Pennod 14 Cwpwrdd Dillad

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-This week, the wardrobe

-of Art Director, Arwel Wyn Jones.

-We'll also see dressmaker

-Megan Williams's couture collection.

-First, we head to Denbigh

-to meet Julie Howatson-Broster.

-Welcome to Cwpwrdd Dillad.

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-Julie Howatson-Broster

-owns a beauty salon in Denbigh.

-What better way to start the day

-than with a manicure?

-I love clothes.

-Clothes are my life.

-That's a very sad confession

-to make!

-Julie has always loved clothes

-and constantly changes her style.

-She enjoys reinventing herself.

-Where does it stem from, Julie?

-Did you inherit it from somewhere?

-Did you inherit it from somewhere?

-

-From my mother, probably.

-She made a lot of her own clothes

-in the early 1970s.

-A lot of people made

-their own clothes in those days.

-My brother and I

-tended to wear the same clothes.

-Well, no, he didn't wear dresses

-but the colours were similar.

-There are photos of us

-wearing co-ordinating colours.

-Very cute!

-What about your schooldays?

-I wasn't too bad,

-when I was a schoolgirl.

-I went through a phase when

-I didn't really care about clothes.

-That changed when I left school.

-How did those changes come about?

-I left school to follow

-a beauty therapy course at college.

-I realised I had to start

-taking care of my appearance.

-My boyfriend, who became

-my husband, moved to Brighton.

-I visited him every fortnight

-and we went clubbing in Brighton.

-That's when I became

-interested in fashion.

-The club scene there was fantastic.

-What did you wear?

-I tended to make more of an effort,

-as the Welsh girl in Brighton.

-I tended to think

-about the clothes I wore.

-Kilts were in at the time.

-The punk scene.

-I wore fishnets,

-jackboots and a kilt.

-I wanted to stand out

-from the crowd.

-Julie's business

-is close to her home in Denbigh...

-..so she's never far away

-from her wardrobes.

-These are great.

-Did you do this yourself?

-Did you do this yourself?

-

-Yes. They're quite nice.

-My husband doesn't agree...

-..even though he now

-sleeps with five women, not just me!

-He should be chuffed.

-He should be chuffed.

-

-They don't do much, though.

-Where shall we start?

-Where shall we start?

-

-Let's start here.

-A few items in here

-mean a lot to me.

-This has sentimental value,

-even though I hate it!

-You hate your wedding dress!

-I wore it ten years ago

-and it's so fussy.

-I'm glad

-I didn't go for a meringue.

-At least it's straight,

-which suits me because I'm tall.

-It's just far too fussy.

-This is very sentimental.

-It belonged to my mother.

-A typical 1960s coat.

-Is it a vintage dress too?

-Is it a vintage dress too?

-

-No, a friend of mine made it.

-I bought the beads

-in a second-hand store.

-I wore this dress,

-when I was a child.

-These were my first shoes.

-I only have one -

-its partner must have walked away!

-This is my son's first shoe.

-Your shoe and your son's shoe

-are very similar.

-I want you to show you

-one more item in this wardrobe.

-This.

-A real bargain.

-I only paid five pounds for it.

-People have stopped me in the street

-asking where I got it.

-Do you tell them it cost a fiver?

-Do you tell them it cost a fiver?

-

-No, I say it's an Armani.

-I wear colourful evening dresses

-because they catch the light.

-Lighting is great at night.

-Look at all that material!

-Yes and look at all the textures.

-This is lovely!

-Yes, it is nice.

-Satin and so tiny!

-Yes, considering its price tag.

-The smallest item in the wardrobe

-was also the most expensive.

-Isn't that terrible?

-Isn't that terrible?

-

-No, it's fine.

-It's great with long boots,

-for the men.

-I hope my husband likes it!

-It's great. It's like a corset.

-It pulls you in.

-Zip it up and your tummy is flat.

-It's fantastic!

-I think

-that's why it was so expensive.

-What do we have

-in the next wardrobe?

-Wow!

-These are fantastic.

-They're very comfortable.

-Are they new?

-Are they new?

-

-Yes.

-I wore these

-with one of those shirts...

-..and my granny said,

-"Julie, you look like my mother."

-I thought, "Oh, gosh!"

-She told me not to take offence.

-She remembers her mother wearing

-high collars and boots like these.

-Cute!

-Isn't that fantastic?

-I stayed at the Sanderson Hotel,

-London last year...

-..and they had a sofa

-shaped like this.

-I walked in clutching this bag.

-It was funny.

-The staff noticed

-that my bag matched the furniture!

-It was hilarious.

-You must get one of those sofas.

-It's Kookai. It wasn't expensive.

-Crazy.

-Your clothes are colourful.

-Do they reflect your personality?

-Yes, I hope so.

-I think it's a crazy wardrobe!

-Would you describe yourself

-as crazy?

-Yes.

-Crazy and proud of it.

-Crazy and proud of it.

-

-Absolutely.

