Every now and again one needs to find a specialist to do something correctly and wonderfully.
Here are the people without whom we could not survive - providers of very special services, people with those professional skills that just can't be found easily, and people who can make our lives a bit more Darling ...
Every now and then a lady (or gent) needs something special in terms of maquillage (or slap, if you prefer) in order to look super-charming for a special event - and we know just the lady for the job.
Angelina Broso is a delightful lady who has been doing makeup for performers, dancers, brides and fantasticlaly stylish ladies for many years in Canberra. The Darlings trust her absolutely to create any look desired, and we can tell you that she will produce the perfect vintage look for any occasion.
Angelina can be found on Facebook, or via email at angmakeup@hotmail.com.
When the Darlings purchse something special - say, a magnificent vintage frock - and it just needs a bit of alteration, or when we have a dress we adore enough to want copied in a different size, we go directly to our favourite tailor in Canberra: TT Fashion. Upstairs in Baileys Arcade, Canberra City.
'Mr T' is an expert tailor who is capable of altering, recreating or making pretty much anything. He is the person we trust with key vintage, expensive garments or when we know we need something to fit and fit well. His finish is always magnificent, it is impossible to tell that the garment has even been altered. Best of all, if he genuinely thinks something is not going to work, he will always politely say so, and then suggest workable alternatives.
It is so often the case that people will sigh to us that they tried on this wonderful vintage garment but didn't purchase it because it 'didn't quite fit'. We say, go ahead and buy your dream garment. Give TT Fashion a call on02 6262 8988 or just bring it to Baileys Arcade during business hours and pop in. You will find the very reasonable cost very worthwhile to have a beautiful, unique garment that fits you perfectly.
So many of our Charming Friends are collectors, and we know that this service will be of real interest to you especially!
The Darlings have known Carmela Mollica for many years, and we have both used her services and been thrilled with her work. Carmela has cleaned and packed silk wedding dresses for us, cleaned and repaired fabulous vintage and antique shoes and gowns, and restored very, very precious things to blessed health.
Carmela is the real deal - a fully trained conservator with years of experience and a large string of very happy customers including major museums! She is also, frankly, a sweetheart.
If you have something precious that you would just not trust to anybody, please contact Carmela and have a chat to her. She will treasure your precious items as you do, and will treat them with absolute respect and professionalism.
The Conservation & Restoration Studio
Carmela Mollica Textile Conservator
(B. App. Sc. Conservation)
Restoration & Treatment of Textiles & Garments
Display & Storage Preparation
Collection Management, Preventative Conservation
email: carmelamollica@hotmail.com
Charming Friends,
If we haven't already raved to you about our friend Viki Allison and her incredible, amazing, extraordinary hairstyling skills, you simply haven't been listening.
Viki with her business DO or DYE has been working in hairdressing for some time and knows ALL the techniques to get absolutely any style you can imagine, modern or vintage. Edwardian style updo? Check. Perfect Marcel? Check. HUGE beehive? Check. Perm? Check. Ringlets? Check.
Viki is the official hairstylist for Miss Kitka's House of Burlesque, and is a dab hand at producing glorious hairstye after glorious hairstyle, with verve and good cheer. She is ideal for weddings and special occasions, being pretty much the only person in Canberra who can give you that fantasy style. Furthermore, she is an absolute love with a wonderful nature.
You need to have had at least one Viki-style in your life (but be warned: you will be hooked). For theatre shows, movie sets, weddings, parties or just because you deserve it - give the wonderful Viki a call and tell her the Darlings said they love her.