Acler vs Shona Joy: Which Australian Occasion Label Suits You?

Acler and Shona Joy are both Australian occasion-dressing labels, but they solve the problem differently. Acler, from Adelaide, is the tailored, architectural one: draped on the stand, quieter in colour, with gold hardware doing structural work. Shona Joy, from Sydney, is the softer, more romantic one: bias-cut satin, lace and the La Lune event line, with a deep bridal and bridesmaid range. Choose Acler for a sharp silhouette and Shona Joy for fluid, feminine eveningwear.

Acler vs Shona Joy at a glance

• Home city: Acler is based in Adelaide, South Australia. Shona Joy is based in Sydney.
• Founders: Acler was founded by Kathryn Forth and Julia Ritorto. Shona Joy was founded in 2000 by Shona Joy Thatcher.
• Signature: Acler drapes and seams for shape, with gold hardware at the shoulder and waist. Shona Joy works in bias-cut satin, slinky jersey and lace.
• Best for: Acler suits the modern guest, cocktail events and anyone who wants a strong line. Shona Joy suits bridal parties, black tie and long summer weddings.
• Sizing: both cut in Australian sizes and both are generally true to size.

Who makes them

Acler was founded by Kathryn Forth and Julia Ritorto, who met while working at another Australian fashion house and built the label from an Adelaide home base. Our explainer what is Acler covers the label’s method in more depth.

Shona Joy began in 2000, when Shona Joy Thatcher sold hand-painted designs from market stalls at Bondi Beach and Paddington. It grew into a David Jones label, then an international one, and now runs a full bridal collection alongside its ready-to-wear. The year-by-year story is in our Shona Joy history.

Design: architectural drape vs soft satin

The clearest difference is how each label creates shape. Acler drapes cloth on a stand and lets seaming and fabric weight do the work, so its dresses hold a line away from the body in some places and close to it in others. The Hawick Maxi Dress in Ivory and the Fleeden Maxi Dress in Black are good examples: plain colour, strong cut, nothing added for decoration. The Hertfordshire Maxi Dress in Deep Sapphire shows how Acler handles jewel tones.

Shona Joy’s shape comes from the cut of the fabric itself. Its bias-cut satin falls close to the body and moves when you walk. The La Lune High Neck Balloon Sleeve Maxi Dress in Gold is a good example, high at the neck with full sleeves in a warm metallic satin. The Campbell Strapless Bubble Maxi Dress in Espresso shows the label’s more playful side, with a bubble hem in a deep brown.

Put simply: Acler is about structure, Shona Joy is about movement.

Colour and fabric

Acler tends towards solid colour, often black, ivory, sapphire and red, with the occasional print or ombre. Its fabrics are often engineered satins and blends chosen to hold a draped line, with linen in the summer drops. The Holden Maxi Dress in Metallic Silver is one of its more dramatic finishes, and the Droxford Maxi Dress in Black & Ivory shows its taste for graphic two-tone colour.

Shona Joy works across a wide palette, with the La Lune line in a soft satin of LENZING ECOVERO viscose and plenty of lace and sequin. The Amerie Silk Sequin Maxi Dress is the label at its most glamorous, and the Simona Lace Mini Dress shows its lace work at a shorter length. Our guides to Shona Joy lace dresses and Shona Joy white dresses go further.

Weddings: guest, bridesmaid and bride

Both labels are built for weddings, but at different points of the day. For a guest, Acler gives a sharp, modern look that photographs well and is easy to sit in through a long reception. Our Acler wedding guest dresses edit picks the strongest styles. The Koda Midi Dress in Clover and the Hampstead Midi Dress in Midnight Emerald are both good guest choices for a daytime ceremony.

For bridesmaids, Shona Joy has the edge. La Lune is designed so a bridal party can wear one colour in different necklines, and our Shona Joy bridesmaid guide explains how to order for a group. For brides, Shona Joy has a dedicated bridal range, and Acler makes ivory gowns such as the Acre Gown in Ivory and the Harty Gown in Ivory that suit a minimal wedding. See our white Acler dresses guide for more.

