'I try to mix it up a wee bit'

Anabela Rea talks trends, landing a job in fashion and the importance of promoting cultural diversity and clothing that works for all types of women.

There are many ways to skin a cat and so too in the fashion industry there are multiple ways to land your foot inside a fashion-focused door.

Anabela Rea has followed a varied path that has taken her from styling fashion shoots, to art direction and working in wardrobe for music videos and film sets.

These days you're likely to find her editing the fashion-related, colourful pull-out pages of The Sunday Star Times where she's been working as a features editor for the past two years.

For the former stylist, reflecting diversity is essential.

"Different faces don't always make it into the limelight, so I try to mix it up a wee bit." she says.

Rea also believes in standing by her choices because fashion isn't just about what works on a stick-thin model.

"There's the Lauren Hutton quote: 'Fashion is what they offer you four times a year and style is what you choose.' So I think being an editor you've got to take that on and kind of run with it. You're in the position of having to be a bit of a taste-maker and to exercise your judgement about what you think is going to be a trend and what you think will actually suit women, and not just beautiful young models but all kinds of women."

Rea talks to Sonia Sly about the importance of cultural diversity in the fashion industry, spotting trends that are here to stay and why it's not all about being a front row girl at fashion week...

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details