I Never Wear The Same Thing Twice!
Dionne O’Brien takes her gran’s love of creative outfits to a whole new level
On tiptoes, I watched in awe as my grandmother sewed pink sequins onto a pair of silver bell-bottoms and a matching blouse.
“Thank you, Grannymum,” I said in awe.
“Remember my darling, there are no rules when it comes to fashion. Always embrace your creativity,” said my grandmother, Joan.
I called her Grannymum and thought she was so stylish. I wanted to be just like her. Her outfit was always co-ordinated and she always, always wore heels. She was elegant and immaculate.
I’d sit at her feet while she was sewing and ask her questions about fashion. “Can the top have polka dots and the leggings have sequins?” I’d ask, optimistically. Granny would encourage me to try anything. The world of fashion was our oyster.
I’d save up my pocket money for accessories and trinkets. I was never interested in sweets or toys, I just wanted to look fabulous and develop my unique style.
I was teased relentlessly in school. The uniform was grey and pink, so I wore pink socks and carried a silver Calvin Klein lunchbox. But the more I was teased, the more determined I was not to follow the crowd.
Granny’s penchant for style was something my mum, Margaret, and I both inherited. For my family, there was no point getting dressed unless you were going to get dressed well.
Christmas was our favourite time of the year because it gave us an excuse to go to town on our outfits. Mum would make sure my brother’s woolly hat matched my woolly scar f. Our outfits were always coordinated down to the tiny details. When Granny made me a yellow and black jacket-dress, she made a hat to match, and I paired it with yellow tights and black ballet pumps. Standing in front of the Christmas tree I felt like the bee’s knees.
Sadly Granny passed away when I was 20. I vowed I’d always be as stylish as she was. Without Granny’s sewing skills, Mum and I cut, stick, spray paint and glue. I’ve been known to Sellotape high knee socks to my legs and one Christmas I draped a satin red ribbon all around myself and wrapped myself up in a bow.
My dad, Tony, thinks we’re mad, but he converted the attic to make room for our clothes. He made me pompom shoes and matching earrings and when they got lots of compliments, Dad was so chuffed. He secretly loves helping out with the glue gun – it’s like construction!
I start planning our Christmas outfits in the summer. I scroll through websites – I like to go bigger and better every year. Mum’s in on it too – we like to match. Whether we’re in classic red like Santa or silky soft creams, we make sure we’re a pair.
Every December we head to London. Mum and I go to the Winter Wonderland’s Magical Ice Kingdom, we head to Camden market and pick up crazy accessories in Harrod’s.
On Christmas Day, I make sure I’m dressed to the nines – no slouching around in tracksuit bottoms for me. Mum decorates the whole house in beautiful Christmas decorations and ornaments – it feels only right to look as good as the house does.
I never wear the same thing twice – Christmas gives me the per fect excuse to experiment and I’m always excited to start thinking up what I’m going to wear next!
For us, there was no point getting dressed unless you got dressed well