Post by gareth on Mar 1, 2006 14:07:42 GMT
Holly gives St David's Day a timely change of dress
Mar 1 2006
Molly Watson, Western Mail
Today tots across Wales will grin for their St David's Day school photo in full traditional Welsh regalia. But, asks Molly Watson, why should the children have all the fun? She enlisted hot high street store TopShop, Wales' flagship department store Howells and WM's sexiest woman in Wales to bring the costume bang up to date. Warning - you CAN try this at home!
WE gave TopShop - the store beloved of hip celebrities - and hip department store Howells a challenge - turn our national dress into something a touch more, um, wearable.
They rummaged through the crop of this season's hottest items to come up with a few looks which are right up to date and that you could actually get away with on a night out to celebrate our patron saint.
Keeping the colours of Wales' traditional costume which dates back more than 200 years, the two stores have added their own modern twist to the old shawl and frilly cap routine, giving women across the country the perfect excuse to dress up.
After all why should the kids have all the fun?
Gone are the long dresses and aprons, formerly the dress of Welsh countrywomen, and in their place are cropped jackets, belted dresses and fish-tail skirts.
And who better to show off Wales' new sexy look, than classical singer Holly Holyoake, who last year topped the Western Mail's sexiest woman in Wales poll.
Holly, who at 18 has had a taste of Hollywood when she represented the UK World Championships of Performing Arts, admits she loves to dress up.
As a pupil at Duffryn Junior School in Newport she remembers wearing chimney hats and daffodils for St David's Day, but admits she no longer usually bothers to make the effort.
She said, "I was at Duffryn Junior School and then Duffryn High School and we always used to dress up.
"There'd be singing and people would wear the hat or a leek or a daffodil and we'd have a special assembly where we'd sing Welsh songs that we'd all had to learn especially.
"When we got older we stopped dressing up though. We'd have an Eisteddfod in school with singing competitions and I sang the Welsh national anthem."
Although each of the four outfits uses similar colours, each is uniquely different, with Top Shop's red dress creating a stylish 1940s look, while Howell's mini skirt and bustier produce a much more playful combination.
Holly's favourite is the red dress and white bolero cardigan with a black headpiece, by TopShop which she likes because of its slightly vintage look.
But said she thinks all the outfits offer you options for a night out. And - the big test - she says she'd be happy to wear them out with her friends, while giving her the chance to express a bit Welsh pride.
She names Catherine Zeta-Jones and Katherine Jenkins as her Welsh style icons because they're each glamorous and have created individual looks, and thinks St David's Day should be just as much about adults dressing up as it is about children.
She said, "Adults dress up their kids but never think to dress up themselves. But everyone should make an effort on St David's Day and wear something Welsh, even if that just means something red and it wouldn't need to be a dress, it could be shorts or trousers. After all it's a very special day and one where you should think about where you come from.
"That's why these clothes are good because the Welsh traditional dress is lovely but if they made a more modern version I would definitely wear them out.
"Although I actually dress up a lot more now than I did when I was little because I'll dress up when I go out.
"The other night I went out as a fairy and I've dressed up as Wonder Woman as well and Cat Woman.
"It's fun because it's nice to go out and be someone a bit different for the day.
"When I sing I like to dress up in really glamorous dresses and ball gowns because it's good to wear something different.
"It gives you the confidence that every woman needs."
And even when Holly's not dressing up in national dress, she's likely to be found in Wales' alternative national costume, a red rugby shirt, as she's been singing the National Anthem at the start of the Six Nations Under-21 games.
But when it comes to admitting what it is that she holds dearest about Wales, she said it's not the rolling valleys or its rich history but the humble Welsh cake.
She said, "I love them, they're my favourite thing about Wales. I love going to the market and smelling them and munching them, although I usually end up eating the whole packet."
Details of the outfits
Outfit one, created by TopShop
White bolero crocheted top £32
Red dress £38
Hair piece £35
Black shoes £50
(tights model's own)
Total: £155
Outfit two, created by TopShop
Black skirt £25
Cream top £22
Black boots £65
Black bolero jacket £40
Hair piece £35
(tights model's own)
Total: £187
Outfit three, created by TopShop
Black shorts £25
Black bolero jacket £40
Red top £25
Black boots £65
Hair piece £35
(tights model's own)
Total: £190
Outfit four, created by Howells, Cardiff
Black skirt, from Warehouse £20
Black bustier, from Oasis £45
Scarf, from Paul Costelloe £69
White blouse, from Morgan £34.99
Black patent shoes, from Dolce and Gabbana £235
Total: £403.99
Source:
icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_objectid=16757245&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=holly-gives-st-david-sday-a-timely-change-of-dress-name_page.html
Mar 1 2006
Molly Watson, Western Mail
Today tots across Wales will grin for their St David's Day school photo in full traditional Welsh regalia. But, asks Molly Watson, why should the children have all the fun? She enlisted hot high street store TopShop, Wales' flagship department store Howells and WM's sexiest woman in Wales to bring the costume bang up to date. Warning - you CAN try this at home!
