The founder of 59 Collective and owner of Muireann B Vintage in Powerscourt Townhouse Dublin shares her favourite finds …
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.
I like to say that fashion’s in my genes. As my surname suggests, I’m Irish and Dutch. Growing up, we travelled back and forth to the Netherlands where I noticed how different fashion was compared to Ireland. I found the way that Dutch women dressed unconventional and eye-catching. I was fascinated by street style. My grandmother, who had a fabric shop and worked for designers in Amsterdam, taught me all about fabrics, while my model mother also passed on her love of fashion.
From a very early age, I never conformed to what my peers were wearing. As an introvert, the clothes I wore gave me confidence. I had a preference for leather boots, caps and funky vintage jackets. Before going out, I’d ask myself; ‘If I couldn’t talk, what would my outfit say about me?’
I say borrowed, she says stole! I love wearing this Morgan leopard print maxi dress from the early 1990s from my mum’s wardrobe. It’s stretchy and figure-hugging, one of only a few pieces that have survived multiple house and country moves. I actually managed to hunt down a second one, so if something happens to this dress I won’t be heartbroken.
For me, the best thing about buying vintage is discovering your personal style, mixing eras and finding iconic pieces that changed how fashion evolved. I especially enjoy finding pieces that nobody else can get their hands on, rather than jumping on current trends. I like to experiment with colours, fabrics, layering and accessories. I dress for myself and to inspire others. You’ll most likely find me in a dress. My most recent purchase was a vintage 1990’s Jean Paul Gaultier dress I came across on Vestiare Collective, while my favourite is this turquoise dress from Save The Queen – the best brand for unusual midi-length printed dresses.
Fashion can be expensive, of course, but the best bargain in my wardrobe has to be a Ralph Lauren cream hand-knit crochet dress that I picked up in a store in Spain. It’s an iconic piece.
A piece I’ve had my eye for a long time is this amazing 1980s Hermès double-breasted red wool coat. The colour, the tailoring – everything about it is divine and it’s definitely an investment piece. I found it in Marilyn’s Vintage in Drogheda, which has a great selection of designer vintage and is open by appointment only.
My biggest investment piece is a brown Italian leather coat from the 1980s that I purchased from a very fashionable lady in Milan. It cost her around €1,200.
I never leave the house without my 1970s Yves Saint Laurent sunglasses that were a birthday gift. Every time I put them on, I feel like Brigitte Bardot sipping a Tequila Sunrise while resting by the pool in Saint Tropez.
My most hardworking accessory is a pair of statement 1980s clip-on earrings. I’ve slowly gathered a collection of these from the online store Wendy’s Way of Life. I never leave the house without some earrings to complete my outfit.
The least “fashion” item I own is a cowskin leather bag that I use every day. It was given to me by my grandmother and never goes unnoticed. I even had a tour operator on a Viking Splash tour in Dublin comment on it over the loud speaker!
I stumbled upon Crispa2 vintage store tucked away in the streets of Seville about three years ago. I went in with my mum and the first thing we saw was a cabinet full of sunglasses. We hadn’t noticed a red rope blocking off half of the shop, but once the owner realised that we were serious customers the rope disappeared and we browsed some of the best vintage I’ve even seen at amazing prices, from Fendi dresses to Versace blouses – an amazing, curated collection. I definitely recommend a visit if you’re there. The owner Pablo is quite discerning and also gives out fashion advice (just try not to be insulted) …