London Runway Issue 87 - The Solar Issue

SWIMWEAR FASHION . CULTURAL STYLE WEEK . GRADUATE FASHION WEEK SHOWS SAGABOI . AFRO HAIR + BEAUTY . CHINA TALENTS . FUTURE COLLECTIVE . JUSTIN CASSIN

THE SOLAR ISSUE

LONDON RUNWAY CHIEF EDITOR

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

ADVERTISING MANAGER

RHIANNON D'AVERC

CANDICE WU

AMBER JOHNSON

editor@londonrunway.co.uk

info@londonrunway.co.uk

amber@londonrunway.co.uk

GRAPHIC DESIGNER LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

LAUREN ROWLEY SUBMISSIONS londonrunway.co.uk/submit

© 2023, London Runway Ltd and contributors. Printed by Mixam and distributed in-house by London Runway Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without permission from the publisher. The views expressed in London Runway are those of the respective contributors and are not necessarily shared by the magazine or its staff.

FIL MAZZARINO

PHOTOGRAPHERS

IAN CLARK & MRITYUNJOY 'MJ' MITRA

Contributors: Tony Pullen, Paris Monk, Marija Medvedeva, Lucia Perello, Ricard Bonnin, Anna Palmén, Céline Thanh Lan, Lilia Kryzanovski, Ed Akay, Chris Woodman, Geoff Long, Laura Sutton, Evgeniia Zorina, Elena Sharikova, Alena Gabriel, Наталья, Heidi Lankshear, Dr. Charlie Cartwright, Tracy Lucas, Alfreda Wilson, Quentin Foley, Tehya Saandlnaay Sykes Brooks, Jude Newstead, Amrit Virdi, Janaki Pillai Special Thanks to Bate Nate H, Elyse Stoner, Mike Golosovker, and LJ Walker Jr

Face of London Runway 2022 ambassadors are Pippa Winn and Flinn Andreae

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CONTENTS

LONDON RUNWAY

39

27

PICTURES Playful Elegance

7

Heidi Soaking Up the Sun

19

Stunning Laura Sutton

35

Wild Cat

39

Summer Day at the Beach

42

Cultural Style Week

46

Ravensbourne University

59

China Talents

69

Future Collective

High Rise (Cover Editorial)

100

University of Westminster

108

Jude Doesn't Need a Beach

118

FEATURES Updates: The Face of London Runway 2023

4

New Faces

27

72

Style (Conscious) Guide: Sunbathing Style

57

Afro Hair and Beauty Show

76

London Runway Shoot Days

78

Sagaboi

80

Words of Wisdom

79

Justin Cassin

84

New Business

98

University of East London

88

How Can I Protect My Kids' Financial Future?

104

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EL LONDON RUNWAY

EDITOR'S LETTER What a beautiful sunny day we're having!

Or at least, I feel reasonably confident there's a high chance that it's a sunny day when you're reading this, given that we seem to be embroiled now in a hot, sunny, and almost relentless summer.

Cue the obligatory British moan re: wishing it was hotter in the winter, and wishing it was colder in the summer.

Anyway, swimsuit weather is officially upon us, and this is also your official notification that it is okay to wear a swimsuit no matter your body type.

Every body is already a swimsuit body.

Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

headshots and portfolio shots.

black marks against their name.

Now I'm going to move on to Advice Corner - I've just spent a whole week telling this advice over and over again to 100 models in our Face of London Runway Zoom rounds, and it was astonishing how many of them just didn't already know it.

Why?

This advice relates to those of you out there in the modeling or acting spheres, but also to hair and makeup artists, stylists, photographers, and anyone who takes on work such as fashion shoots - where you're invited to a job or a casting by a stranger on the internet.

The advice is this: do your research!

We have a great issue ready for you here with a sun-themed style guide and plenty of sunny editorials, plus some financial advice later on and profiles of exciting new models and businesses.

If you haven't heard about our new London Runway Shoot Days and you're a model or actor, make sure to check out that information as well - it's a pretty inexpensive and very fun way to get yourself some new

I wouldn't ever advise applying for a role if you haven't fully checked it out first. If you've already applied and been invited to the casting call without doing your research, then the second best time to do it is BEFORE you attend.

