My name is Bianca, but I love being called B (or Bee!) I’m 23, I live in Fremantle, Western Australia, which is a beautiful easy going Port/beachside city. I studied theatre and film at University where I discovered my love for costume design and performing, But I’ve loved playing dress ups and make believe since I was a toddler. I currently have my own little handmade crochet and curated vintage business @theloverevolutionshop on Etsy and instagram that is heavily influenced by the style, shape and mindset of to 60’s and 70’s.

What are you listening to at the moment?

Right now I’m listening to a lot of folk and Rock and Roll. Nick Drake, Tim Buckley, Cat Stevens, Grateful Dead, Spanky and our Gang, The Deep Six, Kaleidoscope, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin. (It almost seems like too much to list!)

Vashti Bunyan is one of my all time favourites that I only discovered about a year ago. Her music always makes me feel like a garden fairy, and her story is so beautiful. She was discovered by Andrew Loog Oldham, The Rolling Stones’ manager at the time in the 60’s and she travel with Donovan to a commune he was planning. She went on to release her debut album ‘Just another Diamond day’, but it never received the love it deserved and she gave up music to focus on her family. It wasn’t until about 30 years on that she found out that her album had a cult following and eventually returned to music later in her life.

Bianca’s favourite vintage find, pink floral Jean Varon gown.

What’s the styling trick that makes your outfits?

I think styling for each individual should be about accentuating your best features, whether it be in terms of makeup, outfitting or accessories.

The trick is to have fun - dress like you would dress if you’re still 8 years old and playing dress ups at your grandparents! (I grew up with 2 dress up boxes in a room that we called the ‘backstage’ in our house that were overflowing with my Mum and aunty’s clothes from the 70’s and a bit of 80’s. When I grew into my love for vintage I raided our childhood dress up boxes and all of the pieces are still in my wardrobe today!)

My staples are a Birkin basket, a bold eye, lots of rings, and no shoes whenever I can get away with it.

What would you say to your 12 years old self?

I would say to just do your best! Keep on dreaming, keep on creating. Search for treasures, climb trees, sing, dance, swim, paint, write.

Appreciate the importance of gift giving.

Let yourself seep into the world around you, and let the world seep into everything that you do.

Use your time for good. Value your family over your job. Keep believing in magic, and tread lightly on the planet.

Grow your own food, give big hugs, and keep kind!

How would you describe your style?

I would describe my style as playful, decadent, cheeky and adventurous. Style should be about self expression, and I wholeheartedly believe that you can’t be too overdressed.

Coming from a costume design background in theatre, we’re taught that what a character wears signifies so much visually for the audience to pull meaning from, and I think this should be the same in everyday life.

If you can make someone’s day better just by wearing a funky outfit, then why wouldn’t you?!

If you could take someone, dead or alive, for a dinner, who would it be and why?

This is a question that always stumps me, I change my mind so often.

At the moment I’d say Paul McCartney. He had such a big heart, and is one of the most talented songwriters in the world. He invests in his friend’s art which is such an important quality, and he’s an activist. I also think he would have some wild stories to tell from the road, so you’d never be bored!

What inspires you at the moment?

The kindness of others!

I recently had a lady come into my work and ask what I actually did as my career/vocation (I work in retail to pay my bills at the moment), And I told her about my little growing business and my love for handmade, crochet and vintage. She came back a few weeks later with a whole bag full of her dresses from the 60’s and 70’s, and gave me some sewing patterns, one of which was from her wedding dress!

Nature is also one of my greatest constant inspirations and when designing I try to find a balance between creating something that is elegant, but that can also be worn when someone is climbing a tree, or having a picnic, or picking fruit.

Is there a book that you always come back to?

Tropic of Cancer’ by Henry Miller, or ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ by Oscar Wilde. The way that they describe characters and the world around them are just otherworldly. I think that’s really important for me when I’m reading - with such visual mediums like film, television and social media at the forefront of entertainment, I think that the use of language in books is more important to me than the storytelling itself.

I love poetry, surrealism and philosophy, and ‘A Clockwork Orange’ is also one of my favourites. I recently read a really great biography on Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir called ‘Tetris-A-Tete’, for anyone interested in Nonfiction!

All time favourite band/artist?

Cat Stevens. My very first record was Catch Bull at Four’ that my Opa gave to me and I instantly fell in love with ‘Can’t keep it in’. I love his spirituality and his connection to nature.

I also grew up listening to a lot of Jazz and Blues so Duke Ellington, Muddy Waters, the Dutch Swing College, and Chet Baker all have a soft spot in my heart too.

Who do you look up to and why?

I look up to people who are selfless and have the best interest of the planet at heart. As an activist, I look up to Jane Goodall, Joan Baez, Gloria Steinem, Audrey Hepburn and David Attenborough.

As a performer and a designer I look up to Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Mary Quant, Claude Monet, Catherine Martin, Elton John.

I look up to my Nonna, and any parent or grandparent who has taught their family the unrecognised art and tradition of handicrafts.

I look up to minorities who have to go through their lives with generations of unresolved cultural, gender, race and sexuality based traumas, and people who fight for the voices of the unrecognised to be heard.

I look up to explorers, adventurers and lovers of the land.

Check out Bianca here ♡

Get to know... Bianca Roose