Renee Brennan - access all areas

Black shirt dress, $225, from Miss Crabb; Brennan's own Lucy Boshier dress and shoes. Picture / Carolyn Robertson

Tadpole's lead singer Renee Brennan is one of our leading light-rock chicks. It's the 40th anniversary of the Vodafone-sponsored New Zealand Music Awards, so we thought it high time to check out how she dresses for the limelight.

What do you like to wear onstage and why?

Definitely jeans. You can't go past a rock'n'roll staple. My jeans this year are the Lee Supertubes, as black as they can make them. I have my trusty leather boots with a slight wedge heel that I always wear - height, style and stability, you can't argue with that. Then I just vary the tops.

How do you work out what to wear onstage?

If we are on tour, it's easy. I just wear whatever is in my bag that happens to be clean. At home, I usually go through numerous outfit changes, and get my flatmates to vet them.

Any special requirements for onstage gear, such as fabric having a stretch content?

Stretch is a definite factor. You have to be able to move comfortably - I hate it when you pick an outfit that means you have to think twice before moving. It stops the natural flow of a performance. Also, I tend to go with sleeveless tops, as it gets very hot very fast under all the lights. Footwear is important, as my band mates could tell you, my co-ordination is not great, and

there are many cables and objects on stage for me to trip over and fall off. I pick shoes that don't require too much balance.

What would you never wear onstage?

I almost never wear skirts. Mostly because the audience ends up looking up them, either intentionally, or unintentionally. I also avoid strapless tops, after one eventful New Year's Eve show in Napier, where a punter jumped on stage, ran behind me and tried to pull my top down before security nabbed him. No easy access.

If money was no object what would your dream onstage outfit be, and who would design it?

I would love to wear something completely crazy, a one-off creation along the lines of Nicole Kidman's costumes in Moulin Rouge. Something sparkling, revealing and totally sexy, not your typical rock'n'roll. Kind of Roberto Cavalli meets Chloe, with a little Akira Isogawa thrown in.

Who are your style idols and why?

I think Scarlett Johansson is a great style icon. That girl knows how to do glamour her own way, and is not afraid of her body. Joan Jett and Gwen Stefani also stand out to me. Neither of them ever followed the crowd.

Who does the rock-chick look well?

All of the above and add Julia Deans from Fur Patrol.

What about hair and makeup onstage?

I've learned that not even waterproof mascara can survive what I do to it on stage. I used to just not wear any, because within five minutes it would be smeared all over my face. Then recently I discovered this great stuff called Blinc, which you can buy at Glamorpuss in Newmarket. It coats your lashes in latex, so there is no smudging. When it comes off, it comes off in little lash-shaped tubes.

Offstage, what do you like to wear?

Offstage I have taken to a completely different look. Renee from Tadpole is rock'n'roll, jeans and tops. Renee Brennan does girly skirts and cashmere.

Favourite designers?

I love Miss Crabb, Trelise Cooper, Helen Cherry and Zambesi. For more casual stuff Boxfresh have a great range.

Last thing you bought?

A very old-school glam, belted black-and-white checked, scoop-backed top from Miss Crabb, with matching scarf. I feel so co-ordinated.

What's your must-have for summer?

A bikini body. Still working on it, however.