Malala Yousafzai Wins Nobel Peace Prize

This week Luxe Models wants to take the time to congratulate girls’ education activist Malala Yousafzai on winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

Luxe Models Believes in the Power of Women’s Education

Working in the fashion industry, Luxe Models have seen what a good education can do for women looking to get ahead in this industry.

With education, a woman can evolve in fashion, starting out her career as a model and learning about the industry from the ground up, before moving on to become a celebrated designer. That is why we want to take the time to congratulate Malala this week for winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

Who is Malala Yousafzai?

For anybody who hasn’t been listening, Malala Yousafzai is a 17 year old girl from the Swat Valley in North-West Pakistan. She first came to prominence as an anonymous blogger for the BBC in 2009. She wrote about her life and the restrictions she faced as a girl wanting an education, during the time her region came under Taliban rule.

Malala’s life changed forever one day in 2012. Whilst riding the bus to her school in the Swat Valley, the Taliban bordered it asking for her. When they found her, they shot her in the head. Miraculously, she survived, after being flown to a hospital in the UK for treatment.

Malala Becomes Youngest Person to Ever Win the Nobel Peace Prize

Like any true activist though, the Taliban didn’t manage to keep Malala down for long. What they did to her only made her stronger. Since the attack, she has become a world famous advocate for the right of women to receive an education, even speaking on the subject at the UN in New York.

That work has now been recognised, as according to the BBC, she is one of two people to have won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, from a list of hundreds. She even won over Pope Francis, who has been heralded for his work in modernising the Catholic Church since he took on the mantel of the Papacy. At 17, she is the youngest person to ever receive the prize.

The other recipient was Indian children’s rights activist, Kailash Satyarthi. In commenting on the pair’s wins, the Nobel Committee commented their "struggle against the suppression of children and young people."

An Example to Us All

So congratulations Malala, it’s a prize that is truly deserved. You act as an example to us all. Through you, the world has been reminded of what a woman is truly capable of when she has the backing of a good education.

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Tulisa Reveals Her Drugs Charge Anguish

Tulisa Contostavlos was cleared of supply Class A drugs last week, and Luxe Models has learned that this week, she has spoken out on the anguish that charge caused her.

Tulisa Pulls Off Chavvy Fashion Like Only She Can

We’ve always been huge fans of the beleaguered pop star here at Luxe Models. She’s certainly made a name for herself. Starting out on a council estate, she’s overcome a lot to become one of the hottest pop stars in the UK.

And we’ve always had a bit of a thing for Tulisa’s sense of fashion. Yes, it may be somewhat on the chavvy side, but she pulls it off in a way that only she can. Which is why we were shocked to hear that’d she’d been charged with supplying class A’s.

Oh What A Media Circus

Basically, Contostavlos was suggested to have been supplying the narcotics last year, after having been ‘caught’ in a sting by undercover reporter, Mazher Mahmood. The case went to Southwark Crown Court recently.

It’s been a media circus of epic proportions. The whole thing blew up, and the media have latched onto it like a baby does its first bottle of the day. However, last week, the case against the former N-Dubz singer collapsed, due to Judge Alistair McCreath’s belief of ‘serious misconduct’ on the part of Mahmood. However, she was found guilty of assault, and ordered to pay £200 in fines, along with a £20 victim surcharge, compensation to the tune of £100 and £2,700 in costs. She plans to appeal.

“I Felt like My Life Was Over”

Now she’s spoken out on how the charge affected her life. Digital Spy reported that in an interview with Good Morning Britain that Contostavlos said: "I felt like my life was over. Like someone had taken my life away. They took it out of my hands and took it away in a second."

She went on to reveal that she was now unsure of what the future holds, suggesting: "I have no idea what is going to happen - no idea how the public will feel about me coming back. I've been portrayed as a monster. I'm going to try and go back to what I love again."

Luxe Models Asks: What’s next for Tulisa?

What happens next is anyone’s guess, but it’ll be certainly one to watch over the closing quarter of 2014. Where will chav fashion icon Tulisa Contostavlos go next?

Is Jennifer Lawrence America's New Sweetheart?

There's hardly been a day gone by in the last two months without Jennifer Lawrence cropping up in the headlines just for being lovely. So Luxe Models want to know, has she claimed the crown of America's Sweetheart?

She smart, funny, popular and seems like a genuinely kind person. She's sweet and wholesome and apparently appreciates her fame and the fans who support her, as well as being extremely attractive and funny! It seems she has it all!

However, former holder of this unofficial title, Julia Roberts, has spoken out on MTV this week to say that she feels J-Law is a little too "edgy" to be a Sweetheart. Julia, who decided to put her acting career on hold when she started a family a little over a decade ago said that while she thinks Jennifer Lawrence is great, she's just too cool to take her title. Could this be the green-eyed monster taking hold?

Both actresses have won Oscars, though Jennifer won hers at a much younger age than Julia. And while, at 22 Jennifer Lawrence was portraying one of the best examples of a young female heroine in The Hunger Games, Julia shot to fame playing a skanky prostitute who falls in love with a rich business man in Pretty Woman.

