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Theres a whole other side to fashion that people never see. 

I spend my days taking photograph after photograph of myself, after doing this for 4 years studying photography it’s taken a long time and trust me, ALOT of changes! 

Hours upon hours of travelling to pick items out of millions to bring it to your shop floor and online platforms to be able to express your creativity and make yourself different from others.  Trying to create your own style that isn’t always influenced by others, the latest “ must have” or “go to” can put stress and anxiety onto anyone. Making so many people “not good enough” 

We live in a world where everyone is always doomed if we don’t look our best, feel our best or showing the latest goods. 

Wearing clothes that your suited too help you feel good about yourself and help you gain a certain level of self-confidence. It’s true that low self-confidence is not completely and totally attributed to fashion solely, but research has proven that the way you dress can majorly reduce your stress hormones. So, make sure you choose comfortable and fashionable clothing, and if possible, colours that will make you feel calm and relaxed.

Issues with confidence isn't really something you can explain. People don’t understand it either. Thinking your this overall confident person, shows off what they wear, what the latest look is and also thinking doing this as a job is a way to “play dress up” everyday. 

Especially when my job essentially involves being super confident and putting myself out there to the masses. Not being confident day to day is always something that sits with me.

I get it, totally, these two things usually don't go hand in hand. However, fashion is my passion. It's what I've always loved since I was a little girl playing "shops" and “dress up” in a little fantasy world ,growing up and spending all the school holidays following my gran to the charity shop just to be amongst clothes. It's what I've always, always wanted to do. I absorb myself in the world of fashion, with my online presence, spending hours of everyday searching the internet and keeping up with the latest fashion trends and styles both online and on social platforms . It's the only thing I am totally confident in! I know my stuff and therefore come across as super confident with it, because I am confident with it and I completely and utterly believe in myself.

My styling too, can be different to others at times and that is one thing that always makes me feel at my most confident. My comfort zone. 

However, as soon as I'm out of that little bubble of putting together outfits and trends and making creations of what I want things to be , in real life, well thats where I falter. Large crowds and the unknown are two things that knock my confidence. I like to be surrounded by people and things I love and not big on socialising. 

If I walk into a new place that is crowded with people, who aren’t my people it quickly changes.  It's easy to say, "You look amazing  " which is my mantra when it comes to styling, however when I’m out of my bubble and comfort zone this becomes quite the opposite and it's a struggle for me to take my own advice; and often open to the opposite of how I am in my work. It’s always easier to sit on our insecurities. 

So I guess despite seeming confident online, thats my forte, fashion is my passion, photography is my degree and making my surroundings my visual manifestation everyday is what makes me strive for more, so of course I'm confident when talking about it. It’s not all dress up and go, show off the latest outfits and act as if we all look perfect all the time, I would be the first one to say otherwise. 

 I'm totally human, I'm just me, a normal girl with insecurities just like you. What you often see on the outside isn't always reflected on the inside.

It's something I'm forever working on and forever striving to overcome, but honestly I'm happy the way I am, if people perceive it otherwise then you let them be. Dress in your own style, know what you want and be how you want to look.  I'll keep on doing me, absorbing up everything fashion has to offer and  creating a shopping environment where I feel is my “happy place “ as that's one vice that never fails to help me out. The reason I am always wanting to make my surroundings better and better is that it is therapeutic to me, I get bored with things looking the same and always up to challenge myself “ how could I make it better” ??

We all search for online style inspiration, deciding what to wear at the weekend, following the latest celebrity styles but what I love to see most is fashion bloggers having individuality. Its so important as far as I’m concerned. Having inspiration that is not just on trend this week and gone the next. It’s easy to fall down the black hole of insta-hell, looking up from your phone eventually and noticing you’ve spent hours and hours of your time scrolling through pictures of unachievable lifestyles for the normal person ( we have all done it ).

So I ask why be like all the rest? There’s a following of how people should look via Instagram, fashion magazines, online brand advertising that paints a picture that everyone should look airbrushed, be a size 6, always be in the latest fashion in the high end bars and be showcasing their latest looks at the most stylish of places. Reality is women come in all shapes and sizes, have different disposable incomes, if they are happy and healthy that’s all that matters. Style is what makes the High street clothing look designer, not the price tag and not the person wearing it.  A smile is what makes an outfit look a million dollars and a woman who feels confident being who she is, that’s the most inspiring. 

That’s where I come in - I am in my element when I am making you feel the very best you can, it’s not just about getting the latest “New Arrival” it’s about having the confidence, the style and the right advice to help you achieve this. Every day I see women who don’t have the confidence to find their own style, unsure of what to wear, feeling like nothing suits them. So many are shocked when they spend 10 minutes out of their lives to have a quick chat to find out what they are doing wrong and what garments are best for them, no matter what their shape or size.  

Bella Mella’s goal is to not only a base to get the support and help you need to always look your best but to build an audience that visits daily as a destination for fresh and fun outfit inspiration. My aim is to empower others to be daring and confident in pursuing a fulfilling and fashionable life. An enjoyable, happy, and stylish one!