Introducing the Wanderlust Collection {drop one}
For the past year we've dreamed of faraway places, and new experiences. As the world stood still, our souls wanted to explore, taste new foods, celebrate new things and embrace joy.
Now is the time. With our Wanderlust collection, our joyful pieces yearn to be taken on adventures near and far, even just to the Christmas table.
We hope you love this collection as much we did creating it for you. x
Photography: Coco and Stone
The Wanderlust Collection {drop one} launches from 7:00pm AEDT on Sunday, 14th November 2021. All pieces will be pre-order with a late November delivery date.
]]>I told him, "I love it!" He schooled me quick smart. You can't love an inanimate object. You can't. That's not something you'd say about a mobile phone company. I was totally a glass half full type of person, and I didn't agree. We ended our call, and I never forgot about that.
I decided that I'd love whatever I wanted, inanimate or not. And so when I tell you that I love this dress, the Maye dress, you better believe me and definitely not try to school me.
Over 12 months ago we released the Maye dress in black, and she was such a huge hit. We had to do two runs because she was that popular. She's the ultimate dress with her button down front, butterfly sleeves and full skirt. So it only made sense for us to bring Maye out in a printed version, in our new Alila persimmon print. I wear dresses all year round, because I am not a pants person and dresses are life, so I wanted to show you how versatile a dress can be, even when the weather is a little cooler.
The Maye dress has a comfortable elastic waist that doesn't need a belt, but it's fun to add one and define your waist. I added this one that I grabbed from You and All, and then my favourite black boots. Simple and easy, but a great way to pull the black detail from the Alila print.
While Maye looks sweet with black accessories, it's versatile enough to wear with tan too. I've teamed it with our tan plaited belt, and my tan slip ons from Bared, as well as our Dingo straw hat. I tied a little knot in the skirt to add a little difference.
On cooler days, just add a knitted jumper and a belt, and you've got a totally different look. Looks like a skirt, right?
Lastly, I love a dress with white sneakers, so this just works. Teamed with a leather jacket and a mum bun, and it's an outfit for on the go.
When we dreamed up this little old business we could never have imagined that our biggest reward would be the community of incredible women who have come along for the ride with us.
We began this as a team of two but have quickly found ourselves with a cheer squad of sisters, who we feel are more than simply customers, that have offered unwavering support, encouragement and inspiration of the kind we never knew existed.
How good are women? Seriously ... we rock!
We feel so supported that we want to spread some of that sister magic around a little by showing love to some of the incredible women we've become smitten by along the way.
One of our favourite humans, the incredible gem that is Dolly Parton once said: "If you’re comfortable with yourself and know yourself, you’re going to shine and radiate, and other people are going to be drawn to you."
For each of the women we highlight in this series that statement is so, so very true.
Authentic, flawed, real, open and uplifting ... these women have a magic that has drawn us to them in a big way, and we want to shine a light on the good stuff about them that inspires us every day.
So come on, let's go! Indulge us as we introduce you to some of the women who we adore ...
Hailing from the pristine coastline of Northern NSW, Nadia Baker radiates an authentic pure sunshine that emanates from every pore of her body. No joke, this gal could be the sprinkles on a donut, she's that sweet!
Nadia's tagline is: "Inspiring women to love themselves wholeheartedly" and that's a promise that she delivers on every day.
With a flair for styling and a goal to promote body confidence, Nadia has amassed a community of devoted followers who hang on her every word when it comes to making the right fashion choice for their body type.
Nadia took time out of her day as a mum to a teenage son and three adorable little pooches to let us get to know her a little better ...
I am mostly inspired by people who have overcome extreme adversity in their lives. Those people who don't take no for an answer, the ones who stand up for what they believe in, the ones that make sacrifices every day for people that have lost their voice and the ones that fight hard for what they believe in and know in their heart to be right.
People that have huge hearts and do selfless acts, those people are my heroes and the ones I will always aspire to be like.
Feminine. Relaxed. Comfortable.
Sundays are my absolute favourite day of the week!
My dream Sunday starts off slow. I love a morning walk to the beach with the pooches followed by a bike ride into Kingscliff for my favourite acai bowl then down to the beach for some "me time." I love nothing more than laying in the sun reading a good book.
