MSFW Highlights

This week marks the first week of Spring in Melbourne. Based on the weather we have been enjoying the past few days, Spring is already in full bloom. What better way to celebrate the change in seasons then to attend Melbourne Spring Fashion Week?!

One of the highlights of the festival for me was the first runway show of the MSFW Designer Series which featured Ellery, Michael Lo Sordo and Aurelio Costarella to name a few. The show kicked off with Scanlan and Theodore who incorporated a number of structured pieces with the drapping they are renowned for. Metallics were also in abundance throughout Scanlan's showing and also featured heavily in the Ellery show. Gwendolynne brought a sense of romance to the evening with her beautifully draped and beaded art deco gowns.

Another highlight of the festival was the screening of Visionaries: Tom Ford screening at ACMI. The documentary briefly captures the life and work of Tom Ford who is one of the most influential women's wear designers of our generation. He has been credited for reviving the fashion houses of Gucci and YSL. I was particularly interested to see the documentary as I believe Tom Ford to be an exceptional artist and director, whose film A Single Man is one of my favourite movies. Tom Ford described the film as his "mid-life crisis on screen".

Monolithic MONA

On a recent trip to Hobart, I had the opportunity to spend a day immersed in the wonder that is MONA.

This was my second visit to MONA and I still found the experience as evocative and captivating as my first visit. It excites me to have a gallery of this calibre on Australian soil, even more so that it is enticing visitors to the beautiful sleepy Hobart.

The gallery is a sensory overload with incredible attention to detail paid to curating exhibitions and the lighting and sound installations. It is easy to get lost in the galleries cavernous tunnels and rooms with each a seamless combination of old and new art. Even if the art is not to your taste, MONAs architecture and picturesque setting is a sight to be seen.  

Experiencing MONA is definitely worth a trip across the Bass Strait.

Unraveling the layers...

In this photo shoot I wanted to capture a casual look perfect for a particularly cold winter's day. I wanted to demonstrate how to add layers to your winter outfit without adding too much extra bulk.

The model is wearing an extra long cow neck knit. The length of the knit is great because it covers those parts of the body we don't want to emphasise, yet still has a womanly shape so does not look like a sack on the model. 

I have also added a rabbit fur vest to this outfit. I wanted to demonstrate how to incorporate the fur vest in a more casual way (compared to the Ethereal Winter photo shoot). A fur vest looks great whether dressed up with a party dress or dressed down with a white shirt and jeans.  This particular vest is real rabbit fur which makes it incredibly warm for winter.

When wearing multiple layers a great way to add another dimension to the outfit is to add some colourful beads or a piece of statement jewellery. Make sure the jewellery is not too bulky or bold as this will make the outfit look tacky. Simple jewellery in the key colours of the season is best.

The model is also wearing a leather mini-skirt. Leather is very on trend this season, from skirts to leggings and jackets. This particular mini-skirt worked well with the dimensions of the knit. The knit is long enough to cover the stomach and bottom of the model and short enough to allow a small amount of the leather skirt to show underneath. This created further layers to the overall look of the outfit.

Knit: ASOS

Fur Vest: Vintage

Leather Skirt: Arthur Galan

Beads: Morocco

Shoes: Rubi

 

Ethereal Winter...

Melbourne Winter always has an ethereal quality about it. On the day of shooting the sky was amazingly ominous and the water was a perfect emerald green. I couldn't resist having the model get in the water for a couple of photos!

The model is wearing a black jersey maxi-dress. Maxi-dresses are a great basic for every girl to have in her wardrobe. Some tips to picking the perfect maxi-dress are:

(1) Select a good quality fabric such as cotton jersey or silk.

(2) Make sure that the dress has shape! If you have a larger bust, you should select a dress that has definition around the bust line to make sure that the dress does not look like a sack from the bust down.

(3) Get the length right! The perfect maxi-dress should skim across the ground when you are wearing flat shoes which will give you just enough length when wearing heels. More recently there have been a lot of midi-length dresses. Be careful with this length if you are slightly curvey - the mid-length proportions can cut you off and make you appear shorter and rounder.

