Achieving an authentic yesteryear look isn't as hard as it seems, according to vintage stylist Margeaux Vallantyne. Vallantyne’s interest in retro was kickstarted by a former colleague when she was living in Sydney. “She loved Audrey Hepburn, old black-and-white films and jazz, which were quite foreign to me at the time,” Vallantyne laughs. “I always thought she dressed so elegantly. She always wore a string of pearls and I just thought it was such a nice aesthetic. I started educating myself about the films, the music and the garments and fell in love quite quickly with all of that stuff. I got to a point where I’d get five to ten packages a week of all of these beautiful finds on Etsy and eBay.”
It morphed quickly from an interest into a lifestyle – and then a business. She started with a stint at the Lindy Charm School (a travelling vintage beauty service), then as co-proprietor of Dames of Distinction (a vintage beauty salon and lingerie boutique) and now focuses on vintage styling work and pop-up events under the name of ‘The Distinctive Dame’.
Today Vallantyne (could there be a name more befitting a vintage beauty queen?) has nailed ’40s perfection – she’s even wearing a hat and snood. “It’s almost like a suit of armour – you’re still the same person on the inside, but it empowers you just a little bit to do what you have to do.” She’s a whizz at transforming others, and the experience is heavenly. She supplies tea, treats and soothing tunes. A splendid conversationalist, she sends Time Outpacking with an elaborate up ’do that makes us feel more swan that ugly duckling.
Vintage stuff in good nick comes at a premium these days, so how can a newbie come at a bit of vintage flair? “Well, take the ’40s for example – it was all about good accessorising. Plus, you don’t have to outlay a lot of money to get a look – there are many ways to cheat. You can create something out of a five-dollar op-shop find: pencil skirts, puff sleeve blouses and jersey tops with thin stripes. Even something as simple as a bit of lipstick can change the feel and mood of your look.”
Moving to Melbourne was also good for Vallantyne’s vintage soul: she gets a lot of happy feedback on her appearance. “Melbourne’s receptive to the oddball and it’s nice to be the sunshine in someone’s day – who knows, you might even inspire them to try something new.”