High Street Fashion: to Sligo shoppers seek

SLIGO has a new fashion shop Rosie B's.

The shop - located in Innisfree House on High Street - is the brainchild of Róisín Buckley who followed a two-decade long dream of opening such an outlet in her hometown having spent much of her working life in a different industry entirely.

"I am a hotelier by profession. I came home to Sligo 17 years ago to open the Glasshouse Hotel but this has been going on in my head for about 20 years and at 51-years-old I felt if I didn't do it now, I never will."

Róisín began accumulating a range of clothing which suits a wide range of sizes.

While some expressed concern about the variety being too wide, Róisín outlined why she felt there was a need for a one-stop shop that suits sizes from six to 26.

“My body shape changed over the years and I found as weight was going on it was getting harder to find clothes and I was buying a lot online which didn't set well with me.

“I felt it would be nice to bring a curvier range to Sligo, but I cover from sizes six to 26.

“It is a wide range, but the way I look at it is my best friend is a size eight and I am a size 20, and there is no reason we shouldn't be able to go shopping together and both be able to get something."

One obvious question that has reared its head is "Why an office block on High Street?"

Róisín admits she has fielded that question a lot since opening it and responds with the advantages a space on the second floor of Innisfree House offers her customers.

"It is click, collect and browse. You can pop in and collect your purchases or pop in just to browse. Something my customers really love about the premises here is the sense of privacy, it is a quiet atmosphere and they aren't running the risk of walking out into a busy shop from the changing room wearing something they aren't totally comfortable in. It isn't without its challenges to get the word out that

“I am open up here, but I am here, on the second floor, with full lift access so it is accessible for anyone who wants to come here."

Speaking about her range of clothing - which includes wedding, communion and confirmation guest attires - Róisín said she wanted to find a balance between being trendy and being age-appropriate - and the current trends having an emphasis on late 80s-early 90s nostalgia has been a helpful bonus.

"It is an evolving process. Women my age are loving the vast amount of colourful options and it is helpful that there is an 80s and 90s vibe in trends at the moment because it is what we knew when we were in our teens and early 20s.

“It is nice to be able to relive that but you want to do it in a way that suits you as a 40+ year old woman. You want to be trendy but it has to be age appropriate and I feel that is what I am bringing to Sligo, funky clothing in an age-appropriate way."

It is only early days for Rosie B, but Róisín is thrilled with the response her new venture has received to date and is confident there is much to be positive about as word continues to spread about this local business.

"I am very proud of what I have achieved. It is a 20-year-old daydream come to life. It is a lot of work and long hours that makes it possible but you enjoy it when its something you genuinely love and the response so far has been fantastic and I am so optimistic for bigger and better things to come."

Rosie B is opened from 10am until 5pm from Tuesday to Saturday.

The shop is located in Innisfree House (44-45 High Street).