high street fashion – Models Direct

Get the A/W Burberry Look

Once again at London Fashion Week Christopher Bailey wowed fashion- lovers everywhere with his Burberry Prorsum collection. But if you can’t quite afford the designer brand, Models Direct explains how to get the Autumn/Winter 2010 Burberry look on a budget.

Military. The military trend from spring and summer shows is set to continue into the winter. Burberry has a history of involvement with the armed forces and this was prominent in the ‘salute to the services’ themed collection.

The trend can be achieved with jackets featuring gold buttons, numerous buckles around the sleeves and zipped pockets. Jackets also had zips around the waist to crop the jackets into shorter versions. For women, jackets were either worn open and oversized with large shoulders or trim and tailored, nipped in at the waist.

Colours. The colours on the catwalk were all kept quite murky with greens, browns and navy being most prominent. However, things were brightened up with rich purples, vibrant blues and bright mustard shades.

Boots. Over-the-knee boots is obviously another trend that plans to stick around, with Burberry’s being thigh thigh-high, pointy-toed and in snakeskin effect. If this is a bit too daring for you, sheepskin-lined buckled boots were also seen on the catwalk in knee and ankle lengths. No doubt there will be some much more wearable versions in the high street when autumn rolls round again. Lace Lace-up boots were also a popular choice for the menswear.

Fabrics. Fur, sheepskin and leather were prominent features on the coats on the catwalk, but Models Direct recommends you go faux if you’re thinking of wearing fur. The bulkiness of these bulky fabrics were contrasted and feminised with delicate lace and satin.

All in all the Burberry collection was attractive and wearable and one that Models Direct feel will be easy to emulate for autumn and winter.

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Jamie Spent the Day Modelling Stylish Sportswear

SubSeventy is a golf clothing company that aims to ‘funk up your game’. When they needed a man to model clothes on the website, they came to us. They wanted someone aged twenty-five or over, who was over 6ft and fit and healthy looking.

Jamie was the man chosen to model the stylish sportswear and the photos are featured on the website. This was his first assignment with Models Direct since signing up in June.

He gave us some feedback on how the photoshoot went.
“It went very smoothly and ran on time, the whole experience was very professional,” Jamie informed us. “It was good fun and I was treated well by the photographer.” He said the best thing about the assignment was being paid to have fun.

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Models Direct: Focus On Sustainable Fashions

How many of us have been tempted in the last few months to buy cheaper clothing that may not be built to last? Certain items such as school uniforms and some other children’s clothes can be picked up at surprisingly low prices right now from certain stores. These low-cost items are often considered disposable fashions by the buyer – they are cheap, they get a lot of wear and tear and children grow out of them quickly. Before you know it, they are in the bin.

Then there are the adult and child fashion items from outlets like Primark. Shoppers know that some of these items may not last, but they are low cost, often quite up to date in terms of fashion, and, as they will probably go out of fashion altogether within a season or two, why not treat them as ‘throwaway fashions’?

Is this acceptable? Or do we need to think more about the implications of this type of purchase?

Mike Webster, a representative of the charity Waste Watch, believes we should consider the real cost of ‘affordable fashion’. “If manufacturers and retailers had to bear the environmental cost of producing such cheap clothes, they might think again about their prices and quality,” he says. “Every time a £2 T-shirt gets thrown into the bin, it ends up costing the taxpayer in the expense of taking it to the landfill, and it taking up space in the landfill.”

According to a committee of MPs, council tips have seen the proportion of textile waste rise from 7% to 30% in the last five years.

Asda, Tesco and Primark’s clothing sales all performed well last year, and with all three offering ultra cheap clothing it is good to hear that Asda for one is addressing this issue. They have stated that their clothing is not intended to be ‘disposable’ and that any parent can return the George school uniform range for up to 100 days rather than the usual 28 days if they are unhappy with the quality. If the scheme is a success they may go on to review their entire refund policy to cover adult clothing in this way.

Tesco said it would consider looking at its return policy, but for now insists that their school uniform offers (which can buy you –two pairs of trousers, three shirts and a sweat top for less than £11) are simply “good quality at good prices”.

Models Direct Guide To This Season’s Hat Trends

The time has come to cover up and don your hat and scarf. However, many of us struggle with hat trends – where do you start? A hat can completely change your look, as well as keeping you warm, so here are a few tips on hot hat looks this winter from the Models Direct team.

Faux fur hats

Great news! Big, warm, comfortable fur hats are in – and you don’t have to condone killing animals to wear them. Faux fur is out in full force, so grab yourself the ultimate hat for warmth and comfort. Anyone can wear them and you can even get away with earflaps this season!

Berets

Berets appeared on Armani, Missoni and Ann Sui’s runways this year, so wear yours with pride. They look great in knit or velvet and will brighten up any day.