Fur vests are also a great trend this Winter. Fur vests are the perfect way to add a sense of luxury to an otherwise simple outfit. If you are going to wear a fur vest, make sure you keep the rest of the outfit simple and don't over-style your outfit. If you are curvey or have a biggger bust, select a vest that does not add too much extra bulk. A number of boutiques are stocking beautiful genuine rabbit fur vests, however, there are also great options available if you prefer faux fur. The model is wearing a black cardigan with a faux fur vest attached. This makes the maxi-dress appear longsleeved and is a versatile option for Winter.

I have finished the outfit with a chunky necklace. The necklace has navy stones which is a great colour for Winter and works perfectly with the raspberry lipstick.

Dress: Michael Kors

Vest: Kookai

Necklace: Saba

Ahead of the Curve!

"Shopping" is often a dreaded statement for plus-sized women. I find more and more women associate clothes shopping as an activity for purchasing the essentials - similar to grocery shopping. It seems the joy of shopping was sucked away the last time you were stuck in the change room squeezing into a pair of pants that didn't fit whilst the pushy sales assistant called "come out and show me". Trust me - no matter what size you are - we have all had a similar experience!

In an attempt to restore the joy in curvey women's shopping experiences, I have made a list of my top picks for designers and boutiqes who create the latest trends and still cater for curvey women:


10. Mister Zimi:
http://www.misterzimi.com/

Mister Zimi is one of my top "secret" finds for curvey women. This Bali-based online store is famous for its "Tina" dress - a loose fitting, extremely feminine dress which looks great on women of all shapes and sizes. Mister Zimi also selects the brightest and boldest prints of the season so it is a great brand for fashion forward women. The brand stocks up to XL although the "Tina" dress is loose fitting so is still a good option for girls that are slightly larger than the average store sizes.

9. Zara
http://www.zara.com/

I don't think I could have created a shopping list that did not include Zara. This store is an essential to shop for the basics that should be in every woman's wardrobe. It is also a great option if you want to pick up some of the more crazy trends of the season at affordable prices. Sizes can be a bit hit and miss but they do go up to an XL so Zara is definately worth a look.

8. Wayne Cooper:
http://www.waynecooper.com.au/

Wayne Cooper is a great Australian women's wear designer and a great option for full figured women. WC definately knows how to make a dress to emphasise a woman's curves. His designs are feminine and incorporate the latest season fabrics and colours. The sizing goes up to a 4 (the equivalent of a 14-16).


7. Sussan:
http://www.sussan.com.au/

I can hear gasps of shock ring out around fashion blogging sites worldwide - but yes Sussan is actually a great place for curvey women to pick up the season's key trends. Sussan is actually part of the same company as Sportsgirl so they often use the same colour palettes and styles - just applied to a more "womanly" physique.


6. Michael Kors:
http://www.michaelkors.com/

Michael Kors is a classic women's wear designer. His chic and feminine designs are loved by women all over the world. MK is a great place to shop for classic pieces such as the perfect tailored work dress, trench coat or trousers.


5. Arthur Galan:
http://www.agclothing.com/

Arthur Galan is an Australian designer well known for his feminine shapes and impeccable tailoring. AG is a great place to shop for that special occasion dress. This store may not cater for all sizes, but AG's classic tunic dresses (similar to the dress featured in the Autumn Whimsy shoot) are a great option for curvey women.


4. David Lawrence:
http://www.davidlawrence.com.au/

Another cheeky secret is David Lawrence. I find DL is a great place to pick up the staple pieces that should be in every wardrobe such as the perfect trench coat, woolen knits and tailored corporate wear. The quality of the pieces are also great so they will stand the test of time. DL also picks up on some of the latest season trends at an affordable price so it can be a great option if you want to avoid the more pricey boutiques.

3. Diane von Furstenberg:
http://www.dvf.com/

Famous for her fabulous wrap dresses, DVF is an iconic American women's wear designer. Wrap dresses are a great option for curvey women and DVF sizing goes up to a US 14 (which is the equivalent of an AUS 18). The DVF online store provides a great way to shop from home. My favourite feature of the site is the Wrap Store - an entire page dedicated to the DVF wrap dress - Amazing!

