It’s not hard to want to tip one’s hat to the creative endeavors of this talented lady. Christine Lauder is owner and crafter extraordinaire at The Dressing Table in Piper Street, Kyneton – a DIVINELY industrious & stylish store full of vintage and quality hats, jewellery, scarves, gloves and furniture, most of which are handmade by a merry band of talented artisans from the region.
Beyond being just a store, The Dressing Table showcases the work of local artisans who might otherwise not have the opportunity to secure such great exposure for their crafts. Christine generously curates and displays the work of talented milliners, jewelers, perfumiers, knitters and sewers as well as a few choice pieces of vintage furniture. The Dressing Table also caters for gents and is the only retailer of original handmade panama hats in Australia.
If you like the look of hats but think they don’t suit you, then The Dressing Table runs a fun 2-hour ‘Hat Etiquette’ workshop that teaches you which hat style best suits your face shape and how to wear a hat correctly! “I love showing people how to choose and wear a hat or fascinator and I can honestly say I have yet to find a face that does not suit a hat!” says Christine. How encouraging! We think the workshops would be perfectly wonderful fun for a girls’ weekend away, Hen’s Weekend, or in preparation for the Spring Racing Carnival!
As well as supporting artisans and running workshops such as ‘Hat Etiquette’, ‘Hats & High Tea’, ‘Ribbon Details’, and ‘Feather Fascinators’, Christine is organising a local Hat Walk for Mental Health to support and promote positive mental health in her community. The 3km family-friendly walk requires just a $5 donation and starts at St Paul’s Park in Piper Street at 10:30am on Monday 10 March (what a fabulous activity to enjoy during the long weekend)! Wear a fabulous hat and BYO drinks, nibbles & a picnic rug. For more information, you can call Christine on 0419 661 609.
Enjoy! x
Your background is corporate business and urban living in London, England. Tell us a little bit about the path that led you to where you are now?
It’s been a fascinating journey so far, the key to which has been focusing on the positives when an opportunity has come my way. Moving to Australia in 1999 for an IT company was an incredible adventure, I could have talked myself out of it if I paid attention to Australia’s reputation for big spiders, crocodiles and snakes but it has been one of my best decisions. I was asked to base my self on Australia’s Eastern seaboard and having spent my life in England, the sub-tropical climate of Brisbane was the perfect choice.
In my corporate persona, I work across Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria, on iconic water infrastructure projects and IT projects that transform the way businesses work. Living in the Macedon Ranges ticks so many boxes, caring community, clean air, great produce, lots of things to do and yet 40 minutes to an International airport and an hour to Melbourne. In England this area would be regarded as prime commuter belt but keep that to yourself.
Tell us about ‘The Dressing Table’. How did your beautiful artisan & milliner store come about?
Shopping in high street stores has become humdrum, every shop seems to have the same thing or at least a close relative and design plays a poor second to mass produced commercial products. I love beautiful things, especially accessories, so I started shopping in vintage stores and found the quality and finish superior and items just felt special. Then two things happened in the same week, a friend decided she no longer wanted a shop on Piper Street in Kyneton and I picked up a book ‘The Dressing Table: Writings on Style’, by Clare Press. On page 21, there is an image of a vintage mannequin sparkling with brooches, it mirrored one I’d been carrying around in my head and there is a whole chapter on hats. Six weeks later the shop was open!
Many of us dream of setting up a small business. What have you learned along the way?
I think there are three key things:-
1. Estimate your start up investment and triple it – You need to balance investment in shop fittings, stock and marketing over at least a 2-year period as your business takes time to build.
2. Jill of all trades – There are many facets to running a small business, merchandising, window displays, finance, staff, social media, public relations, customer service and suppliers/artisans. Be prepared to acquire new skills or have a large family that can help out!
3. Listen to people who come through your door – Don’t be afraid to change your business plan, I set up our millinery workshops in response to customers asking if we would run classes.
‘The Dressing Table’ supports local artisans. Tell us why the Local and SLOW Living philosophies are important to you/the business?
Creating something with your imagination and hands is wonderfully satisfying but not always a quick process or financially rewarding. The shop is about connecting consumers with beautifully-made, unique pieces that make the wearer feel extra special and delivers economic benefit to artisans in our region.
How did you find the wonderful and highly talented artisans whose creations feature in your store?
