About Harlem Starlet (aka: This Got Out of Hand Fast)
Hi. I’m the problem. It’s me.
I'm Bella. Disabled, Neurodivergent & Queer. Dog lover. Sitcom watcher. Iced Coffee addict. I like my music over 140bpm and watching random game shows while working. I laugh at really bad moments.
I'm part Leslie Knope, part Michael Scott, part Dina Fox and part Jeremy Usbourne. If you get any of these references, we definitely need to be friends.
Harlem Starlet started because I have zero interest in being subtle and an ongoing, slightly unhinged obsession with accessories.
What began as making beaded bracelets when I was 8 years turned into making earrings out of literally anything I could get my hands on in my teens and twenties — old game pieces, random bits, things that probably should’ve stayed in a drawer. At some point, I looked at my collection (well over 1,000 pieces…) and thought, cool, this is either a personality trait or a business.
So I made it a business. I took the leap, learned how to use Illustrator, bought a laser cutter and started Harlem Starlet.
Why Everything Is So Loud?
I don’t make quiet accessories. I make statement accessories for people who want to be seen, heard, and maybe slightly feared in a crowd (in a hot way).
Everything you see is designed by me, and most of it is made with my 2 hands (and occasionally with the help of some incredible people).
I started off making brooches, then earrings, necklaces, bags... then after much customer demand I started branching out.
Next came the bamboo clack fans — dramatic, loud, impossible to ignore. My friends started using them out & about, people loved them and so I started designing more and more.
Then my neurodivergent brain took over and my other obsession from childhood, collecting stickers, started to show. That’s where my glitter and holographic stickers come in — chaotic, funny, and a little too real.
Everything I design is made to do something: start a conversation, get a laugh, make someone feel seen, or just make an entrance.
The Energy Behind It
A lot of Harlem Starlet is shaped by real life. Being neurodivergent. Being overwhelmed. Being Disabled. Finding humour where you probably shouldn’t. Wanting to express yourself without toning it down for anyone.
So yeah — a lot of the designs are a bit chaotic and bit feral. Sometimes reactions I see are a bit “did they really put that on a sticker?” The answer is Yes. Yes I did.
But underneath that, it’s about making accessible, expressive accessories that people actually connect with — not just wear once and forget about.
Designed in Australia, Worn Everywhere
Everything is designed here in Australia and made to actually live a life.
These aren’t sit-on-a-shelf accessories.
They’re made for:
• festivals
• dance floors
• Pride events
• chaotic nights out
• or just your everyday “I refuse to be boring” outfit
Harlem Starlet has become known for statement hand fans, glitter stickers and bold accessories in Australia that combine function, fashion and personality — without taking themselves too seriously.
The Whole Vibe
You don’t have to be chill here. You don’t have to be minimal. You don’t have to tone it down. We love seeing people dressing up and using our accessories, looking fabulous!
You can be loud, messy, funny, emotional, overstimulated, confident, chaotic — all at once.
Honestly, that’s kind of the point of what I do. I hope you love what I make, and if we aren't already connected I hope to meet you at an event soon!