Super Size Me

Last night as part of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week I spoke on the Super Size Me forum on size and consumer demand. On the panel with me was Craig Halfpenny - National Retail Operations Manager at My Size, Mel Campbell - author of Out of Shape (which I recommend you buy if you have any interest in this topic - it's a great read!), Dr. Sue Thomas - Leader Bachelor of Fashion Apparel Engineering and Design at Holmesglen (a new course in Melbourne specialising in garment construction and pattern making), Judy Green - consumer, tv model, and adventurer, Maria Hatzis - Retail Manager at Nicola Waite GPO. It was a  lively and often passionate discussion with members of the audience joining in.

Some key points from the discussion

• Size can be an emotional topic for women but not so much for men (although this is debatable).
• Why can men shop by their actual measurements - a 32 inch waist for example, while women shop with arbitrary sizes with no relation to measurements which differ store to store.
• The retail experience in itself is important in order for you to find the right fit. The staff should know their products and be able to direct the customer to the right size or styles in the store that will suit them and their body shapes.
• The reason this is important is sizes vary so much between stores. Stores actually target their sizes to their customers, so for example the sizes at My Size run a little bigger than the national average as that is who their customer is - which raised points about vanity sizing. 

I spoke about how the internet has opened up the way I shop - for the better. With access to so many brands and labels from around the world I have so many more options than when I was a teenager and My Size was the only plus size store I knew about (City Chic wasn't around till I was in my mid twenties). This led on to a discussion about plus size options often being matronly and made for the mature woman in mind. As a teenager this frustrated me to no end as I just couldn't find fashionable youth driven clothes made to fit me. We also discussed fit and how it differs to size - I spoke about how as a plus size woman if a piece of clothing I like gets on my body I buy it regardless of it's size because I know I can make it work. Fit has a different meaning to me than my straight sized friends who have so many more options when it comes to clothes.

Outfit time. In the spirit of the discussion I decided to wear a dress I had a little trouble with in terms of size. I originally bought the size 18 in this dress from the ASOS Curve line as I am normally an 18 in ASOS's main line. Well, the 18 was way too small when it arrived so I returned it and went up two sizes to a size 22 as the 18 was so small I didn't think the size 20 would work either. Well the size 22 is a little too big, but not in a noticeable way and I actually like the smock like style on me so I'm happy with my choice, but if you're after a more fitted style then I would recommend just going up the one size in this particular piece. This is why a good returns policy is essential if you want my online shopping dollars, I love how easy ASOS's is now - especially with the same day courier pick up service (which I used this time).

Outfit details
Dress ASOS
Flower crown Lady Petrova
Tights Sonsee
Glasses Bespecd Minsk frames in Lilac
Pastel pink jelly heels Juju Babes
Holographic heart glasses chain Not Lost Boutique
Pastel purple chain bracelet House of Baulch


Lady Petrova has some beautiful flower crowns in at the moment. I couldn't resist this hot pink number.

I got the handmade Holographic heart glasses chain from Not Lost Boutique during my recent trip to Adelaide. I can't wait to share more about that trip with you once fashion week is over as I had so much fun.


I picked up that new red ring whilst in Adelaide too, not sure of the designer but I bought it from a cute boutique on trendy Queen Street for only $20.


I still can't get enough of my jelly heels.

Shop the look!!!

MSFW Student Runway's 1 & 2

MSFW is upon us and the first shows on my schedule were the emerging designer student shows. Always the highlight of my week for pure creativity and innovation, this year was no exception. Student Runway 1 showcased the graduating class of RMIT while Student Runway 2 presented students from other key Melbourne fashion schools showing at MSFW for the first time. Those schools were the Melbourne School of Fashion, Kangan Institute, Box Hill Institute and Whitehouse. Choosing just a few students to highlight in this blog post was hard, with so much talent on show I ended up taking over 1000 photos but have cut it back just to those who stood out to me on the night.


Ella Mcilvena - RMIT
I saw a few pieces of this collection being worn by students at the Walter Van Beirendonck exhibition opening a few weeks back. A friend from Tokyo actually bought a piece after seeing it on my blog - which is awesome for the student and I think says a lot about the appeal of this trend driven collection. Sporty neoprene in boxy shapes with numbering, layering and sheer pieces, I love and want it all.






Lucy Rosenberg - RMIT
Lucy was one of the students I visited last week as she was finishing her collection. Her fetishization of food collection was just made for the runway with it's bright colours and the prints stand out.




