Fashion & Flat Whites: Denielle Bernauer
Denielle looking absolutely stunning dressed in a Love Nelli dress and leggings! Don’t you love the beautiful print and colors, and the way the dress flows?
How would you describe your style?
My style is feminine and flowy. As someone who carries weight I like to wear flowy fashion that helps to disguise my mum tum. Comfort is 100% important to me as well as I need to feel super comfy in what I am wearing. I LOVE anything floral and tend to gravitate towards these prints.
How long have you been interested in fashion, and what inspired your interest?
I have loved fashion since I was a little girl. One of my most favorite things to play with was my "Fashion Plates.” Do you remember those? (Shhh I still have them!) I started out my fashion journey making clothes for my Barbie dolls. My mum gave me a sewing machine when I was 7 and I never looked back. I ended up in the fashion industry, being a hairdresser. This took me all around the world and I worked in a high end salon in London for 5 years. However, I ALWAYS wanted to be a dress designer, so in the evenings whilst I was doing my hairdressing apprenticeship, I went to TAFE (Technical and Further Education) and did my dressmaking and pattern design diploma. It took me 37 years to actually use those skills professionally - and here we are today!
“Self love is so empowering once you realize you truly are amazing and beautiful. ”
Can you tell us about your journey to body confidence?
Well we all have a story when it comes to our self image, don't we . You know, it can be tough learning self love. I am very happy in my own skin now, but let me tell you it wasn't always like that. I was always a "chubby" kid, well so all my relatives said (and let's face it, I've seen the pictures - I really wasn't "Chubby," I was a normal size). So, I had that stupid misconception from a very early age. Then being a teenager in the 80's (yep! I am THAT old ), where all of the models were stick thin, it had a toll. I ended up with a severe eating disorder that led me down a very dangerous path as I was extremely unhealthy. Fortunately as time went on I knew I could not stay on this self destructive path and started to take better care of myself.
I married and started a family and it was whilst I was pregnant that I took control of my health and began to eat well and make great choices. Fast forward to now, I have had 2 beautiful girls who are both grown up and I am happy. Yes I carry weight, but to be honest it doesn't bother me. I am very healthy and I feel confident as I dress to flatter my shape. The journey to body confidence was long - but I got there in the end. Self love is so empowering once you realize you truly are amazing and beautiful.
What's your profession, and how does what you wear impact your profession?
I am a dress designer, so I am always wanting to look my best - I try to make sure I wear my own designs when I am out and about as I feel I am a walking advertisement. Luckily all of my designs are inspired by the everyday woman. The woman that is busy, so she doesn't have time to iron and the woman who not only wants to be comfortable, but looks amazing at the same time.
Can you tell us a bit more about your brand, Love Nelli? What inspired you to start Love Nelli?
Love Nelli the brand actually began way back in 2010 when I started to sell the Jewelry that I was making. I would sell it at markets and also use it for gifts for my friends and family. The name Nelli is my nickname, so it seemed fitting, and, I have always used a love heart and ended my notes to friends with kisses, so that is how the brand started.
I started my own website in 2016 for Love Nelli and my Jewelry range. Fast forward to 2020 and it was time to add Apparel to the range. I had a LOVE for comfy soft leggings that I had been buying from a friend in the USA. I tried them here in Australia, but they weren't what I wanted. So bringing my skills in as a dress designer and pattern maker, I sourced my own and our first shipment sold out in 3 weeks! I knew the leggings needed to be super high cut and made from beautiful buttery soft fabric. I tweaked the cut with my manufacturer and we finally settled on a shape that was perfect!
Next came our beautiful Apparel Range. This took around 18 months of planning, drawing, designing, sewing, resewing and finally finding the perfect high quality fabrics that would make my designs sing. I have partnered with a very small family business in Indonesia who cut and sewed my designs for me. We make only a few of each one using only the best fabrics and helping me keep to our ethos of slow ethical fashion.
