Dell Entrepreneur Spotlight Series: Anna Bance

When is the right time to leave your secure job and gamble on a business idea that might not work? There isn’t one, according to Anna Bance, co-founder of the innovative ecommerce business Girl Meets Dress.

“What’s the worst that can happen?” she asks. “You’ll go back to your previous role until you come up with the next idea!”

Thankfully, Bance was onto a winner, seeing the economic recession as the ideal opportunity to launch her fashion solution, which aims to democratize luxury clothing.

From funding to building publicity for the business, Bance has relished the challenges posed by raising a business that started from her kitchen table.

I caught up with Bance to find out what other entrepreneurs can learn from her success story.

How was Girl Meets Dress born?

Images: www.graziadressau.com/cocktail-dresses

The Girl Meets Dress story began in 2009 when I was working as the U.K. public relations manager for French luxury brand, Hermes. The job involved lending out a collection of dresses and accessories on a daily basis to fashion magazines, shoots, celebrities and journalists.

It dawned on me that it would be amazing if we could all borrow dresses for just one event and wear a different designer for every event in our calendar. And when my co-founder, Xavier, looked into the market, we realized no one else was doing this.

We were the first company to rent luxury fashion online and it is wonderful that Girl Meets Dress is now pioneering the way for rental as a new and exciting e-commerce category of its own.

How does it work?

Renting a dress is like any other online shopping experience. Shoppers simply select their dress, event date, and length of hire, and then we will deliver to wherever they want.

All our customers have to do is have fun and send the dress back once they’re done — we even take care of the dry cleaning. We refund for anything unsuitable, and returns are free and very easy.

What was most daunting about quitting your steady job to launch a startup?

I knew it was just a matter of time before I started my own business; it was something I had always wanted to do when the right idea came along. Launching a business is always going to have an element of risk, but I believed in the idea, my co-founder, and the market potential.

What was the toughest challenge you overcame in the early stages?

When we started, ensuring we had a full team in place while bootstrapping was no easy feat. We were lucky to find so many hardworking and ambitious staff to stick with us and the vision.

Becoming knowledgeable in so many different areas is challenging, but it definitely helps to have two co-founders with complimentary and different skill sets.

What top PR tips would you give a startup?

When launching a new company, one of the most important and impactful skills to have is the ability to promote and market the product and brand to get that all-important traffic through the doors. PR for us was a huge element in growing the awareness of Girl Meets Dress, so I couldn’t have wished for a more suitable previous career.

We decided to launch at the perfect time — during the recession — which allowed us to provide a timely and innovative fashion solution during the economic crash. We found luxury rental was a concept that women really responded to.

As a new startup, you need to first confirm demand for your product. The early days are all about testing.

How are you using technology to support business growth?

With my table and phone I’m portable, as is our staff, which is very important with a growing e-commerce company. As with anyone running their own business, no two days are the same. Some days I am popping in and out, going to meetings with designers, a marketing partner or a supplier, or interviewing a potential new GMD team member.

Some weeks are very hectic, particularly if I am speaking at an all-day ecommerce event or attending fashion week, so I need to have portable technology readily available so I can manage everything.

And last but not least, which dress is your personal favorite?

My current favourites are Alice + Olivia and Rachel Zoe for versatile party dresses to wear in the day, and then straight out at night.

More fashion at http://www.graziadressau.com/bridesmaid-dresses

Some Interesting Japanese Skin and Hair Tips

Ever wondered how Japanese women have flawless skin and amazing long locks of hair? Find out now what secrets they have up their sleeves apart from genes and heritage.

When it comes to Japanese women, beauty and skin is so thoroughly visible. They have gorgeous locks of hair and a flawless skin. Ever wondered how they do it? It’s not just genes and nightingale droppings for them.

They have a serious skin and hair friendly way of living that makes them look like perfection. While it may seem like they would have complex ingredients to cook up, they only have simple day to day wonders of nature that women follow. So here some extremely easy simple Japanese secrets that you can follow in your own daily beauty routine:

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Green tea:

Green tea is an amazing product to boost your energy levels, but also rejuvenates your metabolism and makes you skin healthier and better. The heavy antioxidants in green tea help renew skin, fight acne scars, wrinkles and every other beauty blunder for skin that you can think of.

