Pat Tegerdine - Norfolk Fashionista #1

Pat being dressed by Sarah Morgan for The Later Life Fashion Show

We met Pat when she came to Artichoke with Sarah Morgan having volunteered to be a model in The Later Life Show. Within minutes of meeting her it became very obvious that Pat was a very special lady who lives life to the full. She has very kindly agreed to be the guinea pig in this the first of our series about Norfolk Fashionistas.

When we first met you mentioned that you source the costumes for many Norfolk operatic societies. How did you end up doing this?

I got into singing at school, something I found I was good at, and later when the local operatic group wanted

Pat as The Duchess of Plaza Torro in Gondoliers

young members I signed up. I was slightly reluctant being a bit of a shrinking violet, but once I had been up on that Stage I was hooked, the rest as they say is history. I have been singing in operas ever since. including all the grand ones Like Madam Butterfly and Faust but since 2000 I have also been singing Gilbert and Sullivan with The The East Norfolk Operatic Society.

Having also learnt to sew at school  I was in demand to help with costume. This I found fascinating espcially as it gave me the opportunity to learn about period, style and colour.

Do you have a favourite opera?

I don't have a favourite.  I enjoy everything about performance and will gladly sing anything.

What are you working on now?

Selecting costumes

Next week I am in the back row of the Chorus in HMS Pinafore at the Maddermarket.I am also in the Middle of costuming Claxton Opera's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream which is due to go on the first week of July. To the right you can see a  photo in of me choosing a dress for one of the ladies in the cast at Dereham Theatre Costumes, with whom I have a very good working relationship which has lasted for many years.

I understand that you are also a keen sailor. 

I learned to sail at school, and my Husband who is a Norfolk boy is also a keen sailor. Our first joint purchase was an Enterprise sailing dinghy ( no house to live in, but a boat) which we raced throughout the 70's and 80's attending all the east anglian open meetings.

Which club do you belong to? What sort of boat do you sail?

We belong to The Norwich Frostbites Sailing club and have been The Commodore and his Lady three times. In our time have had Norfolk Dinghies and a Yeoman keel boat and we both sail Lasers ( single hander boats) in Greece where we go to sail fairly regularly. We also now have a Aquafibre Opel broads motor cruiser for more relaxed time on the water.

How would you describe your style?

My lifestyle does not warrant chic or really smart clothes because I'm usually grovelling round backstage or under boats, but I do like smart tops with my trousers and floaty skirts.

What is the favourite piece in your wardrobe  
The dress I like best at the moment is a Next sundress I bought last year, which makes me feel very glam. 

What was the last item you bought?

My most recent purchase is a pair of red Anna Montana 7/8s that I got from Artichoke. They are so great - I love them.

The big question now is to grey or not to grey? Your hair is amazing – What made you decide to stick to your natural hair colour and was it a decision lightly made?

Until I was 65 I had no grey. It must be in the genes as my sister is the same - people would not believe we didn't colour our hair. As the first white threads appeared I went blonder to disguise it but the summer before last I thought what the hec and stopped, so now you see I am decidedly going grey.

....and that is the fabby & super stylish Pat Tegerdine. 

If you know of someone that has their own innate sense of style as well as a great love of life and would like to nominate them as a Norfolk Fashionista please email us at sales@artichokecollection.co.uk