How I found my sıgnature look
For Jackie O it was oversized sunglasses, for Audrey Hepburn a little black dress, and Carrie Bradshaw her Manolos… Whether it be statement shoes or a red lip, the right fashion item sets your style tone. ORLA NELIGAN meets three women
who have one thing in common: a signature piece that sets them apart.
The glasses
They may well be a medical necessity, but the perfect pair of glasses, like the slick of a lipstick or a statement scarf, can transform an outfit. “It’s all in the style, detail and colour,” notes eyewear designer and owner of Optica Dublin Deirdre McNally, who alters her frames regularly, from bold statement styles by Kuboraum to sleek titanium ones by Thom Browne. She’s been wearing glasses since her twenties and still has her original, now “retro” pair. “My 16-year-old daughter has her eye on them,” she laughs. There are no rules when it comes to choosing eyewear, she says. “We shouldn’t be restricted to one shape or colour. There’s nothing better than choosing a style for someone they didn’t expect and watching how they suddenly see themselves in a new perspective. Eyewear most definitely defines an individual’s style and completes a look.”
Not one to follow trends, McNally prefers a more timeless and personal approach to fashion, sourcing Irish when she can and changing her eyewear regularly. “My style is quite clean and minimalist, and hasn’t really changed over the years. I’m happiest wearing comfortable clothes, usually using black as my base, and accessorising to customise my look. By simply changing my eyewear, I can change my look very easily. It’s an easy way to dress,” she says. Currently, she’s favouring limited edition rose gold frames she designed with Theo, a Belgian family-run business they’ve been stocking for more than 20 years. Her latest Wolfhound collection draws on her recent trip around Ireland with frames in colours inspired by the Irish landscape. It’s about function and fashion, she explains when prompted on the subject of whether eyewear has become more about being seen than seeing. “We use the best lenses combined with really stylish frames and great design with the aim that people will look better and feel more confident than they hoped.”