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News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘Waited my whole life': Sad reason woman broke down in tears while shopping
A young woman in tears has exposed just how far Australia has to come with size-inclusively in 2025. Kate Elizabeth, 27, amassed over 300,000 views on social media by sobbing as she explained why she was overcome by emotion while shopping at the retail chain City Chic. The store stocks sizes from 14 to 16, and the average Australian woman wears between a size 14 and 16. 'I've waited my whole life to feel seen in a store,' she wrote. 'Plus-size people are stylish. We're trendy. We deserve spaces that reflect that. Not tucked away corners – real, beautiful stores that feel like us.' Ms Elizabeth wears a size 18-20. Speaking to she explained that the moment was overwhelming because she has struggled to find clothes in store since she was a teenager. The 27-year-old said she's always had a 'pretty negative' experience when it comes to shopping. 'Especially when I was younger. There's been some improvement, but it's still a fight just to feel included,' she said. She explained that walking into stores and finding nothing above a size 16 is hurtful and often feels 'defeating'. 'I've heard 'we don't have the budget' too many times – it's not about budget, it's about choice,' she said. 'Some brands are trying, which is great, but sizing is often off. A size 16 is the average woman in Australia, yet extended sizing is still treated like a niche.' Ms Elizabeth argued that it simply isn't fair to people who don't fit into standard sizing to be forced to shop online. 'I'm a tactile shopper! I love building outfits and feeling confident in the moment, not just hoping what I ordered online fits,' she said. She's also unimpressed with brands that offer extended sizing online but don't stock those sizes in store. 'Keeping extended sizing online-only still feels like a quiet exclusion,' she said. 'I just think it's important to talk about how isolating it can feel when plus-size people aren't seen in-store. It's not just about having the sizes — it's about making us feel welcome, too.' Ms Elizabeth's viral TikTok comes after Brittney Saunders, who owns the size-inclusive fashion label Fayt, has called out other Aussie brands for not extending their sizes. Ms Saunders, 31, appeared on the new fashion-focused podcast Style-ish, and explained that her brand, Fayt, starts from a size six and finishes at a size 26 because it makes good business sense. 'I don't understand when brands say they don't sell and that is why we don't do them. It is like, yes, they do.' she said. Originally, her brand launched with sizes six to 14 on offer, but she extended her size range because she could see the demand was there. 'I added a 16, and an 18, and then I thought maybe I could do a 20? And it was just a climb through every size until I got to where I am today,' she said. Ms Saunders said she was inspired to keep extending her sizes because they were 'selling' and customers appreciated it. The process of becoming a size-inclusive brand has also made her realise that 'bigger brands' that don't offer extended sizes really don't have an excuse not to. 'I would say, come on guys. I often look at them and think, if I can do it, just me and you're this hundreds of million dollar company, and you don't. Like, what are you doing?' she argued. Ms Saunders said that, as someone who has done the maths and worked out a profitable way to offer sizes up to 26, she believes that brands that aren't size-inclusive are sadly not interested. 'They don't want to. I can't think of any reason other than they don't want to. It can be done,' she said.

