From preppy to pretty, Vilhelmiina Huuskonen’s eclectic wardrobe is inspired by designers Ralph Lauren and Vivienne Westwood …
Tales From My Wardrobe is an ongoing style series that explores the wardrobes of THE GLOSS community – 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.
Originally from Finland, Vilhelmiina Huuskonen is a Consultant Veterinary Anaesthesiologist and European Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia. She is one of four veterinary anaesthesiologists in Ireland, all of them connected to UCD, and is also an Associate Professor of Veterinary Anaesthesia. Her work includes clinical patient care at UCD Veterinary Referral Hospital, lecturing, supervising doctoral students, administration and research. Occasionally, Vilhelmiina assists at Dublin Zoo, as she specialises in anaesthesia for all animals, not just a single species.
“I live in Phibsboro, and nearly every day I cycle to UCD – not in bike shorts or Spandex items, just my usual clothes. At the hospital, I wear scrubs, but for lectures, I switch back to my regular wardrobe, which is often quite preppy.
Here, I’m wearing mostly second-hand items: a light blue Margaret Howell shirt, a Polo Ralph Lauren tartan tie, a navy blazer by The Row, Nantucket red chinos by Gant, a Polo belt and Converse. Some of my students, I suspect, come to class more for my outfits than the lessons. I’ve been voted “Best Dressed Staff Member” by the final-year vet students multiple times.
I’ve always loved clothes. My style hasn’t changed much over the years (aside from my punk phase in my teens), but my wallet has. I’ve always been drawn to men’s clothing, though growing up in Finland, those options weren’t available for women. Designers like Ralph Lauren and Margaret Howell started creating menswear for women in the 1970s, but they were out of my reach. I made do with second-hand finds and, at one point, a friend’s grandmother taught me how to make a men’s collared shirt from scratch. I bought off-white linen-cotton fabric and wooden buttons, and the result was a nice stiff collared shirt, but sadly, I’ve lost it over the years.
My wardrobe is a mix of androgynous and ultra-feminine pieces, with very little in between. Ralph Lauren and Vivienne Westwood are my biggest influences. I love nearly everything Ralph Lauren does – the country mansion/equestrian chic, the preppy Ivy League aesthetic, even the rugged Americana of his DoubleRL line. I love Westwood’s genius for combining punk with heritage fabrics. I treasure a vintage Vivienne Westwood tartan bustle skirt – teenage me would’ve killed for it. In this photo, I paired it with a second hand Dsquared2 tuxedo jacket, a vintage tartan tie, an Alexander McQueen pocket square (I love ties and pocket squares and have a collection of both), and Ralph Lauren suede boots. My fashion muses also include Jean Paul Gaultier, with his gender-fluid, couture-meets-street style (I have, for example, a super cool 1990s denim tailcoat by him), and John Galliano for his dramatic, avant-garde designs (especially the John Galliano for Dior SS 2010 show). I also appreciate a touch of Chanel, but more for the nautical stripes and monochrome suits than the pink tweeds.
My favourite spots for vintage finds are Dirty Fabulous Vintage in Monaghan and Betty Bojangles in Dublin. In New York, I always visit Malin Landaeus’ curated shop in Brooklyn, though most other vintage stores there feel more like European charity shops. In Helsinki, there’s a charity shop called UFF that often has €1 days, where you can find amazing pieces and still not spend more than €10. I also find great items on Facebook groups, Depop, Vestiaire Collective, and eBay – like my Ralph Lauren denim waistcoat, which I pair with DoubleRL trousers, a striped shirt, a vintage tie, and Converse.
It’s hard to choose a favourite item in my wardrobe, but right now it is a vintage Ralph Lauren Fair Isle sweater vest. It’s the first wool item I pull out in autumn and the last I pack away for summer. I love its colours, waist length, and 1940s feel – it’s just perfect. Here, I’m wearing it with wide-legged, high-waisted trousers by Margaret Howell, a white linen shirt by The Tweed Project, a Kevin & Howlin tweed cap, and sneakers from Envoy of Belfast.
