Image: The Distinctive Dame
I love so many things about vintage styling, but none more than glorious vintage style hair and makeup. This week on Behind the Door, I’m excited to meet someone who is a master of both: Margeaux of The Distinctive Dame.
Image: Fred and Hannah
The Distinctive Dame offers hair and makeup styling for weddings and special events, and their signature styling is vintage-centric, spanning across all eras and even era fusion looks. In addition to this, Margeaux does wig styling, creative hair and makeup for shoots, hair and makeup workshops and will soon be launching a styling business.
“I’m a creative being and love working with all kinds of babes and to help them work out a look that makes them feel bangin’,” says Margeaux. “It is such a joy and pleasure for me to offer support – emotional, energetic and glamorous – to brides along the way.”
Image: Fred and Hannah
Being back in the Melbourne CBD is very nostalgic for Margeaux, as it’s where her first styling studio was birthed, way back in 2013.
“I love the movement and kinetic energy of the city – great people watching, buskers, laneways and street art, beautiful old buildings (be sure to look up when you’re wandering around, so many stunning buildings and details) and as far as work goes, I love being close to the Treasury Building and all the hotels,” says Margeaux. “Over the years I’ve received lots of flow-on business from being centrally located as folk often stay in hotels like the Windsor or the Sofitel and are off to all kinds of events; in addition to those brides that have registry weddings.”
Image: The Distinctive Dame
Located in Collins St, The Distinctive Dame studio is within The Manchester Unity Building. “It’s a Gothic/Art Deco dream and is right opposite the Melbourne Town Hall,” says Margeaux. “I get to look out onto the portico that hosts some gorgeous weddings. It felt like a really positive omen when I first moved in.”
The space is a nod to Margeaux’s eclectic taste and multi-faceted nature as an avid fossicker and most of the decor and treasures have come from eBay, Facebook Marketplace, op shops and markets.
Image: The Distinctive Dame
Margeaux was chuffed to find a studio with two rooms as it meant that she could have a couple of different vibes. The front room is styled as the vintage deco room – kidney dressing table, all Margeaux’s vintage coffee table books and a growing collection of vintage wedding photos.
The main salon is a bit more of an 80s does 50s vibe with a distinct colour scheme of black, white, red, blush pink and gold, based off of a vintage makeup palette!
“I like being surrounded by things that make me happy and feel a beautiful, interesting space positively contributes to experience design,” says Margeaux. “I want all my clients to feel at ease when they come in and also like they’ve been transported to another place and time.” What an inspiring space!
Image: The Distinctive Dame
About Amelia Waddell of Moonstruck Bride: I’m a proud bridal store owner with a love of exploring creative spaces. Whether it’s an office, event space, workshop or retail store I love seeing how other wedding businesses create their own special magic. When I’m not fitting brides I love immersing myself in everything wedding, in the name of “research” of course.
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