Skorch final april may 2015 by SKORCH MAGAZINE

THE MOST BODY DIVERSE MAG IN THE WORLD Vol 8 Issue 3 APRIL/MAY 2015

skorch AMINA COVER GIRL

MUCCIOLO of STUDIO MUCCI SPRING EDITORIAL

plus!

NICK HOLLIDAY REVEALS SECRETS OF SUCCESS-SEX LIFE-AND MORE!

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MASTHEAD EXECUTIVE EDITOR & OWNER Jessica Kane EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tiffany Kaelin Knight EXECUTIVE FASHION EDITOR Bella Styles POWERHOUSE EDITOR Nichole Alex EDITOR-AT-LARGE AUSTRALIA Samantha Morris EDITOR-AT-LARGE LATIN AMERICA Jennifer Barreto-Leyva SKORCH JR EDITOR Terr Cacilia SPECIALS CONTRIBUTOR Courtney Mina CREATIVE DIRECTOR & DESIGNER Jessica Kane MAGAZINE DESIGN by Frank PUBLISHER Jessica Kane CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Captured By Chelzea CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER NICHOLE ALEX JOIN SKORCH www.skorchmagazine.com/join-team-skorch

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THE MOST BODY DIVERSE MAG IN THE WORLD Vol 8 Issue 3 APRIL/MAY 2015

skorch

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BEHIND

THE

COVER

CREATIVE DIRECTOR / PRODUCER Tiffany Kaelin Knight ig: tiffanykaelin

Photographer Elle Lauren Photography Stylist Marcy Guevara HMUA Amanda Bourne Assistant Desiree Mehrez

AMINA COVER GIRL

MUCCIOLO of STUDIO MUCCI SPRING EDITORIAL

plus!

NICK HOLLIDAY REVEALS SECRETS OF SUCCESS-SEX LIFE-AND MORE!

>> like SKORCH on Facebook enter to win contests and exclusive deals.

Ticke

w o n e l a ts on s

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plus

redefining

Skorch spotlights four women are redefining plus size blogging and celebrate in a special photoshoot with a brand with the same moto, SWAK Designs.

@MYBELLAMOXIE @AMANDA_ALLISON @MSKRISTINE

Directed/Styled by

MARCY GUEVARA Hair and Makeup:

TRISHA KWAN Photographer:

LESLEY PEDRAZA Edited by

MARISSA HERNANDEZ wardrobe SWAK DESIGNS

@MARCY_GUEVARA

@GLAMBYRUNA

@JESSICA_KANE

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FEATURE

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AMANDA

of fashionlovean

“People of all size shapes deserve a filled with happin self love, and fab fashion.”

HOW SHE’S CHANGING THE GAME She represents t every-woman, t lady we are - the we are best frien with - the lady w want to see mor of in advertising Plus, she has the best dressing ro reviews on Yout where she keeps completely real

AMAN plus

is redefining #SKORCHxSWAK

ndmartinis.com

es and a life ness, bulous

the the e lady nds we re g! e oom tube s it l!

NDA

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KRISTINE

of TrendyCurvy.com “Everything isn’t for everybody but that doesn’t mean that you cannot take current fashion trends and make them work for you.” HOW SHE’S CHANGING THE GAME Setting the standard in curvy street style by having the highest quality photos, styling and website design.

KRISTI plus

is redefining

#SKORCHxSWAK

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AMANDA

of MyBellaMoxie.com HOW SHEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CHANGING THE GAME Amanda brings a fresh attitude and love for her midwest ladies. She is passionate about creating a community of confident women and we love that!

AMA plus

is redefining

#SKORCHxSWAK

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RUNA

of Runaazam.com

“I am here to inspire you to feel good in your clothes. Fashion taught me how to be confident! I want to show you how I did it.” HOW SHE’S CHANGING THE GAME This beauty is a triple threat with her drop dead gorgeous beauty tutorials, bold outfits rocked on her petite frame and always keeping confidence the number one goal.

R #SKORCHxSWAK

RUNA

is redefining

plus

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LOREN

Loren Monares the curvy Phillipino princess

Photography by Christian Dela Cruz

by Jennifer Barreto-Leyva

LATIN AMERICA EDITOR-AT-LARGE Loren Mae Monares was born on June 1983 in Dumaguete City, Philippines. She came from a family of five, being the middle child. She graduated college in 2004 and passed the licensure examination for Certified Public Accountant and practiced her profession in the investment banking industry. She started her modeling career back in 2010, being part of the second batch of Erzullie Fierce Plus Size Fashion Icons. In 2013, that’s when she started accepting other modeling projects outside Erzullie. She appeared in local TV and got invited to join fashion shows to represent other plus size brands. Early 2014, she got invited to participate in a game show “Minute To Win It” where in she represented the plus size models/ community and guested in a noontime show of same TV channel. Currently one of the models on the recent music video of Kat Lopez feat. Q-York. We had a fabulous chat, she sharing her story, and here is

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LOREN MONARES

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what came up… So Loren, how you started in the plus size modeling? My door to plus size modeling opened when I got accepted to be part of a fashion show which showcased different local designers way back in 2010, representing Erzullie Fierce Plus Size Fashion brand. After I learned about the advocacy of the brand to promote plus size women empowerment, that’s when I got inspired to be part of the family and drive the same vision. Through Erzullie, I got discovered and offered other modeling projects and that’s how my modeling journey started. How your relatives and friends react when you started to work as a plus size model? My family and friends have been very supportive from the start. They got so excited when they learned that I was going to be part of a fashion show and told me that I can change so many lives positively with this venture that I went into. True enough, after almost 3 years, I have been able to inspire so many plus size women to accept and love themselves. You are the official face of the clothing line Erzullie, how that fabulous relationship started? It started when they accepted me to be one of their models for a fashion show. Afterwards, I applied to become an Icon or ambassador of the brand’s advocacy. Given our same vision and common interests, we became a family in Erzullie.

Is it common to see plus size women in the Philippines? Like any other Asian countries, plus size is not common in the Philippines. Because of this, limited opportunities are made available to most plus size people, could it be at the workplace, fashion, etc. This is why up to now; we are still working towards empowering plus size women at same time educating the society, in our own little ways, to promote equality. What are your hobbies/passions in life? I love performing, could it be dancing or acting apart from modeling. As for my hobbies, I enjoy hanging out with friends like going out for spa or window shopping or out of town trips. Besides Erzullie is there any other options when it comes to clothing for plus size women in your country? Am happy to see more and more plus size brands, both local and foreign, are now available in the market. There are even brands which started with regular sizes and now expanding to plus size. A few that I can mention are Forever 21, Get Laud, Ward88, Chubbly and many more. Though I noticed that to date, there are still limited options for plus size men compared to women. How is plus size people portrayed in media in Philippines? You’d usually see plus size people in Philippine media portray sidekick or parent roles. Also, plus size stories

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LOREN MONARES

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would revolve around being frustrated about their size and how it affects their lives and limit their opportunities to succeed. How do you see yourself in 10 years? In 10 years, most probably I would have a family of my own. I’d like to see myself up in the ladder in terms of my profession and at the same time still being able to inspire other people through my access in the fashion industry. Give us 3 words that define you. Perhaps the 3 words that best define me as a person after all that I’ve been through in life, it would be hardworking, selfless and versatile. How do you keep your self-esteem up? For me self-acceptance is the key element, and that includes accepting what you don’t have and maximize whatever skills or strengths you have. I believe this is the reason why I’m able to regain my self-esteem after every down time of my life. We are finally able to share with our readers this amazing news; you will part of our amazing team! How do you feel to be now our correspondent? What are your expectations on this new project? When I have it in my hands, without a doubt, I said yes. I was overwhelmed with joy. It’s such a great honor to represent my country, particularly the plus size community in the Philippines. This is a great opportunity to showcase the journey we have towards empowering plus size people, sharing to the other side of the globe what we have done here in the Philippines. I hope that this will be a way to inspire more people and be able to showcase great talents and culture that we have here. Finally dear Loren, what would you advice to our readers (men and women) to live happier just the way they are? Size is not a measurement of a person’s worth. For us to achieve true happiness, we should all start accepting and loving ourselves. Next would be identifying our skills or strengths and passion. From there, build your goals in life. Most importantly, be able to touch others’ lives. It’s all about your beauty being driven by your inner positivity! Twitter: @SassyLor Facebook: lorenplus