Julia Roberts also stated that she never enjoyed the fame she gained and didn't like being placed on a pedestal by her fans. Jennifer Lawrence on the other hand seems to want to use her fame for good, to encourage and help her young fans to realise that they can be strong young women too.

J-Law, we salute you!

Luxe Models Exibition

We thought it might be an idea to show you some of the work we do here at Luxe Models. We love everything about fashion, photography and modelling, so it's great to be able to share our passion with others...

Beach Wear

Luxe Models loves nothing more than to accessorise on the beach. Just because you don’t wear much on the beach, doesn’t mean you don’t have to wear much. This is an excuse, actually (ahem), to accessorise more than ever before in the world of accessorising. “Why?” you ask. Luxe Models will tell you (because we are wise beyond words)... On the beach one doesn’t wear much in terms of clothing, yes, we are aware of this, BUT: the lack of clothing actually acts as a reason to drape one’s semi-naked body in tassels, in jewellery, in sexy sunglasses and unconventional footwear. Bangles, hair accessories, sarongs: think of it this way, the less clothes you wear, the more accessories you can get away with. Hurrah beach! Hurrah sun! We worship the warm rays of heat you provide, which allow us to glam up our lives without looking like a weird old bag lady. Ah, the simple pleasures in life.

Bangles
Luxe Models loves that clinky, clanky sound you get from strolling along the beach dowsed in chunky metal goodness. Wrists swathed in big round variations of bangle joy; we love it! Check out Topshop for some awesome wrist action. H&M is good if your budget is a little lower, and AlexanderMcQueen is good for those whose budget is more open ended than the sweet blue skies that encompass our favourite beach locations.

Sunglasses
When on the beach abroad (and not mooching around Britain’s dreary high streets), one realises that sunglasses have a practical purpose. A purpose that is not merely to conceal baggy old hungover eyes, either! When on the beach, a Luxe Model needs eye-shields because of actual sunshine! Here at Luxe Models, at this moment in time, we’re loving round little numbers. They’re cool in a kind of hippy/Beatles way (as if there are any uncool hippy/Beatles ways).

Earrings
There is literally nothing better than a big pair of chavvy gold hoops. Luxe Models is not joking in relaying this solid fact. Bikinis and hoops look hot; there are no two ways about it. Other oversized earrings are also a hit. Or what about those earrings that are kind of like an ear cuff, yes, an EAR CUFF! It’s the future. One end clips on to the top of the ear whilst the other goes through the lobe piercing. Genius.

So, there you have it. A little beach accessory guide that should get your fashion juices flowing in time for this summer’s escapade abroad. Happy Holidays!

Luxe Models

xx

Luxe Models Management Has Always Admired Alexa's Unique Style...

Alexa Chung has been a style guru for years, taking over television with her unique and pretty look. Luxe Models has always admired Alexa's ability to make fashion her own; she is definitely a trend setter. In this interview she talks about how she found her now famous style, which we think is pretty cool.

Until next time,

Luxe Models xx

Street Wear

Despite the hours put into dressing up for ‘fancy’ occasions - dinner parties, dances, weddings and all that jazz – any girl who has gone out looking more Fresh Prince of Bellaire than Carla Delevingne knows that dressing ‘street’ is hard. There is a very fine line between urban-chic and blinged up moron. Many don chunky gold accessories and trainers thinking they resemble Rihanna when in actual fact they look like they’ve had a one night stand with Ali G and taken his clothes by accident in their quick exit.

Despite outside appearances, people go to a whole lot of trouble to look effortlessly cool. It’s not just about wearing trainers for the sake of wearing trainers, or caps for the sake of wearing caps; street-wear has to be thought out as carefully as any other look. 

One thing that is all the rage at the moment, and one of the easiest trends to end in disaster, is dip-dye. Dunk those locks in all kinds o’ crazy colours; let the pink tips rule, blue ends get up in here, let two-tone hair have its place in your life, alright, just Don’t. Get. It. Wrong. 

Advice: Go to a good hairdressers! There are many brands that offer do it yourself dip dye products, which may be ok after your first time. But, like all first times, it’s best to take it slow and not plunge anything too quickly into anything else. Treat your hair-ends with respect and don’t go dipping them in any old dye. Let a professional take a look at your colouring and work out what would be best for you.

So, you’ve got your tresses all spruced up, now they’d like a new little outfit to top it off. One word: Beanies! Ultimate street coolness exudes from those who proudly wear the little woollen wonders atop of their multi-coloured hair. 

Advice: Go fairly plane with beanies. A simple black or grey beanie looks the part. Street clothes are often colourful and overstated; a beanie that boasts bold patterns can top things off in a clownish way. Don’t be a clown. 

Trainers are all over the forefront of fashion right now. However, before you start digging out your pink sketchers from the nineties, be aware that they are one of the hardest items of street goodness to get right.

