Charity Fundraiser LATEST NEWS Videos August 18, 2017August 18, 20170 I really feel it is important to give back so when I had an opportunity to collaborate with award winning Brisbane Artist Carla Benzie to create a unique way to bring awareness and raise funds for Farm Animal Rescue (FAR), I jumped at the chance. FAR, whose slogan is Friends not Food, is a place of refuge for animals that have been freed from abusive situations and factory farms. Stage one of the collaboration started back in May with a photo shoot at the Farm in Dayboro which also brought together some very well known Vegans and FAR supporters such as Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Emma Dean; James Aspey a public speaker whose goal is to increase peace through education, encouragement and inspiration; Billy Simmonds an entrepreneur, martial artist, bodybuilder, performer and winner of the 2009 INBA Mr Universe title, most notably, an advocate for the ethical treatment of animals, for human health, and the environment, as well as LeanGreenie - Stacey Parish, Online Vegan Coach; Gemma Winchester founder of Vegoutt, well known Chef Alejandro Cancino and Moo Free Burger founders and Charlie’s Group Michael and Johnny. From the images taken back in May, Carla created some impressive artworks. These artworks form Stage 2 of Carla and Simone’s collaboration, the Farm Animal Rescue Silent Art Auction and Market Day on Saturday 26th August at Carla’s Gallery at 567 Old Cleveland Road, Camp Hill Brisbane. The artworks are currently available for sale through silent auction, with half of the proceeds going directly to FAR. For early bidding, please email Carla Benzie at carlabenziegallery@gmail.com The event runs from 4pm – 8pm on Saturday night and is a date that you must put into your calendars as there will be entertainment from Julia Bates Music, Jug o’ Blooze and pop-up stalls by Julisa, Lust for Light, Vegoutt, Organic Passion Catering, Vegan Tribe Earth and Elemental Formations and food from the MooFree Burgers Food Truck and TC Coffee Van Cost to attend is $10 early bird tickets, or $15 on the day as well as a $5 fee to bid on the silent auction. Children under the age of 15 are free. Tickets available from the Events Page on Carla Benzie Gallery and Studio Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/carlabenziegallery/ or on EventBrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/farm-animal-rescue-fundraiser-tickets-35450659878
Group Fashion Styling Workshops LATEST NEWS June 12, 2017July 10, 20170 Group Fashion Styling Workshops I just love meeting so many beautiful and amazing ladies at my workshops, and collaborating with some talented female entrepreneurs running Brisbane fashion boutiques. I have several different topics that I cover in my workshops, but in all of them you learn about your body shape, find out what styles work best for you, learn a lot of fashion styling tips and tricks that save you money and time and you leave feeling more confident in yourself and your fashion choices. Number are always kept small so that participants get maximum value from the workshops they attend. So if you want to stop being a slave to fashion and make fashion work for you, it’s time to sign up for one of my workshops. Send me a message on Facebook, Instagram or email me on info@mabelleallure.com.au if you want to find out the date and topic of the next Brisbane workshop. It’s time to look and feel wow!!!!
60 Second Makeover | Curves – Night Out | Ma Belle Allure LATEST NEWS Videos May 25, 20170 60 Second Makeover - Curves Night Out This is the next in our Curves 60 Second Makeovers. We have kept the same denim shirt dress but styled it with a great pair of leggings and a silky top to create some serious night out style. I've keep the silky top and leggings the same colour as this creates a smooth silhouette that you can work with. Next I've added this versatile denim shirt dress but left it open to create a kimono effect. The overall look is flatter, young and flirty - perfect for a night out. Would you love a 60 second makeover – including hair, makeup and outfit!!!!! Ok to be truthful….the process takes a little longer than 60 seconds but not when you film the entire thing and then upload it on time-lapse!!! Sounds amazing?? Well it is!! We filmed our first time-lapse makeover videos recently at The Video Box in Brisbane with hair and makeup artist Keeley-Shae. Our first makeover “guinea pig” was Cara Gilligan a familiar face to all our Ma Belle Allure subscribers and followers. I wanted to show you a Spring 2017 fashion trend coming through from New York so who better to choose for this than Cara. Filming actually took a little over an hour per makeover. Thanks to the “wonders of television” and the skills of Sarah Robinson from The Video Box the footage was compressed to about 60 seconds!! There is an enormous amount of work that goes on behind the camera to ensure we capture just the shot and feel for the shoot. Stylist: Simone Parker, Fashion Stylist and Founder of Ma Belle Allure Hair and Makeup: Keeley-Shae MUA Model: Renee Dobbin Clothing and Accessories: Ma Belle Allure https://www.mabelleallure.com.au/
Paniyiri Greek Festival 2017 behind the scenes LATEST NEWS May 21, 2017May 22, 20170 The fabulous Queensland Autumn sunshine today made shooting today a little tricky due to the light and the heat, but we survived. In hindsight, black was probably not the colour to be wearing, but thank goodness for my signature white hat!!! Thousands of people were at the event that celebrated everything Greek from food, music, dance, culture and even more food. There were even rides for the kids as well as Channel 7, Radio station 97.3 and some stars from Home and Away. This year was the 41st year of the festive. During this time Paniyiri has become Queensland's "signature celebration of all things Greek and the state’s largest cultural festival as well as the country’s longest running Greek festival". A big thank you to Barb Mastoros from Grace Inspired, our talented photographer on the day Leoni from Leoni Bolt Photography, and our favourite model Cara Gilligan. Don't forget to checkout our Facebook and Instagram pages in the coming days for more pictures from the shoot. Cheers Simone xoxo
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia 2017 LATEST NEWS Videos May 17, 2017May 17, 20170 If you can't be there here is a live stream from Mercedes Benz Fashion Weekend Australia - enjoy!!!
