I was lucky enough to live in Paris one of the main fashion capitals for 3 years .. a time I look back at so fondly.

I moved to Paris to set up John Galliano’s Accessory division with my design partner and best friend Beatrice Mac Cabe. I had Galliano’s book at home that I had received when I was studying fashion & textiles at NCAD Dublin and couldn’t believe I was now going to work alongside him as part of his close knit design team it really was a dream come true. The John Galliano Design studio was located in a refurbished fire station in the 20 Arrondisement in Paris a quirky and ethnic area full of artists studios. It had three floors and the downstairs was where the ‘Atelier ‘ was with the pattern makers walking around in their pristine white coats. On the first day we arrived I remember looking down and on the large cutting table in the atelier was an incredible Couture Bridal dress being finished with handsewn tulle flowers allover it.  Setting up an accessory department is so small thing. We had to establish the look and feel for his accessories which would encapsulate Johns vision and customer. We had to design 8 accessory collections a year from ladies and mens handbags and wallets to belts and jewellery. Everything was designed by us in his Studio in the 20éme and handcrafted in Italy which involved us flying from Paris to Italy once a week to visit the factories.  Galliano’s fashion shows were like no other they were out of this world and would mark the end of all the fashion weeks as they were always held on the final Saturday which meant a big party!  They had with the most theatrical sets by Michael Howells  hair by Julien Dy’s,  make up by the incredible Pat Mc Grath. Hats by the Stephen Jones the most talented milliner.

Photo of myself, Beatrice & her sister Rosemary Mac Cabe on the night of our last show in Paris before heading to live in NYC!