Od prvog susreta sa modelingom sa samo 12 godina, preko Germany’s Next Topmodel i preseljenja u New York, do sopstvenog brenda kupaćih kostima, Lara Helmer je odrasla zajedno sa modnom industrijom. Danas, kada iza sebe ima godine rada pred kamerama, brojna snimanja i iskustvo koje je od modela vodi i do dizajnerke i preduzetnice, njen pogled na modu je mnogo ličniji i opušteniji.

Govori nam o tome kako se menjao njen stil, komadima kojima se uvek vraća, beauty rutinama koje je naučila iza scene, ali i o svakodnevnim ritualima bez kojih danas ne može da zamisli svoj život. U njenoj priči moda nije samo ono što se vidi na fotografiji – već i način na koji se osećamo u sopstvenoj koži.

Sa 12 godina prvi put vam je prišao agent za modele. Da li ste tada mogli da zamislite da će modeling jednog dana postati vaša karijera?

Lara Helmer: Nimalo. U tim godinama bila sam veoma stidljiva i nisam sebe zaista videla onako kako su me agenti očigledno videli. Modeling mi je delovao kao nešto veoma daleko od moje stvarnosti. Kada pogledam unazad, zabavno mi je da pomislim da je nešto što je počelo tako neočekivano na kraju postalo tako veliki deo mog života.

Kao mlada devojka bili ste veoma stidljivi i niste u sebi videli ono što su drugi već prepoznavali. Kada danas pogledate tu devojčicu, koliko nje i dalje prepoznajete u ženi koja ste postali?

Lara Helmer: I dalje je mnogo nje u meni. Očigledno sam postala mnogo sigurnija u sebe i prijatnije se osećam u sopstvenoj koži, ali sam i dalje prilično osetljiva i pažljiva posmatračica. Mislim da je ta stidljiva devojčica i dalje tu; samo sam naučila da više ne dozvoljavam strahu ili nesigurnosti da donose odluke umesto mene.

Takmičenje Germany’s Next Topmodel završili ste na šestom mestu, ali za vas je to bio tek početak. Šta vam je to iskustvo donelo, a da li vam je nešto i oduzelo?

Lara Helmer: Dalo mi je samopouzdanje i pokazalo da modeling zaista može da postane prava karijera. Takođe me je veoma rano upoznalo sa realnošću modne industrije. Istovremeno, to što sam u tako mladim godinama bila javno procenjivana definitivno me je nateralo da brže odrastem i postanem mnogo svesnija toga koliko ova industrija može da pridaje značaj fizičkom izgledu.

Sa 20 godina spakovali ste kofere i sami se preselili u New York, prvobitno planirajući da ostanete samo nekoliko nedelja. Koliko se New York koji ste zamišljali razlikovao od onog koji ste zapravo upoznali?

Lara Helmer: Zamišljala sam New York kao neverovatno glamurozno i uzbudljivo mesto, i naravno da je takav i bio, ali stvarnost je bila mnogo intenzivnija. Bio je brz, kompetitivan i ponekad usamljen, posebno zato što sam bila tako mlada i sama. Ali dao mi je nezavisnost, otpornost i potpuno drugačije samopouzdanje. Ono što je trebalo da bude nekoliko nedelja na kraju je postalo moj dom.

Kako se vaš lični stil razvijao otkako je New York postao vaš dom?

Lara Helmer: Mislim da je moj stil postao mnogo ležerniji i manje pod uticajem trendova. Kada sam bila mlađa, mnogo više sam eksperimentisala. Sada znam šta mi odgovara i mnogo više me privlače bezvremenski komadi, čiste siluete i stvari koje deluju ženstveno, a da ne izgledaju prenaglašeno.

Koji aktuelni modni trend najbolje odražava vaš lični senzibilitet, a postoji li neki koji volite na drugima, ali ga sami ne biste nosili?

Lara Helmer: Trenutno sam veoma zainteresovana za predimenzionirane siluete – predimenzionirane pantalone, košulje, čak i haljine. Takođe volim da kombinujem ležerne komade sa nečim elegantnijim, na primer da nosim trenerku sa prelepom bluzom i štiklama. Volim taj kontrast jer čini autfit nenametljivim i pomalo neočekivanim.

Jedan trend koji mi se zaista dopada na drugim ljudima jesu heklane kape i heklane kapice. Mislim da mogu da izgledaju neverovatno kul i da autfitu daju mnogo karaktera, ali meni nekako jednostavno ne stoje.

Koji je vaš omiljeni bezvremenski komad u garderoberu?

