Review: Fashionista

The multi-talented, award-winning Maxine Beneba Clarke has created a book for children as singular and interesting as she is. 

She writes like she talks – fast and furious, short and sharp, cool and collected, clever and unstoppable. 

Her book is full of empowerment, self-belief, individuality and colour. It is strongly directed at children, with the leading theme being self-image and acceptance of who you are.

Who are you? What is it about you that’s individual and inspiring?

This book is about being yourself, with a proud attitude to who you are. 

Review: Barefoot Bea

Beatrice Jones refuses to wear shoes. There is simply no need for them.

This hilarious, rhyming story looks at why convention is not always the best way and how you can be an individual who stands out for all the right reasons.

Beatrice, or better known as Barefoot Bea, thinks nothing of wearing shoes.  They slow you down, stop you from climbing trees or washing your feet after jumping in the rain puddles. It seems Bea has an answer for everything much to the dismay of her parents.

Review: Along Came Coco

Take a step back in time and fall in love with this enchanting story about Coco Chanel. 

Based on her life, it captures her childhood, her flair for fashion with a few extra embellishments that Coco herself would appreciate.
 

Set in France, Coco grew up in an orphanage where life was governed by rules – many of which were naturally meant as a guideline not a restriction. 

Junior Review: The Ugg Boot War

In this book, The Ugg Boot War, the main character, Jake is forced to go shopping with his parents and this means his Dad. 

Now, you might be thinking, so???? But the problem with Jake’s Dad is he is constantly wearing his Ugg boots. Ugh! It is so embarrassing! This means war! 

First, Jake and his friend, Max try to take the Ugg boots while Max’s Dad is in the shower and hide them under the lounge. But Max’s Mum finds them! So, Max tries to slowly take them at night time when his parents are sleeping. But when Max comes home from school the next day, his Dad is wearing them! Banjo the dog had found them! 

Review: Where Do Clothes Come From?

Another addition to the series by Chris Butterworth and Lucia Gaggiotti, this book takes readers on the fascinating (and often un-thought of) journey of how our clothes are made.

Focusing on a particular item of clothing, the author takes the reader through the process from start to finish. For example, with Jean made from cotton, we see how the plants are grown, harvested and processed, how the fibres are rolled, pulled, stretched, wound, and dyed, how the yarn is woven to make cloth and then how the cloth is then cut and sewn into the jeans we wear.

Event: Express Yourself: Romance Was Born for Kids Exhibition

Take a magical journey with Australian fashion designers Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales of Sydney-based fashion house, Romance Was Born. Express Yourself: Romance Was Born for Kids is a free interactive art exhibition for children, at the National Gallery of Victoria. 

From the moment you step through the door, there’s a feast of vibrant colour, intense creativity and an overload of inspiration.  Children will be dazzled by the colours of the rainbow, the Australian bush and imaginary of long ago. 

Each area is cleverly designed to stimulate the senses and encourage creativity, with unique displays inspired by childhood memories and well known Australian children’s literature.

Review: Express Yourself! An Activity Book for Kids

What happens when fashion and creativity come together?

Enter the world of Romance Was Born and get ready to express yourself with this new activity book for kids.

This beautifully presented and visually stimulating book inspires children of all ages to use their imaginations, be creative and have fun! Full of vibrant colour, creative patterns and plenty of inspiration, it is jam-packed with opportunity to draw and create.

You will get to know Australian fashion designers Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales, of Romance Was Born, and find out where their ideas come from as they experiment with designs and materials to create spectacular outfits. Children will discover their own inner fashion designer as they weave their way through this book to create their very own garments through hands-on activities based on the Romance Was Born collections.

Review: How to Draw Vintage Fashion

I still recall, as a young girl, being obsessed with fashion design--spending long hours creating divine ensembles for beautiful girls to strut the catwalks of Paris and Milan.

How I wish I'd had this beautiful book to fuel my fashionista fire!

Nothing wrong with a 40-something style aficionado getting her fashion drawing on, and I'll be doing just that with this gorgeous book, featuring tips from top designers and muses, including Paul Smith and Twiggy. I'm sure younger drawers would also love to rustle up their glad rags and join me.