Johanna Howe - RMIT
Architectual lingerie.




Tyrone Susman - RMIT
More fetish inspired pieces from RMIT - I wonder what's in the water over there? Lots of studs and leather.




The skeleton formation on the back of this dress was amazing.


Lauren Cray - RMIT
Architectural deconstructed white.


Alexander Batsis - RMIT
Alexander's collection fused fabric together to create the shape and texture and to make the forms.




Gabrielle Brown - RMIT
Layered white with interesting rope detail and shoe bag accessories.






Chin Hau Tay - RMIT
Another student who I visited last week, Chin's teddy bear inspired menswear collection got the biggest cheer from the crowd on the night. Such a fun tongue in cheek runway ready collection.




Esther Gauntlett - RMIT
Paint or latex splatters added texture and changed the way the dress moved when walking down the runway.




Jack Leeson - RMIT
Jack's bright collection looks just as good on the runway as I thought it would when I visited him last week. The bright blue really stood out.




Alanna Barca - RMIT
The detail wasn't lost with Alanna's work on the runway.


Talisa Trantino - RMIT
The texture was clear with Talisa's work.




Cathy Yuen - RMIT
Cathy's workman ship was evident in her collection.




Dara Ing - RMIT
The LED lights on Dara's pieces in action.


Brandon Smith - Melbourne School of Fashion
Bold shapes.


Laura Petruccelli - Kangan Institute
Amazing use of colour and print.


Neville Antoinette - Kangan Institute
Bridal meets sci-fi.


Susie Paull - Melbourne School of Fashion
One of my favourite pieces of the night, the tulle wings had everyone front row gasping at the beauty.


Eleni Nott - Whitehouse
Tongue in cheek lettering - split printed just where the lower half of the dress has a split.


Alex Jon Hansen - Whitehouse
This collection was the most trend driven of the night, I could see all pieces working on the streets of Tokyo right now. I love the layers and silhouette - long and boxy with leggings. The prints against the white really pop.


Sporty slides, otherwise known as bathroom slippers, are the shoe of the moment here in Melbourne.



Below, thanks to MSFW's youtube channel you can view all the students work from both shows!

Sneak Peek at RMIT Fashion Graduate's MSFW Runway Part 2

Cathy Yuen
Using laser cut (new technology) to push the boundaries of clothing design.


Cathy's work is inspired by Architecture. The 3D forms and cut outs remind me of Federation Square but also the cut outs remind me of stained glass windows in a church.


Cathy was working on a new toile when I visited which you can see has the same curved shape as the front piece.


Finished pieces from Cathy's graduate collection - they quality of the finish of her work is amazing.


Dara Ing
Dara's graduate collection is LED powered menswear using reflective materials.




Dara collaborated with RMIT Industrial Design student Dan Vaugh to create his LED menswear skirt.


Jack Leeson
Jack's collection uses lustrous blues inspired by the ocean.


When I stopped by he was cutting out new pattern pieces. He said this was 'boring cutting' and apparently for fashion design students there is also interesting cutting - you learn something new every day.


Using felting, ironing on to seams to blend fabric together, Jack has been able to create this beautiful texture.




Molly Younger
This piece in Molly's graduate collection was made using a mould of a body and then latex and pain is applied to give it form and texture.


Other pieces in her collection are screen printed.


Screen print of the mould.


The latex and pain create interesting texture.


Raw unfinished edges add to the texture.

Hope you enjoyed part 2 of my exclusive look behind the scenes at the RMIT Fashion graduating class of 2013.
Have you got your MSFW tickets yet? Check out the full program here MSFW 31 Aug - 8 Sept 2013 RMIT 
Buy tickets for the student show to see these looks and more walk the runway Student Runway 1 Sunday 1st Sept 6pm

I also have an exciting announcement to make, I'm a panellist on Super Size Me? A forum on size and consumer demand as part of MSFW. Along with Mel Campbell, author of 'Out of Shape: debunking myths on fashion and fit' and other esteemed guests we will be addressing sizing, fit and diversity. What’s normal in sizing? Is this a problem, and if so how are your favourite labels addressing it? Are you a satisfied consumer? Ask questions, share your experiences, and discover what is ‘the new normal’ in sizing.
When Tuesday 3rd September 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Where Holmesglen Institute of TAFE 332 ST KILDA Road Melbourne 3004 Room 4.05
FREE!!! Hope to see you there xoxo