Helen: When I was at college in Carmarthen, I did everything from pattern cutting to creating the finished items of clothing. At the end of the course, I had to create six items and looking back, I must have been mad because I based the collection on Barbie dolls and milk maids! But the whole experience was great and I had a big buzz as far as seeing the clothes on the catwalk at the end.

Nia: How did attending a fashion course influence your style?

Helen: I think it helped me develop my own style giving me the freedom to wear whatever I wanted to wear. I could wear anything I liked however ugly or fluffy it was.

Nia: And how about your style now? How would you describe it?

Helen: I like fairly simple clothes but I like to combine them with colourful, flowery and patterned items. I like accessories but I strongly believe that styling is more important than the clothes themselves.

Nia: Do you tend to buy expensive or cheap clothes or a mixture of both?

Helen: I'm one that believes in spending more on the things you wear more of based on the 'ppw which is the price per wear' theory. If you've paid £10 for something you wear twice, it's cost £5 each time you've worn it. I'll spend a lot on a pair of jeans because the cut and fit is important. I'd rather spend more on something that I know I'll wear - it'll only cost sme about £2 each time I wear it then!

Nia: Walking into your room is like walking into a clothes shop! Everything is in it's place and your shoes are on show.

Helen: I can easily find things like this.

Nia: Is your cupboard as tidy?

Helen: Of course! I tend to put things into groups such as jackets together, skirts together so that it's easy to find an item quickly.

Nia: You have a lot of denim?

Helen: Yes, I have a number of skirts and one item I've bought recently are these culottes. I remember culottes the first time around a long time ago. They look like a skirt when you wear them but they're actually trousers which makes them comfortable and easy to wear.

Helen: One of my favourite floral items is this dress. I love it. It was cheap. I saw the dress in a magazine, went into the shop and found it for £20. It didn't quite fit me so I changed the waistline at the back a little.

Helen: Another item I love is a white jacket I have which is a classic. I bought it in Italy.

Nia: Your career started with a job in London as a managaress for one of Amanda Wakeley's shops?

Helen: Yes. When I started to work in Amanda Wakeley, I thought that I knew how the fashion world worked and that I knew a lot about clothes. But, to be honest, I didn't know much! Her clothes were so simple, so skilful and that's when I learnt why people are willing to spend so much on an item of clothing.

Nia: What did you wear for work? Amanda Wakeley clothes?

Helen: Yes, I was extremely lucky being able to wear her label. I had quite a generous allowance every year to spend on the clothes I needed for work - usually a suit or skirt or a jumper, simple items. But I had to ensure that the look would complement the look she was trying to create - from the clothes we wore to the colour of our nailvarnish to our hairstyles. I was given a jacket worth £1000 when I left which I treasure.

Helen on clothes...
When I dress, it's much more than just putting clothes on. The clothes I choose to wear shows what kind of a person I am and that I am interested in fashion and the quality of clothes.