Charlotte Smith Revealed
Revealing Questions
- Q. How would you describe your life in only 8 words?
- A. Adventurous, unexpected, exciting, glamorous, international, passionate, social, lucky
- Q. What is your motto or maxim?
- A. Being passionate about life is fulfilling and invigorating. Let your passion take you on an adventure.
- Q. What’s your greatest fear?
- A. Being forced to swim in anything other than a clear blue swimming pool. I live in Oz remember so billabongs have crocs, oceans have sharks, rivers and ponds (dams) have tiger snakes and streams have large leeches! (I am being a bit dramatic I know.)
- Q. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?
- A. On the balcony of the Helvetia & Bristol Hotel in Florence sipping a chilled glass of Crystal '76 champagne.
- Q. With whom in history do you most identify?
- A. Georgina, Duchess of Devonshire
- Q. Which living person do you most admire?
- A. The Queen. She is dedicated, loyal, proud, tight-lipped about gossip and scandal and a true leader. I also love her dress sense. Her fashion styles have always reflective of her role as monarch, but elegant, perfect for her age and appropriate for the events she attends.
- Q. What are your most overused words or phrases?
- A. Divine, fabulous and glamorous
- Q. What do you regret most?
- A. Ever watching the movie Toy Story. Now, every time I want to choose a few of my daughter's stuffed animals or toys to give away I only have to think of the scene where the mother comes into her son's room with the box and each toy hold its breath in fear it might be him who goes. I always loose courage and leave them on the shelf knowing when I close the door they will all sigh with relief.
- Q. If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?
- A. Playing the piano. I love the idea of being able to sit down and just play a random melody like Debussy's 'Claire de Lune' or Michael Nyman's 'The Heart Asks Pleasure' (from the movie 'The Piano'.).
- Q. What is your greatest achievement?
- A. Overcoming doubt, guilt and peer pressure to follow my heart and passion to make something of and gain respect for my vast vintage clothing collection.
- Q. What’s your greatest flaw?
- A. When I am nervous I talk too much.
- Q. What’s your best quality?
- A. Compassion
- Q. If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?
- A. I would love to be incredibly rich so that I could anonymously hand out money to every worthy cause I heard about.
- Q. What trait is most noticeable about you?
- A. My enthusiasm to get involved if I believe in something. I always tend to jump in with both feet.
- Q. Who is your favorite fictional hero?
- A. Hercule Poirot. His bespoke wardrobe is exquisite and he has such a wonderfully ridiculous manner.
- Q. Who is your favorite fictional villain?
- A. Scrooge - he's not really a villain, but he tried to steal everyone's happiness until he became a changed man!
- Q. If you could meet any historical character, who would it be and what would you say to him or her?
- A. Marie Antoinette.
I would ask her if I could have any of her cast off garments and accessories to add to my collection. I could only hope one of these might be the pale sorbet pink gown with ruffles with the matching mules she wore to tea with her girlfriends in the movie 'Marie Antoinette'! - Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?
- A. Inappropriate footwear. For example, flip flops worn anywhere except the beach; Ugg boots worn outdoors, in the rain; sneakers worn anytime other than when exercising.
- Q. What is your favorite occupation, when you’re not writing?
- A. Visiting vintage shops and vintage clothing auctions anywhere I might be visiting.
- Q. What’s your fantasy profession?
- A. Hosting a vintage fashion television series which involves exotic travel, a fabulous vintage couture wardrobe, a dashing co-host and an unlimited budget.
- Q. What 3 personal qualities are most important to you?
- A. Loyalty, optimism, compassion
- Q. If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?
- A. Cheese. I love ripe camemberts from Normandy, France; Cabecou from Quercy, France; creamy Blues from Tasmania; Goat's cheese from Edith's Cheese in South Australia and Cheddar from Somerset, England. (May I include fine Tasmanian and Oregon Pinot Noirs with my cheese?)
- Q. What are your 5 favorite songs?
- A. 'Beautiful' by James Blunt; 'Dream You Mine' by my friend Penelope Sai; 'Georgia' by Boz Scaggs; a poem read to music called 'Indoor Games at Newbury' by Sir John Betjeman; 'Fastlove' by George Michael