I usually end the day with some self care: a bath followed by my nightly skin care routine. After all it is self care Sunday!
All the classics from the 80s & 90s are my jam.
I think that confidence is something that all women struggle with at some time in their lives. This has been challenging for me and something that I continue to work on.
My top tips for gaining confidence are:
A quote I have lived by for many years is: Get up, dress up, show up and never give up!
]]>Instagram has become a great vessel, not only for finding incredible fashion, but for joining communities where we can learn make the fashion we wear work for us. And influencers play a huge role in that.
Not only are influencers inspiring us to embrace ourselves as we are, they're offering us an insight into fashion and styling that we may never have known.
Here we've shared the Australian influencers we think are nailing that in 2021.
"Sharing only the things I LOVE with you!"
This kind soul oozes authenticity. By day Andre is a teacher, by night she can be found baking glorious cakes and in between, this fashion-loving mum snaps sweet images of her daily outfits always accessorised with her contagious smile.
With a keen eye for pieces that work with curves, Andre shares her fashion finds, showcasing different ways to style each piece.
“I'm a happy fat person on the internet, there is nothing that trolls hate more.”
Boy does this gal know fashion! Not only can she make and create her own clothes, Katie styles EVERY outfit to perfection. Oh, and her feed will make you want to do high kicks in the street. Take a scroll and you'll see what we mean.
"Inspiring women to love themselves wholeheartedly"
Nadia has amassed a community of devoted followers who hang on her every word when it comes to making the right fashion choice for their body type. Pure sunshine, Nadia radiates positivity and her love for fashion inspires women to make choices that they may otherwise never have known about.
Nadia's live try-ons are a must-watch and offer an insight into online shopping that static photography just can't do.
"Mama. Lover. Self love advocate."
The coastal, boho vibe in photographer, Tallulah Moon's feed makes you want to pack the car and head to the beach for an immediate dose of sandy toes.
Tallulah Moon offers an intimate view into her life as a creative, fashion-loving, salty haired mamma while showcasing the beauty and power that comes when one completely embraces their curves.
"Normalise loving yourself!"
Feeling yourself has never looked so good. Gorgeous mamma, Emma knows she looks good and wants you to know that you look good too! A scroll through Emma's fashion-filled feed and you can't help but add a little swagger to your step. Sassy, sexy and all power, Emma is someone you need in your daily scroll, trust us.
"Helping you find confidence through your #everydaystyle"
Thought the fashion that you see in magazines and on your screens is not for you? Nikki disagrees! This fashion maven uses her platform to showcase how fashion can work for every woman by sharing the tips and tricks she uses as a stylist to rock every outfit, every day.
"Self Love/Body Positivity/Body Acceptance"
We DARE you not to love your curves after adding Lavinia to your daily scroll. Showcasing fashion from swim, to activewear, boho beauty, club fashion and everything in between, Lavi Love will inspire you to wear the things you thought you couldn't!
"All things loving and embracing this body of mine"
You'll be forgiven for getting a case of skin-envy when it comes to Caitlin, because BOY does she glow. Radiating beauty from the inside out, Caitlin is all about body confidence and living a happy, healthy life. our daily scroll would be incomplete without a dose of Caitlin's unique sunshine.
"Keeping Things Real + Raw since 2010"
Sam lives and breathes curve fashion. Founder of the online group, CurvyAU Sam inspires women everywhere to embrace their curves and rock the fashion that they wear. Showcasing how to dress curves in the most beautiful, caring way, Sam's feed will help you make the right fashion choices for your body shape.
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Slow fashion like ours is created to be enduring. We want it to last a lifetime and for you to be able to pull it out of your wardrobe at any time and look as fabulous in it the 100th time as you did the first.
That means when it comes to the laundry, like all treasured items, your ada + lou pieces will need a little extra care.
We recommend:
🌿 Treat all stains as soon as possible and wash entire garment immediately afterwards
🌿 Handwash in cold water using mild, eco-friendly detergent if you can. Baking soda is a great eco-wash option, and a little vinegar is perfect as a fabric softener.
