black: There can never be enough black in this fashion trend. Go all out – black clothes, black makeup, black hair. If you have to ask yourself, ‘am I wearing enough black?’ the answer is no!

2)      A Lace Print for Every Occasion: Lace was arguably the most fashionable material of the 19^th Century and the goths of the 1990’s incorporated the lace look of their favourite horror characters into their clothes. Tops with long lace sleeves work wonders here!

3)      Statement Makeup: Go big or go home: Statement makeup such as black nail varnish, ruby red lips and heavy mascara typified goth chic, and that is because our poplar imaging of the characters that inspired the look relies heavily on overstated physical features.

4)      Formal Wear: The Victorian era was probably the most conservative of modern times, and formal wear was a must for fashionistas of the day. The gothic look subverts this 19^th Century trend, using classic formal pieces such as top hats, cravats and bow ties to emphasise the jarring nature of this most statement of styles. 

Alessandra Ambrosio launches new fashion range

Thursday evening saw 32-year-old Brazillian model Alessandra Ambrosio debut her new fashion line, but she was upstaged on the red carpet by her mate Vanessa Hudgens! Luxe Models loved the pics of Vanessa sporting a skimpy leather ensemble.

The High School Musical star showed off her incredible figure in a leather mini skirt and matching top, off-setting the whole look with a cool pair of round sunglasses.  Alessandra on the other hand played it safe in a beige flowing dress. The Victoria’s Secret model has created a line of casual clothing, known as Ále by Alessandra. She follows in the footsteps of her fellow Angels Tyra Banks and Heidi Klum. Her foray into fashion designs has also apparently inspired Lily Aldridge, who said this week that she too would like to launch her own range.  

Ambrosio’s line is strongly inspired by her own bohemian style, with plenty of loose, flowing garments and looks that will flaunt the female form. It will be stocked exclusively by Planet Blue, which will be the perfect outlet for her style. Prices for the pieces range from $60 to $260 and will hit store on the 17^th of March. Fashion fans can expect plunging necklines, crop tops and sexy, printed swimwear.

The collection is aimed at women aged between 18 and 35 and will eventually incorporate jewellery, accessories and fragrances. Ambrosio aims to create a collection that sums up all of her own passions, including travel and Brazilian culture.

For more stories like this, follow Luxe Models on Twitter. If you’re interested in modelling, visit our website for details of our services.