Makeup, Hair, Style, and Love
I first met “The Distinctive Dame” AKA ‘Margeaux Vallantyne’ at a Fairfield coffee shop in 2019 with Melbourne-based photographer Maylei Hunt. We were gathered to discuss unconsolidated creative projects due to my own feeling of a lack of creative community in Melbourne, having moved from Toowoomba, Queensland in 2016.
The backstory to our meeting
Maylei befriended me in 2016, when I first moved to Melbourne, at an artists’ studio in Collingwood. She heard me singing and in return handed out an olive branch of friendship and helped save my lost creative soul. I had told Maylei that I was feeling creatively starved, and as artists do – Maylei told me she had a good friend to bring on board. Together we could work on collaborative creative projects.
When I first met Margaux, I was immediately in awe of her flawless style and had the impression that she had stepped out magically from another time. Cut to August 2019 I was hurriedly developing a Fringe Show whilst studying music full-time at Monash University and I thought – I need a fabulous Makeup Artist! I contacted Margaux, and the rest is history… Margeaux was not only the makeup artist for my Fringe show at the Butterfly Club in 2019 – “Confessions from the Bell Jar”: She was my carer, my words of support and encouragement, and has nurtured me fully in every creative endeavour I have ventured to take ever since.
What inspired you to become a Makeup and Hair artist?
Every day I watched my mum partake in the ritual of beautifying herself with hair, makeup, and clothes. This impressed upon me the transformational power of hair and makeup in addition to the importance of putting your best self forward.
I adopted this as my own personal ritual, which intensified during my time in art and fashion school and reached its peak after discovering vintage style. I became Obsessed – getting my hands on whatever material I Could: books, film, shows, online resources (which were quite limited at the time) and learning as much as I could about historical hair and makeup and eventually making it my job!
What is your favourite part of your job?
I love hearing people’s stories, offering emotional and energetic support and being creative. As someone that runs a heart-led business this is so important to me! This work I do happens in such an intimate setting, so I get to learn about people and the world.
It’s also such a creative outlet for me – I get to bring the visions of others to life and time travel. So much fun!
What were the challenges you faced in becoming an independent businesswoman?
I think my greatest challenges have been managing those emotions and thoughts that arise as a symptom of impostor syndrome and anxiety: self-sabotage, self-belief, self doubt. Also taking the leap and backing myself 100%.
Who are your biggest hair, fashion, and makeup inspirations?
There are so many people, places eras, and formats that I look to for inspo – art, film & tv, musicians and performers, photoshoots, people I see on Insta and on the street. Almost too many to single out because inspo can find you at any moment and the archives are overflowing.
What is your career highlight to date?
Having a studio and also having folk interested in what I do is probably my greatest achievement and highlight. I think we can each get caught up in the rhetoric that we’re the only ones that like this weird thing that we’re into and it’s been nearly 8 years since my biz was birthed – over this time I’ve seen more and more interest and appreciation for historical fashion and styling which is incredible.
Margeaux is not only a phenomenal Makeup and Hair artist – but goes above and beyond the call of duty of her role: providing care, emotional support and love – to any client she has under her faithful hands.