Make sure you learn as much as you can about the person you'll be meeting, their background and experience, and whether they've got any

Because this is about your SAFETY.

As I discussed with the models in the call - luckily, London Runway has strong values around diversity and inclusion. Not all brands are the same.

As sad as it is, there are still pockets of racism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, and other nasty prejudices out there in the fashion industry, just the same as in the general public.

Make sure that you are going to a SAFE and WELCOMING space - a brand that will embrace you with open arms. Not one that is looking for a diversity casting so they can pay lip service, but will actually treat you badly on set.

Definitely not one which has come under fire for that sort of thing before.

If in doubt? Message someone they have worked with before just to check.

Protect one another!

Alright, my Mum-style rant is over.

I'll let you read the issue!

, y o j En n o n n a i Rh x

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LONDON RUNWAY

UPDATES:

THE FACE OF

LONDON RUNWAY

2023 PAGE 32

Chief Editor Rhiannon D'Averc brings us the latest updates from the Face of London Runway's current season.

We've managed to get through the first round of selections, the process of going through everyone's forms, and now even the Zoom rounds.

They were fast-paced, fun, and full of advice, as I put each of the contestants through their paces with lots of conversation, a quick-action posing challenge, and a review of the images and videos they submitted as part of their application.

You can see many of those videos on our Instagram as we've been releasing clips over the past month - go ahead and check them out, and see if you can guess who made it through to the semifinal! You can see screenshots from those videos below and on the next page, for a taste of who you might be seeing in our next issue.

We also shared a screenshot of our first released video in the last issue, so be sure to check that out if you haven't already.

We had a lot of amazing talent this year, and the standard has been set very high. After choosing my first selection, I already had a top 55... which, considering only 40 people could come through to the next round, posed a bit of a problem!

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There were a lot of amazing contestants who were just pipped at the post, so we hope to see them around next year.

Now that the Zoom rounds have been completed and our decisions have been made, it's full steam ahead towards the semi-final.

We can't wait! This in-person round for the top 40 contestants is going to be held at Chocolate Studios in Shoreditch. We'll all be gathering together for a day of challenges.

If you followed our coverage last year, you'll know a lot of what to expect. We'll be doing both photo and video challenges to ensure that our finalists have what it takes to represent us and to do their prizes justice - including appearing on our cover, doing an interview for our podcast London Runway Style, and representing us at any other opportunities that come up during the year.

We've also got some super unique secret challenges coming up this year - things we've never tried before!

The theme we picked for this year - our first year to even have a theme - means you can expect some specialised challenges. This year, we're focusing on face, face, face - meaning you'll see beauty and jewellery work from our lovely contestants. We can't wait to see who has the ability to wow us the most!

Excitingly, I can already reveal that this is going to be our most international round yet. While we've had contestants travel to us from Europe and certain party islands in previous years, this year we already have confirmed top-40 places for models from as far afield as Australia. Yep you read that right!

Stay tuned for our report on how the semi-final goes down next issue, along with lots of images from the event. Of course, we'll also share some video footage on our Instagram to show you how it all happened.

And - most importantly, of course - we'll be sharing your first glimpse of the top ten finalists.

I'm so excited, I can hardly wait!

PLAYFUL ELEGANCE Photographer: Evgeniia Zorina @photographer.enzorina Wardrobe Stylist/Model/Makeup Artist: Elena Sharikova @elle_drive

LONDON RUNWAY

BATE NATE H Tell us about your headline event?

My headline event is my 1st and was held outside. I have a lot of fans online who won't see me unless it's the net so I do independent shows by myself in intimate venues across UK and affordable tickets for the fans not got it like that but loyal asf! I'm bout my community, my fans all I got so I go above and beyond for 'em - my slimes & slimettes What was the highlight of the night for you?

Bringing everyone together whose only interest is their interest in me lol. I'm new to handling fame so to see everyone together for and because of me will make me shed tears every time… Like I've been handling success, that ain't new, but the going everywhere and at least 4/5 ppl come up to me thing is weird but comes with the game frfr

We heard you have a deal with Swarovski right now?