Lara Helmer: Zapravo imam dva: crni predimenzionirani blejzer i svoje vintage mokasine. Imam ih već godinama i nekako se slažu gotovo sa svime. Bez obzira na to kako se trendovi menjaju, uvek im se vraćam. Bezvremenski su, nenametljivi i verovatno najpouzdaniji komadi u mom garderoberu.

Posle toliko nedelja mode i snimanja, koji je najbolji beauty trik iza scene koji ste naučili?

Lara Helmer: Priprema kože je najvažnija. Najbolji šminkeri sa kojima sam radila više vremena posvećuju pripremi kože nego prekrivanju. Hidratacija, masaža i korišćenje manje proizvoda obično učine da koža izgleda mnogo prirodnije nego kada se nanese više slojeva šminke.

Postoji li neki beauty trik koji biste preporučili svakoj ženi?

Lara Helmer: Manje je uglavnom više. Najpre vodite računa o koži, uvek koristite SPF i naučite koji vam proizvodi zaista odgovaraju, umesto da stalno dodajete nove.

Koja je najvažnija lekcija o nezi kože ili kose koju ste naučili radeći sa vrhunskim beauty timovima?

Lara Helmer: Kontinuitet je mnogo važniji od stalnog traganja za najnovijim proizvodom ili tretmanom. Odlična koža i zdrava kosa uglavnom su rezultat onoga što redovno radite: zaštite, hidratacije, dobrih proizvoda i toga da ne preterujete.

Kada imate samo pet minuta da izađete iz kuće, koji je vaš trik za svež, prirodan i sređen izgled?

Lara Helmer: Malo korektora, kremasto rumenilo, začešljane obrve, maskara i nešto hidratantno za usne. Volim da koža i dalje izgleda kao koža. Ako vam ten izgleda sveže, a obrve i trepavice su sređene, vrlo brzo možete da izgledate doterano.

Pre šest godina osnovali ste sopstveni brend kupaćih kostima. Šta ste kao dizajnerka i preduzetnica naučili o modi i biznisu što nikada ne biste mogli da naučite kao model?

Lara Helmer: Kao model vidite gotov proizvod, ali mi je sopstveni brend pokazao sve što se dešava iza njega. Naučila sam o proizvodnji, kroju i pristajanju, rokovima, troškovima, marketingu i o tome koliko je odluka potrebno doneti pre nego što bilo ko uopšte vidi proizvod. Takođe sam naučila da kreativnost i biznis moraju da funkcionišu zajedno. Vole­ti proizvod je jedno; razumeti svog kupca i izgraditi održiv biznis oko njega nešto je potpuno drugo.

Kako izgleda vaše idealno jutro kada nemate rano snimanje ili kasting?

Lara Helmer: Moje idealno jutro je sporo i bez žurbe. Volim da imam vremena da prošetam psa, vodim dnevnik i meditiram, kao i da pokrenem telo, bilo da je to Pilates ili joga. Zatim volim da doručkujem i provedem malo vremena u tišini pre nego što dan počne. Boravak napolju, kretanje i ti mirni trenuci koje ujutru imam samo za sebe odmah utiču na moje raspoloženje.

Koja wellness navika je napravila najveću razliku u vašem svakodnevnom životu?

Lara Helmer: Kretanje i dosledna briga o sebi, umesto da to radim samo kada osetim da mi je potrebno. Pilates, joga, šetnja, boravak napolju i stvaranje prostora za sebe na mentalnom planu verovatno su napravili najveću razliku. Za mene je wellness postao mnogo holističkiji – fizički je, mentalni, kreativan i duhovan.

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Tim:
Fotografija: julie march @juliemarchphoto
Model: Lara Helmer @lara.Helmer
Stilizovanje: anni zaha @anni_zaha
Šminka: melanie rieberer @rieberermelanie @uschirabeagency

English here:

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Lara Helmer: Effortlessly Her

About New York, timeless pieces, beauty, and taking life at an unhurried pace

From her first encounter with modeling at just 12 years old, to Germany’s Next Topmodel and her move to New York, and eventually launching her own swimwear brand, Lara Helmer has grown up alongside the fashion industry. Today, after years of working in front of the camera, countless shoots and experiences that have taken her from model to designer and entrepreneur, her approach to fashion is much more personal and effortless.

Lara Helmer talks to us about how her style has evolved, the pieces she always comes back to, the beauty routines she learned behind the scenes, and the everyday rituals she can’t imagine her life without. For her, fashion is not just about what you see in a photograph—it is also about how you feel in your own skin.

At the age of 12, you were approached by a modeling agent for the first time. Could you have imagined back then that modeling would one day become your career?

Lara Helmer: Not at all. I was very shy at that age and didn’t really see myself the way the agents seemed to see me. Modeling felt like something very far away from my reality. Looking back, it’s funny to think that something that started so unexpectedly eventually became such a big part of my life.

