"I could chat about clothes all day long. I'd say that I nearly get as excited about clothes as I do about music. In a completely different way, but the thrill of finding something new is just amazing. It doesn't make me cry like a gig does sometimes but clothes do make me feel amazing.
Gwenno is not only a singer but she has also been a dancer with River Dance and more recently with Michael Flately and the Lord of the Dance crew.
Nia: Has the dancing influenced your style?
Gwenno: I think that the Irish dancing has had a big influence on my style. The dresses that I have to wear for dancing are so intricate and I'm forever having to curl my hair before going on stage. If my work was different, I don't think my style would've turned out the same.
Nia: Clothes wardrobe? It's more like a clothes room!
Gwenno: Yes, the clothes have definately taken the room over!
Nia: The first thing that strikes me are the bags, scarfs and hats that hang on the wall
Gwenno: I found it difficult to find certain items so I decided to hang them up. I think they look quite nice and they give me inspiration when coming into this room to choose what I'm going to wear.
Nia: When you first look at this blue top, it just looks like a big strip of material!
Gwenno: This is one I made myself and I wear it with jeans. It goes around the top like a halterneck. I'm not sure where I got the idea. I love the colour too.
Gwenno: I call this 'the dreaded top'. I went out to a comedy club wearing it and I fell down some stairs and smashed my teeth and I haven't been able to bring myself to wear it ever since. It's a shame because I really like it.
Gwenno: I no longer wear the clothes I've made because I only used to make little tops that barely covered me!
Nia: You have lots of second hand shoes. Is it not a strange feeling to wear somebody else's shoes?
Gwenno: No. I used to think like that once too but I'm so used to it now. I always wear socks or tights with them anyway. If you're a vintage shopper, you can't think like that because the whole point is that somebody else has worn the clothes and that there's a history to them. I bought these at PDSA for £2. They're great because they're genuine 70s shoes.
Nia: How about your dresses?
Gwenno: This black dress is my favourite because my Grandmother made it in the 40s. I remember when my mother used to have the dress and thought that's really rubbish but when I put the dress on, it really suits me and if you're having a 'fat day', you still look really nice. It's lovely.
Nia: How would you describe your style?
Gwenno: The most important thing is that I'm comfortable with the body I have. I know what suits me and what doesn't. Anything tailored, flattering or girly really.
Nia: This one's dramatic!
Gwenno: This one's great. I got it from a shop in Pwllheli. It's a 'showgirl' dress and I tend to wear it over jeans when performing acoustic sets.
Gwenno: One particular reason why I love my clothes so much is because they give me a different feeling when wearing them. I can tell what kind of a day I'm going to have from the choice of clothes for that day. For example, I wouldn't expect to have a normal day wearing this dress. I can imagine myself running through cornfields in this one in the 70s. That's what I like about clothes is the fact that they offer a different experience or escapism dependent on what you choose to wear.
Gwenno on clothes...
Because I've found my own style, it's like finding your voice for the first time and my clothes, without doubt, represent who I am.
- Wednesdays 20:25