Yes proud to be part of the Swarovski team... done a 4-part shoot in the White City store and a kool content video for them in Watford store where I got to keep creative control and I got to edit it and release which is cool (check the video online). They sponsored my latest music video "BATE NATE H - and I mean it" (which now has surpassed 100k via YouTube and digital streams) which was a collab with LFW graduate winner LEXIE WANG and is just a art and fashion explosion... I'm different, my music different, my fashion different, l'm a trendsetter and Swarovski see that and respect me for it and I love them for that.

Find Bate Nate H: Instagram: @batenateh YouTube: BATE NATE H

THANK YOU TIMES A MILLION

Our issues this year have averaged over a million digital reads. so, THANK YOU to our readers - we wouldn't be achieving this amazing milestone without you!

HEIDI SOAKING UP THE SUN

Photographer: Geoff Long @glimaging Model: Heidi Lankshear @heidiiona

LONDON RUNWAY

NEW FACE: MARIJA Name: Marija Medvedeva Age: 29 Location: Maidstone Agency: Freelance How long have you been modelling for?

2 Years Where are you from originally?

Latvian but born in Belarus Do you have an unusual talent or party trick?

I speak 3 languages fluently.

What would surprise people to know about you?

I like to test my limits and face my fears. I enjoy taking part in activities, which take me out of my comfort zone. I have previously completed an assault course called Tough Mudder, did a Bungee jump and participated in a powerlifting competition.

What are your modelling ambitions?

My modelling ambitions are to one day participate in the London, Paris or Milan fashion week.

Photographer: Tony Pullen @tp_creativephotography Hair & Makeup/Makeup Artist/Hair Stylist: Paris Monk @halo_beautiful.xo

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LONDON RUNWAY

NEW FACE: LUCIA Name: Lucia Perello Caldentey Age: 20 Location: Spain Agency: modelingenlucpaz How long have you been modelling for?

One year and two months.

Where are you from originally?

Spain

What would surprise people to know about you?

People are surprised that I am a persevering person and that I fight for what I want, they are also often surprised when I say that I practice a combat sport such as boxing What are your modelling ambitions?

Become the image of important brands nationally and internationally

Do you have an unusual talent or party trick?

I'm very good at painting.

Model: Lucia Perello @luciaperellomodel Photographer: Ricard Bonnin @rbonnin_foto

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LONDON RUNWAY

NEW FACE: CÉLINE Name: Céline Thanh Lan Glatzel Age: 24 Location: Hamburg, Germany Agency: Freelance How long have you been modelling for?

Since 2018 Where are you from originally?

I was born in Vietnam.

Do you have an unusual talent or party trick?

I can sing.

What would surprise people to know about you?

I have a German and Swiss citizenship.

What are your modelling ambitions?

I would love to work as full time model after my graduation.

Photographer: Lilia Kryzanovski @lavishcapture Model: Céline Thanh Lan Glatzel @ctlg99

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LONDON RUNWAY

NEW FACE: ED Name: Ed Akay Age: 39 Location: Exeter UK Agency: Midas Touch

Do you have an unusual talent or party trick?

I am a fantastic poetry writer and have several books published.

How long have you been modelling for?

Since my early 20's

What would surprise people to know about you?

I have a degree in Politics and Social Policy and a post grad in law.

Where are you from originally?

Bedford UK

What are your modelling ambitions?

To continue modelling until I'm an OAP lol!

Male Model: Ed Akay @edakaymodel Photographer: Chris Woodman @chriswoodman_photography

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STUNNING LAURA SUTTON Photographer: Geoff Long @glimaging Model: Laura Sutton @laurasuttonmodel

A C T D L I W

Photographer: Alena Gabriel @alena_gabriel_photo Model: Наталья @merkureva.makeupAccount Manager: Irina Ermakova @irinka_malonushenko Wardrobe: CD cosplay store

SUMMER DAY AT THE BEACH Photographer: Tracy Lucas @lucasvision1 Model: Alfreda Wilson @alfredawilson46 Swimsuit: Alfreda Wilson @alfredawilson46

