Wendy Crawford, founder of Dublin boutique Scout, takes us inside her wardrobe which is filled with vintage treasures and charming independent fashion brands …
Tales From My Wardrobe, a new style series that explores the wardrobes of THE GLOSS community, is 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.
This week, Wendy Crawford opens up her wardrobe that’s filled with wear-forever pieces, vintage treasures and a host of delightful independent brands, many of which Crawford champions through her boutique Scout, located in Dublin’s Essex Street West. It’s clear from talking to Crawford that, in many ways, her wardrobe is a future vision. Seasonless, trendless and honing in on pieces that are made with care and a great level of craftsmanship: it’s a way of getting dressed we all find ourselves gravitating towards of late.
Main image: Wendy Crawford, photographed by Brian Teeling. Instagram @scoutdesignstore.
Wendy’s go-tos include a vintage trench and a tweed overcoat by Irish designer Petria Lenehan for cold days. A love-worn leather satchel, originally belonging to Wendy’s mum, takes pride of place.
My favourite wardrobe piece right now will always be something knitwear related – even in summer! I find I wear knits all year around. The best ones I own are by a Spanish label called Babaà – they’re my go-to for cardigans and sweaters. Each piece is so simple and really easy to layer. They’re versatile, too. In springtime, the cardigans double as coats.
When shopping, I’ll always choose something that has meaning. For vintage gems, I love Finders Keepers, a great shop in Bray. They post online drops, which I try to keep an eye on. It pays off as I recently bagged a gorgeous vintage trench coat there. When it comes to interiors, I also love Find, which is located nearby on Cow’s Lane.
The most sentimental item I own probably is a chestnut leather satchel that was my mums. I always remember her wearing it, so it’s very special to me. There’s nothing extraordinary about it: just a simple design in really nice, worn-in leather. It hangs on my wardrobe door mostly so I see it all the time.
A prairie dress by maker of romantic dresses Meadows hangs in Wendy’s bedroom.
My advice is that it’s always worth spending money on coats and jackets. I invested in a tweed coat by Irish maker Petria Lenehan that’s stood the test of time and I also have my eye on a quilted jacket by a brand I stock in Scout called Carleen – each piece is one of a kind, made using found American quilts.
Conversely, the best bargain I am still proud of is an Acne leather jacket with a shearling collar. I got it in Sweden at an archive store for around €150.
When it comes to cost-per-wear, I am rarely seen without my Saltwater sandals (I style them with socks in cooler weather) or a pair of black jeans by Sideline, a small, sustainable British brand that was founded by designer Ellen Brookes.
Underwear by ARQ sits next to Wendy’s wedding ring, a striking jade band, which is a family heirloom.
Ironically, I would say the least fashion thing I wear all the time is Birkenstocks and socks. However, they’ve suddenly become very trendy right now: I will say, I’ve been fighting their corner for years!
I never leave the house without my Bum Pack by a brand called Marlow Goods. It’s basically a really teeny cross-body bag that fits just cash and cards, but I love it. When it comes to accessories, the most hard-working piece I own is a tote bag that was a collaboration between Dublin artist Domino Whisker and florist Mark Grehan of The Garden. It comes everywhere and holds my life together.
The piece that has the biggest story is probably my wedding ring. Again, it was a piece of my mother’s and I remember as a kid being totally fascinated by it. It’s quite a big ring with a dark jade stone set in gold and I thought it was just the coolest. I’m thrilled to wear it every day and it never comes off. It keeps her close.
Overall, Wendy describes her style ethos as, “Buy less, but buy better”, something she champions through her boutique Scout.
You can follow Wendy on Instagram (@scoutdesignstore) here. Got a wardrobe worth sharing? Send us your tales and imagery to digital@thegloss.ie.
She is the queen of no makeup makeup and even manages to make a smokey eye look subtle. When everyone else was going for heavy contour and laminated eyebrows, she continued to promote enhancing your natural features with simple tricks and smart product placement. If you have seen any of her videos, you will notice how little product she actually uses. Even Victoria Beckham commented how surprised she was when she went to remove her makeup after a shoot with Lisa on how little product was applied.