About

Hello, we’re Teresa and Suzanne Whittaker and we launched our family business in 2012. Our aim at Bella Figura is to help our customers feel good about themselves by providing beautiful clothes that make them and others around them happy. Our classic frocks celebrate individuality, flatter all figures and with their vintage twists are forever in fashion.

 

We enjoy bringing different creative influences to our business and regularly visit fashion exhibitions, vintage fairs, alternative tradeshows and rockabilly gigs to meet likeminded traders, source unusual suppliers and keep our ideas and stock fresh. Our projects extend well beyond the shop doors and we enjoy working in partnership with museums, photographers, charities and other independent businesses.

 

We grew up in Matlock only a couple of streets away from our shop and we collaborate with other Smedley Street businesses to encourage a thriving and supportive local community. Find out more about our joint events and activities through our Smedley Street facebook page.

Teresa

“I’m the creative director of Bella Figura and my background is in museum education and exhibitions. I enjoy planning flamboyant shop displays, sociable workshops and using my collector’s instinct to source beautifully designed products and vintage accessories for the shop.

 

I studied history at The University of Warwick and was fortunate to spend three months in Venice where I fell in love with all things Italian. My ongoing links to museums lead to interesting costume commissions ranging from authentic replica clothing to fun children’s dressing up outfits for exhibitions.

 

I have a penchant for birds, particularly flamingos which have become part of the shop branding and decor.”

Suzanne

“I’m a fashion designer and make all of our handmade commissions at Bella Figura. I have over five years training at Nottingham Trent and De Montfort Universities where I studied contour fashion, specialising in corsetry and bridalwear.

 

I have a retail background and previously worked with Eternal Spirits in Nottingham and advised on lingerie for Fenwick’s in Leicester – I love clothing and flattering curves and helping women feel more confident about their body shapes.

 

I have a particular fondness for daschunds and penguins which often turn up in our fabrics, jewellery and cards in the shop! “