Beaded and feathered hats

Ladies, don’t be afraid of embellished, beaded or feathered hats. They can be worn to glam up an outfit and look fabulous. Vivienne Westwood featured some gorgeous beaded hats in her shows this year, to great effect.

Brightly coloured hats

Bright headgear will lift your spirits and those of people around you, so embrace this trend for winter and take a leaf out of designer Michael Kors’ fashion book.

Leather hats

Leather hats are the most weatherproof of all, so if it’s raining you can’t go wrong with this edgy option. Wear them with a peak to stay dry and look great.

Woollen hats

A perennial favourite. Woollen hats such as beanies are flattering on most people and offer both comfort and warmth. Pair with your favourite scarf and team the look with a casual or sporty jacket and jeans.

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Models Direct – Ladies Office Chic Made Simple

For many women these days a huge percentage of our time is spent at work. Those of us who get to choose our work attire should not underestimate the power of the image we portray. The way we look at work will undoubtedly have a direct influence on our networking opportunities, the relationships we make with our peers, and may even determine how seriously we are taken by our superiors.

Dressing for the office can be a daily challenge, whether you are hoping to get a raise, catch the eye of a colleague, or clinch that deal with a tricky client, your image choices are constantly influencing how successful you are at work. In this article we would like to share some tips on how to get the most from your wardrobe and help you move on in the work place.

It is well documented that 50-75% of all our communication is non-verbal, the majority of the rest is visual, with attire and body language coming high on the list! If you are feeling confident in your look then your body language and posture will naturally be greatly improved, this should prove a great way to start making the most of your image at work.

Whatever your current style says to those around you, for most of us there is room for improvement, even if you are a model employee!

Try following Model Direct’s simple steps to ensure you are saying something positive to the people you work with, without even opening your mouth. So make sure you:

Plan ahead: Come on girls, get organised! Decide on your outfit the day before work and preferably have it laid out ready to put on in the morning. This will not only ensure that you avoid those last minute bad choices but will also make your morning far less stressful.

Iron it: There is no excuse for looking like you’ve just woken up in today’s outfit and rolled in to work. Ensure that your clothing is washed and pressed before you leave the house.

Keep it classic: Classic lines create a timeless and stylish silhouette and we recommend them as a fantastic way to project a professional, competent and stylish appearance.

Traditional colours: Combine use of traditional and neutral colours as a basis for your working wardrobe. Navy is associated with trustworthiness, grey is conservative, black with chic, and white will compliment any of these. Remember that black and navy should never be worn together!

Introducing other Colours: Introduce other colours into your look if you feel confident to do so, with a (preferably structured) handbag, or some appropriate heels. Pastels and neutrals are safest, but, if you think you can pull it off, an accessory in this season’s berry shades could look fabulous. Brights and prints can be harder to adapt for office wear, so choose wisely and please remember that red can appear aggressive or confrontational.

Attention to detail: Style your hair, look after your nails (varnish with a clear or neutral polish), keep your shoes clean, accessorise carefully with a statement necklace or ring to acknowledge the latest trend, carry spare hosiery to avoid unsightly runs (a great tip is to spray hosieries with hairspray before wearing, which will actually protect against runs).

Expect the unexpected: Let’s face it, the weather could do anything on any given day (and so could your boss!), so be prepared for unscheduled meetings or being caught in a sudden heat wave or downpour. Try to go to work equipped with as many as possible, of the following: a compact umbrella, sunglasses, compact hairbrush, hairclip, compact deodorant, breath mints and emergency make up kit (see below), or even better leave these items permanently at work, along with a Mac and some flats for any unexpected challenges

Emergency make up kit: Your favourite make up wipes, concealer, mascara, eye pencil, lip stain/gloss, blush – as compact as possible and kept in a washable bag for hygiene.

And once you’ve mastered the art of office chic, all you will have to worry about is making sure you have enough time for all the new engagements you will be involved in!

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Models Direct’s Top Tips for Vintage Shopping

The problem with high street fashion? Everyone ends up wearing the same thing! The Models Direct team love vintage style, but it can be a hard look to get right, especially if you’re trying to find a real bargain! Here, we give you some ideas for the best places to go to get your vintage wardrobe staples.

Vintage fairs. Dedicated vintage clothing fairs and markets are a great place to start, and you might get to learn a bit about the history of what you’re buying. Models Direct recommend The Affordable Vintage Fair, which has just started a tour of the UK.

Charity shops. If you like a bit of a challenge, scour your local charity shops. Charity shop shopping is also a great way to create something original. What with the recession, clothes modification is becoming much more popular and it’s a great way to inject some more of your personality into what you wear.

