Pennod 3 Cwpwrdd Dillad

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-In this programme, a wardrobe

-steeped in history in Aberystwyth.

-We look at image, clothes and bags

-with a solicitor from Cardiff.

-Finally, a man who dresses

-to stand out from the crowd.

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-Ready-made clothes were quite rare,

-so Mam made all our clothes.

-I hated fittings

-but it was unavoidable.

-My sister and I thought

-we had to make our own clothes, too.

-I then realised

-I could buy clothes from a shop...

-..without

-having to bother with dressmaking.

-Author and nationalist Mari Ellis

-married Tom Ellis in 1949.

-She was 35 years old, at the time.

-Her wardrobe is full of memories

-of her life with Tom.

-Her clothes

-are an echo of a bygone age.

-Is there a certain period

-upon which you look back...

-..with particularly fond memories?

-Yes, indeed.

-I would say the late 1950s

-and the early 1960s.

-You could wear

-what I would call feminine clothes.

-The clothes were well-cut...

-..and they were also

-extremely beautiful.

-That's the period I would choose.

-I kept some of the dresses

-I wore during that period...

-..because they're so pretty.

-They'll never

-come back into fashion...

-..but I wouldn't dream

-of throwing them away.

-I've laid everything out for you,

-so you can see them all.

-Great. You took them all

-out of the wardrobes for me.

-Where shall we begin?

-Where shall we begin?

-

-With my wedding dress.

-This is the dress I wore

-when I got married.

-It had a train, at that time.

-I also wore a short veil.

-Why did you wear a blue dress,

-rather than a traditional white one?

-I thought I was too old.

-I'd be mutton dressed as lamb

-in a white dress.

-And also,

-I couldn't wear a white dress again.

-Once the train had been removed...

-..I could wear it to dinner parties

-or on special occasions.

-I wore it to various functions...

-..at which my husband

-was guest of honour.

-What about your sister's

-wedding dress?

-My mother made her wedding dress.

-It was white satin.

-She got married in 1937.

-My mother worked on the dress

-for a fortnight.

-The only things professionally made

-were the buttons.

-There's something like 30 buttons

-right down the back.

-They were professionally made.

-She did everything else herself.

-Tell me about this one.

-I bought this when the Queen

-visited Aberystwyth...

-..to open an extension

-to the Library.

-Tom was the chairman

-of some committee or other...

-..so we were

-to be introduced to her.

-We spent a whole day

-clothes shopping in Shrewsbury...

-..but we came home empty-handed.

-We came home, to Aberystwyth,

-and went to the Alison Coates shop.

-They had this dress in stock.

-It was perfect

-and it fitted like a glove.

-This is the hat I wore with it.

-A straw hat.

-I felt this was historical...

-..and that it was worth keeping it.

-I don't know

-what will become of them...

-..after my day.

-The famous Liberal, Tom Ellis,

-was her father-in-law.

-He was MP for Merionethshire

-in Victorian times.

-What's this, in the Harrods box?

-This was the going-away suit...

-..worn by Tom's mother -

-Mrs Tom Ellis.

-She wore it in 1898.

-When she wore this...

-..what did her husband,

-Tom Ellis MP, wear?

-What you see there

-are parts of his Windsor uniform.

-They wore those when they went

-to see Queen Victoria.

-There was a uniform here but it

-hadn't been kept in good condition.

-We had to throw it away.

-It hadn't stood the ravages of time,

-in its box.

-The sword and the hat

-are still in good condition.

-This was my husband's gown,

-when he was a young child.

-His mother

-had kept this little gown.

-She passed this down, to you?

-Well, it was here when I moved in.

-She'd kept it safely.

-Look at this tiny cap.

-It's incredible to think of such

-a tall man in such tiny clothes.

-Nowadays, I keep everything

-connected with Tom...

-..since I lost him.

-He meant so very much to me.

-I like to feel well turned out

-and I like my hair to be neat.