🌿 If you do use the washing machine there are a few steps that will preserve the longevity of your adored ada + lou pieces:
🌿 Avoid the dryer
🌿 Once washed, hang your ada + lou items to dry or lay them flat on a towel or clean surface
🌿 Once dried and hung you’ll find most creases and wrinkles will soon drop out of your ada + lou pieces, however if they do need a little attention, that is best given with a quick steam, rather than an iron if possible.
A little fraying of the fabric on the outside of any embroidery is to be expected and won’t impact the rest of your frock.
Ensure the sink, tub or bucket you to wash and rinse your delicates is clean to begin with. We recommend using two - one for washing and one for rinsing - if possible.
Ideally you would wash each item individually, however sorting colourfast items into lights and darks will allow you to wash multiple items without the risk of dyes bleeding into each other and damaging precious pieces.
Cold water is your friend. If water is too warm it may shrink your garment or impact the dyes.
🌿 Use an eco friendly detergent option. It is a good idea to mix your detergent with a little warm water to help dissolve it before adding it to your washing water.
It may take some experimenting and practise to get your water - detergent rails right - too little and the clothes won't be clean, too much and you'll be rinsing for days!
To wash, gently swirl your clothes in circles, from side-to-side and up and down. Take extra care when garments have lace, embroidery, sequins, tassels and other delicate features.
Delicate trimmings need extra care in the laundry.
Now you can either refresh your water to rinse, rinse your clean delicates in a second container with clean water or rinse them gently with a kitchen sink hose attachment.
Repeat the swirl motion you used during the wash cycle to get out all the detergent.
Squeeze to remove excess moisture. NEVER wring out delicates. It's a big no no! Wringing out delicates can damage the fabric or trims and cause your garments to lose their shape.
Hang your ada + lou items to dry or lay them flat on a towel or clean surface.
Once dried and hung you’ll find most creases and wrinkles will soon drop out of your ada + lou pieces, however if they do need a little attention, that is best given with a quick steam, rather than an iron if possible.
]]>If there's once thing that we knew for sure since the very beginning, it's that ethical production was a non-negotiable.
We weren't interested in keeping our costs low if it was a faceless factory worker somewhere who was truly paying the price. Nor were we willing to let mother earth foot the bill.
We're not about to pretend that the aisles of our favourite department stores have not tempted us once or twice. It's affordable, accessible fashion and more and more these days it's looking like stuff that we'd actually want to wear.
We all know it's not going to last, but at those prices we can replace it easily enough, right? And there's certainly pay-weeks where the choice between a $20 pair of jeans or a $200 designer pair seems like a no-brainer.
But the reality is that there IS a bigger price, it's just not us paying it. There is somewhere around 40 million garment workers producing this fast fashion across the world. 85 percent of those workers are women who, sadly, are some of the lowest paid workers in the world.
Fast fashion production is also a major factor in some of the worst ways that we humans treat the environment. Greenhouse gases, water use, air pollution and the waste. So, so much waste.
ada + lou items are designed to be loved and worn for a lifetime
In 2013 we, along with the rest of the world, observed in horror the nightmare that unfolded when the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh collapsed.
Suddenly fast fashion had a face. 1135 faces actually.
Over 2500 of Rana Plaza's workers were seriously injured and 1135 of them lost their lives as the unsafe working conditions left them trapped and unable to escape.
80 percent of the garment workers caught inside on that horrible day were women. Most of them were young, aged between 18 and 20 years old and working for around 22 cents an hour.
Through the lottery of birth, this was their story. It's a shameful fact that many Australian fashion brands play an integral part of the system that keeps these women trapped in a cycle of poverty.
Not us. We refuse.
No fast fashion conditions for the beautiful ada + lou production team
At the beginning of our journey, Rana Plaza was forefront in our thoughts as we began to talk to production houses.
When we initially travelled abroad we found there was a certain mystery about who exactly would be doing the work. We were made a lot of promises, but those promises were not backed up with evidence. We wanted to meet the workers, talk to them, ask them questions.
Producing here in Australia has been our answer that problem so far, and while it has served us well, the production costs involved with creating all of our lines here at home was proving not to be a sustainable choice when it came to the bottom line.
We want everyone to be able to afford a little ada + lou magic in their life.
