Both of my gorgeous girls have had hectic years, in very different ways.
The elder daughter Kirstin has been very busy getting engaged to Mark, buying and moving into their new home and then producing a beautiful baby boy with whom GG and I are unashamedly besotted. Much more on this subject in a future post, though!
Younger daughter Courtney, the fashion stylist, has had another highly productive 12 months. As well as her usual styling, writing, TV work, hosting events, home and foreign shoots, she has managed to find time to launch a You Tube channel – ‘Courtney Covets’ – and to design a boot collection in association with Buffalo Shoe Lab.
Courtney knew from the age of six that she wanted to be involved in fashion. We have photographs of her modelling her first collection, designed from old T-shirts and coloured tights. She was pretty handy with the scissors even then. When she got her first sewing machine at 14, she re-designed nearly everything she bought, just to put her own individual stamp on what she was wearing.
Transition Year work experience spent with Quin and Donnelly served to cement her decision to do fashion design in college. It was around this time that I came home to find my much-loved Roisin Gartland leather trousers re-modelled into a jacket (for her). She told me I was too old to wear them, although in truth I didn’t mind as they were a little too tight (middle age spread) – the jacket she still wears today and I just got a larger size in the trousers!
For her Debs, we bought a lovely dress in Diffusion, but the day before the event Courtney decided to design and make her own, finishing it just as she was going out the door.
And so to college! She spent two years in Sallynoggin Fashion College, even making it to the final of a Young Designers’ Competition and then she headed to London College of Fashion to do Fashion Styling and Journalism.
Now she returns to her roots in design with her first footwear collection in collaboration with Shoe Lab. The limited edition capsule collection takes its inspiration from rock ‘n roll greats such as Mick Jagger, Stevie Nicks and Kate Bush (the Kates are pictured below) and there is an obvious nod to vintage style also. ‘’We can be heroes’’ is the theme. These boots will be our wardrobe heroes!
The collaboration with Audrey Murray, head designer and buyer with Buffalo Shoe Lab, was a labour of love for both of them. Having already put her ideas on paper, Courtney headed off to Spain with Audrey earlier this year to choose the leathers, adapt her designs, test the fabrics and put them into production.
All of the boots are amazing; well I would say that, I am her mother! I bought two pairs – the Jaggers and the Suzie Qs. I wore the Jaggers to Bloggerconf at the weekend and walked a good 2K in them and boy are they comfortable….I was literally ‘Rolling’ along in them. I adore the tassels and the embossed detail and I have to admit I feel a bit rock ‘n roll in them myself! Let’s say I got ‘satisfaction’. Below you can see how I styled my Jaggers with my faux leather trousers from Paula’s Malahide and a super comfy off-white cold shoulder jumper from M&S.
I love Suzi Quatro too; I wanted to be her when I was growing up. I admired her glam-rock style, but I was in my late thirties before I owned my first pair of leather pants (yes, those that were cut up!) So I was drawn to the rose-gold metallic ankle boots inspired by her.
Below you can see how I teamed my SuziQs (which come in black also) with my L.K. Bennett dress. The heel is a nice height and I stood in them for a long time at a family event at the weekend, with no repercussions. Those of you who are regular readers know how I am obsessed with comfortable footwear!
“So bless my soul” there was nothing wrong with me and I could even ‘’Hit the Road, Jack!’’ Some of you might think that I am too long in the tooth to wear metallic boots and I should have gone for the black, but I feel like taking a few more sartorial risks with my wardrobe. However, I am tempted to buy the black ones too since they are so comfortable.
The collection has something for everybody: the slouchy Stevies, the edgy Avas (named after Bowie’s muse Ava Cherry and seen below) and the more country rock Henleys inspired by Don, of course. Prices start at €155 and I hear the boots – available in Buffalo on Exchequer Street, Arnotts and online at www.weareshoelab.com – are flying out of the door.
There is something to suit everybody and considering they are all high quality leather and hand-stitched, I think they are reasonably priced.
I have heard Courtney say that these boots are like her babies, that she loves them all equally and she won’t pick a favourite, even when pressed. I wonder if I am allowed, since I am effectively the grandmother to these ‘’babies’’. I certainly won’t put it in writing, however!