Both animal and human studies have demonstrated that green tea applied topically can reduce sun damage. Apart from this, Green tea is good for diabetics, tooth decay and also cholesterol issues. Next time use green tea before sleeping and when you wake up.

Camellia Oil Magic:

Camellia oil retains its maximum benefit when it is extracted by Cold Pressing, without undergoing any refining process. Camellia oil comes from the famous Japanese camellia flower and has great value for hair and skin. Camellia oil is so highly potent with fatty acids that nourish the skin and help improve collagen. Whether it’s used to remove makeup, cleanse the face, applied all over the skin, or in the hair, this powerful ingredient has been used by many brands such as Chanel, Nuxe, and Lancome etc. This oil is an excellent moisturizer for your skin. It has unparalleled power to seep into the skin, permeating deep into the lower layers and greatly enhancing cell growth to give skin support and flexibility.

Rice Water Toner:

Rice Water is incredibly important to help improve soft skin and hair. One can easily just soak some white rice with water, and then drain the water, keeping it aside. Use it as a toner with cotton pads. Or you can wash your hair, then rinse with the rice water, let your hair sit for a couple minutes with the water, and then rinse again. Only keep the rice water for 2 weeks, then discard it and make a new batch if you want.

See also: Cheap Bridesmaid Dresses

Liv Tyler narrowly avoids flashing more than she bargained for in a short fringed dress

Liv Tyler is a woman of many skills.

Not only is the 36-year-old a talented actress she is also very talented when it comes to avoiding wardrobe malfunctions.

The Empire Records star narrowly missed flashing her underwear as she left her New York apartment for the premiere of her new show The Leftovers on Monday.

Oh dear! Liv Tyler narrowly missed flashing her underwear as she left her New York apartment for the premiere of her new show The Leftovers on Monday

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Oh dear! Liv Tyler narrowly missed flashing her underwear as she left her New York apartment for the premiere of her new show The Leftovers on Monday

Liv was just able to grab the hem of her dress in nick of time as she walked up some stairs.

Realising how close she had come to making her private parts not so private, the star pulled a sheepish grin as she headed to her waiting car.

The actress could not have really expected a wardrobe malfunction, as her frock was hardly an ultra mini dress.

For the premiere of her HBO show, Liv donned a just above the knee black and blue long sleeved dress.

The unusual high necked two toned dress, featured fringing starting at her shoulder and ending at the troublesome hemline, delineating the two shades and hiding a sheer panel that showed an occasion flash of skin.

With the dress already making a statement on the red carpet, the actress kept her accessories simple wearing a pair of black pointed pumps and matching blue drop earrings.

The star made her look even more glamorous styling her long glossy brown locks to one side and in waves and wearing heavily lined eyes with a pink lipstick.

Liv was joined on the red carpet by her Leftovers co-star Justin Theroux who also bought along his fiancee Jennifer Aniston.

In the new show, Liv plays Meg Abbott who is busy planning her wedding when a strange cult targets her in the fictional New York town of Mapleton.

The town was once quiet and nondescript but, like other suburban centres, is far from quite anymore after two per cent of the world’s population mysteriously disappears.

The 10 episode series follows the town’s citizens three years after what many believe may have been the rapture and looks at how those left behind deal with the horrifying incident.

It premieres on HBO on June 29.

See more at http://www.graziadressau.com/bridesmaid-dresses-sydney

Michelle Bridges slips into a sexy lace dress

She spent Thursday lunch time enjoying the company of her ex-husband Bill Moore.

But by the evening Michelle Bridges was back in the arms of her fellow The Biggest Loser trainer and lover Steve ‘The Commando’ Willis and ready for date night at Coldplay’s Enmore Theatre gig in Sydney.

The 43-year-old had slipped her svelte silhouette into a figure-hugging, fire engine red lace dress from Australian label Lover, which showed off her incredibly toned pins and every angle of her exercise honed body.

Red hot woman! Michelle Bridges slipped into a oh-so-short lace dress by Australian label Lover for date night with her beau and fellow The Biggest Loser trainer Steve 'The Commando' Willis on Thursday night

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Red hot woman! Michelle Bridges slipped into a oh-so-short lace dress by Australian label Lover for date night with her beau and fellow The Biggest Loser trainer Steve ‘The Commando’ Willis on Thursday night

The health and fitness guru Instagrammed a couple shot of the amorous duo, captioning it: ‘After a massive day of #business meetings looking forward to #datenight with @commandosteve #LOVERdress’

With her hair coiffed into soft waves Michelle was accompanied by her boyfriend who stood to attention dressed in a classic uniform of black shirt and blue jeans.