Loren Monares

Clothes

ERZULLIE FIERCE Plus Size Fashion Designers

ARIES DE GUZMAN AND BERNA CUEVAS Stylist

ARIES DE GUZMAN Hair and Make up

KARLA YAP Photographer

Christian Dela Cruz Digital Photography

Ian

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LOREN MONARES

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DRESS Domino Dollhouse

AMI

skorch C O V E R

G I R L

INA

MUCCIOLO

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DRESS Ashley Nell Tipton Thank you so much for taking the time to shoot with Skorch! What has your experience been like? It’s been such an amazing experience. Normally, when I do a shoot, I’m the stylist, director and set designer in addition to being a model… it’s a lot! Working with Skorch has been so much fun because I was able to just focus on playing dress up, without having to worry about all the other details. It’s definitely something I can get used to :) So we know that you are the owner of the fabulous Studio Mucci…have you been the model since you started? Yes… in fact, being a model for Studio Mucci has been very influential in helping me build the brand. I would share photos of myself with our products online and I would get a great

alexis

response, especially on social media. Since we’ve grown we use other models as well, but I always try to model in our shoots. Is fashion and modeling something you wanted to get into? I’ve always wanted to have fashion be a part of my career. Modeling is not something I’ve pursued. Ultimately, I’m someone who understands that my brand is a reflection of me, so in order for Studio Mucci to be visible, I need to put myself out there. But who doesn’t love getting all dolled up and taking photos in pretty dresses? Tell me about yourself? Are you from LA? How long has Studio Mucci been around? Yes, I am! I am originally from Rancho Cucamonga, a suburb in the Inland Empire. I moved to the Valley in my early 20s,

and have been pretty much in LA ever since. Studio Mucci has been around since 2011, so we’re in our 4th year. What inspired you to get started with that? Even though Studio Mucci happened somewhat organically over time, it started as a culmination of my hobbies and creative interests, the defining moment that took it from hobby to business was when I discovered my ideas were valuable and I had a few ideas early on that I never acted on, only to see them come to life by the hands of others. How has it grown over the years? Did you have a big break or has it been a slow and steady increase? A bit of both. We’ve had a few big breaks, for example being able to work with Blake

COVERGIRL Creative Director

Tiffany Kaelin Knight Photographer

Elle Lauren Photography Stylist

Marcy Guevara HMUA

Amanda Bourne Assistant

Desiree Mehrez

DRESS Domino Dollhouse

AMI

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TOP & SKIRT Zelie for She

INA

MUCCIOLO

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TOP Zelie for She SKIRT & SHOES From Amina’s Closet

Lively and having our items being sold at Urban Outfitters, which has been amazing. But really, it’s also been our regular customers who are our biggest fans… they come back time and again to buy our items to celebrate life’s most important moments. Let’s talk fashion! How would you describe your style? My style changes with my mood… but for the most part I like to keep it whimsical. If I had to give it a name, I’d call it” Unicorn Boho”. My closet is filled with pastel tribal prints, colorful maxi dresses tulle skirts and ice cream colored sneakers. Do you follow any fashion rules? The only fashion rule that I follow is that I have to be comfortable. If I’m not com-

fortable, I can’t be confident in what I am wearing. What about style icons? Do you have any? I don’t really have style icons… I tend to take fashion inspiration from unexpected places like childrens clothing for example. I’m often inspired by children’s fashion because they’re just so colorful and whimsical. I really love when fashion has a sense of humor. What about your beauty routine? Do you have one? I don’t really have one. but I have noticed that when I take really good care of myself I look and feel the most beautiful, for example when I get plenty water, sunlight, fruits, veggies and sleep. So I try to do that as much as possible. So it seems like you are the

COVERGIRL total package! Business woman and style star…what is your secret to success? Thank you! To be honest, things have not always gone well for me in my life. I really struggled a lot in my early twenties. However, my life and business started improving when I made a commitment to be true to myself. Where do you see yourself and Studio Mucci in the future? So many amazing things have happened in just the last year, so it’s pretty difficult to predict. But I definitely see Studio Mucci and my blog Tasselfairy Chronicles continuing to grow. YES! Don’t stop, we love you Amina! xx Skorch

SHOP THIS TOP

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EMBELLISHED DAME by Tammy BLOGGER FASHION COLLECTION Photography by Jourdan of CrownedVisuals.com

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EMBELLISHED DAME by Tammy BLOGGER FASHION COLLECTION

EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW!

NEW TUTU COLORS COMING SOON

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SKIRT COMING SOON

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JEANS SIZES 14-28 COMING SOON

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EMBELLISHED DAME by Tammy BLOGGER FASHION COLLECTION

Photography by Natalie Elyse Photography

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SHOP WITH WONDER AND WHIMSY bit.ly/shopcoolgalliz PLUS SIZE BLOGGER

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Photography by Natalie Elyse Photography

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FASHION COLLECTION

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PLUS SIZE BLOGGER

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Photography by Natalie Elyse Photography

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SHOP WITH WONDER AND WHIMSY bit.ly/shopcoolgalliz

Photography by Natalie Elyse Photography

PLUS SIZE BLOGGER

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FASHION COLLECTION

Photography by Natalie Elyse Photography

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NADIAx

with Skorch Australian Edito

xBOOHOO

or-at-Large Samantha Morris

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BEHIND THE SCENES

Whilst in the UK earlier this year I had the chance to catch up with NYC blogger buddy {and major babe} Nadia Aboulhosn & the team at Boohoo.com on set for Nadia’s 20 piece Spring plus size capsule photoshoot. I have been DYING to share the looks and behind the scenes pics with you guys. Seriously. The Nadia Aboulhosn for Boohoo capsule collection is set on a monochrome colour palette with pops of lilac and cobalt blue with key pieces such as the blazer dress, the logo jumpsuit and the cut out asymmetrical two-piece. The collection aims to embrace and celebrate women with body confidence. Nadia commented ‘The collection is inspired by my personal style; minimal androgynous with a touch of glamour, it’s all about body confidence and feeling strong in what you wear.’ All the technical fashion jargon aside. The capsule is stylish, edgy and designed by a curvy woman for curvy women. For me the stand out features are the edgy plunging necklines, sexy splits, shorter hemlines and more importantly the fit. Not a baggy moo moo in sight, because us curvy girls don’t need to hide our shape. This collection focuses on flaunting what you’ve got, accentuating body shapes with a sexy edge. Like any professional shoot there’s a team of creatives behind the scenes making sure everything is perfect.

The studio in Manchester was filled with natural light and a whole lot of positive energy from all involved. Photoshoot essentials, lots and lots of new season accessories and shoes. {plus garment steamers, irons and fans of course}. We all enjoyed checking out the shoot accessories. Even the golden pineapples but especially the sunglasses. So I have this thing when I travel overseas where I like to take Aussie gifts. Everyone on set got a cute little clip on Koala to take home with them. It’s fair to say the Boohoo office selfie stick got a work out that day. And I swear my mouth was WIDE open in every shot. Ha. Just like an excited puppy. There was singing, dancing and plenty of laughter all round. An amazing day surrounded by an amazing team. Thanks for having me Boohoo. I’ve ordered from Boohoo many times and am yet to be disappointed with my purchase. {that’s probably why I post about their stuff so much} For Aussie delivery I’d generally allow 10 days for it to arrive. The slow postage is something the team are working on to speed up the process. Happy Shopping!

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BEHIND THE SCENES

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BEHIND THE SCENES

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Karyn

CLOONAN Australia’s Curvy Couture Inc.

alexis

Curvy Couture Inc is made up of a group of women – Jessica West, Teresa Raso, Erin Cox and Karyn Cloonan – who are dedicated to getting plus size fashion the attention it deserves from the fashion world and the public in general, as well changing the attitudes of designers and retailers who don’t think there is a market for size 14+. Between us, our backgrounds include fashion design, business ownership and over 25 years of event management. We all come from different backgrounds but are united in our love of fashion, body positivity and uplifting other women into a place of body positivity.

How did the roadshow get started? Who else is involved in Roadshow? Always with the aim of creating a safe space to explore fashion and style, the Curvy Couture events have been through a couple of incarnations. Beginning life in 2013 in Perth, Western Australia, the Curvy Couture Roadshow event was

an afternoon of catwalks, entertainment and markets showcasing a select group of Australian Independent Designers.

20 independent Australian and New Zealand designers and over 20 professional and local street models, celebrating all things size 14+.

