Rate clip and view comments

View more videos

What you’ll need
Pre-washed t-shirt
Fabric paint
Repositionable glue
Cellophane or thin cardboard
Two paint brushes
Stanley knife Iron

1. Print off or
 draw your design onto a sheet of
 A4 paper. In a well-aired space, spray the back
 of the paper with repositionable glue and stick it onto the cellophane or cardboard. Cut out the design with
 a Stanley knife or pair of scissors.

2. Again using the repositionable glue, spray the back of your finished stencil and stick it onto the t-shirt. This prevents slippage when painting.

3. Paint an even layer over the stencil. For shadowed edges, sweep the brush outwards at the edges of the stencil. Make sure to protect the other side of the t-shirt from the paint by putting a magazine or piece of cardboard inside the t-shirt. Leave the paint to dry and peel off the stencil.

4. Add any details with another layer or colour of paint. I used grey paint for details in the middle of the flowers. Again, leave the paint to dry. Covering the t-shirt with a thin cloth, iron the flowers from the front side of the t-shirt.

Freja. Arizona. Lindsey. Karlie. Cara. You probably know who we’re talking about. Their surnames are Erichsen, Muse, Wixson, Kloss and Delevingne. And they are some of today’s most popular models. The girls on whom fashion people get girl crushes, the ones they recognise instantly, and whose street style snaps are on Pinterest boards. These are the names that have leapt from the new faces board at their agency to the top of the industry’s must-use list.

Simply put, these girls all have that indefinable It – the magic that draws you in and makes them stand out in a line-up of dozens. “I speak for most agents when I say this: you know straight away,” says Premier Model Management’s Annie Wilshaw. “One beautiful Polaroid of a girl, and people
 get hooked. The hype comes from those raw digital pics at the very beginning, where the girl looks fresh-faced, with no make-up.”

THE INTANGIBLE EXTRA

A girl has to have more than just the physical requisites, however. She must have strength of character and intelligence. Surprised? Photographer and SHOWstudio founder Nick Knight explains. “When you’re creating a fashion image, the story and narrative lie within the clothes. A model is like the lead actress in a film: she understands what a piece of clothing makes her look like and projects that.”

“When you’re putting someone on the cover, they can’t just be the girl of the moment,” says Style.com’s editor-in-chief Dirk Standen, “they have to have that intangible extra something.” On the cover of the third issue of Style.com/Print magazine was Cara Delevingne. “With Cara, she’s an actress, as well as a model; she has 
a major presence on Twitter; and she likes to mug for the street style cameras. All those things can boost a girl’s profile, but it still comes back to that indefinable element. In Cara’s case, it’s an untamed, rebellious quality. You can teach a model to walk a runway but you can’t teach that.”

DOING THE SHOWS

So, you’ve been discovered or thought “why not?” and walked into an agency, who then proceed to sign you up as a new face because you have “It”. Then what? “Shows are how everyone starts off,” says Wilshaw. “The September shows are when all the fresh faces start in New York. It’s like new school term.” The more shows a new model amasses in a season, the better. And opening a show is like a badge of honour. For casting agent Natalie Joos, it’s standard psychology: “Opening and closing are coveted spots. Whatever comes first or last is what people remember easiest.”

Some shows are more instrumental in establishing a model’s career than others. The real game changers are Prada, Balenciaga and Givenchy. “Certain designers pride themselves on being the first to use a new girl, and casting directors search every modelling agency around the world for that face,” says Natalie Hand, director of Viva Model Management.

THE RIGHT MOMENT

But what really catapults a newbie into superstardom? Timing. Think of it as a ‘light bulb’ moment, both for the model and the industry. Nick Knight explains: “A girl falls into fashion because she’s attractive, and the first six months are great fun, but then it gets tedious and she might find herself bored, tired and surrounded by morons!” So she might lose her enthusiasm and find something else to do. Or she might go on, says Knight, “until she gets to work with somebody really great and realise that actually, this is exciting and not everybody is a moron! Everything clicks into place.”

So it turns out that it’s not always about “Have you seen this new model?” but “Have you seen so-and-so lately, she’s really got it!” Saskia de Brauw is a great example. Now 32, she dabbled in modelling when she was 19 for six months, but it wasn’t her time, says Natalie Hand. “Then, two years ago she opened and closed Balenciaga’s S/S 2011 show and everyone went crazy for her.”

Timing, intelligence, hard work and, of course, a sprinkling of that special something. The route to stardom can be short. But it takes more than a pretty face to be the face 
of the zeitgeist.

1. MAC Lipstick
I don't like wearing very much makeup, but a bold lip is a must. I've been wearing MAC lipsticks since high school.

2. Mustard blazer
Blazers are my go-to garment, when an outfit requires sophistication. This mustard one is definitely the showstopper in my wardrobe.

3. Michael Kors Miranda tote
Finding the perfect bag isn't an easy feat. When I saw this one, I thought it was the perfect blend of sophisticated, polished and versatile.

4. My bulldog, Kingston
He has the most hilarious personality and always puts a smile on my face. There's never a dull moment when he's around!

5. Global accessories
I'm obsessed with unique jewellery from far away lands. Most of my accessories collection is from India.

