The only time you will want to be associated with a Tart

For a long time I wanted to get involved in an event that brought together the best in terms of hair, make-up and styling with a vintage twist and also more modern elements. There is nothing quite like an afternoon of feeling like a million dollars, especially when everything else is so drab and boring. Something fun for gals of all age. Being in this profession you get to meet some incredible people who are doing their own thing, and naturally you want to get involved. The idea came together as a concept as a result of mutual efforts between David, Fleur and myself.

What is your role?

It’s meant to be vintage styling! But first and foremost I like to make sure that everyone is having a good time and is being looked after appropriately. The aim is to make our guests come away with a real sense that they have done something completely unique. Plenty of events now seem to tag on hair and makeup as an incentive to get people in, but Tart is about the experience as a whole. When I get a minute I am on hand to advise our guests on how to pull together a fabulous look from the large range of clothes and accessories we a have available.

Tell me about the rest of the team

The Tart Team, apart myself, are the dandyesque David Carter, interior designer extraordinaire and owner of 40winks.  He is the only chap allowed at the event.  Then there is Fleur de Guerre, pin-up and brains behind the hugely popular Diary of a Vintage Girl blog, who the perfect beauty guru and glamorous hostess.

What can we expect from a Tart event?

As soon as you arrive you are whisked downstairs where the uniformed waitresses from Vintage Patisserie serve you cucumber sandwiches, yummy cakes and chocolates. Try one of our delicious Hendrick’s Gin cocktails or a glass of bubbly (surreptitiously served up in vintage teacups), Then we leave it up to our guests to explore the different rooms of the house. There is the beauty room where as well as fabulous vintage hair from Lipstick and Curls, we are also terrible excited to welcome our favourite cosmetics brand, Benefit, who has generously agreed to provide two of its fabulous beauty artists to transform guests into gorgeous goddesses. Lisa Potter Dixon, Benefit’s beauty guru and events manager, will also be on hand to share her tips on how to create the perfect look for 2010. ‘TART’ also play host to some of London’s brightest and coolest young designers. Over  the next few months this will include Uma Turan, Miss Magou, Jessica de Lotz, Laura Strand, Rachael Hannah, Tallulah Love, SVE, Nahoko Kojima and Ornella Iannuzzi. And if all this proves a little too taxing, relax with a massage from the well trained hands of Xhilarate, or try a refreshing fruit or herbal tea from the new Lipton Infusions collection. 
There is plenty to learn as well with our Hendrick’s  cocktail making masterclass Guests who can’t tell the difference between ‘A Fallen Angel’ and ‘A Flying Dutchman’ will be taught how to unlock the mysteries of alcoholic alchemy by a top mixologist, utilising the potent properties of the world’s most unusual gin.
Starting this month, pin-up queen Fleur de Guerre will be launching a series of classes for girls who have always dreamt of becoming 1940s silver screen vixens with expert advice on vintage hair and make-up.

Katie Halford, lingerie designer and owner of What Katie Did, will be sharing her ‘stocking secrets’ over the course of the afternoon (how to put them on, how to take them off and how to hold them up when you’ve got them up..). All very important, and essential training for every girl who wants to climb the style ladder.

How do you find time to do everything?

I don’t – which is why I am very lucky to have a team of helpers who support me especially Katie Antoniou  who keeps everything updated and me sane!