As part of the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival Cultural Program, the Roadshow travelled to Melbourne in March 2014, bringing together a team of dedicated plus size fashion enthusiasts to create the Not for Profit organization Curvy Couture Inc.

Featured in the Australian Women’s Weekly, The Daily Mail UK and countless blogs around the country, Curvy Couture provided the legitimacy and acknowledgment the Australian Plus Size fashion industry needed.

The small but dedicated team developed Curvy Couture into a bigger and brighter full day spectacle, bringing plus size fashion lovers together with designers from both Australia and New Zealand. Local Melbourne women walked the catwalk alongside professional models, representing a diverse range of body types and sizes. The 2014 Curvy Couture event was one of the most highly anticipated shows of the plus size fashion calendar. With over 600 patrons filling the gorgeous surrounds of the North Melbourne Meat Market, the event brought fashion hungry women together with

The Curvy Couture Inc team was overwhelmed with the response of the plus size community and decided to push the event further to create a full weekend of plus size fashion adoration.

What was the inspiration behind it? The real inspiration behind the Curvy Couture events was to promote the plus size designers who aren’t the predictable, mainstream options, who we want to wear and see other women wearing and to show the fashion community that not only is plus size fashion out there and available, but it’s bold, exciting and just as forward as

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Tell me a little about you and your background?

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Karyn

CLOONAN straight sized fashion. We want to really blaze a runway path for designers who normally wouldn’t get a chance to show their looks in front of an audience, promote the wealth of body shapes and sizes that women have and just get behind the plus size community in expanding the sartorial options out there. We want to see everyone represented on the runway!

Ok, so you have this idea of doing a fashion show in Australia, do any of the founders have experience in this field? Where do you start? The team that came together at the beginning had a bunch of skills that helped start the process but it was a steep learning curve! So you have a vision right? You want to put on a professional looking runway, with a designer market attached to it, in a beautiful venue. You want to use street models, to make sure you represent everything about body positivity. You want to attract designers to support you publicly and, let’s be honest, financially! So you start with a vision and work backwards. You don’t need to have a lot of personal

alexis

experience in getting an event happening, but you do need a lot of passion and drive, as well as people who are ready to do the hard yards in terms of working late nights, weekends, lunch hours. Who will spend all night reading legal papers, watching tutorials on how to teach model workshops, writing up documents, calling in favours, counselling designers, models, other committee members and making sure you get as much right first time as you can! You need to keep the dream going when it’s boring or difficult so that you can cry and laugh and revel in the joyful feeling of making it happen! It is a hard path, but it is so worth it to feel the crowd take in an awe-filled breath as a beautiful plus size model walks out onto the runway and shows them how wonderful fashion can be as a symbol of positivity and a political act of saying ‘I am here and I am wonderful.’

At Skorch, we think that Australia is such a huge up and coming plus size fashion world, what has the support from your country been like? Is Australia seemingly accepting of

body positivity? We believe that the body positivity within the Aussie plus size community is HUGE. There is so much hope and uplifting going on online, at meet ups, markets and social groups. We have plus size burlesque and synchronised swimming. We have amazing designers campaigning for diversity and inclusivity in their ranges. We have fatshionistas representing so many shapes, styles and personalities. It’s exciting to be at the beginning of the groundswell that’s about to wash over the whole nation. The rest of the country? Well, it’s difficult to say. We have a cultural expectation to the outside world of the lithe, bronzed, sporty Aussie girl, frolicking in bikinis on beaches and being super friendly and easy going. That image has been around since the 60s, in both media and pop culture, and it is still expressed as a cultural identity today, in lower class and upper class worlds. All of our fashion weeks and events revolve around straight sized fashion with events like Curvy Couture involved as ‘cultural’ events. Being fat, old or Indigenous

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is only allowed in fashion if it’s cultural!

Has there been any mainstream crossover?

Our mainstream fashion options are still predominantly mature lady sackclothing and pinup dresses. Which is not to say these are bad or unwanted options, but they definitely aren’t everyones aesthetic. You can find these pretty much anywhere, but you can’t find decent underwear, leggings, tights, sportswear or basics without having to dig! It seems ridiculous, but one of the more accessible places to buy these things recently downsized their plus size range.

As a whole, media and general public arenas leave a bit to be desired on the acceptance of bodies that are outside the norm. But the efforts of plus size women in media, the grassroots activism and the excitement of women wearing plus size fashion is helping to change the public view. We have small but interesting plus size sections in local fashion magazines, we have celebrities like Rebel Wilson on the cover of Elle magazine in full bodied movement

shots. There are dance shows like the recent Force Majeure being promoted on billboards and giant posters in state capitals. Every picture helps!

So how do you think the show went? While it can be really hard to divorce your brain from the details and step back to see the larger picture of an event like Curvy Couture, we’ve had such positive and overwhelmingly supportive feedback from participants and audience members. It had something for everyone, promoted so many women’s

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ideas and designs, and went relatively smoothly for us back of stage! We were at capacity of 400 for the runway show on the Saturday night and the Market hit over 500 guests over 4 hours so that was amazing too. There were new people attending, people who’d only heard about last years show too late, or were new to body acceptance itself, who came along and found a new community. There were new designers with us, there were first time models joining some of the ladies from last year. We had a great representation in the traditional media circles, which we didn’t have last year, who really promoted the idea that we were proud of our bodies and our work, instead of trying to sneak in a terrible pun headline or treating us like sideshow exhibits. We definitely felt the love this year!

It seemed like an amazing turn out...where there any red carpet surprises? Having Tess Holliday as our special guest was amazing! It really brought an international eye to our show, to give us some firsthand feedback on how we compare to the well lauded US market in terms of variety and showmanship, as well as bringing supporters from all over the world to check out the designers involved. It broadened the horizons of our event, for sure.

event, but plans are always in the works! We’re hoping to bring smaller but just as amazing events to Melbourne and other cities Australia-wide in the near future, before starting the 9 month project work that it takes to put on the Curvy Couture weekend!

It was amazing seeing this journey with you! Skorch loves Australia and the Roadshow! And we love you! Thank you for interviewing us!

What can we expect to see in the future for the Curvy Couture Roadshow? Curvy Couture Inc. is definitely committed to creating exciting events to promote inclusivity and diversity in fashion. We are taking a well-deserved rest from the excitement and exertions of the March

CONTACT LINKS

@curvycouture on Twiiter |@curvycouture on Instagram | /curvycoutureroadshow on Facebook curvycoutureinc.com.au on the web | info@curvycoutureinc.com.au

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JESSICA

KANE

The founder & publisher of Skorch returns to drop a bomb on the plus size industry and tells the untold story. By Alysse Dalessandro

Do you remember the state of plus size fashion in 2006? How many plus size models did you know by name? Where did you shop? How many websites did you visit that showed you how clothes fit on a body that looked like yours? According to Women’s Wear Daily, 68% of the female U.S. population is a size 12 and above and yet, up until recently, we have had very little mainstream visibility in fashion. In 2006, one woman decided to change that. She decided to build a digital magazine from scratch using skills that she didn’t learn in a classroom but ones that she taught herself. She would use that magazine as a way to discover new faces in fashion -- some of whom are now household names. That woman is Jessica Kane, the founder and publisher of Skorch Magazine. Born in a small town in California, by the age of 21 Jessica was living in a single-wide trailer, married to the man she had been dating since 16, and running a truck stop. But the woman whose voice alone now oozes positivity describes herself then as “miserable and severely depressed.” So Jessica decided to go on a diet which resulted in a 130-pound weight loss. But it wasn’t just her appearance that changed. “Something happened in that process where my mind

cleared,” she says. “My brain started firing again and I was very aware that I was not where I was supposed to be. I knew I was meant to do more in this world.” And what Jessica decided she was meant to do was move to Portland to pursue plus size fashion. She gave her husband an ultimatum and he decided not to go with her. Single and armed with a new sense of confidence, Jessica embarked on her journey to Portland in 2004. But looking back, Jessica says that her confidence was based more on the validation she received for her weight loss than true self-love. When she went shopping for the first time in Portland, she experience another ah-ha moment that would serve as a turning point in her confidence journey and become a critical step towards the founding of Skorch. “I walked into the mall and saw a Torrid,” she says. “The moment I walked in there and realized I could wear anything in the store hit me like a ton of bricks. It was amazing.” A few hundred dollars later on clothes, Jessica says she felt for the first time that her clothing expressed who she was as a person and she no longer looked for the compliments and validation from others. By 2005, Jessica was completely obsessed with hair, make-up and clothing.

