My sole reason for heading down to Wellington was to attend The Carpenters Daughter’s runway show at Wellington Fashion Week. To some of you this might not be a big deal, you might just be thinking “so Meagan went to another fashion show, whatevs”, but for me it really was more than just another fashion show.
We don’t see plus sized bodies on the catwalk in New Zealand. Like, I’ve never seen a woman over a size 16 on a catwalk here, and I’ve been to a lot of fashion events in my time. We just don’t get shows dedicated to plus size bodies. When I go to events for department stores that stock plus sizes, they often won’t show the plus size lines, or will only show a very very small selection, so to attend an entire show celebrating fashion for curvy babes actually blew my mind.
I love everything about this outfit – stripes, sheer, the textures, that green… *swoon*
Going to Wellington Fashion Week and attending The Carpenters Daughter’s show was a huge deal for me. I found the whole show really emotional, and watching the models (who were mostly non-model babes) work it on the runway had me tearing up. I feel a bit silly telling you this, but it’s true! There’s just something about seeing fabulous women who look like you proudly strutting their stuff on the catwalk.
MP Paula Bennett walking for The Carpenters Daughter
I was so unbelievably proud of all the women who got up there. Even now as I write this I feel my eyes welling up and my chest swelling with pride.
Blogger Lizy Crook walking for The Carpenters Daughter
Va-va-voom, lady in red!
The designs I saw from The Carpenters Daughter weren’t boring. They weren’t safe. They were on trend, stylish and bold. There were so many pieces that I loved, including the prolific use of stripes (you know how I like stripes!).
Animal print cropped tops? YES!
I wish I had more pictures to show you, but I was way too focused on how rad the outfits were. I suggest you pop by your local TCD store or check out the new stock online – there are so many great pieces! I know I’ll be heading in store to try a few on…
Another thing I really liked was that tickets were available for the public to purchase – always great to see fashion events being made more accessible! It was awesome to meet some of my awesome blog readers, thanks to those of you who came over to say hello!
Would you like to see more plus size fashion shows in New Zealand? What Australian and New Zealand labels would you like to see on the runway?
xo Meagan
It was a pleasure meeting these gorgeous babes (Victoria Nisbet and Lizy Crook) at the show!
I don’t know how I missed this! Thank you xxxx
It was such an incredible day! I love that photo where I look like I have a horn! Hahaha #fiercepony
Was awesome hanging out with you too Meagan x
I’m really stoked that TCD showed at Wellington fashion week. With the average Kiwi woman getting larger it’s about time that real women were represented. My only problem is that nice clothes for us curvy girls are just SO expensive. Yes, I understand they’re ‘designer’ and may use more fabric etc, but sadly the good stuff is priced way out of my range. I do much of my clothes shopping in the US – there’s more choice (obviously) but the prices are sensible and they really know how to do a sale. I got a nice black dress in San Francisco, on sale, for US$12!!
You have to remember that TCD (and some of the other plus size labels in NZ) are high end designers – they’re not the equivalent of straight size chain stores like Glassons or even Country Road. As boutiques, they’re not able mass produce a lot of garments for a low price, nor would we want them to – ethically made clothing made from quality fabric that lasts and is designed to fit the plus sized body isn’t something that’d you’d find in many of the cheap department stores in the US!
I realise we don’t have as much choice here in NZ as our overseas counterparts do, but in terms of lower priced garments you can find plenty to choose from at The Warehouse, Farmers, and Kmart. All of these stores definitely have some work to do in terms of providing choices that are on trend and giving us a variety, but all three of these are getting better! Sadly, the NZ market for (very cheap) plus size clothing is very different to the US, mostly due to the size of our country. Hopefully things will improve in the future, but that’s something we need to keep working on and pushing for – let the overseas stores you love know that we don’t just want to buy from them online, we want to see them on the ground in NZ!
xo
I seriously LOVE TCD, I know I mentioned it before, but I really do! I wore one of their items to MBFWA a couple of years ago and felt a million dollars!
I walked for TCD in two of their Christchurch VIP days a few years ago… one of the most rewarding, empowering things I have ever done, and the birth of my journey toward body acceptance. Caroline Marr is such a wonderful woman. She did something else incredibly kind for me following the Christchurch earthquake as well… I fled the city, after three days without a shower or even running water. En route to Auckland, Air New Zealand misplaced my bag. I arrived tired and dirty and miserable with nothing but the filthy clothes on my back. A day or two later a parcel arrived at my aunt & uncle’s lifestyle block in the rural Waikato, with a ‘capsule wardrobe’ of beautiful TCD clothes. As we were heading on to central Wellington to stay with other family after that, it was so good for the soul to feel pretty and put-together again. I will be forever grateful for that gesture, <3
Oh wow Carly, what an amazing story! Thanks so much for sharing that. Caroline is such a wonderful human, so thoughtful and kind! xo
Awesome writing Doll…I am planning on another show real soon so all the lovelies can come along! not just a show… am thinking a whole day out!! Big Girls Day Out!! who wants to come along and be part of this?
Many thanks for the positive feed back… about time I met you Meagan! Lets get together again soon!
Keep the curves girls… they are not to be avoided any longer!
Thanks Caroline! Would love to have a whole day of curvy babe fabulousness, I’d definitely be keen to get involved! I’ll flick you through an email this week and we can make a time to catch up – so great to finally meet you! xo
This is so awesome. I would have teared up too probably.