LONDON RUNWAY

CULTURAL STYLE WEEK Photography by Fil Mazzarino @filmazzarino

Designers: Dian Oerip Afi Akos Skafaket London Cafedelmarina Svitlo Style Joree Art Dreams Kimono De Go Ethnicity Clothing YiCrafts

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STYLE (CONS CIOUS) GUIDE

LONDON RUNWAY

SELECTED BY RHIANNON D'AVERC GANOR DOMINIC Venus £440.00

BIG HORN Nagamatsu+s £88.00

AULALA PARIS Mlle Vagabonde £65.00

ANTONINIAS Dalliance Bikini Top £135.00

ELSA TIERNEY JEWELLERY Deco Necklace 18KT Gold Plated On Sterling Silver £350.00

STYLE (CONS CIOUS ANTONINIAS Amaze Swimwear Top £113.00

ANTONINIAS Amaze Swimwear Bottom £125.00

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SUNBATHING STYLE

LONDON RUNWAY INOUAR Toni Small Green Tote Bag £179.00

BOTTEGA VENETA Jimbo rubber slingback sandals £620.00

SELIA RICHWOOD Amber Mila Bikini £200.00

OCEANUS SWIMWEAR

STYLE CONS CIOUS)

Tamar £330.00

John Lewis Wide Brim Fedora Hat £30.00

PANOS EMPORIO Ismene Kaftan Shirt Dress £89.00

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LONDON RUNWAY

RAVENSBOURNE UNIVERSITY Photography by Fil Mazzarino @fil.mazzarino

ADAM PUN PAGE 59

LONDON RUNWAY

ANNIE SEVERS

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BELLA PATTERSON

BELLA ZHANG

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EMMY BANKS HAI LI SUNG

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HANNAH THOROGOOD

HANNA AZHAR YUSUF

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MARIA RUPPRECHT

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MONICA MASNITA

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RHYS BROCK

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NEDA VAITKEVICIUTE

SALMA TAHIR

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SAMAN SAJJAD

SEO YOON LEE

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CHINA TALENTS Photography by Fil Mazzarino @filmazzarino

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FUTURE COLLECTIVE Photography by Fil Mazzarino @filmazzarino

FELIX BENDISH

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FIGURA SERVICES

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GYOUREE KIM

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LONDON RUNWAY

AFRO HAIR AND BEAUTY SHOW Photography by Fil Mazzarino @filmazzarino

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LONDON RUNWAY

WORDS OF

WISDOM

Who are you?

My name is Dr. Charlie Cartwright.

What’s your story?

I’m a professional speaker, leadership consultant, and executive coach focusing on leadership and company culture. I developed a system called the People Success Formula.

This system is backed by decades of exhaustive meta-analysis, combined with my forty years of experience in the real world. I use this data to teach leaders how to bring out the best in their people.

I’ve been among the highest-rated speakers at every conference I've ever attended. Mixing science with hands-on experience makes my system unique and powerful.

I also produce a series of videos which I share with my network, called #DashCamWisdom. This is where I share my wisdom and thoughts to motivate and educate.

How do you cope with hard times?

Hard times happen to everyone. The differentiator between people is the distance between saying and doing. Are you just going to talk about how you could make things better or sit around and complain? Or are you going to take

action to solve the problem?

You have to believe in yourself. That’s a prerequisite for any success. If you want to reach your full potential, you must believe you can get through the hard times. It’s essential not simply to go through hard times but to grow through hard times.

Your own opinion of yourself drives your future possibilities. If you don’t have that foundation in yourself, you’ll struggle.

I work on this every day by saying affirmations to myself. I tell myself where I am now and where I want to be.

I say it in present tense to manifest it.

You could say to yourself, “I am strong.

I am relentless. I am a warrior. I see myself as getting through this.”

I believe that we’re created in the image of God, which means every single person on this earth is a masterpiece.

Our default is inherent greatness.

perfectionism. But I make a daily habit out of the things that are important to me.

That could be prayer, reading inspiring books, exercising, practicing gratitude, or maintaining relationships with family and friends. It’s also about keeping on top of my business and my personal relationships.