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JESSICA KANE

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I set out to share fashion tips and nearly a decade later, I realize I was

meant

share much more than that. The core of everything I do is inspiring women to find confidence by adjusting the perspective of what really

matters.

JESSICA KANE

The NEXT CHAPTER Photography by

ADRIAN ADEL Makeup by

MEGHAN HAMILTON Hair by

ASHLEY CHERI Styling Assistant by

JENNA QUINTANA AND CALVIN CHEN

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But she hadn’t stopped honing her other skills either. “While I was managing a truck stop, I would come home and train myself how to do all this computer programming,” she says. “By the time I decided to start a magazine, I had many of the skills to make it happen.” Armed with computer savvy and a MySpace full of supportive friends, Jessica founded Skorch in 2006 and by the end of January 2007, Skorch had already hit over a million views. All this came at a time when very few were talking about plus size fashion and no one else was doing it on a digital platform. There were no templates for digital magazines at that time. Determined to make the pages flip, Jessica says she coded the entire magazine manually. Her persistence paid off; only 18 months after she started Skorch, Jessica was able to quit her full-time job at the truck stop. The connection and engagement rates were so high because the concept alone was so new. According to Jessica, blogging started around 2008 but didn’t take off until 2010 which made Skorch one of the few producers of this kind of content. One of those bloggers, Tiffany Kaelin-Knight, caught Jessica’s attention. Jessica decided to make a comment about a dress that she was

wearing and what Tiffany did next Jessica will never forget. “She bought the dress and mailed me one,” says Jessica. “That was such a moment. Honestly at that time, I was more used to getting beat up by the community. And when she did that, it made such an impression on me of who she was and her character that I knew I had to work with her.” Tiffany came on as Skorch’s Editor-in-Chief and Jessica says it was her content that re-invigorated her own passion for the magazine. But as the climate of the plus size fashion industry started shifting, passion was not paying the bills and Jessica felt the hit. Affiliate links started to become the norm and it became more difficult for Jessica to sell full-page ads in the magazine. She faced a tough decision. “I needed to make money for my family,” says Jessica. “What has always ruled my decision to step away from Skorch at any given time was the money.” In 2012, an opportunity to run Portland Fashion Week came along and Jessica knew this was the opportunity that she needed to support her husband and their son. With Jessica’s attention on PFW, it was Tiffany that kept Skorch alive. “Thank God Tiffany had such a passion for it,” says Jessi-

JESSICA KANE

ca. “She sold no ads. She put her own money into keeping it going. She would pay makeup artists to do her shoots because she was so passionate about sharing it.” And while Jessica was only indirectly involved in Skorch for those two years, she was gaining valuable experience at PFW. Working directly with designers, press, and major corporate sponsorships, Jessica says she learned to value herself more as a businesswoman -- a skill she plans to now use for Skorch. “I learned how to be the best leader I could be,” she says. “I was in Portland selling sponsorships between $20,000 and $30,000. Portland Fashion Week allowed me to readjust my focus and see what money was actually out there. I’m confident now to know what Skorch is worth and to ask for it.” PFW also helped Jessica gain an insight into the struggle of being an indie designer. She regularly turned down major international designers who wanted to be involved so that the platform could remain dedicated to serving the needs of the local fashion community. And true to her roots, Jessica also ensured that at least one plus size designer was always featured. While Jessica was directing PFW, she was also still designing the magazine and while editing the most recent Fall issue, she saw a reason to shift her focus again. “After two years, I invested so

much of my life into Portland Fashion Week and it didn’t pan out and meanwhile, I saw the potential in Skorch,” she says. “At that time, Tiffany sent me a magazine and that issue was so good, it reminded me that this is what I needed to be doing again.” In January 2015, Jessica decided to leave PFW and return to Skorch. This time she says it’s for good. “Things are shifting again and we will once again be the first to shift because that’s what we always do,” she says. “Eventually everyone will follow along. I get really excited about knowing that we are going to once again set a trend.” Jessica describes her plans for Skorch this year as a “grenade” to shake up the industry she helped create. Her 12-month plan includes expanding Skorch to a more global reach, passing 1 million followers on social media, hosting a global plus size designer contest and continuing to discover new faces. Skorch was the first magazine to write about Tess Holliday and also the first to feature Nadia Aboulhosn on the cover. Jessica says she is drawn to talent that represents a different point of view than her own and she plans on giving a platform to new faces across the world that don’t fit the traditional beauty standard. “The best thing that I can do for my community and the plus size community is get our name bigger so that I can introduce everyone to this world that they don’t know about,” says Jessica.

The NEXT KANE

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“I don’t think fashion is

the conversation anymore,” says Jessica. “I think it’s the people, their stories and the lifestyle that allow you to relate to people. I aim to post stories

hasn’t always been that way. These faces needed a platform before any mainstream outlet would give it to them and for many, that platform was Skorch. In 2006, it was Jessica Kane that decided she was going to do her part to make sure that plus size fashion had a voice. And these days, Jessica is more confident than ever that her voice and the voices represented by Skorch are still ones that need to be heard.

UPDATE: Shorty after this in-

While these tasks may sound daunting to the average person; Jessica is far from average. She’s the woman in the trailer at age 22 who knew she was destined for more and willing to work for it.

terview, Jessica announced the acquisition of Skorch Magazine by REAL OmniMedia LLC which lead to her relocation to Florida to serve as Executive Vice President of REAL OmniMedia and Creative Director of it’s retail website, CoolGalBlue.com. The team has successfully completed it’s seed round of fundraising and attracted some of the most influential investors in the industry. For more information or to inquire of investment opportunities, email jessica@real-omnimedia.com.

“Everything I have ever had, I had to create it myself; learn it myself; pay for it myself,” she says. “You have to learn and innovate and push and fail a million times but the beauty of being an entrepreneur is that you get another chance to do it better.”

Alysse Dalessandro is a Cleveland-based writer. She’s also the owner and designer of indie plus size label, Ready to Stare. She believes that fashion is not a privilege and handcrafts clothing and accessories for confident passion-driven people in sizes 0-32.

and share content that actually reaches people. It’s all about that conversation and changing people’s perception and the stereotypes of fat women.”

So the next time you see a plus model on the runways of NYFW or a blogger in the pages of a magazine, remember that it

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Whether it’s been writing the original code to make Skorch’s first issue or growing Portland Fashion Week, Jessica hasn’t just tackled challenges, she’s broken barriers. And while in the beginning Skorch was revolutionary for showcasing fat fashion, the conversation in the plus community is now becoming more political which gives Skorch a platform for social change.

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ROADSHOW Photography by Damien Bredberg www.damienbredberg.com.au

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URVY

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BEYOND THE SEA SWIMWEAR

www.beyondthesea.com.au

What was your experience like working with Curvy Couture Roadshow? Curvy Couture has been a very positive experience. I have been involved with the Roadshow for 3 years now. This year was the best so far.

Who would you love to see rocking your clothes? I would like to see Rebel Wilson rocking Beyond the Sea Swimwear. She has a great attitude and is a proud Australian! I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t had any overseas customers yet but would ship worldwide if required.

Do you think that the Aussie Plus size fashion market is growing and what do you attribute that to? I think the Aussie plus size market is growing because the average Aussie woman is size 14-16, and is not always represented in mainstream fashion. Beyond the Sea is an Australian made brand that offers supportive and stylish swimwear for sizes 10-22 with a vintage twist.

BIG BLOSSOM bigblossompjs.com.au What was your experience like working with Curvy Couture Roadshow? We loved being part of the Curvy Couture Road show, the women interested in the road show are our base customer, it was good getting our product out their and letting the curvy girls know you can buy Cute, Funky, Comfy and cotton PJ’s in sizes above size 14.

Who would you love to see rocking your clothes? Meshel Laurie, Chrissie Swan and Tracy Bartram, all inspiring women who celebrate being Curvy and who are proud of it!!

Do you think that the Aussie Plus size fashion market is growing and what do you attribute that to? The market is growing because manufactures and some designers are realising their is a market out there. Big Blossom PJ’s are an Australian company’ at this stage we make and design from being to end our selves (my sister and I) If we grow as a company we will always manufacture in Australia. We try to have a 100% cotton or natural fibers in our fabric’s. We started this business because we couldn’t buy nice PJ’s in cotton for our selves and realized their was a lot of people out there in the same boat.

