Tales From My Wardrobe: Former Fashion Buyer Lara Wasson

Tales From My Wardrobe, a style series from THE GLOSS community, is a love letter to favourite pieces and hard-earned investment buys that all have a story to tell. From iconic Irish fashion designer Orla Kiely, Charlotte Temple From Magee 1866 and Henrietta Rix, co-founder of fashion brand Rixo to Irish interior designers Suzie McAdam and Róisín Lafferty, broadcaster Louise Duffy and Lorraine Keane’s pre-loved fashion finds, this is your chance to take a sneak peek into the most treasured possessions of some of the most stylish women in Ireland, and read all of the meaningful stories behind them. 

Having profiled Lara’s Dublin home in THE GLOSS Interiors, we were curious to take a closer look into her wardrobe. 

Lara launched Litt LED light bulb store which, given the energy crisis, was a prescient decision. As a result, Lara’s wardrobe has to be multi-tasking, taking her seamlessly from school to studio, and from consultations to social occasions. Like her home, her style is curated and sustainable. Here she shares some of her favourite purchases and those on her wishlist. 

An awesome Christopher Kane dress I got for my friend’s wedding is my favourite piece right now. It’s made of chainmail and has a fine Chantilly lace trim. The black chainmail looks like sequins from a distance, so it’s the ultimate winter party dress. I can’t wait to wear it this Christmas! Also, a diamanté evening bag from Kara, it’s very kitsch and fun.

A hardworking item in my wardrobe is this bead print Dries Van Noten shirt dress. It’s oversized, has large sleeves, a midi length and is really comfortable. I’m trying to buy pieces that can be worn casually or formally to get maximum wear out of them. 

The most sentimental piece I own is an emerald green faux fur jacket, which my husband bought for me on our honeymoon in Venice and I still adore it to this day. I was going to buy the black version, but he convinced me to go with the green, and I’m delighted he did. We are ten years married this year and I expect it will be a piece I hand down to my daughter Gigi.

My most recent big purchase was a pair of Chanel dad sandals and I couldn’t be happier! They are black pony skin with a sheepskin footbed, so I am classing them as a winter staple and will not be taking them off.

White shirts from Massimo Dutti are the best bargains I own. They are beautifully made and always have interesting design details. For meetings with Litt my workwear formula is usually a white shirt, jeans, quirky jewellery and shoes with a blazer. Usually, I will have some bright colour thrown into the mix because it always lifts my mood.

I tend not to hold onto investment pieces, instead, I trade them on. I usually invest in a couple of nice pieces every season such as a coat, shoes and top, but then I always resell them on Vestiaire Collective to buy items for the following season. I find you get the best price if you sell them while you still kind of want them, that way it leaves more in the kitty for the next season! That said, I do have a yellow Weekend by Max Mara coat I bought maybe ten years ago, which was a big investment at the time, and I still wear it to this day.

For me the pieces that pay for themselves in cost-per-wear have to be sunglasses; nothing gets worn as much so they definitely earn their keep. Currently, I am alternating between a chic Celine pair and mirrored, sporty Oakley’s.

The least “fashion” thing I own is gym wear, but needs must! And Birkenstocks, although I think they have now been accepted. When it comes to essentials, I rarely leave the house without my iPhone, AirPods, sunnies and a water bottle.

I love shopping when I am travelling; markets, vintage shops and small boutiques get me very excited. I could literally spend days on my own wandering around looking for something a bit different. This summer in Santanyi, Mallorca I stumbled upon a 150-year-old boot maker and got to design my own pair of boots, selecting leathers, stitching detail, height, heel type etc. Pieces like that are always really special to me because they are unique and remind me of a special time and place.

Currently, I covet a chunky Chanel cardigan in pale blue, navy, cream and gold lurex. In my head, I would style it with baggy jeans, white Nike runners and a silk cami.

I’ve collected costume and fine jewellery over the years. My most hardworking accessory would be chunky gold hoops. I love how they instantly make any outfit more casual.

I have just resurrected a pair of vintage cowboy boots I bought 20 years ago in Portobello market, London. I had just finished my first year at Grafton Academy and had moved to London for the summer with some very dear girlfriends. It was the summer of Sienna [Miller], and everyone was trying to emulate her gorgeous hippie chic look. They remind me of a fun, carefree time and the boots make me smile every time I put them on.

Main image: Ruth Maria Murphy. 

To find out more visit . Follow Lara on Instagram (@lara_wasson_) here. Got a wardrobe worth sharing? Email pics and info to digital@thegloss.ie.