FANCY PANTS
Fashion power suits Roz as she launches Angie-inspired range
SOME called it royal blue, but surely sapphire is a more apt description of the tailored trouser suit Roz Purcell dazzled the VIP Style Awards with last weekend.
Fans can decide for themselves when a range of similarly styled outfits designed by Roz goes on sale in the autumn.
The Tipperary model’s showstopping blue number came about when she asked Cork-based designer Pat Morley – who runs the Scribe of London men’s suit label – to design a trouser suit for her for the awards. Then the thought struck her that she and Pat should widen their vision.
‘It was kind of spontaneous, but it’s not something I’ve always wanted to do,’ says Roz. ‘Any time anyone has asked if I’d like to design my own label, I’ve always said “not really”.
‘But I asked Pat from Scribe London to make me a suit and tailor it. He tolvwd me we’d have to use a man’s suit and tailor it to my body.
Scribe of London is known for its Sixties Mod-inspired designs – all narrow lapels and slim silhouettes.
‘On my last fitting for the VIP
Five different colours and will cost €695
Awards Pat and I just said, “Why don’t we design a line together?”’
The first collection will be released in a series of five different colours and will cost €695.
‘We’re keeping it quite simple and taking it easy to start with,’ says Roz.
She said she was inspired to wear a tailored suit on the red carpet after seeing model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and actress Angelina Jolie sporting them.
‘I remember seeing Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in a power suit before and thinking I really wanted to wear that tailored, clean look myself.
‘Then when I saw Angelina Jolie wear it on a red carpet I thought that she really stole the show. Then I just had to wear a suit to an event,’ she says.
While Roz is well known for her show-stopping dresses, she insists she prefers a fitted suit.
‘Honestly, I’m quite simple,’ she says. ‘The odd time I’ll wear something quirky but I prefer the classic look. I’ve wanted to wear a power suit for a long time and I know Pat.
‘I love bright coloured power suits, and there is nothing on the market, unless you’re willing to spend thousands and thousands,’ she says.
And while she has an enviably slim figure, Roz’s range will be available for women of all sizes.
‘They’re perfect for women who work. My sisters are both in business and marketing and they really just pick things up from high street stores but they keep having to re-buy them. What sold me on it was the material. It’s really good quality from Italy.
‘People might think that’s quite expensive, they might say you can get a top and bottom on the high street for about €300.
‘But this will be a personalised fitting. These suits will be inch perfect for your body. Everyone will be fitted,’ explains Roz.
Black and cream will be the staple colours for the collection with some colour popping options available, too.
‘I’m looking at a nice burgundy for this autumn,’ she says. ‘And I’m obsessed with getting a red
‘They will be inch perfect for your body’
power suit. They’re going to be very classic.’
But while Roz is dipping a toe into fashion design, she says she won’t be leaving her modelling career behind any time soon.
‘It wasn’t a decision where I was thinking, “I must leave modelling now.” I’m not leaving modelling at all, it’s still my full-time job. I just got to the stage where I realised I have a lot of free time. Since I started training I realised how many hours are actually in the day.
‘So I started doing more stuff with my interests like my food blog. And with fashion that just happened organically,’ she says.
Model, athlete, blogger, fashion designer… it seems the multitalented Roz excels at everything she turns her hand to.