2. ASOS Curve:
http://www.asos.com/Women/Curve-Size/

ASOS Curve is a great option for curvey women who want to select key trends from the season. You have whole department at your finger tips, plus you can shop online from the comfort of your lounge room - so no pushy sales assistant experiences described above. What more could a woman want!

1. Salon Z - Saks 5th Avenue:
http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/Women-s-Apparel/Salon-Z:-Sizes-14-to-24

Saks 5th Avenue is one of the shopping holy grails for most women. Saks' Salon Z allows women of all shapes and sizes to share in the magical experience which is shopping at Saks 5th Avenue. Some of America's top womens wear designers including Michael Kors have created lines for Saks' Salon Z collection. It is a great place to pick up a classic piece to add to your wardrobe or the perfect dress for a special event.

Capturing the Cape...

This outfit was inspired by the model's porcelin skin and dark features. The model has perfect colouring for a wintery photo shoot. I wanted to create a fairytale "Little Red Riding Hood" type look for this photo shoot.

The model is wearing wet-look faux leather leggings. These particular leggings are a great option for women with bigger thighs and a booty. The wet-look effect actually makes the legs appear smooth and slim rather than some leather leggings which emphasise the lumps and bumps of your legs and make them appear larger.

I have paired the leggings with an over-sized pussy bow white shirt. Ideally, an over-sized shirt should be long enough to cover the tops of your thighs and your bottom. You should pick a shirt that does not cling to you or pull across your bust line.  One key tip for selecting an over-sized t-shirt or shirt is to ensure you pick a shirt that is cut with a feminine shape. If you are a curvey woman you always want to make sure that anything over-sized still has a feminine shape, just because it is over-sized does not mean it shouldn't have shape!

A key trend this Winter is the cape. There are a number of different capes around this season including capes with sleeves and without, vests and overcoats. Capes are a great trend for plus-sized women. They are the perfect way to layer up in Winter and still look feminine. This particular cape is great because it is free sized so you can add as many layers underneath as you like. The camel colour is also a key colour of the season. The over-sized collar adds interest and create a flattering line across the back of the cape. It is also the perfect length to cover the bum.

Finally, a great makeup trend this Winter is raspberry coloured lips. This colour works particularly well on women with pale skin and dark features. It is also the perfect colour to pair with camel.

Leggings: Zara

Shirt: Target

Cape: Vintage

Boots: Tony Bianco





1000 and 1!

Yay! Bella + Richie has just hit over 1000 views of the blog! I just wanted to say a huge thank you for all of the support.

If you are interested in staying in the loop with my future photo shoots and styling advice, I would love you to become a member of the website or like me on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/bellaandrichie 

Love Bella + Richie.

Welcome Winter!

Winter has offically arrived in Melbourne! Whilst the freezing temperatures and soaking rain make it my least favourite season of the year, one great thing about Winter is the fashion! This Winter is all about incorporating new textures into your wardrobe - think leather, lace and fur.

In this shoot the model is wearing a lace little black dress. The perfect LBD should be a staple in every girls wardrobe and finding one in a great winter fabric such as lace or leather is a modern way to wear the LBD this season. I love this particular dress because it compliments the model's figure by giving her shape around the waist. The length of the dress is great, it cuts just above the knee which is not too short and still feels young by not being too long.

Incorporating different textures in the one outfit is a great trend this Winter. In this shoot I have paired a leather jacket with the lace dress. The jacket looks great on the model. A jacket with a low-cut neckline and pointed collar is flattering for any woman with a larger bust. The exaggerated collar makes the model's bust appear smaller. This particular jacket has built in shoulder pads which can also create a more womanly silhouette. 

Another key trend this Winter are pumps with a chuncky heel. Finally, we can ditch those ridiculously thin stilettos and replace them with chuncky pumps. The model is wearing a pair of black suede pumps with a super chuncky and super high heel!

We had a surprise visitor on our shoot and I couldn't resist putting the photos up - he is by far the cutest accessory this season!

