Pennod 14 Cwpwrdd Dillad

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-In this programme, we visit Brighton

-to see Mair Rees-Davies's wardrobe.

-We meet Adam Marc James

-from Llandysul...

-..who wants to design menswear.

-It's 1980s fashion which interests

-presenter and actress Erin Richards.

-Welcome to Cwpwrdd Dillad.

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-We'd been coming to Brighton

-for 20 years.

-Sadly, around four years ago...

-..five of our closest friends

-died of cancer.

-My husband asked me what I wanted

-to do with the rest of my life.

-I said,

-"I'd love to live in Brighton."

-I was brought up by the sea,

-in Tywyn.

-He said he'd love to move here too,

-so we gave it a go.

-Mair didn't move here to retire.

-As a singers' agent, she divides

-her time between London and Cardiff.

-That's why she needed to become

-the mistress of mix and match.

-I tend to wear clothes

-which are on the long side.

-I like clothes which are slimming

-but I love mixing colours.

-As you get older,

-you widen and shorten!

-I think

-that something worn one year...

-..may not suit me

-the following year.

-So I'm really careful.

-It's important to keep yourself

-looking good, as you get older.

-It's easy to say,

-"Oh, well! Can't be bothered."

-I bought this in Rome.

-It's not a designer label

-but it's smart.

-The fact you bought it in Rome

-sounds good!

-Do you often go to Rome?

-I visit Rome once or twice a year.

-I lived there for two years.

-I don't touch the designer shops.

-I don't pay through the nose.

-I never see someone

-in the same outfit as me.

-Tell me about your work

-and the role clothes play in it.

-I'm a trained singer.

-I went

-to London College of Music...

-..and then to Rome,

-on a two-year scholarship.

-I'm now an agent.

-I spend time in the West End.

-I also teach.

-I need two different wardrobes.

-I don't dress up to teach

-the children but I do use colour.

-I may teach in the morning,

-attend a meeting in the afternoon...

-..and go to a show in the evening.

-I need three outfits in one day.

-It doesn't happen every day,

-mind you.

-I've learned to mix and match.

-This is a handy silk jacket.

-I wear it with black trousers

-and a cream blouse.

-It isn't too formal.

-You can dress it up

-or dress it down.

-It's impressive

-and will impress people.

-There's something special about it.

-It's no shrinking violet but

-versatile to create different looks.

-Yes, that's right.

-In my work as an agent, I do mix

-socially with other agents.

-When I go to these meetings,

-they're all smartly dressed.

-I suppose a lot of people

-would call it power dressing.

-It's important to me to look good

-if I want to talk to agents...

-..or to casting directors.

-I wouldn't wear jeans and a T-shirt.

-I have a penchant for bold clothes

-which say...

-.."I'm here - you're going

-to listen to me!"

-I've worn this many times.

-I wore it to adjudicate in the

-Can You Sing competition in Cardiff.

-The dress came from Rome

-and I bought the coat in London.

-I'll take away this dress.

-That dress has the wow factor.

-Yes, it's a nice dress.

-At my age, I can't wear something

-like this with exposed shoulders.

-I must be careful.

-I wore it to the opening night

-of The Sound of Music.

-My little girl

-sang the part of Gretl.

-I wore it with jeans,

-a white blouse, a belt and a bag.

-A totally different look

-but still smart.

-This is handy.

-It's an East jacket.

-I can dress it up or down.

-I wore it to a wedding,

-with a black skirt and a black hat.

-I also team it with diamonds,

-to go to dinner.

-Instant evening wear.

-It's important to me to look good.

-I don't dress

-to please anyone other than myself.

-If I know I look good...

-..everyone else

-will think I look good too.

-That's my way of thinking.

-You're certainly

-not scared of colour.

-That pink dress you're wearing

-is fantastic and so are your nails.

-I've always done my nails.

-I do my hands and my feet.

-I think make-up, lipstick and hair

-are important too.

-A nice suit is wasted...

-..unless everything else

-coordinates with it.

-Mam said, "When you're older

-and you want a second husband...

-..he'll look at your face

-and then at your feet."

-I'm not bothered

-about the in-between bits!

-That's how I look at it.

-Is that

-what your second husband did?

-I'm not sure where he looked first!

-Tell me about your wedding dress.

-Silk and satin, from Paris.

-I wanted a dress and coat

-I could use again.

-I can use it as an evening dress.

-I'm going to Thailand soon

-and I need things to wear.

-I'm organizing a programme

-for the Thai royal family.

-I'll have the coat altered and

-wear it in the evening in Thailand.

-What would be the point

-of keeping it in the wardrobe?

-I may even

-make a few more alterations.

-There's enough fabric there

-to make it into a trouser suit.

-Do you discuss clothes and image

-with your choral students?

-Yes, I do and it's very important.

-Whether they're performing,

-competing or auditioning...

-..the hair and the clothes

-must be right.

