Visually impaired opera singer Denise Leigh talks about how fashion works for her.
When it comes to clothes, what is your own personal style?
It depends what I'm doing – I work from home a lot, learning new songs, so then I tend to just wear skinny jeans, t-shirts and jumpers. I like colour and I still have a good memory of what different colours are, so I tend to steer clear of dark and draining colours and mostly go for bronze and green because they look good with red hair. If I'm going out I'll probably dress up a little bit more - maybe a long jacket with a cami top and a nice pair of trouser.
I really like shoes! A lot of people who have a guide dog won't wear heels, but I like to - they make your clothes hang differently. I just love pointy shoes and boots! I don't wear them when I'm performing though – I tend to sing barefoot as it helps me to pick up on anything that I might be missing from the orchestra and the conductor. You can feel the vibrations through the floor and makes you feel more in touch with the stage and everything that is going on around you. I actually think I sing better without my shoes on! If I'm doing an outdoor concert in the winter it can get a bit cold though!
As someone who is visually impaired, what is your key to looking good?
It's all down to attitude. You've got to feel good about yourself, even if you can see fine. Personally I've never been one to let my sight get in the way. There's no denying it can make some things more difficult and you have to plan more, but it's not the forefront of my mind all the time - I'm used to it. Actually, it's probably one of the things I think about least!
So with clothes, I know what suits me, I know what I like to wear and I do have a good knowledge and memory of colour. My sight doesn't change the way I think about myself and I've never had full vision so I can't really compare it to anything. I love going clothes shopping with friends because it can be great fun. You can laugh at each others outfits and enjoy it! But I also like to go on my own. When I do go with my friends, they don't choose my clothes for me - I've got such a good idea of what I like to wear that I know what I want. I'll listen to suggestions, but in the end I always go with my own decision.
What is your favourite piece of clothing or accessory?
I've got a wonderful floor-length throw which I sling over my concert clothes in the winter. It's a cardigan, made of shimmery, stroke-able, wet-look material, with a V-neck and slashes up the side right to the top of your legs. It's so simple, and so much nicer than throwing a heavy coat over a lovely concert dress.
I also used to have some wonderful boots – they had big killer heels, pointy toes and they were brown with a gorgeous emerald-green lining. I loved them and I wore them and nurtured them for years, but they fell apart. No other boots have been able to fill their space, so I'm always on the look out a new pair of my old favourites!
What would be your advice to anyone in the same situation as you?
Never, ever wear anything that your dad tells you looks great! And always, always wear what you feel comfortable with. I'm open to advice, but think people generally know what feels right on them. If you have been blind since birth, or have lost you vision with time and have very little memory of colours - or even if you have good vision but find it difficult to match the right tones - go and get your colours done. I did it a few years ago and it was one of the most beneficial things I did - even though she mostly just confirmed that I already thought, a bit of assurance that you’re getting it right is always good thing, especially if you are blind. Getting advice can be helpful; just don't let your friends choose your wardrobe for you. You wouldn't let them tell you what to eat would you?! So why should you compromise with clothing?