PJ’S

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CAMILLA JAYNE www.camillajayneaustralia.com.au –runway looks available in 2 weeks What was your experience like working with Curvy Couture Roadshow? Amazing!

Who would you love to see rocking your clothes? Casey Donovan and Rebel Wilson

Do you ship worldwide? Yes for under $15

Do you think that the Aussie Plus size fashion market is growing? Definitely! Many brands are now offering extended sizes

or are dedicating their designs to suit plus size women. Apart from the major chain stores, many independent boutiques are now seeking to expand their size range and are actively searching for brands that will suit their mid to high end plus size customers. Camilla Jayne is a brand that can be found in many independent boutiques across the country and has been known to show case in stores that also stock well known designer brands such as Charlie Brown.

What do you attribute that to? Designers being brave enough to create fashion for a market of women whose shape can vary dramatically, unlike traditional ‘misses’ sizes. Creating a beautiful garment that flatters plus size women is an art form and requires

the designer to understand the psychology of women in this category. I studied psychology at university which has given me a design advantage for Camilla Jayne. The more you understand the psyche of your plus size women, the better the fashion! The Aussie plus size fashion market is slowly getting rid of the idea that plus size women want to hide in baggy clothes in unfashionable prints and clingy fabrics. Plus size

What do you want our readers to know about your brand? Camilla Jayne taps into a plus size womans desire to being noticed for all the right reasons! Our designs are slimming with a WOW factor that will set them apart from mundane fashion trends. We use only high quality fabrics and trendy prints so each piece of clothing looks AND feels amazing! We are proudly Australian made, owned and designed with a strong following amongst women who compete in Fashions on the Field at the races.

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women want to feel powerful, admired, beautiful and fashionable and not hide in the shadows and be the party wall flower.

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Harlow www.harlowstore.com

When can you shop online at site?

Who would you love to see rocking your clothes?

Our Online store is open 24 hours, 365 days a year

We love seeing anyone rock Harlow, this is why we do what we do, seeing women in every day life wearing our styles will NEVER get old. However if we are talking people in the public eye, a few women we would love to see wear our pieces are Nadia Aboulhosn, Queen Latifah, Rebel Wilson, Oprah and Beth Ditto. Not only would they would ROCK the hell out of some of our pieces, they are also women who stand up for what they believe in, they fit perfectly within the Harlow ethos, they are #womenwhorock

What was your experience like working with Curvy Couture Roadshow? Having 8 gorgeous women walk the runway in our fabulous designs, showcased in a magnificent high fashion runway event was amazing. Getting to meet & connect with new and existing Harlow devotees at the marketplace the next day was also a highlight. We love the chance to connect with the women who wear and love our brand.

Do you ship worldwide? Yes

Do you think that the Aussie Plus size fashion market is growing? I think that the independent brands in particular that are on offer are expanding, which is fantastic. With more brands in the mix it gives women who are above a size 12 a better chance to find items that best reflect their personality, to experiment and mix and match fabulous fashion offers together to find their individual style â&#x20AC;&#x201C; how amazing is that!

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What do you attribute that to?

enough to take a chance and strike out.

As I believe the growth in plus fashion is mostly from independent designers. I think it’s because a lot of these women, have experienced the inability to find what they want in the market place. These women in turn – like myself have felt strongly enough to stand up and say enough is enough, and forge out and start businesses to help women like them have choices. They have listened to women lament about the lack of fashion within the plus arena and hey have been crazy

What do you want our readers to know about your brand? Harlow’s core belief that every woman has the right to find fashion that reflects her personality. Harlow is aimed at the woman who yearns to change the world, the movers and the shakers, for women who stand tall and proud, for women who want to set themselves apart from the crowd. We make clothes for #womenwhorock

Each range is made up of quality pieces with a focus on fit, silhouette, textural fabric and subtle detailing, giving each design a unique twist. Offering up high quality limited edition pieces that not only make you feel amazing, but also stand the test of time. With our signature monochrome pallet, leather detailing, body skimming silhouettes and Harlow denim, you’ll have all you need to unleash your inner rock chickhanks

HOPE & HARVEST www.hopeandharvest.com

What was your experience like working with Curvy Couture Roadshow? We were really impressed with the professionalism and organisation from the CCR team. We have done a lot of runway in the past, and to work with such a great team was an absolute pleasure. The show went off without a hitch, and even down to the smallest details, we found the whole process to be seamless. A huge round of applause to the Curvy Roadshow team for bringing such a high end event to the Australian Plus Size arena. We must pay tribute to the models that walked in the Roadshow.

H&H pride themselves on representing our brand realistically on stunning buxom figures and these girls did not disappoint. They worked tirelessly for weeks to train and learn the skills and choreography for the runway. Most of who had never walked a runway before. All of these women brought something different to the show, and did they bring it! Not to mention, being able to get out in front of 500 people in the first place, some of them in underwear! We salute all of these amazing women. A special mention goes to the ladies who walked for H&H.

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Who would you love to see rocking your clothes? Queen Latifah, Rebel Wilson (Aussie Aussie Aussie!) Tess Holliday, Octavia Spencer, Tanesha Awasthi, Adele and Pam Poovey.

Do you ship worldwide? We have an established store that is accessible 24 hours a day. We ship worldwide. We already have a large following in the USA, Europe, and the UK.

Do you think that the Aussie Plus size fashion market is growing? The need has always been there. For too long though, curvy women have had to put up with sub‐ standard clothing that was unflattering and very plain at best that covered up their bodies. Imposing on the wearer that they should be ashamed of their

difference and size. For a long time in the fashion industry there has been pressure put on women to conform to its standards, and if they didn’t, there was next to nothing for them. HOPE & HARVEST caters solely to what curvy women deserve, to what curvy women rightly demand, and we are continually listening to our customers to develop the highest quality garments, not only in design‐ but fit. The brand’s head of design is plus sized herself, and both she and the team have built this brand to bring to the market a label that is high end, and fashion forward with an uncompromising level of quality. The H&H devotee is the epitome of a woman who wants clean cut, fashion forward, and well made pieces that work with her body shape, to extend her confidence through her personal image.

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What do you attribute that to?

about your brand?

I think the initial impetus of this change has been in the area of internet availability. The growth of the globalisation of business, driven by wide spread internet shopping has helped to introduce curvy women in Australia to the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s local independent and international fashion designers. This means that the curvy woman no longer has to rely on her local generic retailer for their archaic offerings. The curvy woman now has a large range of choice available to her. The rise in the online availability of quality plus sized fashion labels has had the important follow on effect of forcing mainstream fashion retailers to stand and take note of local independent plus sized brands for their bricks and mortar stores. Naturally, these retailers are not keen to lose sales to online businesses. As for the immediate future, the stocking of local independent labels by some mainstream retailers will in turn, lead to more and more widespread customer expectation. Australian curvy women will soon expect a greater number of bricks and mortar stores to stock a more diverse range of quality independent local and international plus sized brands.

HOPE & HARVEST manufacture in both Australia and via fairâ&#x20AC;?trade agreements with ethical business practices with off shore manufacturers. The well being of those manufacturing our garments overseas is extremely important to us, and the conditions in which our clothing is manufactured is always monitored and kept to high standards of working environments. The offshore companies that we work with are small factories, with under 40 staff who are mostly family. We are proud to support these businesses and communities abroad.

What do you want our readers to know

All of the H&H patterning, grading, sampling, fit and sizing are undertaken in our local studios in Ballarat and Melbourne. We support our local communities by employing local people with exceptional skills to bring the high quality garments that HOPE & HARVEST are known for, to our customers again and again. LOOKBOOKS for the current coming and seasons are available to view now at the following link: https://issuu.com/hopeandharvest ďżź

huudaverti

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If applicable: when can you shop online at site? Yes, we have an online store accessed via our website and we share specials on Facebook and Instagram. We are also represented by Janine Mison from United Curves.

What was your experience like working with Curvy Couture Roadshow? This was a great event. It was exceptionally well organised from end to end. The models were fantastic to work with and clearly enjoyed the experience. You could see the joy both

backstage and as a guest. The venue was modern and made the event feel like it had every right to be front and centre in the heart of Melbourne. We think that all major fashion events should be encouraged to follow their lead and work towards inclusion of plus size runway shows. We hope that the Curvy Couture Roadshow continues to grain traction.

Who would you love to see rocking your clothes? Any woman who wants to go beyond the basics of what the norm is for plus size fashion. Our target audience isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t driven by age, but is for the woman who wants to wear clothes that are fun, bold, colourful and will make the feel unique and look extraordinary.