News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
What $1.5m buys in Warrnambool with ocean views
A sweeping rural-meets-ocean view and a grand glass staircase have made Warrnambool's 'big white house on the hill' one of the region's most talked-about homes. Built by respected local builder Paul Butters, the four-bedroom home at 23 Hyland St combines bold architecture, luxe finishes and knockout views, all just a few blocks from the CBD. Harris & Wood's Josh Bermingham said he's had buyers from out of the area ask if the home was really in Warrnambool. 'It's close enough to walk into town, but elevated enough to enjoy panoramic views from paddocks to the ocean,' Mr Bermingham said. 'You simply don't expect that combination here, especially at this price.' Listed with a $1.45m-$1.55m price hopes, the near-new home delivers a level of design and quality Mr Bermingham said would cost millions more in towns like Torquay, Ocean Grove or Lorne. 'If you lifted this house and placed it in one of those towns, you'd easily be adding another zero to the asking price,' he said. Spread across two levels, the home is centred around a soaring entry void with a statement glass and timber staircase. Upstairs, a wall of windows floods the living and dining zone with natural light, anchored by a floor-to-ceiling stacked stone fireplace. The kitchen finished with sleek gold tapware, quality appliances and a walk-in butler's pantry connects seamlessly to an elevated deck with rural outlooks and glimpses of the ocean. The main suite includes a private balcony, walk-in robe and large ensuite with warm, layered textures. A second bedroom and powder room complete the upper level. Downstairs, two further bedrooms, a family bathroom, second living zone and full laundry offer flexibility for growing families or guests. Stacker doors open to an undercover alfresco and sun-drenched deck overlooking a landscaped firepit zone, designed for year-round entertaining. There's also a large garage and workshop under the home, plus side access for additional vehicles or trailers. Mr Bermingham said other inclusions in the home such as double-glazed windows, a solar system, ducted reverse-cycle heating and cooling, electric blinds and lift-ready design, make the home energy-efficient and futureproof. 'The layout, quality and comfort make it a perfect long-term home,' he said. The Harris & Wood agent said sellers Hayley and her partner Brad built the home as a personal project. Though originally planned as a forever home, the pair are now ready for their next creative chapter. 'They've built and sold a few times and just love the process,' Mr Bermingham said. 'Now that this one's finished, they're excited to take on the next project.' He said interest had come from both locals and Melbourne buyers, with the home's design, location and liveability striking a chord. 'There's been a really strong response,' he said. 'People are captivated by the quality, and once they step inside, they get it.' 'We actually struggled to find comparables because homes like this are built to be lived in, not sold. If this comes back on the market in under 10 years, I'll be shocked.'

Daily Telegraph
9 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
Women freediving for the escape at Gordons Bay, near Coogee
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News. Forget fitness trackers, pilates or even run club, freediving has begun to surface. The sport, which involves diving deep underwater without a dive tank or other breathing apparatus, is growing in popularity among harbour city fitness fans. Searches for 'best freediving fins', freediving wetsuit' and 'fins freediving' have all doubled within the past five years, according to Google Trends data. Immersion Freediving instructor Emily Dean has found the sport's popularity is 'booming' especially among women. 'The desire for connection is drawing in a strong female crowd,' Ms Dean said. 'The sport's appeal lies in its inherent equality — you don't need to be the fittest, fastest, or biggest. 'That aspect is what drew me in, and has attracted many others, we're all supported by a community where individuals connect and share their journeys. Sydney freedivers, Emily Deans (red wetsuit) and Jasmine Brinsmead pictured in Gordons Bay, near Coogee this week. Picture: Eddy Price Ms Dean started freediving two years earlier herself, but it wasn't as simple as diving into the deep blue with her snorkel and flippers. 'It began with my mental health journey. I needed a new sport and a way to connect with a community … I was looking for something to test my resilience in a healthy way that also applied to everyday life,' she said. Sydney freediver Jasmine Brinsmead pictured in Gordons Bay. Picture: Eddy Price 'I had a massive fear of sharks … but it became exposure therapy for my anxieties, and through the sport, I was able to confront my fears and gain a whole new perspective of the underwater world.' Sydney freediver Jasmine Brinsmead pictured near Coogee. Picture: Eddy Price Jasmine Brinsmead, 27, who works alongside Dean as an operations manager at Immersion Freediving, said she too started freediving to experience the ocean differently. 'I experienced a sense of freedom I'd never felt before. It's almost meditative and calming, yet you're physically testing your body to its limits,' Ms Brinsmead said. 'The interactions with marine life are incredible and without a tank, you feelmore connected to them.' Descending deep into the ocean's depths mean it's not for the faint-hearted, but the pair have gone on to dive across the world, including the Maldives and Galapos Island, and now teach freediving safety courses to others keen to give it a go. Ms Dean said for those considering taking the plunge, to go 'all in.' Sydney freedivers, Jasmine Brinsmead (left) and Emily Deans, pictured at Gordons Bay. Picture: Eddy Price 'It's all you. You'll find a deep understanding of yourself, how your bodywork, and how it responds,' Dean added. Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email tips@