While we pledge to continue to support Australia business by producing some of our pieces here, we’ve finally found an overseas production house that meets all of our needs when it comes to quality, ethics, sustainability and creativity and we’re so excited to show you what we’ve made together.
Our production team is all about slow, sustainable fashion, and they impressed us with their pledge to continually grow and adapt their environmental and ethical processes. They’ve really thought about the impact their business makes on the environment and their community which aligns with the ada + lou ethos perfectly.
Not only is the work environment a safe, happy and healthy place for the workers who bring your ada + lou garments to life, all team members are paid well above the minimum legal wage, receiving overtime premiums, additional incentives and annual leave as well as generous health care and life insurance packages and pension plan.
We care about every single person involved in brining ada + lou to life
We’re in regular video contact and we’ve chatted with everyone, from the cutting table to the quality control. We know names, faces, stories.
ada + lou products are made using the couture method of one person, one garment. That means the same person who cut the fabric is the same person who works on her all the way through until her tags are attached. It's this love and care we hope you can feel when you wear her.
We're stepping our way through ethical production as gently as we can.
Ethical production is an ongoing job. Every day we are finding new ways to reduce waste, be more aware, try a bit harder. It's a promise we made ourselves and it's a promise we make to you.
Our fabric is a viscose rayon which is a natural fibre that's been treated in a fully compliant, accredited mill. This breathable fibre is made from regenerated wood pulp – a manmade renewable plant material that is a natural cellulose-based raw fibre with a silk-like aesthetic and an incredibly soft drape.
An added bonus is that is uses half the energy to produce than cotton and requires way less heat treatment such as ironing. How great is that?!
Unlike many textile manufacturers, our mill produces in an environmentally safe way to ensure that they continue to meet the accreditation criteria. All dyes are disposed of safely in the manufacturing process and they have strict regulations around their water usage.
We care so much about the details. Sustainability and ethical production are up there with the quality and design for us.
We want you to love your ada + lou babies for the longest time, safe in the knowledge that you're doing your part too. Fast fashion has to be the last option. Always.
READ NEXT: Our favourite places to shop for boho accessories
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"Anyone can get dressed up and glamorous, but it is how people dress in their days off that are the most intriguing." Alexander Wang
Preach. I mean, pyjama days are fine and should probably be law, but adding a little sparkle to your every day fashion choices is a sure-fire way to get yourself feeling fabulous, right?
When it comes to boho styling, building up a solid collection of gorgeous accessories to play mix and match with is half the fun.
I've shared our favourite places for a treasure hunt below. Have we left any of your faves off the list? Hit us up and let us know where you're shopping too!
Get ready to swoon because the sandals, bags, jewels and more at Gold Coast company, Mahiya are bohemian perfection.
Mahiya – meaning ‘My Love', is the brainchild and creation of husband and wife team, Alex and Ryan Hutchinson and it's a veritable treasure trove of colourful, intricate mandala inspired accessories you are sure to fall in love with.
We love the boots so much we used them in our Alila shoot!
Elsa Pataky has collaborated with Byron Bay milliners, Fallen Broken Street and we can see why. They're THAT cool.
Plus, they're a company with soul. For each felt hat purchased fallenBROKENstreet provides 365 days of clean safe drinking water to a family in need. For each straw hat purchased one square meter of rainforest will be protected and for each beanie purchased a warm blanket is provided to a child without.
The sizes of their beautiful, boho hats range from kids sizes right through to L/XL and are super generous which is why we love 'em. They fit!
Uberkate, jewels by Sydney mum, Kate Sutton's message is simple, #BuyYourOwnDamnBling. Perfect, right? Why wait to be 'spoiled' when you already deserve to have whatever you want when you want it.
And you'll definitely want some Uberkate in your life. We're loving the Everyday Gemstone Collection which is incredibly unique designed chunky jewels with natural gemstones that are hand cut and hand set by master craftsmen with up to 40 hand cut and hand polished facets on each stone.
And the best bit? They can be custom made to fit whatever size finger you need. Yass!
The husband a wife team at Gold Coast company Pineapple Traders nail that summer holiday vibe with their beautiful collection of homewares and accessories inspired by the beach.