Do you ship worldwide? Yes, we offer free shipping by registered

post. We also offer priority service should our customer wish to pay an additional amount.

Do you think that the Aussie Plus size fashion market is growing? Absolutely. Women see that plus size and high fashion are not oxymoron. There are more individual designers stepping into the marketplace and offering alternatives. Hopefully, we are inching closer to the day when a woman can walk into any store, see an item she likes and know that it will be available in her size, no matter what that happens to be.

What do you attribute that to? Maybe it is our physical isolation or our upbeat attitude that influences Australian designers to look differently at how they create clothes. Whatever it is, we are receiving more recognition internationally. huudaverti showcased in Full Figured Fashion Week in 2013 where our different style was very well received. Women are also making their voices heard and demanding more choice. There are many Australian plus-size Facebook groups where

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www.huudaverti.com

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women share their looks and offer and ask for style tips. There is an upswing in support for each other with messages of body positivity. We also have a very strong plus size blogging presence and social media such as Instagram play a big part in enabling women to share their style. Having plus size goddess Tess Holliday come to Curvy Couture was a real coup. Tess added a layer of lustre and helped put this event on the larger world stage.

What do you want our readers to know about your brand? We want people to know that we are Australian sisters, who have grown this business from our passion for creating clothes. It is a family affair, our 76 year old mum creates each pattern from our sketches and offers us technical advice along the way. She also helps upskilling the women who makes our clothes by sharing her by sharing her

knowledge. We couldn’t resist stopping to give her a kiss and a hug as we left the runway at Curvy Couture. We have strong beliefs about how we run our business and what we give back to the community, especially to the women we employ to make our garments. It’s a very hand’s on brand, we will continue to flourish as people now appreciate that we are creating clothing that are an alternative to the fast fashion movement.

Icelandic Blue www.icelandicblue.com

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www.icelandicblue.com If applicable: when can you shop online at site? Open 24/7 online

What was your experience like working with Curvy Couture Roadshow? Exciting and great to be a part of it. Good to see the diversity of models and brands. Great to see our styles on the runway.

Who would you love to see rocking your clothes? Adele Women who are tired of walking around shops and not finding anything in their size, feeling worthless because no one cares, having to go to a wedding, an interview, on a date, a board meeting or out to dinner and just not being able to find anything that suits their shape or in their size. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a soul destroying exercise in lowering your self esteem, I really want to change that and for women to embrace feeling good and wearing interesting clothes.

Do you ship worldwide? Yes, Australia and New Zealand has free shipping, overseas at this stage is charged, for, however we are hoping that in the not too distant future we will be able to offer free shipping worldwide.

Do you think that the Aussie Plus size fashion market is growing? Yes

What do you attribute that to? Partly that people are getting larger, but also that this was a hidden market in the past, people just had to buy what was on offer, be ashamed of their size, even if what was available was ugly and badly styled. I think lots of plus-size people make their own clothing and also get things they want made up for them. There is a definite gap in the market for well made, upmarket clothing – women who need to work in the corporate world, who want to look different and not walk around in trakkies and cheap T-shirts. Clothing and how we present ourselves is part of our identity and everyone should have access to what they want to wear. One thing I have noticed about our brand is that some plus size women don’t seem to think they are worthy enough to spoil themselves and wear luxurious fabrics. The way we feel about ourselves affects everything – if you look good, you feel confident and this radiates from you no matter what your size. Confidence is contagious.

What do you want our readers to know about your brand? Our brand is for the elegant, sophisticated woman who wants to look a bit different and can’t find styles in the stores that are in the sizes she wants. She is not afraid to make a fashion statement, loves beautiful fabrics and feels confident enough to embrace our styles. We have only been in the market for a short while, but have plans to grow and want to focus on excellent customer service, great styles and quality.

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Lisa Kerr Designs

When can you shop online at site? 24/7 online

What was your experience like working with Curvy Couture Roadshow? I loved the whole experience. The Organisers, the models, the other designers were all amazing and thank everyone for making it an experience I will never forget.

Who would you love to see rocking your clothes? All women!

Do you ship worldwide? YES

Do you think that the Aussie Plus size fashion market is growing? Yes, the curvy couture roadshow proved that there is choice when it comes to plus size fashion, something that was not available in the past. Events like these open up the Plus

size market and help new brands and give women a chance to choose what they want to wear.

What do you attribute that to? Women are looking for choice, for clothing that works for their bodies, they are not willing to settle for mainstream shopping anymore. Social media is helping woman share and learn about new brands that are emerging, and building body confidence by doing so. I think the plus size market can only keep growing because of this.

What do you want our readers to know about your brand? Lisa Kerr Designs is a stylish fashion forward clothing line designed in Melbourne, Australia. We are about embodiment, about beautiful textures and gorgeous designs. We takes pride in dressing

women in stylish clothing and doing away with traditional sizing and numbering. We aren’t about labeling you! Our mission is to make you feel fabulous first. A note from the designer - Hi, my name is Lisa. I am a fashion lover and I’m not afraid of a splash of color. For me it’s all in the details. I am inspired by beauty in all shapes and forms. I am inspired by good quality in both style and fabric. I am inspired by design, print and a touch of frivolity. My clothing and accessories are designed to make you feel good and be the absolute best version of you. I am a “plus-size” woman. I am a woman who designs for every woman. I don’t like categorizing people into size. I’m not focused on this however I am totally focused on bringing out the best in my customer. Whether it is via a beautiful kimono or an amaz-

ing scarf, my designs are an extension of what I think makes a woman feel gorgeous! Any woman deserves to feel amazing in their clothing and my mission is to deliver that to my customer. My aim is to change the thought process behind plus size fashion. I want to steer clear of the marketing of some labels and stores who cater for plus sizes. These size labels often emphasize ‘being big’ in the brand name as well as being named a ‘specialty’ store or brand. Lets work toward abolishing the stigma attached to being plus sized. Fashion for women should be fun, all-inclusive and make every woman feel amazing. I want my designs to be available to all women of different shapes and sizes. Lisa Kerr designs, for all women.

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www.lisakerrdesigns.com

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Miss Scarlett did it www.missscarlettdidit.com.au

Shop: Open 24/7 online, fittings by appointment and by skype

Shipping: We ship worldwide and FREE shipping is available for orders of $150.00 regardless of where you are in the world or the weight of your order. Express shipping is also available on request.

Curvy Couture: This is my second year experiencing Curvy Couture and this year I was honoured to open the show! It's such an empowering, supportive, crazy, energetic event. The designers don't compete but help each other out, the models become family and all that hard

work comes down the runway and you feel like you've run a marathon...but you'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Who would you like rocking your clothes: Underwear is often an afterthought strange when you think they are foundation garments. You wouldn't build a house without the right foundations, yet women don't give this a second thought often because they think they can't find anything gorgeous in their size or have had a bad fitting experience. A Scarlett woman is one who knows that she deserves great fit, comfort and sexiness without compromise. Too often we don't think we are 'worth'

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it. You are - it doesn't depend on your size, your age, your job or the size of your bank balance. Buy once and buy well and allow yourself to understand your true value. I'd love to get my hands on Nadia Aboulhosn as much as I would any woman who wants to experience the confidence and look a good bra can bring.

Aussie Plus Size Market: There are some incredible Australian designers out there with vastly different offerings, all looking to make every woman understand that plus size doesn't mean a downsize in being fashionable. While the market is growing, too often our clients are shopping overseas or looking for cheaper options which makes it

difficult for designers who simply can't compete on price. Women of every size want to look their best, to be able to reach into their wardrobe and wear pieces that make them look and feel a million dollars. Thankfully there are designers out there who are being brave and in many cases leaving well paying jobs to make this a reality for all women.

About Miss Scarlett: I am my own customer. I know what it's like to be overlooked by most major department stores as I don't fit a traditional size. I understand that some plus size women have broader backs and smaller busts, that some of us are curvy

all over, that our breasts come in a variety of shapes and sizes and that depending on where we are in our lives we change shape. Just because we have been told we are 'difficult to fit' 'a strange shape' or that 'your breasts are really different sizes', doesn't mean we don't deserve gorgeous lingerie. We cater from an A to a K from an 8 to a 26 in most ranges. If you don't see it on our website drop us a note and ask - we will source it for you and make recommendations. Remember ladies, there are no 'odd, mishapen breasts' just fitters who don't know how to fit. Heads high, shoulders back, the world is yours!