60 Second Makeover – Over 50’s Glamour | Ma Belle Allure behind the scenes LATEST NEWS May 8, 2017July 8, 20170 Fifties is the New Forties ONCE upon a time, hitting the big 50 was seen as the first step to retirement. Now, we are looking more and more youthful, as we are able to take advantage of better finances, better health and plenty of energy, to make 50 the new 40. And here's the proof with the gorgeous Robyn Davis. I met Robyn through a mutual friend and was instantly taken by her friendly personality, beautiful spirit and her amazing presence. As attractive as Robyn, beauty is more than just physical looks. It is confidence, compassion, positivity, love and nurturing – of yourself and of others and that's what attracted me to Robyn. So what makes your 50's more exciting is that our earlier years are often spent paying off our mortgage, raising kids, balancing family life and career. By 50, our children are often older and less reliant on us, so make the most of this new freedom and do things just for you! And that's just what happened with Robyn. We did an amazing 60 second makeover on her and she looks amazing.
60 Second Makeover SS 2017 Fashion Trend #2 | 80’s Flash-Back | Ma Belle Allure LATEST NEWS Videos February 22, 2017February 5, 20170 60 Second Makeover Videos | 80's Flash-Back The second in our series features a major fashion trend for 2017 the "80's flash-back". Frills, shoulder pads, oversized denim jackets, wide waist-cinching belts and bright colours were all seen on the hottest runways this season. But before you start imagining teased hair and blue eye shadow - if you know how to interpret this trend, then it is anything but dated. For this video we focused on Frills. The secret to this trend is to incorporate its femininity with modern design elements like figure hugging cuts, asymmetric hemlines, exposed shoulders, full skirts and of course jeans. The dress featured is an original 80's dress by Events. Who said that clothes don't come back into fashion!! The frills, bright pink teamed with black, short hemline and sleek cut are all back in style. So you don't have to spend heaps of money to embrace this trend - check out your local Op Shops and see if you can pick up your own "80's flash-back". Cheers Simone Parker, Fashion Stylist and Founder of Ma Belle Allure
60 Second Makeover Curves #1 | Ma Belle Allure LATEST NEWS Videos February 8, 2017February 5, 20170 60 Second Makeover Curves #1 | Ma Belle Allure Okay, so we're not all the size of catwalk models, but it's time to embrace your curves. The secret to looking and feeling good regardless of your size is to dress for your shape. In this timelapse makeover the gorgeous Renee, I have chosen a popular denim shirt dress. They are casual and easy to wear, which is perfect for our hot summer. For this look I've gone with a street vibe and added a fedora and a playful fringe bag. It is an effortless look that is perfect for a shopping trip with your besties or a casual lunch. Shirt Dress: Miller's Fedora: Stylist's Own Shoes: David Jones Bag: Stylist's Own Cheers Simone Parker, Fashion Stylist and Founder of Ma Belle Allure
60 Second Makeover Videos SS 2017 Fashion Trends #1 | Ma Belle Allure LATEST NEWS Videos January 25, 2017February 5, 20170 https://youtu.be/Dn9cRTUhJ9Y Here it is - our 60 Second Makeover Videos The first in our series features a major fashion trend for 2017 the "Bra Top". Ok so to wear it with out visible "muffin top" you need to have ample confidence, a tight tummy and a not-so ample cleavage but this classy style is motivation enough to get back to the gym :) :) If the fashion predictors have it right, next spring there will be numerous opportunities to ditch the crop and just wear the top. The catwalk teamed these tops with masculine trousers, jeans, long evening skirts and structured suits. Alexander Wang, Tory Burch, and Oscar de la Renta all featured the "Bra Top" on their runway shows. Luckily, we still have a little time to start working on our abs in preparation. The one featured is a cotton blend yellow and white gingham that is exclusive to Ma Belle Allure and is available POA. Cheers Simone Parker, Fashion Stylist and Founder of Ma Belle Allure
