Tech and luxury fashion expert Ashley McDonnell shares the new season pieces by Irish brands she can’t wait to buy and the investments she will always wear on repeat …
A new season, particularly autumn winter, feels like a turning of the page. The kids go back to school, the leaves change colour, the weather becomes cosy: it’s a moment that cries out for a sartorial change in gear. And while it can be tempting to overhaul your wardrobe with a glut of new pieces, we’re more conscious of consumption than ever. Is it unrealistic to think we won’t buy anything new? Probably. In the spirit of balance, we’ve created a glossy new series 2+2; where style influencers share the pieces they’re investing in for autumn winter and the forever stalwarts they’ll be carrying over from previous seasons. Up this week, tech and luxury expert Ashley McDonnell (Instagram @ash.mcdonnell), who splits her time between working at fashion and fragrance business Puig and on a podcast about tech-powered luxury shares the investment buys she’ll be remixing into her autumn winter outfits as well as the Irish designers she’ll be supporting this season.
Main image and images throughout: Ashley McDonnell.
what i’m keeping …
“My carry-over piece from last season is a pair of Prada loafers. I had been looking at these for over a year, and finally decided to make the purchase for my birthday this year. Although I know I’ll wear them loads throughout autumn and winter, they’ll also be a great investment piece for wearing to work all year round.”
Chocolate brushed leather loafers, €890; www.prada.com.
“I love wearing Irish brands, supporting incredible local designers and investing in the future of the fashion industry at home. My sweater vest from Dublin knitwear brand Ireland’s Eye is a favourite, as is my bag is from another Irish brand Landa.”
V-neck Aran vest in green marl, €79.95; www.irelandseyeknitwear.com.
what i’m buying …
“I’ve been a fan of Nicki Hoyne for years. She’s a woman building a business that has creativity, technology and, of course, style at its core. I already have a bag from the Nicki Hoyne collection, and have had my eye on a pair of shoes for some time. These point-toe flats will be perfect for pairing with jeans or suit trousers and will bring some colour to any outfit thanks to the leopard print, especially during the winter when I mainly wear all black.”
Point-toe tassel flats, €230; www.nickihoyne.com.
“I have been eyeing pieces by Aoife McNamara since discovering her brand almost two years ago. As a businesswoman I’m constantly wearing suits, but as I work at the crossroads of fashion and technology, my suits are always fun! Whether it’s through a bright, block colour or a structured jacket with a high fashion cut, suits are my go-to. When I discovered the Hope suit in Aoife’s newest collection I knew that this one was for me, and it will be my first suit from an Irish brand. I’m in awe of Aoife’s ability to bring a luxury, modern and sustainable brand to the market at such a young age. This is just the beginning for her and I can tell it’s a purchase that will not only last a lifetime, but that will be in style and in demand forever.“
Hope organic cotton blazer, €375 and trousers, €190; www.aoifemcnamara.com.
Follow Ashley on Instagram (@ash.mcdonnell) here.
She is the queen of no makeup makeup and even manages to make a smokey eye look subtle. When everyone else was going for heavy contour and laminated eyebrows, she continued to promote enhancing your natural features with simple tricks and smart product placement. If you have seen any of her videos, you will notice how little product she actually uses. Even Victoria Beckham commented how surprised she was when she went to remove her makeup after a shoot with Lisa on how little product was applied.