“Bringing joy to homes, tables and wardrobes” is how LNH Edit describes Laura’s vibe …
Laura Nolan Horgan travelled all over the world as creative director for one of Ireland’s biggest fashion brands before starting a family and founding LNH Edit, a creative collection of slow ethical fashion and décor. She lets us into her colourful wardrobe, packed with prints and textures for a playful aesthetic that’s true to her style and interiors.
Tell us about your background: Before founding LNH Edit, I spent many years working in fashion and retail. I was creative director at Fran & Jane for eleven years, which was an incredible experience and really shaped my understanding of product, brand storytelling and building a loyal community around a label. I also spent a short time working with Primark as a homeware buyer, which gave me a completely different perspective on the industry and the scale of global retail.
LNH Edit really grew from my love of colour, textiles and the idea of creating beautiful things for everyday life. A lot of that inspiration comes from travel, particularly time spent in India working with artisans who specialise in traditional block printing. I wanted to create a brand that allowed me to be flexible with my young family at home.
Outside of work, I’m a mum to three busy children – Elizabeth who is eleven, Hugo who is ten and Toby who is seven – and I’m married to Ronan. Life is full with school runs, sports and all the chaos that comes with family life. We are also just about to start building a new home from scratch, which is incredibly exciting and I am sure will become another creative project for me.
Have you always had an affinity for fashion? Fashion was always part of my world growing up. My mum was a fashion designer and started a very successful label called Regine in 1974, so our house was always full of fabrics, sketches and clothes. I remember watching her get dressed when I was little and being completely in awe of her. She had such confidence in her style and always looked effortlessly elegant. Looking back now, I realise how much that shaped my love of fashion.
Because of that upbringing, I’ve always been drawn to pieces that feel special yet wearable. My style is quite relaxed, but colourful. I love beautiful fabrics, prints and pieces that have a story behind them. Comfort is important too, so I gravitate towards things that feel easy, but still have personality.
I also think fashion should feel joyful. The pieces we choose to wear every day can lift our mood and express who we are, and that’s something I’ve always loved about it. In many ways, the same philosophy runs through LNH Edit where colour, craftsmanship and individuality are really at the heart of everything we create.
How do you build your wardrobe? In much the same way I build a tablescape! Start with the foundations and then layer in personality. Staples are always great denim, shirts, blazers and easy dresses that can work during the day or be dressed up for dinner. I live in cotton dresses, sandals and oversized shirts in summer or knitwear, jackets and good boots in winter. The key is choosing pieces that mix well together. I love clothing that can be worn in different ways depending on the season. A dress with sandals can also be layered with a knit and boots. That flexibility makes your wardrobe feel bigger without owning more.
What’s your favourite piece right now and what do you have your eye on? I’m living in one of LNH Edit’s Suzani jackets. It’s colourful, comfortable and incredibly versatile. I can throw it over jeans for the school run or wear it in the evening over a simple dress. I reach for those pieces that instantly lift an outfit the most. I recently bought a Cecilie Bahnsen dress in Brown Thomas for my daughter’s Confirmation that I’m looking forward to wearing again. I also have my eye on a few new summer bits! I always adore Alemais as their prints and fabrics are such a great price point for the quality.
What’s the most sentimental item in your wardrobe? Without question, my wedding dress. It was designed by Philippa Lepley and I still absolutely adore it years later. It’s one of those pieces that immediately brings me back to such a special moment. I remember the whole process of choosing it and the excitement around fittings, and it still makes me smile when I see it in the wardrobe. I can’t imagine ever parting with it. Wedding dresses are incredibly sentimental as they hold so many memories of that time in your life. It will always be one of my most treasured pieces.
What’s your biggest splurge? My Colin Burke sweater that I purchased in Havana. It’s not the most expensive item I own, but it’s eye-watering for a sweater. That said, it’s probably my favourite item I own after my wedding dress!
What’s the piece that paid for itself in price per wear? My Chanel dad sandals. I can’t tell you how much I have worn these and I still get so much wear out of them. Or coats – I don’t think twice about investing in good coats living in this country.
What’s the most recent item you bought? I just bought a new Perfect Moment ski jacket in Farfetch’s sale and kids’ ski gear on Vinted as it’s the perfect time to invest.
What’s your most hardworking accessory? One of my Maison Lecomte scarves.
What’s on your wishlist? That’s really hard as it would be a new kitchen! All of my wishlists are interiors related with the build, but I like to splurge on shoes over bags, so I’d say Miu Miu suede mules.
What do you never leave the house without? Lipstick. I love a pale coloured lip like Mac’s Myth or Charlotte Tilbury‘s Kim KW, topped with Poco Beauty‘s Ballet.
Where do you find hidden gems? My work used to bring me to Italy a lot, especially Florence, where I shop for my husband. It’s fantastic for men. At home, I love Kildare Village. I don’t follow trends too strictly and I’m a sucker for a bargain, so I love a browse there. If I’m honest, though, I’m an online girl. I just love online browsing.
Who are your style influencers? I tend to be inspired by women who have a very natural sense of style rather than following strict trends, but I have a few favourites – Molly Sims, Pip Hodgson and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in Love Story, who we’re all lusting over. She’s iconic.
Are there any pieces that you’ll never get rid of? I have a fabulous pink suit from Maje that I absolutely adore. I’m a big fan of a good suit and the confidence that it brings. I also have the most beautiful green velvet suit from Zadig & Voltaire that always comes out around Christmas. Every year, it brings back such gorgeous memories of that magical time of year. Another piece I treasure is a La Perla mini dress that I wore to our engagement party. It was very short and there’s absolutely no chance that I’d get into it now, but I still love it. Those pieces that instantly transport you back to a moment are worth keeping forever.
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 Irish designer Orla Kiely’s colourful wardrobe and Charlotte Temple from Magee 1866 to Lorraine Keane’s pre-loved fashion finds and Joanne Mooney’s handmade clothes with sentimental value, 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.
Do you have a style story to tell? Share your tales at [email protected].
SEE MORE: Tales From My Wardrobe – Bonnie Ryan