Beach to Bar Swimwear | Ma Belle Allure | Byron Blu Swimwear LATEST NEWS November 15, 2016December 7, 20160 From Beach to Bar - You Can Get So Much More Wear Out of Your Swimwear When I was younger, at the first sign of Spring I would buy a new bikini and a new one piece each year (sometimes two if I couldn't decide on just one!) But with the onset of "growing up" and getting a mortgage, having babies and body shape changes the idea of going into a change room to try on swimwear became very 'scary'. I decided this had to change. So I put together a shoot that shows us all how to wear our swimsuits with confidence regardless of your age of size. I also took it one step further because I thought, why do you just have to wear your swimsuit in the pool or beach - why not put together some looks that could take you from the beach to a bar or even a restaurant for dinner!! And remember - "beach waves" are very "in" at the moment and so is a beautiful sun kissed complexion (without sun damage though - and remember to slip, slop slap, seek and slide). I read a post recently by the gorgeous Stacey McGregor that I had to share with you because it pretty much summed up what I was trying to achieve in our latest shoot: "Oh my God, what if you wake up some day, and you’re 65, or 75, and you never got your memoir or novel written; or you didn’t go swimming in warm pools and oceans all those years because your thighs were jiggly and you had a nice big comfortable tummy; or you were just so strung out on perfectionism and people-pleasing that you forgot to have a big juicy creative life, of imagination and radical silliness? It’s going to break your heart. Don’t let this happen." - Anne Lamott So I had the concept and next I had to find the swimwear! Welcome the beautiful and talented Reshmai Knox, Designer and Founder of Byron Blu Swimwear. Reshmai is a Byron Bay local who's philosophy is "Beauty is style that effortlessly stands out from the crowd". Byron Blu designs have been created based on this philosophy. Each piece is original and designed with performing cuts and minimal attachments for a slimline look. Byron Blu's patterns are modern and unique with bursts of vibrant colour. I've featured two of Byron Blu's swimwear pieces in this shoot - the Lily Deep V-neck Crochet One Piece (Colour: Immaculate) and the Sunset Party Strap Detail Bikini (Colour: Chewing Gum). Why only two - well both of these designs are constructed from an Italian polybutylene terephthalate fabric. The fabric coupled with Reshmai's design ensures that her swimwear naturally lifts and supports your bust without bulky underwire. Oh - an added bonus - all Byron Blu Swimwear is made here in Australia!!! Reshmai also has a beauty blog on her Byron Blu website so check it out. Concept - tick! Swimwear - tick! So next I had to source a location and model??? These two were easy!!! Location was The Bunyip Scenic Rim Resort and the model was one of my favourites, Cara Gilligan. Tick...tick...tick...tick!!!! On the day of the shoot Mother Nature put on a scorcher - 35 degrees. But she also gave us an amazing sunset and beautiful butterflies!!!! The Sunset Party Strap Detail Bikini was styled with a bright sarong that can be worn short, like in this shot, or long if you want to wrap it around your bust or waist to go and get an ice cream on a hot day. Next we have teamed the same bikini with a fabulous kimono which incorporates the vibrant colour of the Sunset Party Strap Detail Bikini. This is a versatile piece that can conceal your "not so favourite bits" but still feels and looks cool and classy. To take this bikini from beach to bar we had a bit of fun and teamed it with a gorgeous sheer Pasduchas Blouse from Florence and Marabel, so that you could see the pop of colour from the bikini and teamed it with shorts from Lily and Bridge and Tomas Pumps from Wittner (all this season). The pop of colour from the Sunset bikini looks amazing with basic black For a more casual look try wearing your bikini with a distressed pair of jeans and fabulous earrings. Add a comfortable flat to complete the look. Earrings from SFH Designs, shoes and jeans model's own. The Lily Deep V-neck Crochet One Piece is just so versatile. Team it with a flattering kimono (stylist's own) for a modern look. Or a gorgeous embellished Kaftan from SFH Designs. The sheer fabric can either camouflage areas or show off your slim figure underneath. The length of this Kaftan enables you to team it with a pair of shorts or straight skirt, or even skinny jeans - whatever is your style. This one piece is so pretty that it looks like a body suit. So it was very easy to style for the transition from beach to bar. We added an on-trend pair of wide leg pants (model's own) and an Ixiah Fallen Hearts Necklace. The addition of a Renzo Heel from Wittner completes the look. Next we added the stunning "Jilted Lover" boho maxi dress from Get Frocked. It buttons up through the front and has a drawstring waistband. The stunning embroidered detail on the front adds to the opulence. Cara wears the dress unbuttoned so it looks like a kimono. So don't shy away from swimwear this season. Embrace the beauty you have been given and create your own "beautiful look"! Sx PS: I bought the Lily Deep V-neck Crochet One Piece for myself. I am a different shape (and age) to Cara - I have all the lumps and bumps that most of us worry about but I found this one piece very flattering! Note: We do minimal editing to our photographs because we want you to get a true representation of the fit, colour and cut of the clothing we feature.