Advice: Vans are pretty much fail-safe. The chunky sole is completely in right now and the brand itself is a fashion statement. Also check out Kurt Geiger Mock-Crock pumps, they’re freakin’ incredible. 

So, before you make the assumption that street is EZ, well, don’t; it’s actually quite hard. One last item that we love here at Luxe Models: varsity jackets. Check out Rita Ora and Carla Delevingne for inspiration, those girls got it going ON!

Peace out xx

Girls : “The Little Fat Chick” Who Made It

After listening to my housemate repeatedly tell me to get onto this American comedy, Girls for two weeks solid, I finally got around to watching the first episode on Thursday night. I had finished all two seasons by Saturday... And I work a 9-5. The programme captures with humbling honesty all of the nitty gritty details that fill the life of a twenty-something year old girl trying to make it through the limbo that hangs steadfastly between university and youth and life as an adult. Lena Duham, the creator, writer, producer and star of the show portrays with frightening accuracy the lives, trials and tribulations of a group of girls trying to survive in New York, in romance, in friendship and work.

This show is not like other American hits. The cameras that shoot the programme do not sport (like The OC and Desperate Housewives) a permanent orange lens to portray an unnatural glow across each character’s face and an alarming lack of cellulite around their thighs. The girls are not size zero, not airbrushed and in no way the completely unrealistic portrayal of “young women” that we see on Gossip Girl. 

Luxe Models is fully aware of the fact that the world is changing and being size zero is no longer a necessity to make it in show-biz or modelling. Quite the opposite, Lena Dunham is a self-deprecating, hilarious embodiment of what it is to be, well, normal. Except for, perhaps, her brilliant wit, fabulous writing and success at the age of 25, this girl is just like you and I. The show is very much autobiographical, and so freakin’ relatable that it hurts (anyone who is also a twenty-something year old girl living in the city after university must agree). Hannah Horvath, the protagonist of the show played by Lena Dunham, has been “14 pounds overweight” her whole life, regularly goes out with a “greasy forehead” and snacks to her heart’s content. Yes, she is much like a lot of regular twenty-somethings, nay, most twenty-somethings. She rocks pretty outfits such as floral playsuits, and never shies away from short-shorts. What’s more, she dates (and has raucous, adventurous sex with)  the hottest guys throughout each season, the highlight having to be Adam Sackler, played by upcoming actor, Adam Drive, who is THE most beautiful, broody, moody, arty character to hit any screen in a long time. 

Lena Dunham, during an interview with David Letterman, described how Howard Stern had said about her: “Good for her. It’s hard for little fat chicks to get anything going.” She laughed at the comment and said she admired Stern’s work; she just wasn’t bothered. And why should she be when she looked gorgeous, dressed in a simple black dress, with bright red lips and a pixie-crop haircut. 

The show is painfully true, hilarious, embarrassing and gorgeous. We see the kinds of outfits that actually inspire “I might buy that” kind of thoughts, and not “I’m going to find the nearest cliff and jump off it”. For the girls, for ALL the girls... you must watch this show.

Luxe Models on Kate Moss and Leather

Kate Moss plus leather equals fashion dream. Actually Kate Moss plus anything equals fashion dream; Luxe Models cannot deny that the supermodel, bad-girl, loving mother and wife to hot hot rock star could pull off a bin-bag-sarong. And, no, this is not a hyperbole, this is genuine fact. So, where were we? Ah yes, Kate Moss wrapped in bad-ass leather and a teeny tiny denim mini skirt, draped across a motorbike. Classic. This is the image of the oldest motorbike brand, Matchless’, campaign for their new clothing line.

Involving leather jackets that range between £900-1,300, these motorbike accessories are not for the feint hearted. Luxe Models staff have been drooling over the collection all morning, and we’re not sure if it’s the fact that Kate Moss is wearing one of said jackets gaping open with nothing underneath, and yes she’s still got it, or if it’s the tantalising leather jacket itself; one of the longest-lasting fashion-staples of all time.

Kate was photographed by Terry Richardson, lavishly strewn across Marlon Brando’s motorbike from The Wild One; dayum! 

Michele Malenotti, Matchless’ marketing and business expansion director, said, "We are delighted to be working with Kate Moss on this first Matchless advertising campaign for this new era of the brand. We feel her spirit and personality fit the brand perfectly and this is clearly conveyed in the campaign." And here at Luxe Models we couldn’t agree more. Kate Moss sums up everything about the iconic leather jacket look, from her don’t-give-a-damn attitude, to her rock star lifestyle, to her casual dismissal of negative media attention; the model-turned-mother is impossible to bring down. 

If you’re inspired by this new collection then Luxe Models has a few handy tips for you about how to pull off a leather jacket:

• ·         With skinny jeans: go completely Kate Moss and rock the casual biker look

• ·         With your LBD: the perfect way to dress down a little black dress

• ·         With Levi cut-off shorts: staple festival wear  

• ·         With a pencil skirt: go for a 50s look

Until next time...

The Luxe Models team x