lauraannbrady

One of the stand out, strongest and most inspiring Irish women out there, Roisin Murphy knows who she is and what she stands for. If I had to choose just two words for how I feel about her, they would be Girl Crush, Her sultry yet powerful voice mixed with disco-electro vibe music is so hip that it hurts, but yet still has substance. Art of all kinds influences her very individual style. She likes strong silhouettes, vibrant colours, anything a little bit off the wall really. Think fascinators and huge shoulder pads,teamed with silver moonboots. A little less out there than Bjork, but still deliciously flamboyant. I salute her in the style stakes for her no fear attitude and her unique celebration of female form. Oh and did I mention her music is bloody good?

Roisin Murphy//You Know Me Better

Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina, Grace Kelly in Rear Window, and Ginger Rogers in Follow the Fleet. As a little girl these were the women I looked to to try and emulate their style. The clothes in their movies were utterly fabulous and above all, incredibly well made. Tailoring was always paramount to this generation. A wise man once said : “When you find a good tailor, you must not give his name away, even under the threat of bodily harm.” Never was a truer phrase uttered. Except maybe when you realise that keeping all the good stuff for yourself is kind of pointless as you want to share any handy tips you get online with your friends, so they can benefit too!

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From the moment I first witnessed the Von Trapp kids flouncing around the Austrian countryside in their stylish recycled curtain outfits in The Sound of Music, my fascination with the art of tailoring and dress-making was cemented. Where did Maria learn all her tricks of the trade, and how did I get someone to teach me? I was capable of taking up the hem of my trousers (about 4 inches usually) but how did I do the rest?That was the million dollar question.

“I made them from the drapes that used to hang in my bedroom.”

After some serious consideration I decided I really didnt need to learn how to dress-make. Up to now, my limited sewing skills had served me well. It would make much more sense for me to seek out a tailor with a good reputation. So I did just that. I asked the advice of friends of mine who worked in wardrobe in theatre and film. I also asked friends and finally researched online. The same name kept coming up, The Alteration Centre on South Anne St. So this is where I brought my inherited grandmother’s vintage blue dress with a diamante collar. I wanted to be sure that it would be altered properly, as I had had bad experience with alteration services before. There was no need for my concerns. The dress was ready for collection within three days and it now it fits me like a glove. A girl definitely stands out in this vintage little number.

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Vintage has been the buzzword of the last decade. People are looking for a piece with a history, a bit of an interesting story, some to fascinate and inspire. A vintage item in your wardrobe to me is any item that has the right and the experience to say, “Hey, Ive seen a few things that you haven’t seen, I lived a few places that you haven’t, let me encourage to make different and daring wardrobe choices, and please please don’t wear me with anything drab.” Thankfully now more and more affordable vintage stores are popping up in different locations around Dublin. Shops such as Shotsy Vintage on Curved St in Temple Bar and The Third Policeman in Rathmines are providing Dublin ladies with stand-out original finds at an affordable price. Finding good vintage clothes and accessories can prove tiresome but the friendly staff in both of these stores make shopping there a breeze. I think alot of women are more aware of how they are spending their money nowadays and that when buying vintage, very often it is difficult to find a piece that fits well, so whats the point? I would find myself trying on something that I loved, but that was horrendous in the size department. But if you really love that magenta silk top, or whatever it is, and it brings out the colour of your eyes and you feel wonderful in it, then you should probably purchase it (think of all the skirts that it would look amazing with.) Now that you know exactly where to go to get it altered there is nothing holding you back, right? Embrace your own style, your individuality, be fearless in your choices and go with your gut instinct. If you “mess up” who cares? Fashion is fun, live it, try out new things, and enjoy it.