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CURVY ROADSHOW

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Nyata www.nyata.com.au

If applicable: when can you shop online at site? Anytime

What was your experience like working with Curvy Couture Roadshow? I loved working with the amazing coordinators, designers and models who all share the same vision, promoting confidence and equality in fashion. These women rock and I feel so honoured to be meeting such gorgeous people on this journey. It was an incredibly empowering and exhilarating experience, knowing all that uou put into making the event happen, to then seeing the gorgeous curvy babes rocking your designs on the runway, is just perfect in every way. I have to make a special mention to Jess West, my go to lady, who made every step of the way so streamlined and easy.

She was an incredible support and I appreciate all that she did in supporting me during the planning and on the actual day.

Who would you love to see rocking your clothes? To be honest, I was at work today in my fulltime role in the health sector and I saw two gorgeous women wearing my designs, and both I did not know. These are the women I want to see rocking my designs.

Do you ship worldwide? Yes I do, flat rate $25 Australian worldwide

Do you think that the Aussie Plus size fashion market is growing? Definitely. With such amazing plus size designers in Australia who all have their own very unique stamp, we are seeing this industry

grow extensively. With the commitment, passion and love we share for what we do, I know it will only grow bigger and better.

What do you want our readers to know about your brand? Nyata is much more than a fashion label, it is a story. As a fashion designer, plus size model for Lifestyle Model Management and Division One Nurse, I understand the importance of holistic beauty and understanding that how we feel on the inside is reflected on how we feel on the outside.I have established a sister site to Nyata titled ‘Nonairbrushedme’ which focuses on this holistic perspective to beauty and body confidence. As a plus size model and designer, I saw a prevalent compartmentalisation between ‘plus and regular’ modelling and fashion. Given Nyata means ‘real’ in Indonesian where our label is manufactured, and my strong belief that all women are real women and should feel

equal in who they are as women, and with their fashion options, I aim to bridge the gap between plus and regular sizing, providing options for women of all sizes. I want readers to know that whilst Nyata accommodates plus sizes, we actually also accommodate all sizes (equivalent of Australian sizes 8-30). We also do not have standard size labelling, rather words which are size equivalent. For example, equivalent of Australian size 20-22 in Nyata range is ‘Jaw Dropper’. This is to emphasise that size does not matter, we are all unique and should not be segmented into a sizing category, particularly given most labels vary in sizing. Our designs represent what we see all women to be- unique, sparkly and sassy. We incorporate a classics range for wear all year round, as well as seasonal collections. We understand that 'the world is your runway and you are the lead star'.

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PHO sizzle

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What was your experience like working with Curvy Couture Roadshow?

CURVY ROADSHOW

It was fun and we loved their organization and professionalism.

Who would you love to see rocking your clothes? Ursula the Sea Witch... second to that, probably Jes from The Militant Baker.

Do you ship worldwide? Yes, $15 flat rate for overseas, free in Australia.

Do you think that the Aussie Plus size fashion market is growing? What do you attribute that to? The market is definitely growing as more and more consumers become consciously aware that their brand choices directly affects the industry. More support towards the indie brands means more products from them and I think the plus size consumer is becoming very savvy as their choices open up - perhaps choosing quality over trends. This choice to support indie brands rather than huge corporations of fast fashion not only financially fuels the little brands, but also gives them more creativity, and therefore, the consumer gets more choices and competition within the market.

What do you want our readers to know about your brand? PHO sizzle is an international small business with partners from Nigeria, Vietnam and Australia. We provide ready-to-wear pieces for any occasion, or season. Melbourne designed

but Hanoi produced, we work closely with tailors, manufactures and illustrators that we all know personally to ensure our pieces are of good quality. We focus on small runs and generally have less than 30 of each garment, providing a truly distinct style, at the right price.

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nick HOLLIDAY

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nick

Tiffany kaelin knight, skorch editor in chief, chats with the handsome fellow standing by the side of former Skorch cover girl and international body positive advocate, Tess Holliday.

What has it been like having so many admirers? I don't know that I do! I feel like most of the attention I've garnered is purely as a side effect of Tess's popularity. I did have a modest (in comparison at least) tumblr following for my art & style blog so hopefully those people are admirers on some level.

So, you fell in love with someone that at the time was an up and coming plus size super sensation, has there been a massive amount of changes in your relationship since her signing? It has certainly changed the dynamic of our relationship insofar as i've had to step up to help guide her branding. That isn't something that we went into it expecting! Underneath it we are the same people though.

Your tumblr has always been quite popular and very aesthetically pleasing…can you give us a little bit of your background as far as your artistry? Where does your love for style come from? What type of artist are you? I studied as a painter, and that will always be a big part of who I am. I long for the opportunity to have a studio again and be able to indulge in large scale work. I have a series that is in it's infancy now that hopefully i'll get a chance to produce this year and exhibit. My father was in suiting growing up, so I quite literally grew up in a showroom... it was under our house. I think that certainly informs my love of traditional styling and tailoring.

What is some of your work that you are most proud of and can we see it anywhere? Give us the Nick style evolution Most of my design work in the last few years has been in working with branding small businesses - it might not seems impressive to most people but it's a powerful feeling to give someone a visual signature that really represents them.

Ok, let’s get down to the fun stuff that all the “Hollidayers” are dying to know.. You have ended up with an American…is Australia a place with confident larger ladies?

Have you always liked bigger girls? I have a visceral memory of seeing two particular artworks as a child - Titian's "venus of urbino" and Man Ray's "le violon d'ingres" - both of which depict a curvier figure. I would certainly say that influenced me, and obviously I think that bigger guys and gals are gorgeous.

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ONEONONE

Certainly. I have always been surrounded with strong, confident women - some larger and some smaller.

Apologies for such a generic question, but I noticed on way too many pictures, I see the comments, “how do I get a guy like you?” well, Skorch wants to know specifically, what do you seek out in a partner both physically and personality wise? I think the key to being attractive to a potential partner, no matter their gender or sexuality, is to be authentic to yourself and try to find confidence in that. Physically, just work what you got! We can all be sexy, there is no rule.

Is there a particular body part on a woman that drives you crazy? I love drawing nudes and so some of the things I love are purely because they are expressive curves to draw, but it really differs on every person... on one woman it might be strong legs, on another expressive hands. The nape of the neck... the small of the back... the curve where back becomes breast... too many beautiful parts

to single out just one.

how great is sex?

Have you had any backlash from friends or any criticism for marrying a bigger gal? Do you find that having attraction for a bigger lady has been deemed a fetish or is taboo? What do you say to that?

When people describe something as "better than sex" I feel bad for them... they need to find someone better to have sex with!

I don't have time for people like that in my life, so no, not at all! I understand how demeaning it is for women to be treated as JUST a fetish, but I think we all fetishise things in the bedroom. I think fat is sexy, but it's like finding something like short hair sexy - if it isn't attached to someone who you are attracted to then it's just a body part. The person is first.

What can you tell a man or woman that is struggling with the fact they like a bigger person but are scared of what others might think? Be true to who you are - if people ridicule you then they aren't people you need in your life. People should feel free to love and be attracted to whoever they want regardless of size, colour, race, age, gender or sexuality.

Let’s chat about sex…first off,

Would you consider yourself a sexual person? Absolutely. I think the connection you can make with someone on that level is unparalleled. And if not, it's still a hell of a lot of fun.

Now me personally as an American being married to a Brit, I have noticed that while I am a sexual person, there is so much that I have been so close minded about…are you noticing any of that type of thing being with an American? I had to draw her out of her shell, but she's wonderfully filthy behind closed doors.

Skorch Magazine wants to start incorporating talking about sex and all the delicious things that go along with it… What do you think about that idea? and why do you think it might be important to have this incorporated?

HOLLIDAY

nic

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Tess and Nick Holliday at the 2015 Curvy Couture Roadshow event in Melbourne, Australia.

I think bringing sex out of the dark is a wonderful thing. I'm very open about sex and sexuality, and I think it lifts a lot of anxiety about our bodies to be able to talk openly about how amazing and funny and sometime messy it can be. To realise you aren't the only one worrying about a certain part of your body or how something might go wrong in the bedroom is a powerful gift.

OK, so give us a little insight into the perfect nightâ&#x20AC;Ś are we talking hotel room? Or maybe a little cheeky outdoors session? I have had many "perfect nights" over the years so it's impossible to say. I would only say that someone who is completely and utterly lost in you and vice versa - the setting isn't too important (though sometimes fun!)