At home, my go-to outfit is a pair of baggy, patched DoubleRL dungarees paired with a hand-crocheted lace top from Stable of Ireland – the result is a blend of rustic and feminine.
I’m not very sentimental about clothes, but my most nostalgic piece is a purple and black tulle skirt from a punk shop I bought as a teen. I haven’t worn it in years, but I might still.
My latest purchase is a white linen sailor blouse by Nygårdsanna, a sustainable Swedish designer. Until recently, her clothes were only available online or in Sweden and Copenhagen, but as of this month, 99b Concept Store in Rathgar carries them. I visited as soon as the brand arrived in store and tried on several pieces from the autumn collection – I loved them all! Resisting the entire collection will be tough. In this photo I’ve paired the sailor blouse with high-waisted, wide-legged navy linen trousers from Stable of Ireland, a Margaret Howell MHL belt, and white Converse.
One of my best bargains was a pair of vintage Ralph Lauren riding boots from 1984, identical to those Molly Ringwald wore in The Breakfast Club, which I found on eBay for a fraction of their value.
My wardrobe is overflowing. I’ve claimed two closets, and my husband’s is slowly being taken over too. Clothes are scattered, so I don’t always remember what I own. I dream of a walk-in closet where I can see everything at once. I love shoes, though I keep going back to the same few pairs – and my wool socks, handmade by my mum. We live in an old house with cold floors, so wool socks are a necessity.
My biggest investments are my wool winter coats – a long check Ralph Lauren coat and a short Harris Tweed blazer by Margaret Howell. As for price-per-wear, my brown tweed Polo jacket is unbeatable. I wear it everywhere: dog-walking, cycling, dog shows with my three-year-old Irish Champion Hovawart, Doyle, and out to dinner. I love its suede elbow patches and a breast pocket for a pocket square.
Most of my clothes are second-hand, with a few new pieces from Irish shops including Stable of Ireland, Scout and 99b. I’m also a fan of Austrian designer Lena Hoschek. Her clothes are ultra-feminine, almost pin-up. If I buy new, it has to be high-quality, sustainable and ethically sourced. My next purchase will likely be a hand-knitted Aran turtleneck bib from Stable of Ireland for layering under tweed jackets when a full sweater won’t fit. My dream purchase? Chanel’s tuxedo and white maxi skirt combination from the 2017 Resort collection.
When it comes to accessories, my most hardworking accessories are my glasses and hats. I’ve never been into handbags or jewellery. I’ve worn glasses since I was nine, but I never embraced wearing them in public. For years, I searched for the right frames, trying shops in cities like Helsinki, Paris, and New York. That changed in 2017 when I found Optica on Dawson Street. Now I own four pairs of glasses and two prescription sunglasses from them, and for the first time, I’m happy to be seen wearing glasses!
I also never leave the house without a hat. Most of my collection are either newsboy caps or fedoras. My tweed caps come from Kevin & Howlin on Nassau street, Dublin, made from their own tweeds by Hanna Hats in Donegal, while my denim caps are from DoubleRL. My wool fedoras are from Shevlin Millinery. I have a couple of Carol Kennelly hats, some genuine Panama hats, and a few vintage/antique ones from Dirty Fabulous Vintage or Swedish charity shops, including a bowler, a boater, and two silk top hats sourced by my friend Johan Asplund.
One special piece I own is a simple black evening gown with rhinestone cuffs that a friend bought for me at Dirty Fabulous Vintage. I recently completed a PhD in Veterinary Anaesthesia, a decade-long journey, and I’ll wear this gown to my graduation party in November. It’s simple, elegant, and reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour – paired with the tiara I wore at my wedding.”
Follow Vilhelmiina on Instagram @vilhelmini.
