From Wales to Cambridge: a life journey through clothes
Jane Horwood, founder of Trash Chic and curator of an enviable collection of preloved apparel, gives us an intimate glimpse into her own wardrobe over the decades.
You’d expect someone whose profession and passion is clothing to be immaculately groomed, and Jane is. But like many of us, it’s been a hard-fought battle and is still tinged with the odd lack of sartorial confidence. Daring to be different in the Welsh Valleys of the 1960s wasn’t really an option. But she hit her stride when, still in her teens, she made the move to London. ‘Joy of joys,’ she says, ‘I discovered punk and, more importantly, goth. From being labelled “too weird” in Wales, and definitely feeling visible in my choices, I could blend in behind wigs, make up, layers of black clothing – no longer an embarrassment to my family or the butt of jokes in my community. “Conventional prettiness” (an accepted norm) didn’t exist in my new world, and I felt freed from certain expectations that, as a “beanpole” (a nickname) of a woman, I couldn’t easily meet in rural Wales.’
From the Valleys
Thinking back to the place of her early teens, Jane remembers the frustration of not being able to clothe herself how she wanted to – mainly because the outlets didn’t exist in her neck of the woods. She eschewed the side-zipping jeans (flies were for boys) and pretty frocks, and embraced some of the clever garments that her mother made for her. ‘I recall a tartan dress with drop waist and short pleated skirt. I loved it. And then there was the faux leather tunic with zip and big metal circular pull. Very cool.
‘My mum would take me to Bath, a place of fancy boutiques, but nothing quite excited me there. Easily one of my best memories shopping with her was a visit to Biba in Kensington. I was in heaven, and her skills meant she could later create a Biba-style dress for me, which was fantastic.’
Via London
Back to London, and with Jane’s inherited sewing skills along with regular visits to jumble sales, she began to tailor her own outfits. ‘I cut up curtains and made them into dresses; I made earrings out of anything I could find; I cut the fingers off silver evening gloves and wore them in the day; on one occasion I even wore silk pyjamas and a man’s paisley dressing gown to work. I was constantly creating. Constantly experimenting.’
Vivienne Westwood was a massive influence on Jane’s life. ‘In fact, because of her I left a dreadful job and set up my own clothing label. A friend and I printed the fabric, made patterns, sewed the garments and sold our wares at Camden Market, Greenwich Market, Harrods and various small boutiques around the UK. Not everyone liked them, but back then we didn’t care.’
These choices sound like those made by a confident young woman embracing her creativity. But we all know that outward displays often mask inner doubts, and that it’s hard work being a maverick. ‘The truth is,’ she says, ‘the style that often raised eyebrows on the street was rather tame in the clubs I frequented like Blitz and Kinky Gerlinky. I was never the best or most outrageously dressed – the competition was too fierce.’
To Cambridge
Jane located to a Cambridgeshire village some while ago, and we catch her in reflective mood: ‘I’m nowhere near as adventurous with clothes as I used to be. I still wear items that have been in my wardrobe for 40 years – the black net underskirt of a ball gown being a case in point; it’s remarkably flexible, especially for smart occasions.’
She turns her attention to fashion rules – particularly what women of a certain age should or shouldn’t wear. ‘It’s all poppycock,’ she utters. ‘Clothes should be fun and expressive. We should wear what makes us happy. If we need a type of armour because there are facets of our bodies we are not happy with (and believe me, we all have them!), then clothing that provides that can help. Stay clear of those who criticise and sap your confidence. Use clothes to distract people from the parts of yourself you would rather hide. Wearing a funky outfit brings me joy and puts a more positive spin on life. And Trash Chic, for me, allows me once again to indulge my love of sequins, faux fur, fringing and boho to my heart’s content. It’s not all bad!’
Sandra Stafford is an author, editor and long-time Trash Chic customer.
You’ll find Trash Chic online, on Facebook and on Instagram.
