I’ve always said that my favourite part of an in-person boudoir shoot is getting to see what treasures are hiding inside your suitcase when you arrive, but for Virtual Boudoir Shoots, its seeing all the beautiful rooms you choose to call home! From urban plant jungles to Art Deco boudoirs and everything in between, I’ve been treated to some incredible interiors to photograph you all in. One such interior that particularly stands out from the last month or so is that of vintage shop owner and writer Charlotte’s living room! Featuring midnight blue walls, a velvet sofa and the biggest, most ornate fireplace you’ve ever laid eyes upon, it was a visual feast of a backdrop that provided perfect contrast against her beautiful sun-lit skin. I’ve been sitting on these images for a few weeks now and I’m SO excited to bring them to the blog today, with a few words from Charlotte herself about her shoot experience and why this shoot was so important to her….
Content warning: This interview includes conversation around the theme of endometriosis and surgery. Transport me somewhere else, please!
Charlotte
Occupation: Vintage Shop Owner and Writer. I am also a trained Interior Designer and that used to be my day job.
How would your best friend describe you? Prim, proper, naughty, cheeky, intelligent, playful, funny, commanding, worldly, driven, fiery, occasionally bolshie, extremely impatient and very extroverted.
Name three things that you always carry with you? Lipstick, phone, keys – a bit boring but all very necessary!
What was the last book you read? WomanCode by Alissa Vitti and it has changed my life! It has taken me all year to read, and I’ve read other books in between. It’s not that it’s a difficult read, it’s more it’s so dense with practical information that I allowed myself the time to process and implement. It’s all about how to live according to your natural female cycle and (of course) how the world unfairly is set up for the male cycle only. As a sufferer of endometriosis it’s been life changing, and has really helped me. I want all my friends to read it!
Do you remember how you originally found me? Instagram, naturally, I think via Immodesty Blaize’s page (a woman who I admire very much, by the way).
What inspired you to book a virtual photoshoot? I had loved your work from afar for a while and when I saw you offered virtual shoots (I’m currently based in Melbourne, Australia) I jumped at the chance to work together! The other reason I did the shoot with you to celebrate my body before having a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy for my endometriosis, literally the next day. It felt empowering to be in my body and be in control of it before having yet another procedure!
What’s the most interesting thing about you that the internet doesn’t know about you yet? I’m slightly embarrassed to share that I have the same sense of humour as a 12 year old boy, and in that I LOVE naughty cartoons. Archer, Big Mouth, Family Guy, South Park, Bojack Horseman etc etc. Not very sophisticated or on brand, but my greatest escape and a constant source of joy (I do try my hardest to watch them whilst wearing a silk dressing gown and sipping a cocktail, mind you!).
Tell us about one of the outfits you wore for your virtual boudoir shoot – why do you love it? I wore a set by Agent Provocateur which my boyfriend bought me for my birthday this year. I used to work for AP in the UK and then in Sydney and I love the core essence of that brand and met some of my greatest friends whilst working for them. This particular set isn’t something I’d usually pick for myself – which makes me like it more in a way!
Describe your virtual shoot experience? It honestly felt effortless (albeit you do work hard). But Tigz you were so obliging and such a great director. I had actually done a big two day photoshoot for my shop earlier that week, which I’d directed myself, so it was wonderful to have the roles reversed and have your vision be played out.
What song gets you on the dance floor? My dancefloor music tastes are always quite late 70s, early 80s – Talking Heads, The Clash, Blondie, Grace Jones, Elvis Costello, Roxy Music, B52s. “My song” is always Pull Up to the Bumper by Grace Jones. At the moment I also bloody love Cardi B but am nowhere near cool enough to dance to her music publically. Oh my god, I just realised that I am my mother!!
What are you most proud of in your career so far? This year – going out on my own. After 10 years of creating and/or selling things for other people, and learning so much in the process, taking this step has been huge. In a funny way the pandemic has worked in my favour too (and that’s not to take away from the extraordinary hardship it’s caused for everyone) but being allowed that time for reflection and to harbour my creativity has pushed my ideas even further. In terms of my career this feels like the tip of the iceberg, it’s only the beginning and I’m really excited to continue to grow and see what happens.
What is your top body confidence tip? Sleep nude, darling!
What will your autobiography be called? Blonde not Beige – my tagline.
If you could be a model for any brand, which brand would it be and why? I don’t even know where to start with this because design is my greatest passion and there are so many brands and designers whom I admire very much. But at the end of the day my greatest fantasy would be to model for Vivienne Westwood – especially during that period in the early 90s when her connection to her off-beat muses was so apparent.
What advice would you give to anyone thinking about booking a session of their own? Go for it!! Also Tigz is a fantastic director so you don’t need to worry if it’s something you’re not used to as she’ll guide the way.
What exciting project are you working on right now? I have just launched my vintage store, Chez Charlotte, online! I also launched my personal website and blog in May of this year, where I share my writing and other creative stuff. Next year I hope to open some sort of studio space or shopfront for my vintage – to better connect with the community, satisfy my nostalgia for shopping in-store and also to help rebuild Melbourne as we have been in a gruelling, strict lockdown for the majority of the year (unlike the rest of this part of the world) and unfortunately that’s killed many small businesses and boutiques here. Lastly I have written a 10-part design podcast on interior design tips for renters and hope to record and release it sometime very soon.
Want to celebrate your body like Charlotte? No matter where you are in the world, my Virtual Boudoir Shoots can accommodate you. All you need to do is send me your preferred dates – plus a note letting me know roughly where you live – via the contact page. I can’t wait to hear from you!
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