The key to success in any endeavour lies in developing the skills and experience necessary to stack the odds in your favour. That’s what I spend my time on, whether in a business sense or a personal sense. I want to be the best version of myself that I can be.

What advice would you give to anyone, regardless of the circumstances?

As long as we win or we learn, we’ll never lose. You can’t be defeated after setbacks – you must get up and keep moving forward. Make the necessary adjustments along the way and keep moving upward and onward.

If you believe in that, you can believe in yourself and get through anything.

Most people practice until they get it right. The great ones practice until they can’t get it wrong.

What’s your outlook on life?

I have a series of daily habits that I practice to ensure success. It’s not about being perfect – progress beats

You must ask yourself whether you are willing to put in the work necessary to succeed. If the answer to that question is yes, then get to work!

LONDON RUNWAY

SAGABOI

Photography by Mrityunjoy Mitra @the_mj_studio

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Photography by Mrityunjoy Mitra @the_mj_studio

JUSTIN CASSIN

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LONDON RUNWAY

UNIVERSITY OF EAST LONDON Photography by Mrityunjoy Mitra @the_mj_studio

Designers: Jithmi Gimhani Bodiya Baduge Sara Valentina Tabares Ochoa Elisha Diggins Anamary Espinosa Nellie Longwe Charoensri Wongseekaew Christiana Okwor Peace Ume Adryene Kimfuta Mikala Sumathi Umashankar Luana Lopes Daynitha Greaves Harshitha Sunchu Conrad Podlevsky Seuly Mario Da Silva Tasha Chudasama Andre Alexandru Bibart Latoya Davis Oluwaronke Ige Ava Blankemeyer Ajanae Samuel Kamal Saini

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NEW BUSINESS PALMÉN ANNA

Name of company: Palmén Anna Type of business: Fashion design Location: Helsinki, Finland How long has the company been running?

I graduated in 2020 as a fashion designer during Covid19, which is why the final collection was presented in a video. I started creating the brand the following summer 2021 and I got help from a social media marketer. I could say it started then. She helped to organise two fashion shoots in the same summer. But the coronavirus still overshadowed finding customers. At the end of the same year, I received my first wedding dress orders.

In 2022, I started to get visibility for my work, my clothes were seen in the Voice of Finland on well-known artists in Finland and on other TV formats too. I got to design a red carpet evening dress for an artist named Viivi at the Emma Gala (A Finnish music gala), she was nominated for Newcomer of the Year in the category and won. For me also the best moment last year was getting to design measurement clothing for the person that gave points from Finland in the Eurovision song competition. End of the year 2022 I was chosen from among hundreds of applicants for the 3rd season of Project Runway Finland, which was shown in the spring of 2023 on the MTV3 channel. It had been over 10 years since the previous season. It was a very important moment for me, as well as gaining recognition across Finland and I made it to episode 6/10. Right now I feel that my business is still quite in the beginning, but heading in the right direction.

Where did the idea come from?

As a kindergartener, I was interested in clothes. If my dad had the wrong shirt on, there was no leaving for kindergarten before changing the shirt. I have loved dressing up since I was a child. It's a big form of self-expression, and for many people, their own style is a part of their identity. I come from a normal middle income family. I am grateful for the Finnish school

system, which makes it possible to study regardless of background, because many times people who are in fashion are thought to come from rich families. After ten years of education, I have both a dressmaker’s and a fashion designer's degree (Bachelor of Culture & Art, Fashion Design). I have learned about the bad aspects of the fashion field and what the problems are. I have also learned how to design sustainable clothes for the world. After many years of sewing and studying fashion design, I decided to start developing my own brand because I have a dream to be able to work as a designer in this challenging field and there are not many fashion companies in Finland where I can apply to work as a designer.

Entrepreneurship seems like almost the only option, and at the same time I can work according to my own values and framework.

Currently, how many people work for the business?

At the moment it is just me, Anna Palmén. But of course the biggest help comes from people I am working with. These people are fashion photographers, stylists, make-up and hair artists and models. No one works completely alone and I believe in the power of cooperation.

What are your company values?

