How to be Fabulous is a podcast about vintage clothes: where to get them, how to style them & why to wear them. Hosted by Charlotte Dallison, writer & founder of How to be Fabulous, each week Charlotte chats to an aspirational guest, with an enviable vintage wardrobe, about their vintage fashion journey.
Pictured: Charlotte Dallison.
Charlotte sat down with SP and told us all the things that make her a very interesting woman.
Tell us who you are and what you do.
I'm a writer and podcaster, and I own a vintage media business called Chez Charlotte Vintage. I'm currently embracing the creative nomad life (the perfect post-pandemic way to be) and am spending summer in my hometown of Christchurch. Before this I was in Italy doing a writers residency, and after summer I'm off to LA in the name of romance...! However, I usually live in Australia, and that's where I'm based professionally.
Why do you think it is so important to promote vintage as a wardrobe staple?
I believe that vintage is the most stylish and sustainable way to dress. For me the magic in it comes from how it encourages creativity and unique styling. I also love the hunt - I'm addicted to searching for fabulous vintage garments and find the process so inspiring.
How has vintage and second-hand evolved in public perception, in the last decade?
It's certainly become more mainstream - especially with Gen Z's embrace of recycled clothes. In its popularity it's become slightly trickier to find decent bargains at op shops, however there are so many more vintage stores now, many of which are quite specifically curated. With the internet the world of vintage shopping has opened up, so now, in New Zealand for example, we can shop from a vintage dealer based in New York - you certainly couldn't do that when I began vintage shopping 15 years ago!
I also think that people who used to feel put off by the thought of wearing someone's old wares are opening up to it now, which is great. And that's the mission of my business, podcast and upcoming book - it's all about getting more people wearing more vintage.
What do you think spearheaded its (vintage) new found popularity? Where do you see it going in the next decade?
I believe that the increase in popularity is a combination of availability and the sustainable fashion movement. People are aware that habits need to change if we're to protect our planet, and wearing more secondhand clothing is a way to help that. I also think it's become more aspirational with many mainstream celebrities embracing this trend (a trend I hope/believe is here to stay).
The irony with vintage clothing is that in wearing it you can actually look incredibly contemporary. I absolutely love design, and feel there's space for new pieces to be produced, but really everything you could ever want already exists. Over the next decade I hope more people will be wearing more vintage, in that expressing their unique style, and that new designs will be better, more sustainably made.
l
You're a very entrepreneurial person! How have you found starting these ventures as a young woman? Do you feel like you've been treated differently along the way?
I think that leading into this I was very disempowered around finances and in so many ways had no idea what I was doing. I started my business as a store and used savings to fund it, however they dried up and I've had to do work on the side such as copywriting contracts to make my dreams a reality. Throughout the process I have made a few big mistakes in my (almost) three years of running this business. However I think that my drive, my vision, and my willingness to learn is why I'm still growing and starting to reach a tipping point with it all.
In terms of my being female, I'd say the only hiccups tend to come around money - as in men holding the purse strings and not taking you seriously, etc. Generally I don't feel women and men are taught about that side of business in the same way. It's inherently sexist but I do feel it's changing and now there are a lot of resources from which you can self educate. It's the part of running this business I'm trying to educate myself on more now, and where I aim to expand throughout the year ahead. Creative females deserve to get paid properly, don't you think?
I have been fortunate enough to work for some incredible female entrepreneurs earlier in my career though (before writing and Chez Charlotte Vintage I was actually an interior designer). I learnt a lot from them and continue to be mentored by them.
Who are some of your most memorable guests on your podcast so far?
Peta Mathias was as colourful and fabulous as you'd imagine. It was funny because the majority of my podcast audience is based in Australia, and they don't really know of her, yet she still really resonated with everyone who listened. She's someone who is full of fabulous life advice, style advice and hilarious analogies. It's one of my favourite episodes from season one.
Being a vintage expert yourself, have you learnt anything new/surprising from your guests?
Beth Jones of B.Jones Style shared a great tip: to look to the bottom of the clothes racks, at the hems of the items, in crowded op-shops and see what stands out. It almost sounds a little mundane, but is incredibly effective, more so if you're in a rush and can't go throw everything coat hanger by coat hanger. Beyond that all of my guests share their favourite vintage shops in each episode, so I've found a few new names to shop from as I've gone on.
what is your current favourite vintage piece you own?
There's a 1980s-does-1950s dress which I bought about six months ago from a Sydney-based business called Art Garments. It's the sexiest wiggle silhouette with a bustier top, is made from beautiful black silk, and looks almost like vintage Jean Paul Gaultier. I love the way it makes me feel - like a proper vintage bombshell! I wore it on my 30th birthday to a posh midweek lunch with a friend and in it I felt bloody fabulous, much as a birthday girl should.
What can we expect from you in the new future? Any exciting projects coming up?
I have a feeling 2023 will be a big one for me. I just wrote my first book (which I also illustrated) which will be out at the end of the year. I also have a Substack newsletter, Blonde not Beige Mail, which I'm in the process of monetising and growing. Season two of my podcast, How to be Fabulous, will be out soon! I'm going to run some writing workshops soon too and generally am overhauling my offerings. Otherwise I write freelance for a range of publications and hangout on Instagram rather a lot.
Check out the podcast (that our very own Robecca is coming up as a guest on) and of course, follow Charlotte's delicious Instagram filled with vintage treasure.