-What will happen next?

-Your wardrobes are full.

-Do you have another wardrobe

-waiting to be filled?

-No. I think Dad

-will have to build me a new house!

-A new house

-with built-in wardrobes.

-You'll keep buying clothes?

-You'll keep buying clothes?

-

-Yes. Perhaps I'll cut down a bit.

-Dad always tells me

-to pay off my mortgage.

-My father is a very sensible man,

-unlike his daughter!

-You're not likely to be sensible?

-You're not likely to be sensible?

-

-No. Sorry, Dad!

-I've never

-liked to be part of the crowd.

-I like being different.

-Arwel Wyn Jones is

-a film and television art director.

-His recent credits include Dr Who.

-His wardrobe is unique.

-You grew up in Llandwrog.

-When did you first

-take an interest in fashion?

-I don't know when it started...

-..but I do know

-I caused my mother endless trouble.

-Most lads my age were into football

-and they wore Pringle jumpers.

-They wore old men's clothes,

-rather than fashionable clothes.

-I wore a lot of black.

-I would wear my granddad's

-old coats and waistcoats.

-Anything that was

-out of the ordinary.

-I didn't want to be

-part of the big, boring crowd.

-What influenced you?

-Film stars? Music?

-Who are your heroes?

-I'm not sure.

-Film has had an influence

-on my whole life.

-I've loved films

-since I was a child.

-That's why I do what I do.

-The films I loved as a child

-had a massive impact on me...

-..as you'll soon discover.

-Film definitely influenced

-my choice of clothes.

-I own a few items that you won't

-find in anyone else's wardrobe...

-..unless they're into

-the same films as me.

-The best thing about this shirt

-is where it was bought.

-I found it in a gift shop

-at Euro Disney.

-I'd always wanted to own a shirt

-like that, so I snapped it up.

-It's perfect.

-The cuffs tie, like so.

-Do you have trousers

-to go with this shirt?

-I had the trousers

-before I found the shirt.

-If you want to go the whole hog,

-you need leather trousers.

-Do you open them a little

-and show some leg?

-No, I'd never do that.

-Let's take these off the hanger.

-They're pretty special.

-I rarely wear them these days.

-I think

-I've probably outgrown them.

-Outgrown them

-physically or style-wise?

-A bit of both, perhaps!

-These aren't trousers

-for a shrinking violet, Arwel!

-I bought that in a second-hand shop.

-I still buy things

-in second-hand shops.

-I found it in a 1970s shop

-in Newport.

-It's quite unusual.

-Do you like the idea of wearing

-something someone else has worn?

-I don't really think about it.

-If saw that shirt and I liked it.

-It's unique.

-I've washed it!

-This is my oldest shirt.

-It's my old school shirt.

-You kept a school shirt?

-You kept a school shirt?

-

-Yes and it still fits me!

-It's old, so it's more

-of a work shirt than anything else.

-This is velvet.

-You're fond of texture.

-Yes - any excuse to have women

-want to stroke me, like a cat!

-I was about to ask you

-if people stroke you.

-I really wanted a leather,

-biker jacket for years.

-That's what my parents gave me

-on my 18th birthday.

-I wore it until it fell apart.

-Day in, day out, for every occasion.

-Someone stole it

-and that's a real shame.

-If that jacket could talk,

-it would tell my life story!

-Arwel still likes leather.

-This coat wasn't used but

-it was bought for the Dr Who series.

-I bought it for a knockdown price.

-It looks like

-something from the Matrix.

-This is the Matrix coat.

-This was my Christmas present,

-two years ago.

-My girlfriend

-was working in Morocco...

-..and she went to a shop,

-where they make things from scratch.

-She found a man in the market

-who was the same size as me...

-..and dragged him in there

-for three fittings!

-Does it fit perfectly?

-Does it fit perfectly?

-

-Almost.

-He must be slightly taller than me

-because it's a touch too long.

-You need a pair of Cuban heels.

-I can't help but notice

-this collection.

-Arwel, this is great!

-I've always

-had a weakness for watches.

-Is this a family watch?

-Is this a family watch?

-

-Yes, it belonged to my great-uncle.

-It once belonged to a ship's captain

-who lived in Llandwrog.

-As you can see,

-it's worn almost right through.

-The chain damaged the ring.

-I like items

-with a history behind them.

-Do you wear it?

-Do you wear it?

-

-No, I wouldn't do that.

-It's too much of a risk.

-From your teenage years to your

-mid-20s, you try to find yourself.

-What you wear is an integral part

-of your voyage of self-discovery.

-I think

-I'm closer to finding myself.

-I buy new outfits and ring

-the changes from time to time...

-..but generally

-I stick to my basic style.

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-Megan Williams is a dressmaker...

-..and that influences

-every item in her wardrobe.

-I live and breathe sewing

-and sewing keeps me alive.

-I sleep and eat sewing.

-I really do enjoy it.

-My mother was interested in it.

