Irish folklore, punks, 1970s Afghan coats, with a pinch of Anine Bing: designer and artist Sara O’Neill’s wardrobe is the definition of eclectic …
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Tales From My Wardrobe, a style series that explores the wardrobes of THE GLOSS community, is a love letter to the pieces we reach for again and again, the hard-earned investment purchases that make us smile with each wear and the items that supercede mere ‘clothing’ to carry memories and foster emotional connection.
In this instalment, we speak to fashion designer and artist Sara O’Neill. O’Neill’s distinctive designs are at once whimsical and rock and roll influenced (in fact, The Edge wore a custom Éadach by Sara O’Neill leather jacket during U2’s residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas in 2023). Inspired by Irish folklore, O’Neill’s label Éadach has been worn at the Oscars, the BAFTAs and first launched in Brown Thomas’ Irish design initiative Create in 2016. O’Neill’s personal style is equally as eclectic; her wardrobe is inspired by fashion activists such as Katharine Hamnett, her formative years spent on Belfast’s punk scene, and has a healthy pinch of her own designs. She admits she often finds herself wearing seven or eight pieces from her own collection on any given day. “Shirt, trousers, kimono, bomber jacket, skinny scarf, large scarf. Then the extra bits I get made up just for myself … phone cover, silk covered diary, notepad. I often look like my collections have thrown up on me,” she laughs. See inside O’Neill’s bohemian wardrobe below.
My favourite piece in my wardrobe right now is the Éadach unisex reversible bomber jacket that I launched this year at Brown Thomas Create. The idea stems from my years on the Belfast punk scene which is a constant point of reference for me. At weekends, and for gigs, we’d wear our hand-painted studded leather jackets, our street armour. (I’ve done Éadach versions of those over the last few years, including for the Edge for the Las Vegas Sphere gigs last year.) During the week we’d wear Harrington or bomber jackets from the army surplus store and I wanted to do a version of those, so I did one side silk, one side cotton with different prints on either side so it feels like two jackets.
My most sentimental items are my jewellery; necklaces, rings and bracelets that I wear layered up every day; pieces gifted or made by friends and family, picked up on travels or to symbolise a certain event. My Maud Gonne necklace by Terrible Beauty was a gift from my parents and grandmother to commemorate my first collection in Brown Thomas in 2016. There are Victorian and Edwardian pieces in there, including a mourning brooch with a picture of my sister and I as kids. My brother made me the silver and pearl necklace, while the lion and snake wristband is from my godson (my sister really, as he was a baby at the time!)
The most recent item I bought was the Katharine Hamnett End Genocide T-shirt. I’ve been a huge admirer of hers for as long as I can remember, probably since I saw her on The Clothes Show as a kid. I’m pretty outspoken about political and social issues and the odd time it’s suggested that I ‘stay in my lane’, or ‘what do designers or artists know about politics’, which amuses me greatly as everyone should be interested in politics in my opinion. The artists, designers and musicians that I love have always been political and used their platforms. I love that Katharine Hamnett has used her designs, and platform, to speak out and campaign on various issues and to fundraise. This year she put her CBE in the bin declaring: “I’m disgusted to be British for our role in genocide in Gaza.”
The best bargain in my wardrobe is a Belstaff Gold Label Amelia Earhart limited edition leather trench coat that I believe is from the brand’s 2007 collection. I was looking on eBay for a leather coat, I don’t think I even realised what it was until I got it. I paid about £70 from memory but they are online secondhand for £1,000.
I walk a lot so probably my biggest investment is in decent footwear; Anine Bing Lizzie sliders (pictured), Isabel Marant Nowles boots (in all three colours) and Old Gringo boots. Although I recently wore a pair of these cowboy boots during a really busy day in Dublin – 23,000 steps and my feet were busted! So my next investment should probably be insoles.
The piece that paid for itself in cost-per-wear is a Bella Freud black corduroy trench. It’s a great shape, probably a bit too big for me with oversized shoulders and a long length, but I love that look; like an 80s New Wave music video vibe, especially with the sleeves pulled up. I wear my old SHARP (Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice) pin on the lapel. When I was 19, I saw a picture of Kate Moss wearing the Ginsberg is God jumper and I was obsessed. I finally got one of those jumpers in my late 30s and have built up a wee collection of Bella Freud since.
The least ‘fashion’ thing I own that I wear all the time is an Aran jumper knitted by my mother. Like so many of us, as a kid in the 1980s, the majority of my wardrobe was hand-knitted by her, and it being the 80s really all I wanted was horrible synthetic neon sweatshirts, not Aran jumpers. Now, of course, I appreciate her skills and am regularly bundled up in huge chunky oversized knits. Although these days I have to get into line behind my niece and nephew. They are really special pieces to treasure, beyond fashion.
When it comes to finding hidden gems, I turn to vintage. I’m a sucker for things with a story attached. I bought an old rug online once because the listing said “it’s been in our summer house since before the war” and I loved that. So cinematic. I’m always looking for the perfect 1970s Afghan coat. In my previous job as a stylist, I used to spend days trawling through vintage and charity shops, so I’ve amassed quite a collection. I was an ambassador for Oxfam for a few years and so I always bagged amazing bits when I worked with them. Between that and living in my own designs I tend not to shop for clothes often, but I love a browse through markets and vintage shops. Jenny Vander is a favourite. I did my school work experience there back in the 1990s. I also love to see the incredible work of other Irish designers, there’s so much talent on this island. I’m a member of the Council of Irish Fashion Designers, it’s always useful to keep an eye on their social media to see what’s happening.
My most hard-working accessory? I have a few Mulberry bags that are regularly overfilled and abused. If I’m in Belfast or Dublin for the day I pack all sorts in there. I prefer the satchel or slouchy ‘hobo’ styles.
My favourite fashion story is from my own designs, Éadach, which come from the stories of this island and originated from the gaps in my own wardrobe. Ten years ago, I moved back to my hometown of Portrush after living in Belfast for 15 years. I swiftly realised that the wardrobe I’d built up didn’t work on the coast. Having worked as a stylist for a decade I had to attend a lot of events and had got used to running all over town in four-inch heels but that was not an option on the beach and my party dresses looked silly. Equally, the jeans and jumpers I ended up in didn’t feel like me. Inspired by being on the coast and memories of the old myths and legends my granny had told me, I started drawing and got my drawings printed on silk. My first garment was an oversized scarf that could be styled in various ways. My second was a kimono, inspired by vintage pieces in my wardrobe. Whatever I designed needed to work on the coast, at the beach walking my dog Blyton, but also for meetings and events in Belfast or Dublin, as well as working from home: that’s been at the core of my design process since.
You can follow Sara on Instagram (@saraoneillartist) here. Got a wardrobe worth sharing? Send us your tales and imagery to digital@thegloss.ie.