-No jeans!

-That package is important to you,

-in exactly the same way.

-Yes, from top to tail.

-Everything must be right.

-I don't spend two hours

-deciding what to wear every morning.

-I'm organized and I'll be up and

-out of the house in half an hour.

-I've done it for years.

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-I always start

-with a human emotion or a sensation.

-Something

-with which we can all identify.

-It's natural

-to address these matters.

-I also look at where the garment

-comes into contact with the body.

-Adam Marc James

-is anything but ordinary.

-He designs menswear.

-His clothes aren't run-of-the-mill

-and they're not to everyone's taste.

-Adam studies fashion in London and

-he challenges our preconceptions.

-I knew I wanted to go into fashion

-but I'm not blinkered...

-..so I used new techniques and

-fresh mediums to bolster my work.

-I've done some film

-and photography work.

-You say human emotions and instincts

-are important in your work.

-What emotions in particular

-emerge in your work?

-I lost my grandfather this year

-and that influenced my work.

-Death-related topics

-are a constant element of my work.

-Everyone can relate to it because

-we're all aware of our mortality.

-We all question

-the legacy which we leave behind.

-I inherited

-my great-grandfather's suits.

-He was a funeral director

-so I always associated death to him.

-This suit

-was made by Evans & Wilkins...

-..which was a famous tailors'

-and outfitters' shop in Carmarthen.

-One glance at the label

-tells it's old.

-Yes, and the lining

-has turned yellow.

-I don't remember him as a big man...

-..but these suits tell me

-he was just that.

-He died when I was young.

-Look inside

-and you see it's a tailored suit.

-My great-grandfather

-is part of the fabric.

-I also

-inherited the shoes he once wore.

-When I was told I'd inherited them,

-I couldn't picture the shoes...

-..but once I saw them,

-I saw my great-grandfather.

-He lives on in my memory

-and physically, in my wardrobe.

-I designed a few pieces

-based on the suits...

-..and the space within the suits.

-There's a garment here

-but it's also an installation.

-What is

-the significance of the piece?

-It's one of the most

-personal pieces I've designed.

-I've taken pieces I inherited

-and shaped them to question death.

-That's where the arrows

-come into it.

-Where do we go after death?

-The sawdust and wood shavings...

-..are reminiscent of the floor

-of my great-grandfather's house.

-It's where he made the coffins.

-He gave us wood shavings

-for our pet rabbits.

-It's a nostalgic piece.

-If you say human emotions

-are important in your work...

-..how does that embody itself

-in your wardrobe?

-I have a few suits and blazers

-in my wardrobe.

-I dress formally a lot of the time.

-I like to get up in the morning...

-..and dress as someone

-who'll achieve something that day.

-This is a mystery to me!

-How can the clothes you wear...

-..be such a dramatic contrast

-to the garments you create?

-They're so different, aren't they?

-They're so different, aren't they?

-

-Yes, that's true.

-I like the disconnection

-between me and my work.

-There's no difference between

-some designers and their work.

-It frees me to assess items

-both visually and conceptually.

-I'm not here to provide answers.

-I'm here to raise questions.

-You should see this in the context

-of it being a gallery installation.

-It gives people food for thought.

-The three pieces displayed here

-were a part of the collection...

-..I designed at the end

-of my college course in Carmarthen.

-These are the showpieces.

-They must be hung.

-They can't take a human form because

-they're sections of garments.

-One trouser leg

-or a piece of a shirt.

-Hanging them gives

-a hint of the body shape...

-..which inspired them

-and which is a part of them.

-The work is quite dark.

-Was that intentional?

-Was that intentional?

-

-Yes, it was intentional.

-One of the themes with which I deal

-in this collection...

-..is the absence of presence.

-I want to design menswear.

-That's where my chance

-to make a difference lies.

-Menswear has been overlooked.

-Traditionally, men aren't

-as concerned about image as women.

-I'll work within the fashion context

-which, by nature, is commercial.

-My work is approachable.

-It isn't too off-the-wall.

-I want to learn

-to get my message across to people.

-It may be totally conceptual...

-..but I'd aim for it

-to become more approachable.

-I don't think of myself

-as a glamorous person.

-I don't want to stand out

-as a catwalky, glam person.

-I like to dress down

-and stand out because I'm unique...

-..or because I wear items

-people haven't seen previously.

-She stands out from the crowd

-almost effortlessly.

-This woman from Penarth follows

-her instinct rather than fashion.

-Erin Richards, who presents Mosgito,

-loves 1980s fashion.

-I don't like the high turnover

-you see in the fashion world.

-I go to second-hand clothes shops

-and vintage shops.

-Do you buy second-hand because

-it's unique or for ethical reasons?

-A bit of both.

-It's better for the environment

-to buy 30-year-old clothes.

-I don't want to buy something

-then bin it.

-I'm heavily influenced

-by the 1980s, at the moment.

