With an infectious energy and enthusiasm matched by a colourful, curated style, Cathy Martin is well known in Northern Ireland where she has blazed a trail in fashion …
From creating, producing and directing Belfast Fashion Week to running her quarterly Style Sunday luxury fashion luncheons for 20 years (they’re coming to Dublin soon), it’s no wonder that she pops up at all the red carpet events, not just as a host but also best dressed guest. Cathy also organises pre-loved fashion re-sale events twice a year (including one this weekend aboard the Titanic Museum’s SS Nomadic as part of the current Northern Threads’ exhibition). In addition, she runs Creator Connect meet-ups that began a decade ago as the original ‘blogger brunch’. As a result, her hardworking wardrobe needs to match her busy lifestyle.
Relaxed elegance is how she defines her style. “My preferred look usually begins with a blazer, but it’s casual elsewhere. I’ll pepper that day-to-day with some statement style – a hybrid of tailoring, plus feminine touches for special occasions. I know my shape and what suits me, mostly, but sometimes I have the craziest body dysmorphia, and despite years in the industry I still find it genuinely torturous to find fashion that I can wear with a nonchalance as a 5’5 woman with DD boobs. I’ve been known to just shop online and buy two sizes to try on rather than spend time stressing in a fitting room.”
“My favourite pieces right now are made of linen. As a fabric, it just gets better and better with age. I really don’t care how dishevelled I look when I am wearing it. I have a gorgeous grey linen Paul Costelloe blazer which I wear on repeat, and a pair of gold linen trousers by Betty Jackson which I got back in 2002. I’ve also wear a fab Victoria Beckham blazer with the chunky, boxy shoulders in creamy linen. It’s been on and off me more times than I care to mention this summer, but for good reason.
“I used to work for the Irish linen industry and travelled the world doing so. I had such brilliant relationships with everyone from Yohji Yamamoto to Ralph Lauren, Paul Smith and Paul Costelloe, as well as big names like Chanel and Dior, plus retailers including Banana Republic in the US, and M&S and Next in the UK. I learned so much about fabric at that time and remain very sentimental about all things linen, especially Irish linen.”
“The best bargain in my wardrobe is a fringed Givenchy dress I found in a charity shop on their designer rail. It was probably worth around €2,500 and I got it for €250. I adore it as it’s so elegant and classic, yet it also has all the fringe for movement and fun. I love buying and selling from pre-loved and resale sites such as Vestiaire, plus good old eBay! My rule is that I can’t buy the big pieces until I’ve made the money to pay for it from my own resales. I also like buying pieces from students at their university shows – possibly a little too risqué for me now, but on the right occasion they’re perfect!”
“My best investments have been well-structured Victoria Beckham dresses. Roland Mouret was, of course, the precursor and I have a couple of his dresses too, but regretfully I sold my original Galaxy dress. I’m not a fan of a fitted dress, but I think Victoria makes great dresses for women of all shapes.”
“I like to invest in good coats from Burberry, MaxMara and other classic design houses. They have stood the test of time, alongside a couple of well tailored staples from the high street, which have paid for themselves, so to speak. I have several Zara and Topshop pieces that have been in my wardrobe for 20 years.”
“The most sentimental item in the my wardrobe is a beautiful 4ct aquamarine ring that I got in Malta just before my (stillborn) daughter Rosie was born in 2011. I call it my ‘ring o’ Rosie’, and I love to wear it to honour and remember her.
My second sentimental item is another jewellery piece, which I wear as my engagement ring, but I had it before I met my husband! It’s a white gold ring, more in an Art Deco costume style dating from 1922 that I got with with my mum’s inheritance. One of the stones fell out – twice – so when I took it to be repaired the second time, the team at Lunn’s jewellers in Belfast suggested I have it rebuilt in platinum to make it stronger. I left it with them in 2022, but then I couldn’t actually afford to give the go-ahead for the build, never mind pick it up!
In 2024, I sold my old house and had enough to say yes. Then my now-husband proposed in summer 2024 and when we went to look at engagement rings, the team happened to say that my other ring was ready. When I saw it, I just couldn’t imagine wearing anything else, so we kept that ring as my engagement ring and he bought me a Tiffany Lock bangle to replace an old Cartier Love bangle I wore. I ended up meeting Anna Wintour twice in one day on Bond Street in London, so I think it was all destiny!”
“Scarves are some of my favourite accessories. My most recent purchase was a beautiful pea green Gucci silk scarf from Brown Thomas. I love a pop of green. Another purchase was a beautiful woven scarf in a gorgeous apple green wool from Avoca, which I’ve been wearing on flights and rolling up as a makeshift pillow when it’s not around my neck. It has pockets too, which is totally genius! I also love my Midnight in Bloom scarf from Eadach by Sara O’Neill – it’s a gorgeous shade of sagey green with elements of pink – my favourite colour combination.”
“I never leave the house without trainers. My high heeled days are over, officially. I have Morton’s Neuroma on both feet, so I can last a maximum of 45 minutes in heels (just about enough time for an outfit photo), but then I have to wear trainers. I declined surgery for the issue because it’s not always successful and even then it’s not always permanent, so instead I just invest in nice trainers. I’ve also had bespoke orthotics created by an excellent podiatrist in Belfast. I like sandals, pumps and loafers too, but trainers are my go-to – I have over 50 pairs.”
“I’m coveting a couple of pieces as worn by stylist Jess Colivet. One is the most gorgeous blue ruffle-necked linen blouse by The Linen Shirt Company, the other is her puff-sleeve Aran knit by Irish wool designer Colin Burke. I’d love to add these to my wardrobe, though I’m always wary of wearing wool as it can add extra inches and make me look even bustier.”
“My most hardworking accessories are two travel belt bags that are basically a grown-up version of a bum bag. One is a black Zadig & Voltaire from Kildare Village, the other a Gucci Horsebit Waist Pouch from Vestiaire. I couldn’t travel without them as they hold my passport, phone and a lip balm or pencil perfectly, meaning all the things are to hand instead of at the bottom of a big shoulder bag!”
SEE MORE: The Cool Girl’s Guide to Belfast