Model wears:

Dress: Witchery
Jacket: Bettina Liano
Belt: Zara
Shoes: Rubi

It's a Wrap!

Melbourne is notorious for its crazy weather - four seasons in one day. You can leave your house to blue sky and return home to torrential rain. Having grown up in Melbourne and experiencing its weather first hand, I thought it was appropriate to create a look which demonstrates how to layer-up for four seasons in one day!


In this look the model is wearing an over-sized white t-shirt, wet-look leggings, suede booties and a bright red scarf. Most people would advise women with thighs and a bootie to stay away from leggings, however, if you style leggings in the correct way they will look great on women of any size.


The trick is to be selective in the pair you choose to wear. Curvey women should avoid leggings that are too tight or that have too much going on (for example patches and stitching) as your legs will appear larger. Wet-look leggings are a great option for anyone with bigger legs - the sheen will make your legs appear longer and leaner. The number one rule for any woman wearing leggings is to make sure you wear an over-sized top or dress which covers the top of your thighs and butt - no matter what size you are leggings will never be flattering around your mid-section!


One of the best ways to layer-up when in between seasons is to add a colourful or patterned scarf. This season over-sized scarves or snoods are a great trend. If you normally shy away from colour in your wardrobe, scarves are a great fashionable and affordable way to introduce key colours for the season into your outfits.

Model wears:

Top: COS
Pants: Zara
Scarf: Susan
Boots: Tony Bianco

Work It!

In this shoot I wanted to demonstrate how to achieve a fashion forward outfit for work even if you are plus-sized.


The model is wearing high-waisted cigarette pants and a peplum top in mustard (a key colour for Autumn). Every curvey girl should have at least one peplum top or dress in their wardrobe. The peplum is a great way to emphasise the waist and cover any lumps and bumps around the middle. It is important to be selective in the type of peplum you invest in, some pieces are cut in an unflattering way and add bulk rather than making you look smaller. The peplum also needs to synch in the right places, it should synch at the waist and not at the hips. This particular peplum top is great - the colour suits the model perfectly, it synches her waist to make her appear smaller - adding a chuncky belt ensures that you define the area you want to draw peoples attention to.


Cigarette pants are a trend that most people associate with smaller women. However, if you select the right pair of pants (make sure they are not too tight!), cigarette pants will make your legs appear longer and slimmer. High-waisted pants also provide extra comfort and create a flattering pant line around the tummy to ensure there is no muffin-top issues.


Wedges are a great trend for any season. They allow you to be super high without being uncomfortable. These wedges are great for Autumn as they are suede and open toed which is perfect for in-between seasons.


I also added a dark lip to the model which is a makeup trend for Autumn/Winter.

Model wears:

Top: White Peacock
Pants: Zara
Belt: Zara
Shoes: Tony Bianco

Autumn Whimsy...

This photo shoot highlights some of the key colours and tones of Autumn. The model is wearing a loose fitting cream dress which is belted at the waist which adds definition and highlights the model's figure.

A key trend this season is the fidora hat. Adding an accessory such as a fidora hat is an easy way to lift what would otherwise be an ordinary outfit to being a fashion-forward outfit.

I paired a chunky charcoal knit with the cream dress. The perfect knit should be a staple in every woman's Autumn/Winter wardrobe. However, if you are plus-sized you need to be more selective in the type of knit you wear. The wrong knit can add unnecessary bulk rather than accentuating your figure. I styled the model so that the knit was worn open to draw attention to the model's figure. The oversized collar also provides a focal point for the model and makes her appear smaller.

Finally, I put the model in some super high (but super comfy) grey patent t-bar stilettos. The advantage of high heels is they force you to have good posture, make your legs appear longer, therefore, you appear smaller.

Model wears:

Dress: Arthur Galan
Knit: Scanlan & Theodore
Fidora: Witchery
Shoes: Country Road

Escaping Melbourne.

The opportunity to escape Melbourne for a weekend in the country provides me with new inspiration. I wanted to capture the morning fog which created a golden haze across the Autumn countryside.