I am very happy that I can sew and design myself. At the moment, I only make new products by order. It is very important to me if I can make a garment according to the customer's measurements. I feel that the customer wears the garment longer and takes care of it when it is made for them, then the garment has more emotional value. It is special, and not a cheap garment or a mass product. I think when the garment fits the customer better, the customer is less likely to throw it away and this extends the life of the garment and this is more sustainable fashion.

For me, the quality and durability of the garment is important

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when designing clothing. Usually I try to avoid fabric waste while working when it is possible or I will create something new from the cutting waste.

I have designed a few small collections, and in the future it is planned that I will not design collections that are too big either.

I'm all for slow fashion. Even if, as a designer, I design for quality and sustainable development, it is not enough if the attitude of consumers is to get a lot and cheaply. At least in my opinion, it seems that consumers are starting to be more aware of what they buy, because consumer habits must and have also changed.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a business?

Starting a company is very different in different countries and, for example, as a fashion designer in Finland there are only limited job opportunities to apply for. Entrepreneurship may be the only option, but at the same time, I feel that the social structure here favours those who work for as an employee. It takes self-belief, perseverance and courage to set up a fashion company. I myself am still in the situation of thinking about the scope of my activity now and what I want it to be in the future.

Sometimes a fashion designer's education does not include business studies, in which case it can be a good idea to look for information about entrepreneurship or apply for a business course. At the same time, you have to believe in your dreams and try to pursue them.

Where do you hope the company will be in 5 years' time?

I want to have gained international recognition. The biggest dream would be to design for red carpet events around the world. For me, the atelier kind of work is natural and meaningful. However, I would like my work to expand and to be able to hire my own employees in five years.

Photographer: Paula Ais @paula_ais Model: Aleksandra Moorast @alexmoorast Model Agency: As You Are Make-up & Hair: Julia Grönlund @julia.gronlund_ @juliagronlundmakeup_ Styling Assistant: Elisa Marvin @elisa.marvin Clothes: Anna Palmén @palmenanna

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High Rise

Photographer: Quentin Foley @qdf_photography Model: Tehya Saandlnaay Sykes Brooks @2._.curly

ATTENTION MODELS!

LONDON RUNWAY SHOOT DAYS For 2 hours, you’ll walk around with us in an exciting, interesting part of London. At each stop along our route, you have the option to jump in front of the camera – you get to pick and choose which scenes you prefer. We’ll be sharing the day on our socials and invite you to do the same for your own followers!

After our shoot day, you will receive 5 edited shots of your choice, yours to use as you wish. They make great portfolio boosters and above all, memories of a fantastic, fun-filled experience.

London Runway Shoot Days cover a 7-hour period on the day. You have the option to join us at any time and stay for up to 2 hours as your timeslot. We set a maximum of 6 models to be in the group at all times, so you won’t have to compete for space. You will, however, get to network with up to 5 of your peers as well as an official London Runway staff photographer! For our first two events, the Chief Editor herself is behind the lens.

Upcoming dates:

1st July - Shoreditch 26th August - Soho

PORTFOLIO SHOTS

JUST £20 Book now at londonrunway.co.uk PAGE 78

-Get new portfolio images -Network -Meet the Chief Editor -Enjoy a fun-filled day!

LONDON RUNWAY

HOW CAN I PROTECT MY KIDS’ FINANCIAL FUTURE? As parents, we have many worries about our children and how their lives will be – and we naturally want to make things as easy for them as possible. Rhiannon D’Averc explores how parents can do this in a financial sense, with tips from experts in the wealth and finance sector.

In just the last twenty years alone, we’ve seen a lot of upheaval. Recession after recession, crashing and climbing currency exchange rates, the invention of cryptocurrencies, NFTs, austerity measures, Brexit, the cost of living crisis… and in the next twenty years, we’re sure to see many more events that leave us feeling anxious and overwhelmed.

Through all of this, it can be incredibly difficult to know whether you’re doing the right thing. Nowhere does this leave us feeling more helpless than with regards to our children. We want to give them the world – make sure their lives will always be comfortable.

Particularly for those of us who have personally experienced hardship, it’s so important that we keep them from going through the same.

But when the future is uncertain, and

even today to some extent, how can we achieve that?