-She wasn't an educated woman.

-She stayed home on the farm.

-She always helped me

-with knitting and sewing projects.

-She'd make alterations to clothes

-and make garments from old clothes.

-I saw this

-and it sparked an interest in me.

-I left school at 16 and I decided

-to pursue a career in dressmaking.

-I took up an apprenticeship.

-I wanted to learn to make clothes

-the old-fashioned way.

-What was the first item of clothing

-you made?

-It was a skirt.

-Just a simple skirt.

-I thought the world of it.

-I was as proud as punch

-because I'd made it myself.

-I then moved up a gear

-and made a blouse.

-I had to make a sleeve and a collar.

-I then graduated

-to making a dress.

-Megan is a first class dressmaker.

-She's won many competitions

-and awards for her work.

-She's one of Britain's

-leading dressmakers.

-These are some of the clothes

-in my wardrobe.

-I've never worn them...

-..but I look after them

-and they mean the world to me.

-These are my prize-winning clothes.

-The standard of competition work

-must be spot-on.

-You make a special effort with every

-stitch to ensure a perfect finish.

-I'm very attached to the clothes

-I entered in competition.

-The quality of Megan's work...

-..means she's in demand

-as a wedding dress maker.

-There are two special

-wedding dresses in her wardrobe.

-These are

-my daughters' wedding dresses.

-Manon, my eldest daughter,

-wore this 15 years ago.

-The shoulders were padded,

-which was the fashion then.

-She also wore this handmade headband

-but modern brides wear tiaras.

-Something simpler, in essence.

-Loops and buttons are my trademark.

-I really like to see them

-on wedding dresses.

-Long sleeves, loops and buttons.

-Each button opens.

-Sioned, your other daughter,

-got married in this dress?

-Yes, this is Sioned's wedding dress.

-Sioned got married

-five years after Manon...

-..and this has a more tailored look.

-The back of the jacket

-is interesting.

-It's very important because

-the dress falls below it, in pleats.

-It's fortunate

-you have lots of wardrobes...

-..because your daughters

-left their dresses here!

-They know you'll look after them.

-They're happy their wedding dresses

-are in Mam's house.

-Do you make clothes for yourself?

-Yes. I wouldn't dream of going out

-and buying an item of clothing.

-I make everything.

-I'm short and I must

-choose my clothes carefully.

-Colours can cut me in half and

-my clothes must fit me really well.

-That's especially true

-when it comes to trousers.

-I doubt I'd be able to

-buy a pair of trousers to fit me.

-I save vast amounts of money

-by buying a metre of fabric...

-..to make my own clothes,

-rather than buy them.

-Do you buy material and keep it

-for a long time, before using it?

-Yes. I have a chest

-jam-packed with fabric.

-When I need something in a hurry,

-I dip into the chest.

-I find a suitable piece of fabric

-and I make an item of clothing.

-Megan, this has caught my eye.

-It's lovely.

-That was one of the first coats

-I made.

-I made it in the early 1980s.

-It's a full-length, leather coat.

-I enjoyed making it

-and I also enjoyed wearing it.

-It's so soft, isn't it?

-It's still soft.

-It's still soft.

-

-Yes. Leather improves, with age.

-It's been in the wardrobe for years.

-It's still going strong.

-Yes and if you want to get rid

-of it, you know where to come.

-What do we have in this room?

-These are the clothes I wear,

-at the moment.

-I'm a suits, coats and

-matching trousers type of person.

-I'm very, very fond of this.

-Feel it.

-This is cashmere.

-It's soft and it's a joy to wear.

-The trousers are in plain grey.

-I used pieces of the cashmere

-on the side of the leg.

-These are bootleg trousers.

-I love my black, suede coat.

-This is a really handy coat.

-I can accessorize it

-with black or brown.

-It's very flexible.

-It's warm

-and it's suitable for all occasions.

-I enjoy working

-with waterproof fabric.

-Did you make those raincoats?

-Yes. I send away for the fabric.

-It comes in a range of colours.

-I love working with it.

-I made this last year,

-to take on holiday to Patagonia.

-That's wonderful.

-It kept you warm.

-Yes. It's light

-and I could carry it in my bag.

-It's part-lined with fleece.

-The sleeves

-have a light, satin lining.

-It folds away neatly and I could

-pop it on, whenever I felt the cold.

-It was very, very handy.

-Have you considered

-expanding the business...

-..and producing

-a range of fleeces and coats?

-No. I enjoy making one-offs.

-I wouldn't enjoy doing

-the same thing over and over again.

-I like looking at clothes.

-I enjoy seeing people

-wearing clothes...

-..especially

-if they look good in them.

-I'll make a mental note

-of the style a person's wearing.

-I sit down and I try to recreate

-the style I've seen someone wear.

-D'you steal ideas wherever you go?

-Yes, I'm a terrible one

-for stealing ideas!

-If someone has a garment I like,

-look out!

-S4C subtitles by Eirlys A Jones