Review: Clara Button and the Wedding Day Surprise

Clara loves to draw and design clothing. Her older brother Ollie loves to invent things. They are both busy doing their favourite things when an invitation arrives inviting them to a very special wedding. Clara spends a lot of time daydreaming about beautiful wedding dresses and wondering what the bride will wear.

Clara chooses her very best dress to wear to the wedding, but it just doesn’t seem fancy enough. She tries goes through all of her shoes and jewellery and accessories, but nothing seems to be fancy enough to wear to a special wedding. The night before the wedding, Clara has a brilliant idea for a way to make her outfit more colourful, but things don’t quite go to plan. Will she be able to turn something messy into something beautiful in time?

Review: Sparkly Shoes and Picnic Parties (Amelie and Nanette)

Amelie and Nanette are the very best of friends. They love to share their secrets and adventures with each other. When they go shopping separately, they can’t wait to see each other to show off their new treasures. Nanette has a new pair of perfect, special red shoes and Amelie has a pretty new dress with roses and ribbons.

‘Anything new is something to celebrate,’ announces Amelie, so the girls plan a New Shoes and New Dress Picnic Party. They gather the food and walk together to their special place by the river, but they don’t plan for Amelie’s very large dog Pilou to join them. Will Pilou ruin their party, or will the girls still be able to dance and twirl in their special new clothes?

Review: Kimonos (Kokeshi)

Join Yumi and her Kokeshi friends as they invite readers into their world to explore the wonderful patterns and styles of their traditional Japanese outfits and hairstyles.

This beautiful, padded-cover picture book is a visual delight. The gorgeous Kokeshi girls in traditional kimonos are cute and colourful and the patterns of the kimonos are sure to appeal to young readers with an interest in fashion and art or those who simply enjoy looking at pretty things.

Review: Fancy Nancy and the Fabulous Fashion Boutique

Nancy’s sister is having a birthday celebration, so being the lovely sister that she is, she buys her the perfect gift!

Ooh la la! As she shops Nancy finds a lace fan that she must have for herself – but Nancy has spent all her money on the gift for her sister.

This is the beginning of a wonderful idea – and the founding of the fabulous fashion boutique! There are a variety of fashions - tutus, boas, eyewear, hats, shoes, jewellery and the customers come piling in (and the money piling up).

Review: My Even More Wonderful World of Fashion

This wonderful collection of drawing and design prompts, ideas and inspirations is the kind of colouring-in book that every young (and not-so-young) aspiring artist and fashion designer will love.

A collection of sketches and ideas for ‘drawing, creating and dreaming', My Even More Wonderful World of Fashion is a celebration of clothing and accessories, inviting readers to explore their own fashion ideas inspired by classic and contemporary designs.

Review: Dress Up Kate

Although by no means a royalist, I must admit I'm loving watching watching Kate Middleton morph into a future British queen. Elegant, warm, humorous, stylish - the fairytale magic is certainly alive and well in William's new bride.

This super-stylish activity book is arguably as attractive to adults as it is to kids. Gorgeously illustrated (with a Kate that does look like Kate!), it features over 350 stickers that will have fashionistas in a change-room twirl.

Review: One Long Thread

When quiet, creative Ruby’s parents divorce, her world is turned upside down. Not only does her mother leave, she takes Ruby’s vibrant, outgoing twin sister Sally with her.

Over the years, Ruby holds on to the dream that her family will once again come together, but a tragedy puts an even greater distance between Ruby and her sister and leads Ruby on a journey that helps her to reconcile her future with her past.

Review: Yves Saint Laurent Colouring Book

I’m not generally a big fan of colouring books, but this gorgeous little book filled with fashion flair is definitely an exception. Filled with haute couture sketches by fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent, this colouring book will inspire any little girl (or not so little girl) with a love of fashion.

Review: Different Like Coco

Oh my, this is a truly divine book. Even if you're not a Coco Chanel fan (which probably encompasses most 8-year-olds), you'll fall in love with this skinny little French orphan with a passion for fashion.

Although Coco was born poor, this dynamic young girl knew she was just as good as the hoity toity upper echelon around her. She cleverly learned social ettiquette from these women and ceaselessly worked to get to the top - and her lucky break came when an enamoured millionaire bought her a dream shop, right on la rue Cambon in Paris.