Natasha Khan, aka Bat For Lashes, is – as she readily admits – "a dark horse". Her collaboration with London label YMC is evidence of this. The brand are stalwarts of streetwear rather than the floaty 1970s-inspired stagewear more associated with Khan, proof that the 34-year-old singer isn't all that she seems. Here, she talks through the collaboration, her love of fashion and what it's like spending your life in gowns.
This your first foray into fashion. How did it come about?
Each time I finish a tour I want to do visual-arts stuff – I'm music-ed out basically. I thought it would be interesting to do a fashion collaboration, and I like YMC. I didn't want to do some huge corporate project with loads of people and I'm not trying to be the next McQueen – that's not going to happen. I met with them and they were really open. We had a right laugh for the whole process.
The collection is quite a juxtaposition with your stagewear. Why do you think it works?
I spend my life wearing gowns and there's a part of me that's quite casual. I like the idea of doing streetwear like the 70s sweatshirts I have from New York. How can you combine functionality and comfort with something cool? Now I've done this I would like to move into dresses, do something with print.
Is fashion an important part of being Bat For Lashes?
I think if you're a creative person, you want to infuse all aspects of your life with creativity. When I was younger I used to make my own clothes – as a 12-year-old, I found a patterned pillow case and made a skirt out of it. My clothes very much reference how I'm feeling. If I'm in love, for example, I want to wear pale pink silk and a red flower in my hair. Today I'm wearing jeans and a jumper because I have a really functional day going around London.
Are there any references that you always come back to?
I shop vintage a lot and I tend to be inspired by cinematic references – Picnic at Hanging Rock, Carrie, Grey Gardens. I think the women in Grey Gardens are so inventive – Little Edie puts on a swimsuit and a headdress and suddenly she's Jackie O.
What are some recent finds that have changed your wardrobe?
You can do a lot with accessories. I often wear plain shapes but add earrings and it's transformed. I bought a green silk kimono recently, that has pink flowers and silver spots all over it. I wore that over a black long skirt and bustier and it was instantly a look.
• The Natasha Khan YMC collection is in stores now.
