Growing Up with Childrensalon: Carla’s Story

I was just a baby when it all started. My mum was looking for something amazing for a baptism and she came across Childrensalon for the first time. There, she found the most perfect Miss Blumarine dress and cardigan for me. From then on, my parents felt that I was always most beautifully dressed in clothes that were from Childrensalon. When I was younger I lived in outfits by Monnalisa, to the extent that many of our friends started calling me the “Monnalisa girl”!

When I was four years old, my mum sent in some pictures of me to Childrensalon, as she had got to know a lot of the team working there and they had become friends. In the summer of 2014, my mum received an email on behalf of Michele [Harriman-Smith, who led the business and is the daughter of Childrensalon's founder Sybil], asking us if she would bring me to be in a photo shoot. I loved the experience — it was like a fairytale come true! From that moment onwards, a special relationship developed between us and I travelled over to England and modelled in many Childrensalon shoots over the years — it felt like they had become a second family to us. Over time, our relationship got even stronger and I developed a special bond with many of the team, including the wonderful Melissa, who styled me in this shoot today.

So many. I loved dressing up in the beautiful clothes. One time, I remember wearing a dress, shoes and a crown by Dolce & Gabbana. It felt like I was in a fairytale. I remember all the people, too — especially Melissa, who always made me feel so beautiful, the ladies who did my hair, and the photographers, all of whom I really liked and made me feel so comfortable. It was like coming home every time and I was always sad to leave. The people were always great and meeting Michele and George [Harriman-Smith, Childrensalon's creative visionary] was very special. I loved their energy, and Michele had a kind of aura around her . . . she was like a queen whenever she came into the room.

Of course my parents would say the baptism dress. Then after my Monnalisa phase, I remember there was a tutu from Angel’s Face that I absolutely loved. I also had some glittery boots that I insisted on wearing to school. Even when they were too small, I would carry on wearing them . . . I loved those boots so much!

I like dresses, skirts and pants — or how do you say it? Trousers? Dresses make me feel special, though. There is a big trend for girls to wear trousers, but sometimes I want to look more feminine, so having support helps me feel confident, especially when everyone is following that trend. My mum always encourages me to wear what I want. We are very close in my family, and we talk about everything.

It’s so hard to choose, but I would say Dolce & Gabbana has special meaning for me. Ever since I was little, I loved modelling their collections for Childrensalon, and today I felt just as amazing in the dresses and trouser set. My dream would be to model for Dolce & Gabbana! Also, for me the pink floral [Marlo Kids] dress was the most beautiful. I felt very special in that dress. I loved the knitted Calvin Klein set, too — it was so comfortable.

I would say that I am quite active. I really enjoy doing sport, and twice a week I have aikido [a Japanese martial art] and swimming.

Yes, I am going to an amusement park in Belgium with my whole family, which I think will be very fun!

I think I would love to travel and live in another country. I am a relaxed person and tend to go with the flow, which I think is quite rare. I am not sure what I would like to be when I grow up, but I do enjoy the modelling I have done with Childrensalon and would like to explore that more. I wish I could return and do shoots with Childrensalon forever! Whenever I do, it feels like I am coming home to the ones I love . . .

I would say always follow your dreams and never give up on the goals that make you happy. Passion is what will help you accomplish your dreams and dedication to your loved ones is most important. I love Childrensalon and the team like they are family and I hope that I am able to carry on the legacy of what I have learned into my future career, hopefully as a professional model one day.

Images by Childrensalon