The pair looked like a couple of lovestruck teenagers as they posed against a living room backdrop.

The Coldplay fans were certainly happy as they made their way to the sold out gig posing for more pictures outside the venue, little did they know Kylie and Coldplay waited for them inside.

Earlier that day Michelle met her ex-husband, of almost ten years, for lunch at Sydney’s Manta restaurant in Woolloomooloo.

The couple who decided to split in March last year after almost ten years of marriage looked to be on friendly terms as they enjoyed a bite to eat in the sunshine.

Michelle opted for a casual yet chic look, sporting a white buttoned blouse teamed with a chunky gold necklace.

Having swapped her gym gear for a classy day look, the brunette beauty accessorised with a pair of sophisticated dark sunglasses and had her sleek tresses left out with a subtle wave.

Bill looked sharp in a black suit teamed with a light shirt and wore a pair of shades.

Despite the pair’s marriage being over, Bill still manages Michelle’s empire which consists of fitness programs, cook books and clothing ranges so it made sense to see him in business mode.

Michelle and fellow The Biggest Loser trainer Steve revealed they were an item in May 2013 around two months of announcing the end of her marriage to Bill.

Willis also ended his marriage in 2013 and has two young children, Ella, six, and Jack, two, with his former partner, and a third child Brianna, 15, from a previous relationship.

In August 2013, Steve broke off the new romance with his fellow fitness guru to go back to the mother of his two younger children, however a month later he and the Biggest Loser trainer were back together.

Last week the pair sparked speculation they had secretly married when a new pal referred to them as husband and wife in an Instagram snap during their holiday on the island of Maui in Hawaii.

However, representatives for the reality television stars told MailOnline they have no knowledge of a wedding having taken place.

Read more: GraziaDressAU backless formal dresses

Anna Paquin dazzles in short black frock

They met on the set of their hit show True Blood.

And now that the series is entering its final season, Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer are no doubt feeling especially sentimental.

The married couple stole a tender kiss on the red carpet at the premiere of the seventh season of the HBO show in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Anna, 31, looked gorgeous in a halter neck short black dress paired with pointy black heels as she promoted the new season, which premieres June 22.

She added a stylish touch with a thick gold necklace that hung in layers, and she wore bracelets on both wrists.

The Oscar winner added further flair with dramatic dark eye make-up and a chic voluminous updo.

Her best accessory: The Oscar winner added further flair with dramatic dark eye make-up and a chic voluminous updo as she posed with her husband husband

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Stephen, meanwhile, looked dapper in a navy blue suit and black tie.

The 44-year-old added an edgy touch with a diamond stud in one ear.

The pair of Venice dwellers were married in August 2010, and welcomed son Charlie and his fraternal twin sister Poppy in September 2012.

Also at the premiere was Bailey Noble, who plays half-faerie Adilyn Bellefleur in the show.

The 23-year-old was ethereal in a plunging long white gown that sported an open back.

She wore her auburn locks in glamorous curls over her one shoulder and kept her make-up natural, allowing her freckles to take centre stage.

Anna Camp and her boyfriend Skylar Astin also packed on the PDA on the red carpet.

The couple leaned in for a kiss, seemingly oblivious to the crowd and cameras.

Anna, 31, showed off her toned legs in a short pink dress that featured bejeweled cutouts at the bust and shoulders.

Karolina Wydra dressed her slender frame in a beaded black-and-red floral dress.

The Polish-American actress, who plays a vampire on the show, wore her brown hair in a wispy updo and sported a glowing complexion.

Joining her was co-star Amelia Rose Blaire, who wore a fitted navy blue frock featuring sequinned sleeves.

Prince Jackson made an appearance as he strode confidently along the red carpet, donning dark sunglasses.

The 17-year-old was suave in a black suit, and a geometric-print T-shirt that added a youthful touch.

He waved casually for the cameras, his brown hair slicked back and his chin sporting a small goatee.

Rutina Wesley left little to the imagination in just a blazer and no bra or top underneath.

The 35-year-old, who plays Tara on the show, added black trousers and strappy black heels.

She wore her dark hair sleek and loose and highlighted her eyes with black liner.

More info: http://www.graziadressau.com/formal-dresses-adelaide