Be warned, once you’ve found one fantastic garment or accessory it could turn into a bit of an obsession!

If you love designer clothes but not their prices, check out Oxfam’s new chain of boutique stores around London, and soon to expand to other major UK cities. Obviously the designer ranges are more expensive than the usual charity shopper will be used to, but it’s a fraction of what it could cost new! The boutiques also stock ethically produced and customised clothing.

Car boots and jumble sales. A great place to practice your haggling skills, and with any luck you’ll find a seller who doesn’t know that they’ve got a vintage gem so you can barter a bargain price. Arrive early so you can be sure to see everything that’s on offer and, if you really like something, don’t take too long pondering whether to buy it. Don’t you just hate it at car boot sales when you see someone walking around clutching something you almost bought? Check the internet and local papers to find out when these events are taking place.

Online stores. Shopping for vintage clothing online can be a bit of a risk but you’ll be able to find a huge variety. Using online vintage stores could be the way to go if you have a specific decade or style in mind – try eBay as a starting point. Make sure you know your measurements (not just your dress size), examine the garment to check for any damage and print the product information as something to refer to when it’s delivered just in case there are any problems with it.

Vintage shops. There are different types of vintage shops that will cater for small or large budgets. Even if it’s one of the more expensive shops, be sure to check the garments for any wear or damages. They should have somewhere for you to try things on, make sure you do!

Now you know where to look for your vintage wardrobe, look out for Models Direct’s advice on what pieces to go for, the timeless fabrics and what to avoid!

Modelling Experience With Models Direct

Models Direct

When you first start a modelling career it can be a bit daunting, but the more assignments you do the more confidence you gain, making the whole experience more enjoyable. Many models would be grateful for the opportunity to get some more experience at the start of their career, even if it did mean working for free!

This was the case when student Melanie approached Models Direct looking for four models who were willing to participate in a fashion show to raise funds for Cancer Research. Of course we were more than willing to help out and our team had no problem finding the four women to take part.

The lucky models were Rebecca H, Rebecca B, Carly and Emma. This was the first catwalk assignment for all of them and they had a great day. It was made even more special as it was for such a good cause.

“It’s everything I ever wanted to do so being a model for the day felt like the beginning of my dreams” comments Rebecca H. “It was a great experience and I would love to do it again.”

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High Five – a new kind of gloves!

I’m a big fan of high fives and I’ve just come across the perfect accessory for fellow high-fivers.

These mittens are from designer Kate Spade, sister-in-law of actor and comedian David Spade and the co-founder and namesake of Kate Spade New York.

With winter quickly approaching I would love a pair! I have the image of people walking around wintry cities, huddled up in their warm coats, seeing another person wearing these mittens and then spontaneously high-fiving each other… is this just me?

Annoyingly, they’re very expensive; $95 is far too much to spend on a pair of gloves, especially novelty gloves. Luckily they’re sold out at the moment anyway so I can avoid the temptation!

She has also designed this pair, perfect for hailing a cab!

I’m now trying to think of more witty glove designs… maybe I could take up knitting and make them myself!

– Kathy @ Models Direct

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Indie – when fashion and music collide…

It’s been a long-held view that fashion and music act as huge influences on one another, and the 2009 British indie scene shows just how true that is. Both indie music and indie fashion can be traced back to the 1980s, and indeed in the 2000s, we’re seeing a lot of the past trends hitting the catwalk, the stage and the high-street once again.

Bands such as Depeche Mode and The Cure pioneered the music movement of the eighties, and with them they created a whole new daring style, attitude and persona. Though this particular kind of fashion isn’t always followed by the indie musicians of today, the impact of an artist’s style still resonates hugely with music fans of today.

In many cases, we see the fashion of one or two bands begin to influence fans, and from here we see high street fashion adjust accordingly. When Razorlight and the Arctic Monkeys hit the music scene back in 2004, it wasn’t long before young boys were consistently dressed in skinny jeans, waist coats and neck scarves. By 2007, Razorlight frontman Johnny Borrell was the seventh man in the history of fashion to appear on the front cover of Vogue, and Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner was in a serious relationship with model Alexa Chung.

And, of course, it’s not just the men, either. Female fronted bands like The Ting Tings and Yeah Yeah Yeahs have been equally influential. Katie White of The Ting Tings and Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs were wearing oversized tees, patterned leggings and funky coloured short shorts before any of us high-streeters had even begun thinking about it. Musicians such as Lily Allen and Beth Ditto have made crossovers directly into the fashion world, adorning the covers of magazines and modelling for high-street and designer brands.

So this summer’s innately rock and roll style isn’t entirely new, but here at Models Direct HQ we reckon it’s still full of creativity and we have no doubts that it is just naturally oh-so-cool.

– Lauren @ Models Direct