Cherries in the Snow

Posted on 12 March, 2015

Vicky Kidd-Gallichan has just received a delivery of 15,000 crystals—white opal, fuchsia, rose, cyan red and cherry black—and 30 metres of intricate lace. And that’s not the half of it. Thousands of sequins and bolts and bolts of soft tulle, silk chiffon, more lace, and other pretty bits and pieces, have also been delivered to her design studio.

The bright and bubbly designer behind well-known, local label, Rockstars and Royalty, with her intricate and colourful arm tattoo incorporating a large rose, has heaps of energy and tonnes of talent. And she’s ready. Ready to get stuck into making ‘Cherries in the Snow’.

Cherries in the Snow? It’s the name of the collection Vicky will launch at FASHFEST 2015, and it’s under wraps until mid-May (whet your appetite with these shots of her recent Reign of the Forest collection).

Photographer: Lauren Campbell; Makeup: Erin Pittard; Hair: Hair by Kitty; Model: Paris Yves; Hairpiece and styling: Rockstars and Royalty.

This is the third year Rockstars and Royalty has wowed guests with a stunning collection of gowns and cocktail dresses at Canberra’s red-carpet fashion event. It’s an experience to behold when the models emerge from backstage, one-by-one, sliding down the catwalk and bringing each masterpiece to life.

Creating an elaborate Rockstars and Royalty masterpiece is painstaking work. Vicky devotes hours and hours to each one, especially during the phase in which she has to hand-sew individual crystals, sequins and other adornments onto the garment. Most dresses take up to 100 hours to create and there’s no rushing the process.

Photographer: Lauren Campbell; Makeup: Erin Pittard; Hair: Hair by Kitty; Model: Emily Tokic; Gown, hairpiece and styling: Rockstars and Royalty.

Vicky’s inspiration for Cherries in the Snow is a colour of lipstick (and nail polish) that Revlon has made since the 1950s—a beautiful red that never goes out of style. ‘I wear the lipstick and love it,’ says Vicky. ‘The thought unexpectedly entered my head one day. Why not create a collection around the name, colour and 1950’s influence?’

The colour palette of the new collection will start with snow white and fade into pastel pinks, and then rich reds and, finally, a deep, deep black cherry. The palette sounds somewhat straightforward until you realise Vicky has to first dye every inch of the fabric. And so a range of dyes have also been delivered to the designer’s studio.

Photographer: Lauren Campbell; Makeup: Erin Pittard; Hair: Hair by Kitty; Model: Emily Tokic; Hairpiece and styling: Rockstars and Royalty.

‘It’s going to take a lot of patience and experimenting to finalise the colour range,’ says Vicky, ‘but I’m hoping it sensational.’

Vicky has also received a huge piece of sequin fabric her mum sent from England, sourced from the fabric shop Vicky used to frequent when working in England. ‘It was five minutes from my shop and they were closing down,’ says Vicky. ‘I don’t yet know how I’ll use it, but it’s beautiful,’ says Vicky.

Photographer: Lauren Campbell; Makeup: Erin Pittard; Hair: Hair by Kitty; Model: Paris Yves; Bolero, hairpiece and styling: Rockstars and Royalty.

Vicky opened Rockstars and Royalty in 2007 when she moved to Canberra from England. Her label is for women who have strong personalities and dare to be different.

Her designs range from big, light, glittery princess gowns, such as those featured in the Reign of the Forest photos posted with this article, to darker, edgy, burlesque and rock ‘n’ roll-inspired pieces. And so the name Rockstars and Royalty is a perfect fit.

Photographer: Lauren Campbell; Makeup: Erin Pittard; Hair: Hair by Kitty; Model: Molly Folkard; Coat, hairpiece and styling: Rockstars and Royalty.

One of Vicky’s most ‘out-there’ creations, made years ago but still etched in her memory, was a wedding outfit for a women getting married in Las Vegas. ‘She wanted an Elvis-inspired, white jump suit, perfect for a Vegas wedding,’ says Vicky. ‘So we created big flare trousers, a white corset top, and a little organza jacket with a massive collar. It was loaded with crystals and was awesome.’

Vicky also creates cocktail dresses and a range of exquisite accessories—hats, earrings, rings and necklaces. She’s a professional corset maker and more often than not incorporates a Victorian-style corset into most of her gowns.

Photographer: Lauren Campbell; Makeup: Erin Pittard; Hair: Hair by Kitty; Model: Paris Yves; Gown, hairpiece and styling: Rockstars and Royalty.

For Cherries in the Snow, Vicky is incorporating a wintery feel. ‘There will be lots of feathery jackets, long-lace jackets, wraps and accessories in 2015,’ she says.

FASHFEST will this year be held in the National Convention Centre in the city, in expanded space required for an even bigger event. It will be held 13 to 16 May and tickets will be on sale soon. Check out the event’s new website for imagery and information on the 2015 designer line-up. www.fashfest.com.au

Credits

Photographer: Lauren Campbell Photographer

Makeup: Erin Pittard

Hair: Hair by Kitty

Models: Paris Yves, Emily Tokic, Molly Folkard and Samantha Farrow

Clothing and styling: Rockstars and Royalty