Cath Kidston's New Era Starts Here
How would you describe your personal style in three words?
Classic, individual, instinctive.
Where do you find inspiration for your personal style?
Everywhere. Photography, interiors, costumes, London, people I see, where I go and increasingly my daughters. I think I’m quite instinctive about what I like and I’ve become more confident in trusting that.
Do you see a crossover between ballet and fashion?
Ballet and fashion have always had a very natural relationship. They’re both incredibly visual and creative, and are so much about line, proportion, movement and detail. There is also something transformative about the way clothes can change how you feel and carry yourself, in much the same way that costume, movement and character can transform you on stage. What I especially love about this partnership with Cath Kidston is that there’s a shared commitment and understanding between our artforms, whether that’s the detail of their hand-painted prints though to the choreography in the campaign. There is a real similarity in the nature of the professions. Both work in seasons, so there is this constant momentum of making and creating, and a real rigour in having to keep finding fresh ideas while working towards the next production or collection.
Is craftsmanship and heritage important to you when it comes to fashion?
Very much so. Perhaps because of ballet, I have a serious appreciation for craftsmanship and for the time, skill and knowledge behind something beautiful. There's something special about techniques and traditions being passed down, yet continually reinterpreted for a new generation.
It's an approach Cath Kidston shares. Every print in the new collection starts life as an original watercolour, hand-painted before it's ever put onto fabric – a slow, exacting process the brand has held onto throughout its history, much like the repetition and precision behind a single move on stage.
How easily does fashion fit into your life as a dancer?
Fashion has always been something I’ve enjoyed and felt naturally connected to. Ballet can be incredibly consuming, so clothes and fashion have also been a lovely way of expressing another side of myself away from the stage.
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Does the way you dress change depending on whether you're dancing or not?
So much of my working life is spent in rehearsal clothes, so when I’m not dancing I really enjoy getting dressed and wearing things that feel more considered. I think because you spend so much time looking at line, proportion and movement as a dancer, you become very aware of those things in clothes too.
Is there one piece in the CK collection that you particularly love?
The red ‘theatre dress’ it’s simple but dramatic.
Do you have a style rule you always stick to?
If you really love something, wear it. I’m far less interested now in whether something is supposedly right or fashionable and more whether it feels like me.
Has becoming a mother and thinking about life beyond performing changed what you value in clothes, comfort, practicality, individuality?
I think I value familiar pieces more now: things I know work with me and with my daily life. I still want clothes to feel individual and like me but I’m much more drawn to pieces I can rely on, wear often and move easily between different parts of the day. There is something very reassuring about knowing what works for you. The timelessness of Cath Kidston designs is always a joy to wear and rediscover, and now, with the children’s collection, I can combine looks with my girls and create very precious memories.
If you could choose one Cath Kidston print, outfit or piece to take you through a day in your life, from the school run or morning coffee to the rehearsal studio and an evening out, what would you choose and why?
The lilac cardigan. It’s easy to layer over a dress, or whatever I’ve managed to put on for the school run, and then it becomes a really cosy layer in the studio. I love mixing all my favourite wool pieces for rehearsals and creating my own version of a balletcore look.
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