-I always wear a hat,

-other than on hot, summer days.

-The top of my head feels the cold.

-People today

-think they've done their hair...

-..but they look absolutely awful.

-I see pictures of them in the paper,

-with their hair all over the place.

-I wouldn't say it hurts me...

-..but it worries me that society has

-let itself get into such decline.

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-I think I'm a confident person...

-..but clothes, shoes and bags

-help me along.

-Siriol lives the urban life.

-She lives in a contemporary flat,

-she drives a cool car...

-..and she dresses to impress.

-She's training to be a barrister

-but she'd stand out in any bar!

-Did you have a favourite dress,

-as a little girl?

-Did you enjoy wearing dresses

-and going out?

-I did ballet,

-so I wore tutus and danced in shows.

-It was an integral part

-of my childhood.

-I was always in my school shows

-and I enjoyed dressing up.

-I loved having a nose

-in my mother's wardrobe.

-I had fun with those things.

-When I was young,

-I was quite chubby.

-When I reached my teens,

-I really shot up.

-That's when I realised

-I could wear all sorts of clothes.

-I didn't have enough confidence,

-prior to that.

-You're very tall, aren't you?

-Does that mean

-you use that to your advantage?

-Do you wear high heels?

-There are so many pairs

-of beautiful shoes in the world.

-I think it would be a shame

-not to wear high heels...

-..just because I'm tall.

-I do go out and buy high heels

-and I enjoy wearing them.

-They also work wonders on the legs.

-They tighten them, of course.

-Why should I miss out,

-just because I'm tall?

-I love wearing high heels,

-so why not?

-I keep all my clothes in here.

-The coats and jackets are here.

-These are my work clothes.

-This section is for shopping

-or for staying in the flat.

-The rest of it is my party wear.

-It's really important,

-as I live in the heart of town.

-The party wear

-is the biggest section, too.

-Yes - definitely!

-And, of course, the piece

-de resistance - the handbags.

-This was my first handbag.

-My father bought it for me,

-when he went to California.

-This kick-started my habit.

-He gave this to me and I knew

-I had to have a collection of them.

-I went to New York

-and bought another one.

-I like the colours...

-..and I love the fact they

-look stylish, when I'm out shopping.

-I think the LV is my favourite.

-Tell me about this Prada bag.

-Tell me about this Prada bag.

-

-I bought that in a sale.

-It's my one and only Prada.

-I keep the dust bags, to make sure

-they don't lose their shape.

-I bought that in a Flannels sale.

-It was quite a bargain.

-I paid 425 for it.

-I paid 425 for it.

-

-Did you say 425?!

-Yes - it's a Prada bag.

-I treated myself, in the sale.

-It's wonderful to the touch.

-The leather is exquisite

-and the colour is great, too.

-I was pleased

-with that little purchase.

-If this was 425 in the sale,

-how much were these?

-Do you mind me asking?

-How much was this?

-How much was this?

-

-That was another little indulgence.

-I wanted a plain bag, for work.

-It's a Luella.

-If I remember rightly, I think

-I paid 595 for that. Sorry, Mam!

-It's a really nice bag.

-The leather is sturdy,

-so it's good for work.

-Was that convincing?

-The bag is important,

-so what about the clothes?

-If you spend that much on bags,

-you must spend a fortune on clothes.

-No, I don't, really.

-I tend to shop in Top Shop

-and Oasis.

-I also love Zara, at the moment.

-Their coats and trousers

-are really tailored.

-It's a good look for work.

-I have a few D&G items

-and this is by Pringle.

-Generally,

-I shop in Next and Oasis.

-I'm a high street chick.

-How would you describe your style?

-Trendy?

-For work, I wear tailored trousers

-and nice jumpers.

-I also wear long coats,

-in this cold weather.

-I'll wear a short jacket, like this,

-for work.

-It's quite funky.

-Look at the detail.

-I also wear this, from Zara.

-I love this.

