Personal Style

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday November 27, 2008

Lara Zamiatin

Donna-May Bolinger, accessories and shoe designer

What's your most recent purchase?

A beautiful feather boa by Jamin Puech from Belinda. It's kind of like a neck piece and it goes perfectly with my 1930s Lanvin gown. Also a great pair of shoes from the legendary shoemaker Andre Perugia.

What's your favourite shopping spot?

The Vintage Clothing Shop has an amazing selection that includes Australian items.

What fashion item do you wish you had in your wardrobe but don't?

I can never have enough 1940s or '50s dresses by designers like Dior, Jean Desses or Jacques Fath. I would love a Balenciaga gown from that period.

Name your biggest fashion faux pas?

One of my first fashion buys in the mid-1970s was a horrible pair of mission-brown and avocado platforms. I've kept a lot of things but not those clunky, ugly shoes.

Whose style do you most admire?

Franca Sozzani [editor-in-chief of Italian Vogue] is amazing. Her fashion sense is both feminine and strong, yet understated. She has a halo of style.

What trends do you hope never to see again?

Culottes. They're a scary cross between a dress and trousers. They're the unsexiest garment in history.

How do you organise your wardrobe?

I have two rooms - one for accessories and one for clothes.

I keep most things stored in tissue in

air-free boxes and I label everything.

I do give the items an airing through a rotating display. I keep my shoes out though. They like to breathe and have a look around.

What's your best bargain?

I've got a vintage glove fetish. You can get beautiful, hand-embroidered, finely detailed gloves in amazing fabrics second-hand for around $20. It's guilt-free indulgence.

What's your best beauty tip?

Eat beautiful food - colourful, perfect, fresh fruit and vegetables. Food is not just for energy, it's medicine and directly linked to beauty.

Name your favourite jeans?

I own about 10 pairs of Levis 450s. All in classic, dark-indigo denim. They've got a great, curvy fit.

What are your favourite websites?

I love vintage sites like antiquedress.com and enokiworld.com. I often browse these sites and store images from fashion items on my computer for reference material. It's shopping catch-and-release.

What comprises the perfect shoe?

Proportion, proportion, proportion. Shoes are just bits of leather but if you get the volume, shape and proportion right, it's a magical thing.

Source of inspiration

The Vintage Clothing Shop

Shop 7, St James Arcade,

80 Castlereagh Street, Sydney,

9238 0090, thevintageclothingshop.com.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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