Plus-Size Fashion, Styling & The Media with Natalie Wakeling

Natalie Wakeling is Australia’s first plus-size editorial model, turned size inclusive fashion designer and she’s got a bone to pick with the fashion industry. Natalie has been part of a pioneering movement to redefine the fashion and retail industry into a more size inclusive, body positive space not only for customers and models but also plus size designer brands. And not just a ‘we feature some curvy girls once a year in our body diversity issue’ inclusive. As in, get these brands on the runway, plaster real bodies all over billboards and start supporting the fact that retail customers (and most styling clients) are a size 14 MINIMUM. Her most recent ‘win’ was the battle with the giants of fashion week to get the first plus size parade (called the Curve Edit) debuting at Australian Fashion Week. Natalie began her designing career with Embody Denim in 2006, which has now become one of Australia’s most recognised and respected size inclusive brands featuring a full collection of denim and apparel. Nat shares some incredible stats that will be helpful for you stylists when it comes to your marketing material. USE THESE FACTS IN YOUR POSTS ⬇️ Google search data revealed Australia has become the country most interested in size inclusive and ethical clothing in the past 3 months. A report by McKinsey said “60 percent of people considered a brands ethics while shopping” A report by ABS showed “the average woman’s waist circumference was 88cm, equivalent to sizes 16-18” AND THAT’S NOT ALL THE BEEF For plus size, size inclusive designers to thrive, which is what all of your clients want, we need the media to support them. That means features, PR, editorial coverage, celeb endorsements, to broaden the reach of these brands and get them in front of your clients. SO SHE’S DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT, GOD DAMN IT Natalie has started a national movement called #realaustralianfashion The goal is to raise enough money to book out a whole year’s worth of advertorial space in Australia’s top magazines and fill the pages with size inclusive brands, styled by Australian stylists specialising in curvy clients, and on curvy models that truly represent the average Australian customer. BUT SHE WANTS YOUR HELP STYLISTS! “I'd actually really like (stylists) to reach out because I'm going to need help. I can't do all of this on my own. I really want this to be a collective effort amongst women and the community. This is about raising awareness to all the stylists that are struggling to find quality, sustainable, designer brands for their clients, and for customers looking for brands they would love.” If you're a stylist in Australia who'd like to be included in the upcoming shoots, please email info@stylingadvisory.com.au LINKS https://www.embodywomen.com/pages/natalie-wakeling https://www.instagram.com/nataliewakeling/?hl=en RECENT PRESS https://www.mamamia.com.au/plus-size-jeans-review-embody-women/