Love Nelli's sizing is done for the Real Woman! As a woman that carries weight, ordering a XXXL and to have it arrive and not fit I know is devastating! So I made it my mission to make sure our sizing was inclusive and REAL! So, we have S, M, L that fits Australian sizes 10 - 26 inclusively! No more XXXL!
Love Nelli's tag line is "Fashion that Fits." We love to work with our customers and fulfill their needs. I take lots of advice from them and also make designs that they ask for - it's refreshing to have everyone involved.
Love Nelli is not just an online brand. We have stylists that work for us on a commission basis, they sell via social media and in home presentations. We are always on the lookout for new Stylists, so if owning your own boutique has been a dream this is a great way to do it. We have a lovely Stylist community and all training is provided free of charge.
We have won some awards for our range, including the 2022 SHE-com award for highly recommended!
Denielle in another gorgeous, boho-chic dress and leggings! Flowy, comfortable, and perfect for a hot summer day!
Can you tell us more about Love Nelli’s “Spoil Your Sister” program?
Love Nelli has a beautiful program called "Spoil Your Sister." This is a pay-it-forward type of program where we send garments and/or accessories to those that need it most. It doesn't have to be those that cannot afford their own beautiful dress, it might be a mum who spends all of her money on her children, putting herself last, or a woman who has just finished her last round of chemo that needs cheering up. We believe that everyone deserves to feel beautiful and a pretty dress certainly puts a spring into your step!
We have sent dozens of outfits out there. Of course we don't publicize when we do this, as that to me changes the agenda for the gift. We just send it off with a little note and wish them well.
How did you find out about Mys Tyler?
I have a beautiful friend Nic Burton (@nicburton) that firstly introduced me to Mys Tyler. I was very excited to see this amazing platform and all it had to offer.
How has using Mys Tyler impacted you?
I LOVE being able to see other women of my size, along with what they wear and how they wear it. I suppose it truly does give you a confidence boost when you post a picture (because YES we are all a bit self conscious). Seeing the lovely comments really is a fabulous self esteem booster.
What’s your favorite fashion hack?
My absolute fav fashion hack (and I have built my range around it) is I do not have a seasonal wardrobe! I layer, which in effect doubles my wardrobe. So a summer dress can easily be worn with a layering top, leggings, boots and a jacket for winter! Voila! The winters here in Australia, especially Sydney's Coast where I am located, are not brutal at all - so we can easily do that. You can totally transform the look of a dress with a funky pair of leggings underneath it.
What's the perfect formula for a feel-good outfit?
Well for me, anything with frills! If it's bright, swishes and frilly I feel amazing!! Of course it needs to feel comfy and fit in the right places too ... never underestimate the power of a pretty dress!
What do you hope the future of fashion will look like?
I hope to see sizing equality and quality garments that last. I think it is ridiculous that there can be a variation of 20cm between the same sizes per brand. No wonder women are confused. There is no universal sizing and I would LOVE to see this happen. I would like to see the workers in this industry be treated fairly and paid accordingly. All of my manufacturers have either family working with them or women over 18, they have great working conditions and above average pay each week. This to me is a human right and I would like to see this happen across the globe.
If you could tell your younger self anything, what would you say?
Darling, life goes by in the blink of an eye. Don't sweat the small stuff - be true to yourself. Remember you really are beautiful! Do what you love everyday. Don't get so busy that you forget to take a little time out for yourself everyday. Each day is a blessing, denied by so many - have 2 desserts, drink the coffee! Be kind and appreciate all around you. Love your family and love your friends - laugh everyday and don't take life too seriously. Most importantly be kind to yourself, treat yourself the same way you do your best friend. xxx
Nelli looks so gorgeous in blue, doesn’t she? What a fabulous dress - AND it has pockets!!
Denielle is one of Mys Tyler’s Contributors, inspiring women across the world with her feminine and flowy fashion. You can follow Nelli on Mys Tyler to be inspired below!
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