-That's how

-I stand out from the crowd.

-It's very organized.

-Yes, for once!

-At first glance, I'd say

-your daywear is on this side...

-..and your special clothes are here.

-Let's start with the daywear.

-Let's start with the daywear.

-

-I wear a check shirt every day.

-I'd wear this shirt

-with something like this.

-This goes under the shirt.

-I'd team these with jeans.

-I'd wear it in the day

-or for a gig at night.

-It's easy to wear.

-The nautical look was trendy

-at the start of the summer.

-I wear this with red trousers.

-Red trousers

-will always get you noticed!

-Yes

-but it isn't as bad as it sounds!

-I wear this a lot in the summer

-because it's thin and light.

-It's pretty

-and it's also quite unusual.

-I found this

-in a second-hand shop in France.

-You shop,

-even when you're on holiday!

-Yes, and I've found some amazing

-stuff in shops on the continent.

-Pieces you wouldn't find here.

-It started when I found

-my true self, as a person.

-When you're at school...

-..you aren't aware of who you are...

-..or your personal taste.

-Such a lot goes on

-when you're 15, 16 and 17.

-You're in a mess.

-After I did my A levels,

-I went travelling.

-I don't want to say

-I found myself...

-..but I learned a lot about who I am

-and about my likes and dislikes.

-I became more confident in myself

-and in my preferences.

-If I saw this,

-I'd like it as a dress...

-..but I'd wonder to myself

-how on earth I'd wear it.

-The true skill lies in knowing

-how to assemble outfits.

-How do you wear this?

-I wear it with a yellow vest top

-and leopard print tights.

-I also wear this belt

-with that outfit.

-I wear this belt with everything!

-It's great.

-It's great.

-

-Yes, it goes in the middle.

-I'd also wear something in my hair.

-It's an outfit for festivals.

-I go to a lot of gigs and festivals.

-I go out a lot in Sheffield

-with my student friends.

-A hippy vibe and electronic music

-is quite trendy in Sheffield.

-It certainly

-influenced my crazy dress sense.

-Oh, wow!

-This is straight from the 1980s.

-Yes, but it ripped, unfortunately,

-when I was at a festival.

-I must get it repaired.

-I've found

-a lovely place in Cardiff...

-..where an old lady adds touches or

-helps me with mending and darning.

-I get a lot of dresses altered.

-I also customize them myself.

-I know what you're thinking!

-It doesn't seem possible to wear it!

-It's fantastic!

-It's fantastic!

-

-I saw it and I had to have it.

-It only cost 20.

-Where would you wear

-something like that?

-I'd wear it to festivals

-or when I'm in London.

-I give myself a massive hairdo

-to go with it...

-..to make it clear I'm having fun,

-not being serious!

-I wear is as a miniskirt,

-so I hike it up and wear a belt.

-This flows over the top.

-You look fantastic in something

-most of us could never, ever wear!

-Maybe you'll change your mind

-about me looking fantastic!

-People think of the 1980s

-as a fashion disaster.

-Yes, and so did I!

-I think it's all to do with time.

-I look at what I wore in the 1990s

-and say, "What was I thinking?"

-I can't see what we could revive

-from the 1990s.

-I don't even know

-what the 1990s style actually was!

-I think it's something which happens

-after ten years.

-In the 1990s, enough time had passed

-for a 1970s fashion revival.

-The 1980s happened in between

-and everyone hated the clothes!

-Enough time has now passed for us

-to look at 1980s fashion...

-..and say, "Wow!"

-I love the way everything clashed

-and people had big hair.

-I think it was

-a really cool era for women.

-I've just bought this.

-There's a lot of black

-in autumn and winter 2008.

-I like that!

-I like that!

-

-It's great.

-I may buy some netting and put it

-under here, to fluff it out a bit.

-This is lovely and I bought it

-for half the original price.

-A bargain!

-Yes, I love bargains.

-You take care of your clothes.

-That's only there

-because I've only just bought it!

-It will be

-in a heap on the floor soon!

-I want to be strong

-and I want to be different.

-I don't want men

-to think I look nice.

-I'd prefer

-if women thought I looked nice.

-I love it when a woman comes up

-to me and says she likes my dress.

-It's a great opportunity for

-like-minded people to come together.

-If a woman I don't know comes up

-and asks me where I got my dress...

-..and I tell her

-I bought it in Oxfam...

-..it gives people a chance

-to discuss clothes.

-I just think it's a nice idea.

-Since I started

-presenting Mosgito...

-..I've taken much more

-of an interest in fashion.

-I'm talking about fashion

-from runways and catwalks.

-I'm also

-taking an interest in make-up.

-I've spent more on clothes than I've

-ever done before in the past year.

-I was skint when I was a student.

-Now that I have money to spend,

-I know exactly where to go to shop.

-It's come together in the past year.

-I'm delighted

-with the clothes I own.

-S4C subtitles by Eirlys A Jones

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