We adore their straw hats and visors which will give you those tropical holiday feels wherever you are.
Nikki Parkinson-Hubbard from Styling You and jewellery designer, Nicole Fendel are giving us all of the Nina Proudman vibes with their collaboration, SY with Nicole Fendel.
Choose between silver and rose gold, but you better be quick, it's a limited edition capsule collection.
Southern Highland's blogger, Baby Mac long famed for her quirky charm is now letting the rest of us in on the action with her shop, Add to Cart which she opened with her sister.
This is totally a shop to bookmark, because the stock is always exciting and new and as mums themselves, you know they've assessed the practicality of every item.
The homewares are next level, but we're also loving on the clutches and bags. Leopard print is a neutral, right?
Whether you love your sunglasses oversized or just plain cool, Quay, Australia is where you need to look.
Chantelle and I both rock a pretty extensive collection of these bad boys from both the mens (good for 'fuller faces') and the ladies sections.
Fast delivery, a great returns policy and tonnes of cheeky sales, this Australian store is one to subscribe too so you don't miss the bargains.
You've got to love an Aussie company that thinks about the whole picture, and that's exactly what Frankie4 Footwear has done with their incredible range of shoes, boots and sandals.
They not only look great, they also aim to alleviate and prevent heel and arch pain, plantar fasciitis, and forefoot pain because because they're designed by podiatrists.
Yep, you can forget about the usual ugly orthotics, these guys are making a much prettier option for healthy footwear and it's not a gimmick. They're the real deal. Super stylish AND you feel like you're walking on a cloud. Perfect.
Darwin couple, Sally and Ross Willsher are the team behind Embella. They've managed to capture their gypsy hearts in jewellery form and they're good enough to share it with the rest of us.
Think silvers, and turquoise and magic and gems. There is so much gorgeous treasure available here that you'd better allow yourself more than a tea break to have a scroll and shop.
And you won't just be shopping for yourself, there's children's and men's jewels available too!
]]>A full-skirted, ankle grazing gypsy skirt is the perfect way to add a little bohemian whimsy to your look while guaranteeing you’ll be feelin’ yourself.
It’s a swoosh thing.
If you’re new to skirt life and a bit cautious about whether the gypsy look will work with your height, hips, thighs, belly or any of the myriad of reasons we use to doubt ourselves, you need to forget what you think you know and give it a try.
Those ‘I can’t make it work’ doubts can get. in. the. bin. because when it comes to fashion, it’s actually all about making IT work for you.
The ideas below are just some of the ways we like to style our skirts but, really, the only limits depend on how creative you’re willing to be.
By wearing your skirt with a blouse in the same print and colour way, you’re really giving yourself three outfits for the price of two: a skirt, a blouse AND a maxi dress.
The shoulder to ankle colour block can help give the illusion of height, but if you’re feeling it’s a little too much you can simply break it up with a belt or by tying your blouse into a midi.
The ada + lou Alila Willow and Alila Ophelia in emerald make the perfect combo.
Not knowing what to wear with a gypsy skirt is often the hurdle that stops people getting on board the boho train.
However the solution is pretty simple. Whatever you’d wear with jeans or shorts will usually work just as well with a bohemian skirt. Sounds odd, but trust us.
Case in point: A statement tee.
If you’re under the impression that your favourite statement tee is destined to be paired with denim or activewear only then you, friend, are not getting the most out of this trusty wardrobe staple.
Fitted tees, generous cut tees, off-the-shoulder tees and more all work well with a skirt. Tuck them in and finish with a belt, or tie them in a knot above the skirt’s waist and you’re good to go.
If your skirt has a pattern, a cheeky slogan or a band shirt with a plain background are the best bet for making this look work for you.
Chantelle nails the boho skirt and statement tee thing every time.
A low slung skirt on the hips gives off all of the gypsy vibes and is perfect for when you’re goal is casually cool, but that’s not the limit of your skirt’s capabilities.
To change things up you can easily bring the waist up as high as you like, even right up under the bust if you’re feeling it.
If you’re more comfortable with less action around your hips and belly, bringing your skirt up higher on your waist allows the fabric to skim over the areas you’d rather not bring attention to.
