Pages

▼

Tuesday, July 08, 2014

In the closet with singer Liz McClarnon

In the closet with singer Liz McClarnon:

Liz McClarnon loves vintage clothes especially fashion from the 60s [TESSA HALLMAN]

Liz, 33, shot to fame with girl band Atomic Kitten in the late 1990s. Winning Celebrity MasterChef launched her TV career in 2008, and she now combines presenting with music, acting and her own fashion line. Liz is single and lives in London.

How would you describe your style? Clean-cut and colourful.

Which colours and shapes suit you best? I’m a fan of dresses with simple, straight lines, and skinny jeans. I like red, yellow and blue – all the striking colours. I’ve been told it’s because I’m confident inside, even though I’ve always thought of myself as a shy person.

What is your favourite fashion era? The 60s – I love the smocks and trapeze dresses with high necks and bracelet sleeves teamed with big hair, false eyelashes and lashings of eyeliner.

What are your favourite high-street brands? Reiss and Ted Baker.

Who is your favourite designer? Balenciaga, but I don’t wear many designer clothes. I have more bags and shoes.

Bright colours such as red, blue and yellow are Liz's favourite to wear [TESSA HALLMAN]

Atomic Kitten were known for being on trend – what was most memorable for you? The hair. At one stage, it was dead straight and shiny with thick red and blonde stripes – I laugh now, because it was absolutely awful, but so right then for the late 90s.

How did your range for Fashion World come about? I said I’d like to design a swimwear collection. Over the years, I’ve gone from a size 6 to a 14 (I’m a 10-12 now), but finding really flattering styles for every size is hard. Mine does that. It’s got a 50s influence, so it’s womanly but not too revealing. You get good support on the bust and the briefs are high cut to hold in the tummy, so every piece is flattering.

Are you a hoarder or do you clear out your wardrobe each season? I’m a hoarder – I have masses of clothes back home in Liverpool and masses at my place in London. I had a very happy childhood, but there wasn’t a lot of money for clothes and I promised myself that when I was older, I’d have too many clothes to remember.

Are you a fan of vintage? Yes, I have favourite haunts in north and east London and Devon, too.

This red Balenciaga bag is one of Liz's all-time favourites and would save it from a house fire [TESSA HALLMAN]

How many shoes and handbags do you own? About 100 pairs of shoes and 30 bags – I love colourful accessories. My mum has bought me some of my favourites, including a red Balenciaga style and a mock-croc Marc Jacobs design.

What is your best piece of fashion advice? Forget fashion trends – choose the shape and style that are most flattering to your body shape.

What is your current favourite outfit? A tight, fitted bandeau-style Karen Millen dress that sucks you in at all the right places.

Is there an old favourite you turn to in a wardrobe crisis? A checked shirt, high-waisted H&M skinny jeans and heels.

How much do you spend on clothes each month? It depends – £200 to 300 if I’m not buying anything designer, more if I do.

What is the most expensive item in your wardrobe? A Versace evening dress. It cost a fortune – about £3,000 – but it was a for a special solo concert I did in Antwerp with a choir and 72-piece orchestra. I’d never spend that much on a dress again.

Liz hardly throws clothes away and loves to collect vintage pieces such as this boho D&G outfit [TESSA HALLMAN]

And what is your best bargain? My River Island shoes.

What is the oldest item in your wardrobe? Shirts from Tammy Girl when I was a teenager.

Who would you like to design your wedding dress? Philip Armstrong. But it won’t be any time soon – I’m happy and busy being single.

What is the one item of clothing you couldn’t live without? Skinny jeans.

What is your favourite piece of jewellery? A diamond ring designed by my mum for my 21st birthday, which I wear on my little finger.

Have you ever made a fashion faux pas? Loads.

What is the most crushing remark anyone has made about your clothes? “You’re a bit big to wear that.” It’s amazing how rude people can be. You have to develop a thick skin – I’m still trying…

What item of clothing would you save from a burning house? My red Balenciaga handbag.

visit fashionworld.co.uk.
at

No comments:

Post a Comment