The "Wild" One - a girl's version

Lace Biker Jacket

Anna Scholz  has done it again!

White Label - EXCLUSIVE

Get your motor runnin'! Head out on the highway! Anna's fitted jacket takes biker chic to the next level in gorgeous black lace over a satiny cognac-coloured lining. This slimming hip-length silhouette offers an unusual colour combination and lovely texture. But you still get all the classic cool details, such as the brass off-centre front zipper, wrist zips and angled zip front pockets. Create sexy, sophisticated retro suits with a bad-girl edge by pairing this jacket with Anna's matching black lace skirt or dress, or with the matching cognac of the dynasty pleat shift dress. It also looks smokin' over Anna's leopard print silk pieces. Fabric content: 100% Nylon, Lining 100% Polyester

Confidence

The confidence of younger women who are deemed "plus size" constantly amazes and inspires me.   They have no problems with expressing their self-belief and self acceptance.   Older women still find it difficult to realise that they too, are unique and individual.  My blog is aimed at encouraging the more curvaceous woman to see herself from a new perspective, (regardless of age, size and shape©) as being lovely, intelligent, articulate and sensual.

Watch this video of Tiffany Bank.

Another "curvaceous" model

Yesterday's blog showed a couple of beautiful "curvaceous" models.   I thought you'd like to see another.  For the more often we see models with natural flesh and curves, the less we'll be told and reminded that anything other than skeletal frames are not really acceptable.   I think the argument that a model must be a size zero no longer holds any substance.  And substance is what it's about, really.

I maintain that women's magazines, world wide, are supposedly written with "women as their focus".   That means, to my way of thinking, that these magazines should include women of all ages, including growing older years, women of different shapes and sizes, all as a matter of course.   Not just in occasional advertisements, and certainly not in occasional segments or supplements being shown as women who are treated as an after-thought.  Why is it that these magazines highlight "everything" for and about women who are young and extremely thin (not necessarily naturally thin) and yet ignore the women who are like you and me.  Rounder women;  taller women;  bigger women;  older women;  women with experience in many life issues.  We're all customers,  we're real flesh and blood.   We're the woman next door, women in our family and women you see down the street, every day, in every town and city in the world.   Yet we're looked upon and spoken about as though we're either invisible or not deserving of respect.   We're expected to fit into "their" ideals, when quite honestly "THEY" haven't a clue about what the word ideal means.  They want us to do as they say, and be like they say we should be like, and look as they say we should look like.  Well, it doesn't work that way.  

Life is about diversity, and it's about time that the magazines of this world, including their editors and features and beauty editors, took note.

The modelling game

I've been known to question the description of models who at the very most would be size 12, as being "plus-size". Someone said to me the other day that I was being very "picky".

It's not that.  It's just that being a plus sizer, I don't think it fair that someone who is a size 12 or 14 (with a beautiful figure to go with it) is seen and described as being "plus-size".   I don't think it's fair that I should therefore be "seen" to be excessively plus-size based on a comparison between that size 12 model and me.  I'm not talking about youth or  looks, or lithe, svelte figures, I'm talking sizes here.

I've questioned clothing suppliers who also make/design/sell plus size clothing yet persistently model those garments on at the very most a size 16 girl.   Of course the size 16 and 18 and 20 girls want to see how they would look in garments provided by these suppliers, and they should.  But let's look at the whole picture.  If you supply garments from size 14 to size 24 for example, then surely on your website as well as your catalogues you would show models wearing your garments in the

whole size range.   

Yes?    But in the main you don't.   

One supplier here in Australia who has always included a range of model sizes is Sybill's of Queensland.  They used to be Carousel, and their garments are fantastic.   Then there is Big Time Clothing who also use models who equate with the clothing they sell.  Big in Black as well - and keep tuned to BIB because I understand they'll be updating their website within the next couple of weeks.

But let me get back to plus-size models, or as I prefer to call them, curvaceous models.   Two American girls that I believe represent the young curvaceous size model are Ashley Graham and Marquita Pring.

See if you don't agree - these women are beautiful in their own right.  Plus size?  Yes.   And they're proud of their figures and their ability to shine in the spotlight to highlight plus size clothing.

We should see more models of this calibre and size.

A jacket I gotta have!

A bit of whimsy.  A bit of fun.  A bit of fashion flair.

As only Miss Piggy can do, here she is in her lovely quilted jacket.  Watch out for the new film The Muppets where the indefatigable Miss Piggy wears some "designer clothes" with panache.

I'm a little intrigued though at the hair colour change.  Wasn't she a buxom blonde?  Why the dark hair - perhaps she is trying to hide those few little grey hairs that sneak up on us all?

Or am I not being fair to Miss Piggy suggesting that?  Perhaps it's a fur hat hiding all those glorious platinum locks?

SHOWCASE - Designer Diane Burkhardt - New Zealand

Drawing upon Eastern and Edwardian influences, Diane uses high quality natural fabrics – wools, cashmeres, tweeds, silks, linens and cottons. The texture and juxtaposition of velvets, beads and brocades excite the eye. The draping of diane burkhardt clothes is soft and feminine, and the details – such as pintucks, pleating and handwork – is sophisticated, elegant and flattering.

Diane says her colours are soft and restrained, resonating New Zealand’s landscape. Whites, greys, silvers, lurex, cream, beige, khaki and gentle lemons are sculptured into gentle silhouettes; sometimes with volume, sometimes sleek and fitting.The Eastern elegance of a kimono is echoed in cross over styling, while swing coats of the 60s and 70s are expressed anew.

Diane is one of an increasingly rare breed of designers – one who can pattern draft. She understands the way fabric drapes, and the way it can be cut.


diane burkhardt
only at The Cupboard, 417 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland

Open 7 days Phone (64) (9) 379 9870,
Email style@thecupboard.co.nz
Web www.thecupboard.co.nz

Copyright NZ Fashion, www.fashionz.co.nz

You've just got to visit this website

Most of you who receive the e-magazine RoseMary's NoteBook© will know of Dorinda Hafner who we quote often and who has appeared within its pages over the years.

Well this lady is quite phenomenal - and she HAS to be one of the most energetic, bubbly personalities around.  Her humour is infectious - as are her recipes!

Visit her website, do.     See what she's up to now and some of her plans "to do".    Dorinda Hafner - the one and only.