Hell Bunny; Something For Everyone

"Hell Bunny was born out of a need for a new look in the punk and streetwear scene. As the popularity for unusual and retro fashion grows, Hell Bunny continues to evolve into a major force in streetwear."

The unimaginable has happened! I have been able to introduce my gorgeous and slim younger sister to a brand that suits us both! So much so in fact, that we both wore this brand to her vintage themed 21^st. 

What you'll notice in these photos, is that as the night went on I got more and more...ahem...tipsy.

 I'm wearing the Peggy Sue Circle Dress and my sister is wearing the Blue May Day Dress. We're both wearing Hell Bunny petticoats. 
Shoe: Doc Marten Mary Janes

 My boyfriend's entire outfit was thrifted. The suit cost him $5 from a Salvation Army store.

This is one of the few shots where I'm actually wearing the beautiful satin gloves that I picked up from a vintage store.

The hair is down, the shoes are off and the bow is untied!

At the end of the night, I somehow managed to slip between a mattress and the bed frame and needed help getting out. One moment I was sitting on the bed, and the next I'd disappeared!

I first came across the Hell Bunny brand on a plus-size second-hand buy-and-sell Facebook page. I purchased the red dress featured in the photos and loved it so much that I searched on Ebay for more.  I now have four of the lovely dresses, a petticoat and a black coat – which incidentally is the best winter jacket I’ve ever had and has carried me through an especially harsh Adelaide winter and many a yard duty.

The pin-up styles of Hell Bunny accentuate a woman’s best assets, enhancing feminine curves. Pin-up fashion reflects styles from the 20s, right through to the 60s, and has had a huge comeback over recent years. It’s no wonder, considering that unlike fashion today, pin-up suits women of all ages, body shapes and sizes. The wide variety of styles, colours and patterns means that everyone can find something to suit them and their fashion identity.

At the end of the day, as a plus size girl, if I can find a brand that makes me feel sexy, it has to be shared around!

There are several stores throughout Australia that sell the Hell Bunny brand, or alternatively, you can purchase from their UK based website. However, everything I’ve purchased has been from local Ebay sellers.

Beautiful, Well Dressed Fat Women

 

In the past, the fashion industry has ignored and punished the plus sized shopper. When I think about my teenage years, I have a strong sense of dismay and disheartenment when I recall clothes shopping with my mum (I sure as hell didn’t go clothes shopping with my friends – there’s only so long you can stand at the accessories shelf in Supre with growing humiliation). I lived in XL t-shirts from The Disney Shop and cargo pants. That was my wardrobe in the 90s, which I felt was more or less forced on me, as the alternative was knee-length, flowing linen shirts and three quarter length white pants. No, the fashion industry was not kind to the fat teenager. Not many things are.

The day I found what was then called Big City Chic, I remember feeling wonder. Plus size clothing in flattering and trendy styles. It had finally happened. When I first starting getting paid a decent salary, I easily (and happily) spent $200 a week on City Chic clothing. Sure, my wardrobe was primarily satin cocktail dresses and frilly tops, but it was a start. I was starting to feel like I fit in.

After a while, “fitting in” became boring and I wanted to explore different styles. I lost some weight and discovered that going from a size 24 to 16 opens up a lot more options. Most brands go up to 16 and I learned the joy of thrift stores. Fashion became an obsession. And I suddenly loved being a curvy size 16-18.

Needless to say, it’s not only easier for the plus size shopper now, but it’s also kind of exciting. Bizarrely enough, I think part of that excitement is the sense of achievement we have, because we have to look closer to find trend-setting, edgy outfits. As Celeste of The Big Girl Blog says, "I guess it's the old adage of working twice as hard to get half as far". I have a larger sense of accomplishment and adventure when I try a new outfit and it works. Let’s face it; plus size girls have to try harder, shop smarter and face more challenges in regards to perceived fashion rules (e.g. the dreaded “horizontal stripe”).

Bronny, writer of Fat Aus!, wrote, “Recently I was thinking about all that I went through when I was younger and I wished that I’d seen more beautiful, well dressed fat women because maybe that would have helped me realise that to be attractive, you don’t necessarily have to be thin.” When I read that, I didn’t feel so alone in my childhood memories. I grew up feeling awkward and different and certainly unattractive. But somehow, I think “feeling different” has served me well, because now I am not afraid of being different and taking risks with fashion. Yes, I will wear a bow tie to work today. Yes, I will wear Doc Martins and a 70s dress to buy milk.

While the fashion industry still has far to go, there is a tribe of “beautiful, well dressed fat women” out there. And I’m so proud to be a part of that community.

A Walk To Dulwich in ASOS

I had no intention of taking photos for my blog today. I have a terrible cold and was dragged out of bed by my sister and boyfriend for a walk to Dulwich for lunch. On the way back, I was so impressed by the stunning streets of Toorak Gardens that I made my boyfriend take a few quick snaps.

Dress: Asos

Shoes: Therapy

The moment I saw this dress on ASOS my heart skipped a beat. It's that little bit unusual, and I just had to have it. The fit is perfect (I'm wearing the size 18) and it's such a lovely lightweight dress. Definitely my favourite purchase in a while.

The Trouble With Fashion Blogging...

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So far my blogs have been centred around trends, which has been fun, but not sustainable for a regular blog. That aside, my favourite fashion blogs are about the ‘daily outfit’ and the process of getting up in the morning and not just putting on clothes, but piecing an outfit together carefully, which is not unlike a jigsaw puzzle. You try a piece to see if it fits, and sometimes it doesn’t, so you try again. But the trouble with fashion blogging is that you need a willing participant to take photos of you. I’m still working on figuring that out, as I wanted to veer away from selfies. Until I get that underway, I’ll just share some of my favourite things at the moment. 

 Ring: Swarovski Crystal Nirvana Emerald Ring

 Shoes: Doc Martens, Ebay

 An English teacher's delight :)

Found these at a local games shop

 Head Scarf: Etsy

Vintage Eye Frames: Ebay