(The Couturette story) Claire O Connor: September 2010

RSVP WEDDINGS magazine

What the press said about 'the eurovision dress'

Niamh wore a flowing purple dress with a neckline of Swarovski crystals by Irish Designer Claire O'Connor. ''It's a brilliant design and it makes me feel great'' says Niamh ''It's really beautiful'' -The Star-

Looking positively resplendent in the striking purple dress fashioned especially for her by Claire O'Connor
-Sunday Independent-

Kavangh bedecked in a purple gown -Irish Examiner-

Meanwhile, her costume certainly won't disappoint, as she'll be stepping out in a regal purple, long-sleeved gown by up-and-coming designer Claire O'Connor.
The eye-catching creation features a stiff bodice made of duchess silk with hand-beaded jewel embellishments along the neckline. Several chiffon over-layers and beading along the side-slit make for a show-stopping effect
-Evening Herald-

Looking Stunning after a last minute switch to a purple Claire O'Connor dress -Irish Daily Mail-

The flame-haired singer appeared on stage dressed in Claire O'Connor-designed ensemble, a regal purple long-sleeved gown, which featured hand-beaded jewel embellishments along the neckline
-Irish Independent-

She looked sensational last night in a floor-length purple dress with clusters of swarovski crystals
-Irish Daily Mirror-

Eurovision 2010

THE IRISH ENTRY AT EUROVISION 2010 DRESSED IN CLAIRE O'CONNOR

The Irish Exposure Spring Summer fashion show

Ireland Am -TV3

The Couturette has replaced 'The Little Black Dress' with 'The Little Shocking Pink dress'.......xoxox

Fashion: Irish designer's sales

30.07.10

We are all about supporting talent on Ireland AM and this morning is no exception. With the sales nearly finished, now is the time to bag a bargain and with some fantastic creations from some of the country's up and coming designers and labels, stylist Courtney Smith has brought along three more looks from her top selection.

Claire O'Connor
Dress €495

The Design Centre
Powerscourt Centre
www.powerscourtcentre.com

'It's good to buy and support Irish' - Ireland Am-TV3

http://www.tv3.ie/videos.php?video=25344&locID=

Sunday Independent - Living - Fashion

Exposed - a tide of homegrown talent

..There were internationally renowned design stalwarts , such as John Rocha and Philip Treacy, showcasing alongside fresh talent Claire O'Connor, Mia O'Connell and Dawn Fitzgerald, and yet the latter group more than held their own.......

..................I heard Claire O'Connor's silk, full length, printed dress being talked about long after the fashion show was over..... -Sunday Independent-

Spring/Summer 2010

PHOTOGRAPHED BY ANGELA HALPIN

STYLING BY CLAIRE O CONNOR

Sunday Independent Life Magazine-Best dressed lady: make mine an Irish

Sunday Jan 24 2010

The Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown is one of those events that capture the imagination. Unlike other meets, it is glamorous in an old-school, country way, but also embraces modern Irish savoir faire.

Which, when I met the Hennessy family in Cognac in France, turned out to be the way they dressed, too. Think Irish tweed suits and coats worn with bespoke shirts, topped off with hats, or caps, of personality.

The next Hennessy Gold Cup is on Sunday, February 7. This year is its 20th anniversary, and the fourth year of the Design Centre's association with the Best Dressed Lady award.

I love the Hennessy Gold Cup Best Dressed Lady because it is a competition that seems to provoke individuality. It is not all about wearing this year's Dolce, but rather about how good you are at portraying your own fashion stamp, while staying warm -- well, it is still winter!

This year the judges are Aisling Kilduff, owner and buyer for the Design Centre, milliner Philip Treacy, Caroline Sleiman of Hennessy and fashion blogger and stylist Annmarie O'Connor. The prize is a €4,000 gift voucher for the store, with a runner-up prize of €1,000. You can enter the competition by registering on the day at the new registration desk in the Tote Hall, or you can pre-register online atwww.hennessybestdressed.ie. But of course there will still be fashion scouts, because we all know what a reticent lot Irish women are!