Rate clip and view comments

View more videos

What you’ll need
Denim shorts
Sequin fabric
Tracing paper
Scissors
Needle and thread
Pins

1. You are going to apply the embellishment in two different sections, on each side of the shorts. Lay the tracing paper on the top of one side of the shorts.

2. Use a pen to trace the edges of the shorts and then cut out a pattern to match the front panel.

3. Pin the pattern to the sequin fabric.

4. Cut the piece of sequin fabric using the tracing paper pattern. Repeat for the other side of the shorts so you have two pieces of sequin fabric.

5. Use your needle and thread to carefully sew the edges of the sequin fabric to the denim shorts. Do this for both pieces of sequin fabric, making sure you line up the middle seam carefully.

6. Cut a slit so the belt loops of the jeans can still be seen and then sew around to secure.

7. If required, trim any excess sequins along the hem and waistline.

Whether it's a delicate and tiny monochrome pattern or something with a little more colour, checks of all kind can spell summertime chic with ease. Retro laundry-bag prints work well on trousers, while a classic houndstooth always seems bold and striking. To make the most of your modern chequered prints, mix with monochrome trimmings and accessories in bright colours – see how street style stars are wearing Louis Vuitton's latest Damier checks for some inspiration for graphic grids this summer.

Photos: Gianluca Senese, NOBODYKNOWSMARC

1. The new smart
The casual shorts-and-jacket combo gets a smart denim makeover. This indigo number features a subtle turned-up cuff for modern polish.

2. Sharp and clean
The new denim jacket is different – it's collarless. Pairing it with mesh and smart dark trousers makes the characteristic blue denim look sharp and strong.

3. Sweats and shorts
The heather grey sweatshirt is a wardrobe essential, but it's given a new spin through layering. A white shirt and black poloneck bring the classic up-to-date.

4. Athletic accents
A white baseball cap is the finishing touch on this coordinated sportswear-inspired look, but blue jeans add an all-American twist.

All clothes by H&M.

Who is the guy you see wearing this kind of look?
He is a fashionable boy who’s not afraid to mix a sporty baggy silhouette with some more preppy influences. He wears denim in a dressed-up way, more like a uniform. He looks back to the 90s and he loves French hip-hop!

What were your inspirations for this shoot?
The early work of Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto and club culture of the 1990s were really important for these looks.

What's your favourite way for men to wear denim this summer?
I love the classic high-waists, like the original Levi's 501. Also, try wearing denim as a suit with a straight denim shirt or jacket and a pair of jeans.

Rate clip and view comments

View more videos

Photos: Terry Richardson
Styling: George Cortina

All products by H&M.

Rate clip and view comments

View more videos

1. Borrowed from the boyfriend
A loose and masculine white shirt gives a sultry body-con look a fresh, casual spin. Pair with two stacks of matching bangles for a coordinated way to stay on trend.

2. Material melange
A fringed dress makes a big impact. Combine its tassels with a tactile mix of sheer and soft materials for a look that's good enough to touch.

3. Monochrome mod
White skinny jeans are the fast track to seductive rock chic, and a shrunken jacket and a black mesh vest make this black-and-white outfit red hot.

4. Fantastic fringe
Try a statement necklace against a low-key black canvas to play up your outfit's accessories. With a wide-brimmed sunhat and a monochrome ombré fringed mini, you'll be ready for the beach, the club and almost anywhere in between.

All clothes by H&M.

Who were the women you were inspired by for this shoot?
A New York girl who’s street and fashion smart. She has a lot of attitude and mixes feminine and masculine pieces brilliantly.

Which is your favourite look from the shoot and why?
The one with shorts and a white crisp men’s shirt – it’s a sexy and androgynous rock 'n' roll look.

What’s your tip for keeping monochrome fresh and new for the summer?
Let the colours be inky black, washed out black, soft silky black and crisp white.

Fitted black basics are the backdrop for a look that balances street-cool with a certain level of elegance. Emma's round-shouldered white jacket spruces up some simple black trousers, and her directional black heels add a hint of the avant-garde to this outfit. Accents of bold gold elevate this look even further.

Fashion Bomb
Started in 2006 by Harvard alum Claire Sulmers, Fashion Bomb is a daily fashion news blog dedicated to the styles and trends of celebrities of colour. The site fills the gaps left in traditional mags and blogs by dissecting the latest – and most wearable – trends on ladies from Iman to Solange, giving them the coverage not always afforded on other sites and blogs.

Who What Wear on Pinterest
In addition to being one of the most popular online destinations for celebrity trends over on their main site, Who What Wear have a must-follow Pinterest account loaded with celebrity style boards, from a sprawling 'Celebrities & Trendsetters' board, to 'Currently Channelling', featuring famous style icons from the past like Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren.

One Hundred Inspirations
Everyone loves to learn how to get those celebrity looks on an everyday budget – we can't resist our own take on it with our Get the Look feature! But if that's not enough for you then be sure to bookmark One Hundred Inspirations, for even more breakdowns of how to get the everyday, laidback styles of Blake Lively or Jessica Alba on a more purse-friendly budget.

00o00
And of course, we can't leave out the celebrity boys! 00o00 – pronounced 'ooooh!' – offers up a global take on famous fashionable guys, from Hollywood's A-listers to South Korea's pop stars at the cutting edge of style. If any celeb around the world is wearing the latest designer menswear looks, this blog will surely be the first to tell you about it.