My personal style signifier is definitely my hair. Always big and curly!
I always loved fashion and was exposed to it from an early age as my parents were both in the business. When I was about 10, we had a project competition at school. Mine was on fashion. I researched all the big labels in the encyclopaedia (it was a very long time ago), and then to make it better, I cut labels out of lots of my parents clothes and stuck them in. I won the competition and the project was displayed in the local bank.
My first style icon was my mum. She was always so glamorous and I was so proud when she would come in to my school. Although when it was a bake sale, she always cheated and bought something. Now it is my best friend Susan. She’s totally fearless and wears whatever she is in the mood for regardless of where she is going. And she always wears colour to put a smile on the faces of everyone she meets. And also Moira Rose from Schitt’s Creek!
Before I started Costume… I lived in NYC for five years in the 90s. It was such a great time to be in NY. I started working in J.Crew in 1993 and am still close friends with one of the girls I worked with. I learned so much but then moved to Bergdorf Goodman and was there for a few years. I loved it every single day. Then decided it was getting close to the time to come home, so my mum and I planned Costume. I travelled back from NY to do buying trips in the year before I left. It was a really exciting time.
My favourite place in Dublin is… the South Wall. It feels like you are in the belly of Dublin as you walk out to the lighthouse. And the feeling of seeing the ships silently glide by on the still water, is just out of this world. It is a really peaceful place. I can see Howth where I grew up as I walk out, but then when I turn around and see the city, that is my real home.
The one destination I can’t wait to return to is Paris. Anne and I have been there four times a year for the last 20 years. We have restaurants that we go back to every time and will know what we are going to order even before we get on the plane. And there are shops that we have to visit. I will never take it for granted again!