Do you love your partner in lingerie or costume? Is a romantic build up important (candles, champagne) What can you tell us that will have your fans pining for you even more?

I think romance is important in day to day life. If you're only doing it to possibly get lucky then you're doing it wrong! I think there is nothing sexier than letting your partner know that even though you are out somewhere, all dressed up, that you have some serious intentions for when you get home. Lady Holliday and I are voracious sexters - we've had to be, being on other sides of the world! But it doesn't stop when we are together. I'm a big believer in sending nude photos to each other when you are apart.

What can we expect to see from Nick Holliday in the future? I have been working hard on a unisex lifestyle brand with a masculine aesthetic. We're hoping to launch properly this year, but it's been a crazy one so far and doesn't show any signs of slowing down! I'm not putting it out there until we have everything just right, but keep your eyes peeled.

nick

HOLLIDAY

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C E N T E R

FLOSSY lox

First off, thank you for hanging with Skorch! You have kind of blown up recently! How does that feel? and where have you been all our lives? Thank you for having me! It feels great to share my passion for styling and fashion with everyone. The support and encouragement I have been receiving from so many beautiful women from all around the world has been quite a humbling and exciting an journey. I guess you could say I've been hiding "Down Under" hehe

What do you attribute all this fashion awesomeness from? I guess it all started with my mum, she always dressed me in lovely clothes growing up and let me have a voice in what I

F O L D

wore, the unfortunate fact as a teenager was it was difficult to find clothing directed at my age group, I would find myself searching through my brothers wardrobe to get a baggy skate tee! It was really tough so now I am determined to show girls that we can wear the bright, bold and crazy patterns. We can wear whatever our heart desires and if we can't find it yet, give this aspiring designer a year haha

Have you ever struggled with self esteem issues? if so, how do you overcome? Growing up I was bullied for being overweight by the other kids at school but as i grew older I learned that size does not define you as a person. We are all different in many ways from nationality and religion to different sizes and shapes and that it is OKAY to be different. We are ALL beautiful and have a lot to offer in our own way.

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FLOSSY

lox

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Describe your style to me? I have always been interested in the "Hip Hop" culture and I definitely think my style reflects that. I love wearing loud prints, big hoops and a fresh pair of sneakers. I enjoy matching my outfits but I also cant go past a perfectly clashed outfit either, add some bright lips, flawless brows and I'm ready to go! To sum it up I would say " a healthy balance of urban, street and girlie styles all wrapped in one! "

How has it evolved over the years? I would say it has evolved because there are more stylish selections. I can find awesome jumpsuits and sexy jeans in my size! It has evolved as my confidence has grown. I wear

more loud items than I used to but If you're into fashion, the industry is forever evolving, I just make my own rules!

What was it like working with Posh Shoppe’s clothing items? I LOVED it! Posh Shoppes items were so fun and colourful! The cuts and patterns used are breaking the barrier of your typical plus retailer. The styles are so young, fun and on trend. It was refreshing to look at every item with excitement and to be inspired to style! My favourite item was the graffiti print Bodycon.. O M G! I felt like I could take over the world! Confidence level 1000 % such a great fit and the colours were gorgeous!

FLOSSY

lox

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C E N T E R You took their items and totally made them your own! Does that gift just come naturally or do you have fashion and styling experience? I have an extreme passion for creating outfits, I am always inspired by day to day life. It just takes one item and then my brain goes into styling overload! All I think about is creating colourways and clashing the perfect patterns. Mixing feminine touches in with my urban style is also a fun challenge! I do style for my career but I believe that I am naturally creative when it comes to fashion!

F O L D

Where do you hope to be in 6 months? 1 year? Ever plan on leaving the gorgeous Oz? In 6 months to one year, I hope to still be inspiring others to break fashion boundaries. My ideal dream is to have my own Brand in the fashion industry! Being an editorial model and stylist are also high on my list. If there were opportunities that were a pathway to my dreams ABSOLUTELY I would make the move! I am obsessed with travel anyway ( I have a valid passport people! Haha) Thanks again doll and you can find flossy at : Instagram: @flossylox Tumblr: www.flossylox.tumblr.com

FLOSSY

lox

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Ind A FANCY SUCCESS

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Hi babe! Yes it's so great to chat with you guys again! I've actually been doing quite a few shoots since the editorial, I did a shoot with Priscilla Ono for and Amber Rose and her clothing line Rose and Ono and I've been working a lot with London photographer Nadia Lee we did a shoot for her book 100 naked women and that got a lot of coverage which was super dope we even got into i-D magazine which has been my favourite since forever, and also a couple of shoots for dope brand called Apuletown.

dia

What has it been like working with all these super star artists? I’ve definitely grown a lot and it's been a dream to shoot with them all, they’re all amazing and talented it’s been crazy!

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Hello India, thanks for chatting with Skorch again! What have you been up to since your awesome editorial with us?

So this issue is focusing on a lot of Aussie plus size fashion and the fact that Australia has seen a bit of growth in that world lately. Can you comment on what you have noticed?

Where we you located in Australia? As an American, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realize how HUGE Australia isâ&#x20AC;Śwhere would you suggest a plus size fashionista visit if he/she is planning on visiting Oz?

Yes I've definitely seen a rise in Aussie curves working more in the industry over there, it's so awesome to see more of size diversity in the market.

Well I was originally from a small sand island off the coast of Brisbane called North Stradbroke Island, but I moved to Sydney when I was 18 to work

more in the fashion industry there so I'd definitely recommend Sydney as a fashion must stop and it's a really beautiful city!

What made you want to move to the US and what advice can you give someone that wants to follow in your footsteps?

Tell me a little bit about your background and the things that you have been involved with?

I've always been drawn to the U.S ever since I was a little kid so I had to travel here! I'd always had the plan to come here first but my plans would always get changed and I'd go somewhere else but I finally made it here and so many incredible things have happened that I had only dreamt about and I just so happened to fall in love and find my husband here!

I was a Model Scout and Junior Agent at AVA Model Management in Sydney before I moved to L.A so that gave me a lot of behind the scenes to the modelling Industry and I learned a lot, I'd definitely love to eventually start my own modelling agency out here in L.A. before that I used to work backstage at fashion week doing back of house and front of house every year all throughout my teens it was definitely something I was always interested in. When I first came to L.A I worked background on a Miley Cyrus video it was a crazy experience she's such a dope person with a great team and someone I had always watched growing up and then I managed to get a gig doing the music video for Iggy Azalea "Fancy" which was filmed at the same high school as Clueless which I totally geeked out on and Iggy and her team have definitely helped me a lot and even got asked back for the video for "Black Widow"

Is modeling something you would like to do as your full time profession? That would be dope, I definitely wouldn't say no.

What changes would you like to see in the plus size fashion market? I would love to see more variety in styles being shown in plus sizes, definitely less floral maxi dresses! But that's just me.

How would you describe your own style? I'm definitely a jacket & sneaker kind of girl for sure but I love fashion and make-up and probably the girliest movies you can think of.

Any dream clients? I would love to get an editorial in i-D magazine, but designer wise Adidas, Brian Lichtenberg and I'm going to have to say Chanel even though Karl doesn't approve but you gotta dream big right?

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fast forward to 5 years into the future what can we expect to see from India? I'm hoping for question 7!

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SKORCH JR EDITOR

TERR CACILIA PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX LIGUORI

Street

Style WITH

FEMININE

FUNK

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Top Feminine Funk Pink Coat Burlington Coat Factory Pants Rainbow Shoes Wet Seal Hat Forever21 Bag KMart

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Top Feminine Funk Jean Vest Rainbow Pink Coat Burlington Coat Factory Pants Rainbow Shoes Payless Bag KMart

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Top Feminine Funk Red Coat AVON Pants Rainbow Shoes Payless Sunglasses Domino Dollhouse

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX LIGUORI

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Top: Cool Gal Blue Necklace: Cool Gal Blue Clutch: Cool Gal Blue Pants: Rainbow Shoes: Wet Seal Bralette: Lane Bryant

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX LIGUORI

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Top: Cool Gal Blue Necklace: Cool Gal Blue Pink Clutch: Cool Gal Blue Sunglasses: Cool Gal Blue Ripped Denim Pants: Cool Gal Blue Jacket: H&M Shoes: Forever21

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX LIGUORI

Pink Top: Cool Gal Blue Necklace: Cool Gal Blue Denim Skirt: Cool Gal Blue Jacket: H&M

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