WE gave TopShop - the store beloved of hip celebrities - and hip department store Howells a challenge - turn our national dress into something a touch more, um, wearable.
They rummaged through the crop of this season's hottest items to come up with a few looks which are right up to date and that you could actually get away with on a night out to celebrate our patron saint.
Keeping the colours of Wales' traditional costume which dates back more than 200 years, the two stores have added their own modern twist to the old shawl and frilly cap routine, giving women across the country the perfect excuse to dress up.
After all why should the kids have all the fun?
Gone are the long dresses and aprons, formerly the dress of Welsh countrywomen, and in their place are cropped jackets, belted dresses and fish-tail skirts.
And who better to show off Wales' new sexy look, than classical singer Holly Holyoake, who last year topped the Western Mail's sexiest woman in Wales poll.
Holly, who at 18 has had a taste of Hollywood when she represented the UK World Championships of Performing Arts, admits she loves to dress up.
As a pupil at Duffryn Junior School in Newport she remembers wearing chimney hats and daffodils for St David's Day, but admits she no longer usually bothers to make the effort.
She said, "I was at Duffryn Junior School and then Duffryn High School and we always used to dress up.
"There'd be singing and people would wear the hat or a leek or a daffodil and we'd have a special assembly where we'd sing Welsh songs that we'd all had to learn especially.
"When we got older we stopped dressing up though. We'd have an Eisteddfod in school with singing competitions and I sang the Welsh national anthem."
Although each of the four outfits uses similar colours, each is uniquely different, with Top Shop's red dress creating a stylish 1940s look, while Howell's mini skirt and bustier produce a much more playful combination.
Holly's favourite is the red dress and white bolero cardigan with a black headpiece, by TopShop which she likes because of its slightly vintage look.
But said she thinks all the outfits offer you options for a night out. And - the big test - she says she'd be happy to wear them out with her friends, while giving her the chance to express a bit Welsh pride.
She names Catherine Zeta-Jones and Katherine Jenkins as her Welsh style icons because they're each glamorous and have created individual looks, and thinks St David's Day should be just as much about adults dressing up as it is about children.
She said, "Adults dress up their kids but never think to dress up themselves. But everyone should make an effort on St David's Day and wear something Welsh, even if that just means something red and it wouldn't need to be a dress, it could be shorts or trousers. After all it's a very special day and one where you should think about where you come from.
"That's why these clothes are good because the Welsh traditional dress is lovely but if they made a more modern version I would definitely wear them out.
"Although I actually dress up a lot more now than I did when I was little because I'll dress up when I go out.
"The other night I went out as a fairy and I've dressed up as Wonder Woman as well and Cat Woman.
"It's fun because it's nice to go out and be someone a bit different for the day.
"When I sing I like to dress up in really glamorous dresses and ball gowns because it's good to wear something different.
"It gives you the confidence that every woman needs."
And even when Holly's not dressing up in national dress, she's likely to be found in Wales' alternative national costume, a red rugby shirt, as she's been singing the National Anthem at the start of the Six Nations Under-21 games.
But when it comes to admitting what it is that she holds dearest about Wales, she said it's not the rolling valleys or its rich history but the humble Welsh cake.
She said, "I love them, they're my favourite thing about Wales. I love going to the market and smelling them and munching them, although I usually end up eating the whole packet."
Details of the outfits
Outfit one, created by TopShop
White bolero crocheted top £32
Red dress £38
Hair piece £35
Black shoes £50
(tights model's own)
Total: £155
Outfit two, created by TopShop
Black skirt £25
Cream top £22
Black boots £65
Black bolero jacket £40
Hair piece £35
(tights model's own)
Total: £187
Outfit three, created by TopShop
Black shorts £25
Black bolero jacket £40
Red top £25
Black boots £65
Hair piece £35
(tights model's own)
Total: £190
Outfit four, created by Howells, Cardiff
Black skirt, from Warehouse £20
Black bustier, from Oasis £45
Scarf, from Paul Costelloe £69
White blouse, from Morgan £34.99
Black patent shoes, from Dolce and Gabbana £235
Total: £403.99
Source:
icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_objectid=16757245&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=holly-gives-st-david-sday-a-timely-change-of-dress-name_page.html