-It's a long coat, with a buckle.

-It's quite nice.

-For evenings out,

-I'll wear pretty little dresses.

-That's from Warehouse.

-This is H&M and I like it because

-it's a vintage, feminine look.

-It looks great with heels

-and my Fendi bag.

-What about the total image?

-You live in a nice flat,

-you drive a nice car.

-You go out to nice places.

-Are clothes just a part of that?

-Yes, I think so.

-I like to do nice things

-and I enjoy spending money.

-I love it

-when people spend money on me!

-It's all part of the image.

-The important thing

-is that I'm happy.

-If I'm happy with my image -

-that's it, really.

-I love being spoilt.

-You're searching for a rich man.

-You're searching for a rich man.

-

-Yes and I want him now!

-Everyone knows Gwil.

-Ask on the streets and in the pubs

-and everyone knows me.

-I lived in a village

-called Bwlchllan.

-There was a 'Best Dressed'

-competition at the local carnival.

-I asked my neighbour

-to enter the competition, with me.

-She agreed

-and we went as 'A Couple At Ascot'.

-She wore the suit

-and I wore the dress.

-Great!

-I must have been

-eight or nine years old.

-You remember thinking,

-"Oh! This is great!"?

-Yes.

-I think I enjoyed the attention.

-I think that's still true.

-Were there times,

-when you were growing up...

-..when other people were

-more prudish than they are today?

-Yes. People would shout at me

-and call me names.

-The louder people shouted,

-the more outrageous I became.

-In the end, people got bored with it

-and they left me alone.

-I shared a house

-with a friend of mine.

-People assumed we were partners

-but we weren't.

-He dressed up, too,

-and we'd head to Cardiff or Swansea.

-We went to Manchester, too.

-We dressed up and hit the clubs.

-It was good fun.

-Fond memories?

-Fond memories?

-

-Yes, very much so.

-There you go.

-There you go.

-

-Wow!

-Look at that!

-Gwilym, you're really tall.

-How do you find dresses to fit you?

-How do you find dresses to fit you?

-

-I find them. Don't you worry.

-Do you order them from a specialist?

-Do you order them from a specialist?

-

-No, not at all.

-This belonged to a lady I know

-who went on cruises.

-She'd only wear these dresses

-once or twice.

-I had to add the bottom section

-because it wasn't long enough.

-You added this part? I see.

-Where would you go, in this dress?

-I'd feel overdressed

-if I wore this dress in Aberystwyth!

-It's such a glamorous dress.

-No, you'd be fine.

-I've got one in your size in here.

-I couldn't wear that

-and you're much taller than me!

-Gwilym, where does that come on you?

-It just about hides your bum.

-It just about hides your bum.

-

-There's a slit in it, too!

-Do you wear tights with it?

-Do you wear tights with it?

-

-Stockings or knee-high boots.

-To keep you warm?

-To keep you warm?

-

-Yes.

-These are fantastic.

-May I try one?

-May I try one?

-

-Go on, then.

-It will be massive on me.

-They're miles too big.

-They're miles too big.

-

-Yes.

-You can't close the wardrobe...

-..without telling me about that

-red bit of PVC that's sticking out.

-This?

-I daren't ask where it goes!

-There's more to it than that.

-Hold on!

-Do these fit you?

-Yes, with a little bit

-of persuasion.

-Squeeze it all in.

-These wouldn't fit me.

-More power to you.

-Try them on.

-People are worried sick about

-what their parents might say...

-..or what the neighbours

-might think.

-They shouldn't worry.

-If you feel content in yourself,

-who cares what other people say?

-It's your life...

-..not your family's life

-or your neighbours' life.

-Do as you please, as long as

-you're not hurting other people.

-I've been beaten up

-because I'm gay and dress like this.

-The more people behaved like that,

-the more outrageous I became.

-But I've pulled through.

-Live your life.

-You only get one chance.

-S4C subtitles by Eirlys A Jones