Get dressed with Nadja Bender
A firm favorite of Karl Lagerfeld, Danish model NADJA BENDER’s style is as impressive off the catwalk as on. Want to capture some of her signature insouciance? Here’s how…
Find your look
“I’ve always been a jeans-and-T-shirt kind of girl – you can never go wrong with them. That’s why Jane Birkin is my fashion icon; she never looked like she was trying too hard. I always wear Acne Studios denim as they do extra-long lengths that fit me perfectly. If I want to dress it up a bit, I’ll add a belted trench coat and heels, but only ones that I can walk in.”
Go all in
“If I’m going to a really special event then I like to raise the bar. My go-to look for a good night out is a great dress, super-high heels and a statement coat. I love slip dresses because they’re sexy without being too much – subtlety appeals to me.”
Don’t look back
“Everyone gets it wrong sometimes, but a bad outfit isn’t worth getting embarrassed over. There was a time in my life when I used to rock leather pants with a leather shirt and a leather jacket. Triple leather! Of course, at the time, I thought I was the coolest person in the world…”
Keep it simple
“Less is more: that’s my philosophy when it comes to hair and beauty. I’m not too particular with the products I use. In fact, I barely use anything. Modeling can be quite hard on your skin because you’re constantly being covered in makeup and your hair can get really damaged from all the styling, so when I’m not at work I try to give myself a break from it all. The one thing I am absolutely obsessed with is lip balm; I need to have it on me at all times and if I don’t I freak out and have to go buy one immediately.”
Mix it up
“New York is an amazing city. The thing I love about it most is the diversity; it’s a total melting pot in terms of the people, the food and especially fashion. It’s impossible to pinpoint the New York look because it’s so many things all at once. You could walk down the street in the most insane outfit and people wouldn’t look at you twice. I always look forward to Marc Jacobs’ shows during New York Fashion Week because he taps into that energy; he mixes it up so much that you never know what you’re going to get.”
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