Cocktail, races and evening

For a cocktail party, Acler’s minis and midis are sharp and easy to style. The Kenley Mini Dress in Spicy Red is a strong single colour, and the Cornmore Midi Dress in Bronze works for a dinner. At the races, Acler’s structured shoulders sit well under a headpiece, and its own accessories, such as the Birch Bag in Spicy Red and the Brinlee Heel in Ivory, complete the look.

Shona Joy suits the evening end of the calendar, with black-tie maxis and slinky minis. The Otis Hourglass Mini Dress in Black is a clean black mini for a cocktail, and the La Lune One Shoulder Cowl Back Maxi Dress in Cream is a long, simple evening option. For tailoring, Shona Joy’s Irena Hourglass Single Breasted Blazer with Belt in Bone and Acler’s Jared Blazer in Marle show how each label approaches a jacket: Shona Joy with a belted waist, Acler with a cleaner line.

Sizing and fit

Both labels cut in Australian sizes, and both are generally true to size. Acler cuts AU 6 to AU 16 across most styles, with bodices that run close and skirts that fall away from the hip; our Acler size guide has the full chart. Shona Joy is generally true to Australian size, with satin and jersey that skim rather than cling, as our Shona Joy fit guide explains. Acler shoes are sized in EU sizes.

For more comparisons, see Aje vs Acler, Shona Joy vs Aje and Shona Joy vs Rebecca Vallance, or the wider field in brands like Acler and brands like Shona Joy. Browse both collections on the Acler brand page and the Shona Joy brand page, or see more labels in Australian fashion brands.

Acler and Shona Joy around the world

Australia

Australia is the home market for both labels and the source of most searches for each. Both are built around the Australian event calendar: spring racing in October and November, summer weddings and Christmas parties in the heat. Australian sizes are native to both, so there is nothing to convert.

United States

Both labels have a strong American following, and Acler’s US search interest is close to its Australian level. Subtract four from the Australian size: an AU 10 is a US 6. Because the seasons are reversed, the summer collections land as the US heads into autumn, which suits a destination wedding.

United Kingdom

UK and Australian sizes match number for number, so an AU 10 is a UK 10. Shona Joy has the larger UK following of the two. For a British summer wedding, a midi from either label is often more practical than a floor-length gown.

New Zealand

New Zealand shares Australian sizing and seasons. Shona Joy has a notable following there, and its maxis suit the December to February wedding season.

Canada

Canada uses US sizing, so subtract four from the AU number. For a cooler climate, the long sleeve styles from Shona Joy and Acler’s tailored pieces give the most wear.

Acler vs Shona Joy: common questions

What is the difference between Acler and Shona Joy?

Acler is an Adelaide label known for architectural draping, solid colour and gold hardware. Shona Joy is a Sydney label known for bias-cut satin, lace and its La Lune event and bridal ranges.

Who founded Acler?

Acler was founded by Kathryn Forth and Julia Ritorto, who are based in Adelaide, South Australia.

Who founded Shona Joy?

Shona Joy was founded in Sydney in 2000 by Shona Joy Thatcher, who began by selling hand-painted designs at the Bondi Beach and Paddington markets.

Which is better for bridesmaids, Acler or Shona Joy?

Shona Joy, because its La Lune line is designed for a bridal party to wear one colour in different necklines. Acler suits a smaller, more minimal wedding.

Do Acler and Shona Joy fit the same?

Both cut in Australian sizes and both are generally true to size. Acler bodices run close with fluid skirts, while Shona Joy satin and jersey skim the body.

Are Acler and Shona Joy Australian brands?

Yes. Acler is based in Adelaide and Shona Joy in Sydney, and both design for the Australian event calendar.