The Macedon Ranges is a diverse and creative community, rich in talent, so people approach me in the shop. I also find artisans through networking, for example a new member of Zonta introduced herself one night and said she made scarfs, I gave her my card and invited her to the shop. Heather cleans and cards the most luxurious Alpaca fleece from her own herd, hand felts it onto silk chiffon to create scarfs and spins it into wool and knits wrist warmers.
Your ‘Hat Etiquette’ and ‘Hats & High Tea’ workshops are hugely popular. What do people enjoy most about them?
Hats are gorgeous and have ‘personality’, so when you put this together in a playful way you can’t help but have oodles of fun. After the demonstrations, it’s time to play, and people get right into it, I love it when people choose the right hat, their eyes twinkle, smiles flash and they grow about 3 inches.
You sell hats for men and women and offer to run bespoke workshops. Could you run something like a ‘Blokes & Brims’ workshop for example?
I think you’re on to something – we love creating a workshop or event for a group. Recently, we took the shop to Hobart for the Tasmanian Racing Club, but closer to home we’ve done bridal showers, birthday celebrations and worked with Campaspe House in Woodend and Hotel Lindrum in Melbourne. I’m waiting for a request for a workshop or bespoke hat for a dog, perhaps ‘Hats & Hounds’?
Some people look great in hats; others don’t. Is there a ‘right’ hat for every face?
Understanding your face shape, hat size and how to position the hat are the keys, we regularly surprise customers who thought they didn’t suit hats.
What does a typical day in the life of the ‘Christine Lauder of The Dressing Table’ look like; from when you wake to when you go to sleep?
I thrive on variety, so there isn’t a typical day but I do try to strike a balance between planning, tending to the shop, marketing and keeping in touch with our customers and artisans.
Do you consider yourself to be a ‘Countryphile’? Do you love country life? Why?
Definitely a Countryphile – I have spent a lot of time living in suburbia and working in cities, but love nothing more than a drive in the country, admiring the street scape of an old village and pottering around.
What aspect of country life are you loving MOST at the moment?
The Macedon Ranges is rich in culture, there is always something to do, markets, music and festivals. I’m particularly looking forward to the Kyneton Music Festival and International Women’s Day celebration at Kyneton Town Hall.
What is the most CHALLENGING aspect of country life?
Having not grown up in Australia I don’t understand bush fires so the recent fires were a little unnerving but we have the most amazing Country Fire Authority and the community comes together to support each other.
Do you prefer Coffee or Tea? Your favourite country café and why?
Definitely coffee, at Jeff’s Café, as I don’t have to get out of bed! If I’m off driving somewhere, a take-away from the window at Monsieur Pierre’s is very convenient and the team at St Bean’s Provedorekeeps me and our workshop participants very well fed and watered (coffeed).
What and where was the last great meal you enjoyed/shared in the country?
A dreamy meal of vichyssoise soup, pan seared scallops, twice cooked zucchini & holy goat cheese soufflé and vanilla crème brulee with apricot frangipane at Annie Smithers Bistrot on Piper Street – the menu is amazing and I love the understated elegance of the old building.
Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?
Ideally, it would be one of two places: fossicking for lost treasure in country Victoria or creating a hat in the studio that’s located under the shop.
Would you ENCOURAGE others to live a country life? Why/why not?
Absolutely, I think it has a certain wholesomeness about it that is good for the soul.
What ADVICE would you give those dreaming of making a TREE CHANGE?
Live the dream, have a go and surprise yourself.
What can we expect NEXT from you/your business in the future?
This year, I’m asking people to take steps to support and promote positive mental health in our community. After the recent passing of Charlotte Dawson, I’m hoping that we can all make this a priority and I’d like as many people as possible to join me in the first event which is a ‘Hat Walk’ on Labour Day March 10th starting at 11:00am from St Paul’s Park on Piper Street. The $5 donation will go towards mental health first aid courses and I can’t wait to see everyone wearing their favourite hat.
On the shop front, we’ve got a wonderful program of millinery workshops this year, meet the makers in store and the launch of our online shop.
What are you looking FORWARD to and why?
Spending more time in Victoria, I’ve just completed a 6-month contract in Tasmania and, beautiful as it is, I missed my home in Kyneton.
What would be your dream project?
A millinery extravaganza around Europe with hat and style enthusiasts, anyone interested?
Can you list for us 5 specific things you turn to/do when you need of a ‘dose’ of city life?
I don’t crave a ‘dose’ of city life, it’s mainly people or work that takes me into a city – both of which are in the country.
Christine Lauder
The Dressing Table
50 Piper Street, Kyneton
