Belle Michelle
Amanda Allen talks fashion with Michelle Phelan from Irish band Carosel, and finds out why neither her time nor her money are invested in her wardrobe.
Amanda Allen, 22 Oct 2008
“I got this black dress in the sale in H&M for about €15 and the red belt I got in Topshop. I actually hate shopping, I am very relaxed about it; I wouldn’t spend a lot of money on clothes, I would wear anything. I do love my black slouchy boots though. I actually had another similar pair of those boots for years and then my brother’s dog ate them. He got me this pair to replace them for my birthday last week.”
From my experience, whether you are into fashion or not, everyone has their own distinct style, so what is Carosel vocalist Michelle Phelan’s? “My music is very personal to me and so is my style. I wear what I like and ignore the trends that I don’t,” she says. “I am what I am. I’m really not into fashion or influenced by trends but I defiantly have a different style both on and off stage. Off stage I would be very relaxed, in jeans and very comfortable clothes. I still don’t spend that much time on my appearance, but I do like to put on a dress going out on stage, it’s nice to make an effort.”
While she stays away from passing trends, Michelle loves to express herself through colour, the bolder the better. “My favourite item of clothing is my red coat. I got it as a present and I love it. I love anything with big bright colours. I don’t really have a favourite shop. I don’t spend a lot of money so I always stick to the high street and second hand shops. Sometimes you can pick up some really nice things. I’m from Naas, and the charity shop there does have some really good stuff for really cheap, especially tops and belts.”
It’s nice to make an effort but do you ever feel like you have to because you’re in a band?
“Yeah absolutely, it is a lot of pressure, particularly when you are first starting out, but after a while you just don’t care. I wouldn’t be too easily influenced. I think it’s more important to be you and not to get too caught up in worrying about what other people think.”
While she doesn’t feel the need to compete, she does however admire the lengths some other women go to for their appearance. “I always liked the way Dita Von Teese dresses,” Michelle says. “She always looks great; I don’t think I have ever seen her have a bad day. A lot of what I wear I guess could be called eccentric. I will often go out on a Saturday night and just wear a big woolly cardigan or something like that, when maybe I should be making more of an effort.”
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