These tips will help you go some way towards financial peace – allowing you to focus on all your other worries (like whether your child will try drugs, get facial tattoos, or go sky-diving – you’re welcome!).

MAKE MONEY A NORMAL CONVERSATION All too often, we treat money as something that needs to be private and hush-hush. We Brits are not the only ones keeping our mouths shut; according to Mike Golosovker, a financial planner based in New Hampshire who specialises in working with parents, Americans are also terrible when it comes to talking about money. This leads to a lack of education, which is difficult even in the internet age.

“The issue isn't that people know the question and need to find the expert to provide the answer. It's that they don't know what they don't know,” he says.

“They don't even know that there are

questions they should be asking, because they don't have the framework for it.”

This lack of conversation can be a real problem according to LJ Walker Jr, a financial coach with KPI Financial Coaching: money worries are a leading cause of divorce. But if we talked more, we’d have a better grip on our household finances, which in turn would make it easier for us to plan for the future.

“Money has always been a conversation in our house,” says Elyse Stoner of Fresh Perspective Consulting – a mother of two now-adult children

LONDON RUNWAY

“We've never shied away from it. I think for my husband and myself, our parenting style is very much about preparing them to be humans out in the world versus coddling and bubble wrapping. So, money and finances are very much a part of that conversation.”

How far should you go with it?

“You don't need to show your kid your chequebook or your pay stub, but be open about the role that money plays in life, in freedom, in, hard work. To not talk about money, I think, is a huge mistake because it touches so many parts of our lives,” says Stoner.

EDUCATE YOURSELF When it comes to education, a formal learning environment isn’t the only – or even always the best – place to learn, as LJ Walker Jr explains. “Surround yourself with a circle of people who truly care about you,” he says. “And this is probably maybe five people who really care and you can trust. And then the other piece of it is be curious and paranoid at the same time.”

When it comes to the new movements

and options in finance (investing in Bitcoin or buying NFTs to sell later come to mind), Walker Jr’s stance is that education is once again king. Should you invest? “It depends on how comfortable you are, but don't be oblivious to it. That's the same thing for people who don't jump on the technology train. The world's moving and you're still living in the 1820s? No, you're going to make your life a lot harder if you do that. I'm not saying you have to adopt everything, but you need to be aware, right?”

Mike Golosovker also points out that investing in fads, or not doing so, comes down to your personal approach rather than a blanket piece of advice. It’s the same thing for whether you choose to try to avoid risking a total loss of your investment, or try to combat the risks inherent to inflation.

“That is just the classic risk versus return question,” he says. “Very broadly, generally speaking, the higher your desired return, probably the higher risk. So, are there ways to grow money where you are avoiding risk?

Absolutely. And then there's ways to overcome inflation, but that may or may not have the riskless nature of the other ones. You have to think about what is the bigger concern for you.”

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… AND EDUCATE YOUR KIDS According to Walker Jr, it’s important that we stop thinking about money as an end goal and instead see it for what it is: a tool. It can be used to build a good citizen of the world, rather than just being something to grow for the sake of itself.

“How do you grow this little bundle of joy into a productive citizen? So they can think for themselves, they can protect themselves, they can have a good life?” he asks. “You can't control what happens in the world. You can make an impact role modelling what to do and what not to do.”

Is there a time you should start educating your kids on money?

According to Golosovker, that time is probably right now.

“Literally as soon as possible,” he asserts. “There is no age. If you're at a stage where you can explain ideas, even slightly abstract ones, then you're at an age where you can at least start learning some of the foundation.”

“Talk to your kids as soon as they're old enough to talk or five, six, seven, have

that conversation with your kid,” agrees Walker Jr. “Don't be ashamed.”

Walker Jr also has a great method for helping kids understand household finances. He explains to his children what expenses go out, what amount of money is coming in – and then asks them what he thinks they should do with the extra left over.

“You say you want toys,” he’ll tell them.

“Okay. Great. This is how much that costs. We have to go and get groceries at the store. This is how much it costs.

Which one do you want? Which one do you think I should buy? Because we can't have both at the same time.”

Does the message get through? Yes, he says – and his children will often settle for getting a little Pokémon pack along with the groceries.

