The interior designer shares her most treasured wardrobe items …
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, Geri O’Toole of Geri’s Designs 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. In this instalment, we hear from interior designer Zoe Willis.
As creative director of her own design company, Zoe has developed a reputation for richly layered, cinematic interiors. Her work is defined by a confident use of colour and a subtly subversive approach to modern living balancing bohemian glamour with an underlying sense of calm. Zoe is planning on relocating to Dublin to grow her Irish portfolio of residential and boutique hospitality projects, while continuing to work on projects in London and across mainland Europe.
“My style is colourful, confident and a little theatrical, much like my interiors. I spent many years working in fashion and was incredibly fortunate to be given some beautiful pieces along the way, so my wardrobe has gradually become a collection of clothes, accessories and memories rather than simply things to wear. I spend time in London, Dublin and on the Côte d’Azur, so each wardrobe is subtly shaped by the life I lead in each place.
“Over the years, I have become less interested in trends and far more confident about what suits me. I buy fewer, better pieces, mixing investment buys and vintage finds with bold print, colour and accessories that reflect my personality. The brands I return to again and again are Alémais, Ganni, Jacquemus and Essentiel Antwerp, although I am completely obsessed with Gucci. Above all, clothes have to work hard. I want to be able to wear something to a meeting, jump on a plane in it and still feel fabulous at dinner.
“Favourite pieces in my wardrobe right now are my Alémais silk co-ords. They have that wonderfully relaxed, pyjama-style feel, but the prints make them look instantly pulled together. I wear them everywhere. My green one has taken me from a boat trip in Cannes to the Wimbledon final, which is quite a range for one outfit.
“The most recent item I bought was a gorgeous white Norma Kamali gown. It makes me feel like a film star. I wore it to dinner in Casino Square in Monaco and felt a million dollars.
“The best bargain in my wardrobe is my reversible Gucci cape. It has the Gucci monogram on one side and is plain grey on the other, with fabulous chunky brass buttons. It is wool, but light enough to wear for most of the year. I found it at The Mall Sanremo outlet in Italy and have worn it endlessly.
The Mall Sanremo is an incredible place for designer finds, with Gucci, Saint Laurent and many more. I like to make a day of it and head into town afterwards for lunch at Mare Blu, which serves the best seafood pasta. I also love the Monday antiques market at Cours Saleya in Nice. It is brilliant for vintage jewellery and handbags.
“My biggest investment purchase was my Cartier Santos Galbee. I am a complete watch obsessive, but after selling my Rolex Daytona, it represented much more than that. It was a symbol of hard work, independence and aspiration, as well as being a thing of absolute beauty. A dream fashion piece I am currently lusting after is a vintage gold Rolex Day-Date. Yes, it is unapologetically flashy, but my goodness, it is pretty.
“My American football shirt dress by Ganni is the piece that has paid for itself in price per wear. I have probably worn it more often than might be considered normal. It is easy to dress up with heels, but works just as well at the beach or in a bar. It has travelled everywhere with me and remains my ultimate ‘what the hell do I wear?’ outfit.
During this summer’s heatwave, I somehow worked my way through three pairs of white rubber Birkenstocks. They are certainly not the most glamorous things in my wardrobe, but they have been almost surgically attached to my feet. I also used my Saint Laurent straw tote a lot. It holds absolutely everything and works just as well in the city as it does on the Côte d’Azur.
“My giant gold Jacquemus hoops and a vintage green Gucci backpack from the 1980s are my most hardworking accessories.
A piece in my wardrobe which takes me back is a mainline Alexander McQueen sleeveless silk blouse that I bought from Harvey Nichols in Leeds in 1999, after being promoted to head up the sponsorship department at ITV. It marked a real achievement for me and came from a collection created while Lee McQueen was alive and producing some of his finest work. I have always loved his theatrical aesthetic and extraordinary use of colour and pattern. I will never part with it.
The most sentimental item in my wardrobe is my grandmother’s “cigar ring”, a chunky gold ring that I wear on my forefinger. She was incredibly stylish and far ahead of her time. She also loved interiors, and I still remember eating Sunday lunch around her Saarinen dining table. Wearing it feels like carrying a little of her style and spirit with me.”
