The coat
RÓISÍN NÍ MHÓRDHA, PR EXECUTIVE
There was one suitcase untouched after the contents of
Róisín Ní Mhórdha’s wardrobe was stolen while she was living in Amsterdam. In it were her much-loved overcoats, and in particular, a grey wool Nicole Farhi favourite. “It was the first one I ever bought with my Christmas bonus back in 1994 while living in London,” explains Róisín. She still wears it all these years later, along with a growing collection of statement coats from Peter O’Brien, her favourite designer. A coat is the last item you put on and the first one you take off, and yet it’s one of the hardest-working items, enduring all kinds of weather. For Róisín, who travels a lot for work, it is the wardrobe staple that pulls an outfit together, always allowing her to feel elegant and presentable. “That’s the beauty of a coat, it’s so versatile; it has to be practical and elegant so that when I step off a plane into a meeting, it still looks presentable. When you feel good in clothes, you stand taller. My coats definitely do that for me.” Although devastated by the robbery, it has made her more considered in her purchases and more appreciative of her investments. She loves the simplicity, quirkiness and attention to detail Peter O’Brien brings to his designs, and tries to buy something from each season. “I try to support Irish designers and love that I can showcase them in various parts of the world through my work. Peter knows how to design for women. He’s not afraid of colour, and there’s always something unique about the cut or tailoring.” A pocket at an angle, some unusual stitching – the result is always understated elegance with an edge, exactly how Róisín describes her own personal style. “It’s a quiet drama – making a statement, but not over the top – and I just love that.”