As a young girl, you were very shy and didn’t see in yourself what others already recognized. When you look back at that girl today, how much of her do you still see in the woman you have become?

Lara Helmer: I still see a lot of her in me. I’ve obviously become much more confident and comfortable with myself, but I’m still quite sensitive and observant. I think that shy girl is still there; I’ve just learned not to let fear or insecurity make decisions for me anymore.

You finished Germany’s Next Topmodel in sixth place, but for you, it was only the beginning. What did that experience give you, and was there anything it took away?

Lara Helmer: It gave me confidence and showed me that modeling could actually become a real career. It also introduced me to the reality of the fashion industry very early. At the same time, being judged so publicly at a young age definitely made me grow up faster and become much more aware of how much emphasis this industry can place on appearance.

At 20, you packed your bags and moved to New York on your own, initially planning to stay for just a few weeks. How different was the New York you imagined from the one you actually came to know?

Lara Helmer: I imagined New York as this incredibly glamorous and exciting place, and of course it was, but the reality was also much more intense. It was fast, competitive and sometimes lonely, especially being so young and on my own. But it gave me independence, resilience and a completely different confidence. What was supposed to be a few weeks ended up becoming my home.

How has your personal style evolved since New York became your home?

Lara Helmer: I think my style has become much more effortless and less trend-driven. When I was younger, I experimented a lot more. Now I know what works for me, and I’m much more drawn to timeless pieces, clean silhouettes and things that feel feminine without looking overly done.

Which current fashion trend best reflects your personal sensibility, and is there one you love on others but wouldn’t wear yourself?

Lara Helmer: I’m really into oversized silhouettes at the moment—oversized trousers, shirts, even dresses. I also love mixing casual pieces with something more elegant, like wearing sweatpants with a beautiful blouse and heels. I love that contrast because it makes an outfit feel effortless and a little unexpected.

One trend I really love on other people is crochet caps and crochet beanies. I think they can look incredibly cool and give an outfit so much personality, but somehow they just don’t suit me.

What is the one timeless favorite piece in your wardrobe?

Lara Helmer: I actually have two: a black oversized blazer and my vintage loafers. I’ve had both forever, and somehow they work with almost everything. No matter how trends change, I always come back to them. They’re timeless, effortless and probably the most reliable pieces in my wardrobe.

After so many fashion weeks and shoots, what is the best backstage beauty trick you’ve learned?

Lara Helmer: Skin preparation is everything. The best makeup artists I’ve worked with spend more time preparing the skin than covering it. Hydration, massage and using less product usually make the skin look much more natural than layers of makeup.

Is there a beauty hack you would recommend to every woman?

Lara Helmer: Less is usually more. Take care of your skin first, always wear SPF, and learn which few products actually work for you instead of constantly adding more.

What is the most important lesson about skincare or haircare you’ve learned from working with top beauty teams?

Lara Helmer: Consistency matters much more than constantly chasing the newest product or treatment. Great skin and healthy hair are usually the result of what you do regularly: protection, hydration, good products and not overdoing things.

When you only have five minutes to leave the house, what is your go-to trick for looking fresh, natural and polished?

Lara Helmer: A little concealer, cream blush, brushed-up brows, mascara and something hydrating on the lips. I like skin to still look like skin. If your complexion looks fresh and your brows and lashes are done, you can look polished very quickly.

Six years ago, you founded your own swimwear brand. What have you learned about fashion and business as a designer and entrepreneur that you could never have learned as a model?

Lara Helmer: Modeling shows you the finished product, but having my own brand showed me everything that happens behind it. I learned about production, fit, timing, costs, marketing and how many decisions go into creating something before anyone ever sees it. It also taught me that creativity and business have to work together. Loving a product is one thing; understanding your customer and building a sustainable business around it is something completely different.

What does your ideal morning look like when you don’t have an early shoot or casting?

Lara Helmer: My ideal morning is slow and without rushing. I love having time to take my dog for a walk, journal and meditate, and move my body, whether that’s Pilates or yoga. Then I like to have a good breakfast and a little quiet time before the day starts. Being outdoors, moving my body and having those calm moments to myself in the morning immediately change my mood.

What wellness habit has made the biggest difference in your everyday life?

Lara Helmer: Movement and taking care of myself consistently rather than only when I feel like I need it. Pilates, yoga, walking, spending time outdoors and making space for myself mentally have probably made the biggest difference. For me, wellness has become much more holistic—it’s physical, mental, creative and spiritual.

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Team:
Photography: julie march @juliemarchphoto
Model: Lara Helmer @lara.Helmer
Styling: anni zaha @anni_zaha
Make up: melanie rieberer @rieberermelanie @uschirabeagency