"Irish women are very modest about their style," Aisling told me. "They love their clothes, but they don't like to scream about how much effort they put into their look." Aisling cut her teeth working with the best of Irish design and Irish customers, back in the early Nineties. Throughout the Celtic Tiger, when we all seemed to want only foreign designers, Aisling still kept a large part of her fashion floor full of Irish design while picking up edgy, international talent, such as Preen and Jasmine di Milo. "My customers always appreciated Irish design," Aisling explained. "But this past year, customers are coming in and the first thing they ask me is: 'Where are the Irish labels?' And the fact is, they are now nearly the whole store, such has been the demand."

Aisling has been scouting for new Irish talent. Philip Treacy, John Rocha, Roisin Linnane, John McCormack, Claire-Ann Lawler-Darcy -- most of us know these. But, I'll bet, not Claire O'Connor, Sean Byrne, Eilish Kennedy, Dawn Fitzgerald and Mia O'Connell. All are unique, gifted design talents.

Aisling's shop floor is a mixture of modern, sharp tailoring mashed with a soft, romantic, individualistic femininity. Practicality and beauty: a perfect combination for the Hennessy Gold Cup's Best Dressed Lady!

Photography by Andreas Pettersson

Fashion edited by Constance Harris

Sunday Independent

Victoria Smurfit in Claire O'Connor

So here is 'the red carpet showstopper' they were chatting about on TV3's Xposé

As seen on Xposé (TV3)

Claire O'Connor's red silk duchesse evening gown has been described as 'certainly a red carpet showstopper' - Xposé.

http://http://www.tv3.ie/videos.php?video=22540&locID=

6 page editorial for Sunday Independent Life Magazine

16-08-09

It's been my experience that most young designers are somewhat premature in launching themselves onto the marketplace. But not Claire O'Connor.

She set high standards for herself, working for several years with highly respected designers to learn her craft. Consequently, she is more than ready to take her place in the ranks of exclusive designers, as the Claire O'Connor collection joins Philip Treacy, Preen and Jasmine di Milo in The Design Centre.

Claire is what Pauric Sweeney would call a demi-couturier. That means her garments are not entirely hand-sewn, but most are hand-done one-offs, with a labour-intensive detail. Claire is an originator, creating unique clothing. Her style stamp is a cross between Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Lacroix, featuring sophisticated tailoring, body-con fit, sex appeal, urban savvy, eclecticism and visual interest.

"My passions are hip-hop music and high-end fashion, so in my work I am diffusing the two," Claire, who has two labels, explains. "My style is classic, with a bit of an edge. I do get a lot of inspiration from the Paris couturiers. I love exceptional tailoring and finish. But I also love challenging the 'normal'."

Claire's playful attitude masks her superior competence and cutting ability. Her creations range from funky streetwear to sophisticated occasionwear, the latter featuring sumptuous cocktail dresses and evening coats with drop-dead fit and hand-embellished work. She is obsessive about fit and finish.

"After graduating from the Grafton Academy, I worked for Marc O'Neill. He had an unusual eye for design and was obsessive about cut -- I learnt a huge amount," she says. "I then worked for Jen Kelly, haute couturier. There I learned the importance of attention to detail and finish. But," she adds, "I can never resist playing. It has to have a twist to keep it interesting."

Claire set up her own label five years ago and she got a lot of bridal and occasionwear commissions. But when she started doing a ready-to-wear range of jersey pieces for Designer Knitwear Direct in Dalkey, she won a new fanbase. Her willingness to work with customers' needs, creating individual patterns for women up to size 22, has won her devoted loyalty. One fan describes Claire as "a little miracle worker".

Her collection for The Design Centre comprises 12 dress styles, which can be bought ready-to-wear or ordered to fit. There are also some stunning jackets and coats with unique detailing. And this is just the beginning. Expect great things.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANGELA HALPIN

FASHION EDITED BY CONSTANCE HARRIS

STYLED BY CLAIRE O'CONNOR