Style this look with a western belt with a feature buckle or a long cluster of necklaces and you’re good to go.
Jess Krause @the.gypsy.life.of.jess styles the Alila Willow in natural to perfection.
This hack is a favourite amongst travelers. Pack a waist belt and a trusty strapless bra (or don’t … let those ladies free if you want. No judgement) and all of a sudden your favourite skirt can now double as a dress.
Pull the waist up over your bust then cinch the skirt in below the bust with a belt. Once you add a pair of your favourite sandals, the skirt you wore to the beach now makes for the perfect strapless dinner dress.
You. Are. Welcome.
Holly Zigga @authentic_hz beats the heat by turning her skirt into a dress.
Investing in a well fitted denim or leather-look jacket will never do you wrong. They compliment so many outfits, including your newly found love for gypsy skirts.
Whether you’ve paired your skirt with a matching blouse, or a statement tee, or even if you’re wearing it as a dress, finishing off your look with a waist length jacket will always tie the whole package up neatly.
Plus … pockets. Who doesn’t love pockets?!
Rebel's faux-leather jacket goes perfectly with the Alila Willow in emerald.
]]>For far too long we felt the opposite of that. As curvy girls finding beautiful clothes often felt like a chore, or even an impossible task.
Sleeves too tight. Busts that gape. Dresses that felt like sacks. And patterns that weren't even worthy of our grandmas.
The struggle is real. The struggle was real.
We decided to be the change, and that's why we created Ada + Lou. As plus size women {Chantelle is size 22, and Rebel is size 16} we understand curvy bodies, and that desire to feel beautiful every day. Ada + Lou helps curvy women, like us, embrace their curves and feel excited to get dressed each day.
We love seeing our Ada + Lou pieces hanging in our wardrobe, reaching for them, and knowing they'll fit perfectly each day, and wearing them with a smile. A smile of confidence, and happiness.
Fashion isn't just about clothing our bodies, it's about feeling beautiful, loving who we are, and embodying a little bit of ada + lou. Confident. Curvy. Beautiful.
Just like you 💋
]]>Hola, I'm Rebel, one half of the team that is ada + lou.
For me the love of bohemian fashion runs deep. Some of my earliest memories come from days swanning about with my cousins, our hair braided and beaded, our skirts tasseled and belled as we basked in the ‘coolness’ of our patchouli-scented older sisters.
In my ‘20s and ‘30s I worked in, and managed a popular store known for it’s bohemian fashion and lifestyle products.
Month after month I’d spend my store allowance on jewellery, because as a size 14+ I was sized out of most of the gorgeous stock that came through our doors.
It made no sense. Myself and my curvy comrades were young, we were beautiful, and we deserved more than than the bright purple, crushed velvet, medieval offerings that made up ‘plus size’ bohemian fashion.
A little voice has always whispered, "Why don’t you just make what you’re looking for?”
With ada + lou, that voice is finally being heard.
Chantelle and I have been working hard to make our dream of beautiful, bohemian inspired textiles combined with generous, curve accentuating cuts that flow and hug in equal proportion come true.
The fact that we’ve been able to work with other inspiring Aussie women to make that happen right here in Australia has been the icing on the cake.
And now we get to share it with you. How freaking cool is that?!
Welcome to ada + lou. We hope you love it here 💕
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Hello you. I'm Chantelle, one half of ada + lou.
ada + lou has been a dream for a long time now. You see, fashion hasn't always been fun for me. There were many years that it wasn't a matter of finding clothes I adored and couldn't wait to buy, it was a matter of finding things that fitted. Sometimes that was ugly clothes to make do, or even men's jeans because they were the only thing I could buy over a size 16. It wasn't fun.
Slowly, I managed to find beautiful bigger clothing {most of the time from overseas} and I loved how it made me feel inside. I was excited to get dressed in the morning. I realised fashion could be fun. I felt beautiful and so happy.
So, my dream was to make beautiful clothing for curvy girls that made them feel gorgeous, inside and out. I want people to smile when they see their ada + lou clothing hanging in their wardrobes, and even better when they popped it on.
This dream has been years in the works, and we've worked so hard to bring you clothing that will make you feel beautiful, which is also made in Australia. We can not wait to share it all with you
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