For Elyse Stoner, the education began at an early age – explaining to her children as they passed homeless people begging on the street that “I'm choosing not to give this person money because I give to an organization that helps more people.”

This education continued as her children grew older, with a visit to Disneyland serving as a huge learning moment for them – a moment which, Stoner says, defined both of their approaches to money.

“When we went, we said you each get $25, and you can spend it on whatever you want. Our older son, I'll never forget. We went on the Toy Story ride.

And in Disney World in Florida, every ride emptied you immediately into a gift shop.

“So we go into the gift shop and he sees this bucket, you know, 12 inches high of green army men. And he has to have it.

"He buys it.

“We went to the next ride. We get dumped into the gift shop and there's something else he wants to buy. I'm like, do you have enough money? He said, no. I think it was just a real valuable lesson on making decisions and having that money and allowing him to understand that ramification.

“Fast forward as a side note, to a couple nights later, we were at the candy store on the boardwalk and he really wanted the Goofy Pez. He had spent all his money, but his little brother did not.

"So apparently, when Mom and Dad weren't looking, there was a bit of a brotherly conversation!”

One son was a spender and one was a saver – but soon got ‘persuaded’ to lend money to his brother, leaving him with nothing left anyway! As Stoner explained, being able to see the financial models her children had adopted early on meant there was room for course correction – although as a parent, it remains one of her worries to this day.

DON’T BE AN OBSTACLE You may be doing everything in your power to help your kids in the future – but if you don’t take care of things that matter the most, you might actually be creating obstacles for your children.

One potential obstacle is the sudden death of one or both parents, which can really cause financial turbulence – especially if there are funeral costs to pay with no insurance, a terrible start to a future without financial support.

“It's one thing to reach adulthood and not have assistance from your folks - to not have them help you pay for college or not have help getting a house or starting a business or whatever it is that you're going to do,” Golosovker points out. “It's an entirely different thing to have financial hardship as a kid.”

Unfortunately, if you don’t have life insurance in place, that can be exactly what you’re setting your children up for.

This is especially a problem when parents don’t have enough money to both save for retirement and create a savings fund for their children, which creates a “tension” that many parents solve by focusing on their kids. They build college funds to save their children from student loan debt, rather than thinking long-term to their own futures.

“Parents, when they sacrifice themselves and their own savings, that is actually a real problem,” Golosovker warns. “They don't want to burden their kids, but you are reaching the period in your life where your earning capacity is going to drop significantly, right? And it's not as easy to just earn

your way out of the problem – which is not necessarily easy for kids to do either, but there's some hope of it.

“And if so, if the goal is to make sure that the kids have the fewest obstacles?

Then don't make yourself one of those obstacles later on by not having prepared for your own retirement and finances.”

One thing you may be doing unconsciously is showing your kids exactly the wrong things to do – even if you’re saying all the right words. “Put your money where your mouth is,” Walker Jr says. “If you're going to tell your kid to save [their] money. Guess what, Mom? Are you doing it? Don't be a hypocrite! So do it. It may be uncomfortable. It may be hard, but do it.”

MAKE SAVING A HABIT One thing all three experts agree on is this: when saving is an automatic habit, your financial future – and your kids' – will be a lot better off.

“It was a fixed expense as far as we're concerned,” says Stoner. "It was on that list of, you know, we have to pay the mortgage and we have to pay the electric bill and we need to pay the cable bill. And we did put money in in that monthly amount.

“When both of our children were born, we opened 529s for them, which is a college savings fund [in the US]. And we worked with our family members for their birthday or for the holidays.

We were very upfront about it. It wasn't a handout, but it takes a village – and at some point, most of our children at any age don't need any more stuff.”

While the amount you’re able to invest monthly may fluctuate, setting up a direct debit to a savings account – the same way you might with a pension fund if you’re self-employed – can take a weight off your mind, and help grow your kids’ futures without you even having to think about it.

Do you have worries about finance?

Are there any tips you need?

Find Rhiannon on Twitter @rhiannondaverc and comment or DM her your questions to see them answered in future issues!

Images via Canva Stock

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