Why Carlotta’s onstage shoe rule is ‘flesh-coloured heels, always’

What’s your fragrance of choice? I never change my perfume. I’ve worn Estée Lauder’s “Knowing” since it came out.

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Any go-to jewellery? My pearls are my favourite – a beautiful South Sea pearl necklace, earrings and bracelet. I bought them in Broome. Day-to-day, I wear little gold hoop earrings or diamond studs.

Can you remember a favourite outfit you wore when you were a child? No, I can’t remember that far back, darling.

What was your first fashion moment? It was in the late ’60s or early ’70s, when designer Hall Ludlow made a beautiful couture gown for me to wear in a fashion shoot. It was black, sleeveless, with an organza petal skirt and a huge bow.

And your worst fashion mistake? Wearing stretch Lycra pants to an event. Never again.

Is there anything you would never wear? Anything with cut-outs – those dresses or pants with holes. I’d look like a condom with marbles.

Is there a current trend you like? Not really – fashion has changed so much over the years. I love looking at Gaultier, Chanel and all the shows, but I like timeless fashion. I’m fortunate to have kept all my jackets, pants and things that never go out of style.

What’s at the top of your fashion wish list? I really don’t need anything else. But if money were no object, I wouldn’t mind an Hermès “Birkin” bag.

What shoes do you wear most often? Good leather flats or sandshoes.

What do you sleep in? Beautiful cotton T-shirts. The days of negligées are gone.

Who is your favourite fashion icon? I absolutely love the simplicity of Audrey Hepburn’s style in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

What do you wear on a typical working day? For the shows, it’s what we used to call “tits, feathers and ass” – glitter and feather gowns. I’ve also been wearing a lot of beaded pantsuits. I had a beautiful red Indian wedding sari given to me recently. I made it into a cardigan and pants and wore them to sing a few songs at Claire’s Kitchen in Sydney – it looked so elegant. And flesh-coloured heels, always; we used to wear Shirley Bassey-style beaded shoes, but you don’t want people looking at your feet.

What’s your favourite off-duty, casual Sunday look? I’ll be wearing a cotton kaftan and getting on with my painting; I just had an exhibition at Maunsell Wickes Gallery in Paddington, Sydney.

Carlotta is part of the QVB Sydney WorldPride campaign.

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