Elaine Paige, 62, became a star in 1978 in the title role of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita. She is the first lady of West End musical theatre, having appeared in Cats, Chess, Piaf, Anything Goes, Sunset Boulevard and The King & I and was awarded an OBE in 1995. She now lives in Chelsea in West London.
I've always been interested in fashion. My mother was a milliner, so I was brought up in a household that had spartra in the bath. It's the webbing in a hat and it has to be laid in cold water to make it more malleable.
When I was at drama school in the Sixties, I worked in a boutique in north Finchley to earn a bit of money, so I was surrounded by fashion. I was never scruffy.
I remember auditioning for Hair and getting a pair of jeans and rolling them in the mud in the garden. I got a recall but with the request that, for the next audition, please could I not be so neat. I got the part, though.
With Evita I had to wear something different for every interview and photo session. My clothes were from Wallis, Next or Miss Selfridge and I was a fan of Biba too.
Discovering Armani
But then I was given my own stylist. It was marvellous. It's how I discovered Armani, who do great alterations — everything I buy off the peg has to be altered.
I love Christian Lacroix too — the complete opposite of Armani, as the designs are flowery and flamboyant. I like Harvey Nichols, as there is such a variety of stuff under one roof. Another discovery is John Lewis. I was early for my Radio 2 show one day and popped into a branch — I found a fantastic gold lace blouse with buttons.
Posh frocks
I love my slate-grey silk dress by my friend Amanda Wakeley. Her elegant style is great.
The dress is cut on the bias and fans out at the hem, with a small train at the back.
I team it with a brilliant pink organza wrap by Hardy Amies, sandals I found in Singapore and a fan-shaped bag from Armani.
This bag has been useful. I carried it at my 60th birthday party at London's Gherkin.
Cocktail dresses
Almost all my cocktail dresses are in black, which looks elegant, especially for the evening.
A few are by Armani, as they know me so well. I have some tailored pieces by Prada and I like a pencil skirt, due to my height. Flouncy items or bold prints swamp me.
Suits
One favourite is a wool boucle mix, with removable astrakhan cuffs and collar. It's a couture piece by Nadia La Valle at Spaghetti, who is retired. I wore it to collect my OBE at the Palace with a grey felt hat by Philip Treacy. I also have an apple green suit with a dark brown thread by Lacroix.
Jackets and trousers
I have some lovely leather jackets from Armani. My latest is a honey colour. I'm short-waisted, so have to get the length right.
I also have a black leather jacket from Armani, which looks great with trousers and a white shirt.
I like narrow trousers from Joseph, as the cut is flattering. I've got them in black and chocolate brown. I've just bought a lovely suede pair, cut like jodhpurs, from Ralph Lauren.
Coats
Amanda Wakeley has made me two beautiful, full-length, sheepskin coats, one in chocolate brown, one in cream. I've also got a cashmere coat with a drawstring waist and a hood from Sonia Rykiel. It's short, to the knee.
I've got a couple of Barbours. I have a reversible brown raincoat, which I bought in New York, and a lightweight Burberry.
Shoes
I've just bought a pair of red patent stilettos by Stuart Weitzman. The only time I wear flats is at home but I've got some beaded sandals and flowery flip-flops to wear at my house in the south of France.
I bought a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes with heels so high I can barely walk in them. I've got three more pairs by Louboutin in canary yellow, electric blue and black patent, each with matching bags.
Jewellery
I like Kenneth Lane and Miriam Haskell's antique pieces. I got a Tiffany necklace in New York, a single diamond on a delicate chain. I have a key necklace from Theo Fennell and a string of pearls, which are a good standby.
Handbags and cases
My favourite is a Louis Vuitton bucket bag, which is useful, as you can get so much in it. I have a few bags made for me by Philip Treacy.
Wardrobe checklist
Evening dresses: I must have about 20 evening dresses, including a number by Amanda Wakeley and Lindka Cierach, who I discovered after Nadia La Valle retired.
Day dresses: I have quite a few summer frocks — maybe a dozen. It was so hot in New York this summer that I bought a few in Henri Bendel and Bergdorf Goodman.
Jackets: I've probably got about 20 jackets, including a couple by Ralph Lauren.
Tops: I've got maybe 25 from Ralph Lauren and Armani and two blue and white and grey and white-striped cotton shirts from Saks.
Shoes: I've got more than 100 pairs of boots and shoes, almost all of them with a heel, to give me some extra height.
Bags: I own maybe hundreds. A lot of them are shoulder bags, as they leave both of your hands free. I keep pieces I no longer use or wear to remind me I ought to replace them. Madness!
