Tami Neilson is as famous for her fashion as for her fullbore stage presence. In October, she gets to revive the look and sounds of the ‘60s with another style icon, Dinah Lee, in a night of mini-skirts and the occasional rhinestone.

How would you describe your fashion style? What are you looking for in an outfit? For me, the ethos has always been what Dolly Parton famously said: ‘I’m not interested in looking pretty, I’m interested in standing out.’ Especially for my stage persona. It’s like putting on this persona gives me an extra confidence, it gives me my mojo. And it’s tying in with that message in my music. As an artist and a singer I’ve always been drawn to artists that use the visual as just another platform for their art. David Bowie, Prince and Dolly Parton for example – they’re all very visual artists. When you think about them you also think about how they presented themselves through fashion. What they wear makes a whole cohesive package, it’s another vehicle for their creativity.

What’s the favourite item in your wardrobe? I would have to say my all-time favourite is the one that Xoë Hall created for the cover of my SASSAFRASS! album. It’s a really special dress, it references all the songs on the album. Xoë creates a lot of my dresses using recycled materials like leather and hand-painted patches and covering them in rhinestones. She does it as a special thing for me as she has become so successful. When you’re in this business, once you wear a dress for a tour or a photoshoot or an album cover, you can’t really wear it any more. But I have kept this one in my archives and still bring it out every now and then. Wearing an outfit again and again is a quiet way to champion sustainability.

Maybe wear it on the school run? Maybe not but many times I’ve gone straight to pick up the kids from an interview or a photoshoot in full beehive and makeup. But I try not to do that.

Your style also champions different body shapes – tell us about that? Most women go through many body shapes in their lives. Our bodies are continually changing in a society that says that’s not acceptable. Especially in a business like ours that is so visual and where you are judged on your appearance. Being thin is a currency in this world. It’s about taking up space unapologetically and wearing colours regardless of what dress size you are. The view is that if you are not thin you should be hidden away and how dare you have the audacity to strut confidently across the stage!

With the rock ‘n’ roll revue and Dinah Lee, are you trying to recapture an age when the fashion was right up there with the music? I have always loved Dinah Lee from afar. I’m just so excited to work with her, she’s such an iconic trailblazer in our music history. It’s always an honour to tour with someone who has a legacy like that, to sit at their feet and ask questions. Fashion can be quite a subversive act of rebellion against the norm. Dinah was New Zealand’s sweetheart with a gorgeous smile and wholesome image but parents were banning their teenagers from going to her shows because of how she dressed – in miniskirts. It was a statement of bucking the norm, of standing out. How she was dressing – those clothes weren’t available in New Zealand yet so she had to create them out of nothing. She was an advocate for change for women in New Zealand just by dressing the way she did.

And with the revue you get to project your style, not just wear it? Having a revue and having Dinah involved and the Up-Doos, it’s all inspired by those old rock ‘n’ roll revue shows. The whole lineup embodies the fashion and the music. l love that it’s an all-female lineup as well, embodying and celebrating all those things.

Will there be costume changes? I’m still trying to work that out – when can I change? It’s something I do consider when looking at the set list. And then a quick change for the encore – that’s a whole outfit I carry around the country for one song each night!

It all comes down to a band you can count on, no doubt? Exactly. They’ve got to hold it down while I’m backstage getting changed and panicking.

What treats will Dinah Lee have for the audience? Any duets? Dinah will be singing all her hits and maybe we’ll do some duets. We’ve been working together on “Slipping Away” by Max Merritt – Dinah did a lot of work with him – and of course “She’s A Mod” by Ray Columbus. It’s going to be pretty special just to be in the wings watching her do her thing.

What is one thing you hope audiences take away from the performances? With what has been going on the last few years, everybody just needs a night where they can take away a lot of joy that’s going to last them a few days or a few weeks. And also take away a little bit more knowledge of the role that women have played in the creation of rock ‘n’ roll.

Anything on the cards for when you’re in Christchurch? I always hope that I can catch up with my friends, a heap of them live in Christchurch – Delaney Davidson, Marlon Williams, Mel Parsons...

Is there a dream collab out there for you? Yeah, still in that same vein of fashion, it would have to be Nudie Cohn. He was a tailor and designer in the 1950s and ‘60s and made suits for all the big country stars. They’re now called Nudie Suits. His son is continuing the business, which grew hand in hand with the vintage country stars.

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