Fashion

Is this Ireland’s most Christmassy woman?

Jen Nollaig is a designer who thinks we should decorate ourselves and the tree

‘I have always been fanatical about Christmas,’ Jen Nollaig says. Photograph: Edward Keegan
‘I have always been fanatical about Christmas,’ Jen Nollaig says. Photograph: Edward Keegan
Deirdre McQuillan's picture
Deirdre McQuillan
Fri Dec 15 2017 - 06:00

“We completely glamorise trees, so why not glamorise ourselves?” argues Dublin based designer Jen Nollaig aka Jenny Wilson, who has created madcap looks for Christmas based on tree decorations.

“I have always been fanatical about Christmas so I have used this as the inspiration for my work. I look at decorations and think how I can wear them rather than how they will look on my tree.” (She has three Christmas trees at home by the way, some looking rather bald).

A graduate of Limerick School of Art and Design who interned with Joanne Hynes and then moved to London to further her fashion dreams found instead another less creative life in the corporate world.

The birth of her second child six months ago, however, released her “dormant designer” which resulted in these creations which she started last October upcycling old garments and charity shop finds and customising them with Christmas decorations –  tinsel, wrapping, faux fur, glitter stars and foil decor.

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“The designer is back and taking no prisoners”, she says. Already Nollaig is planning next year’s Christmas looks.

“I have never felt so alive and have been so encouraged by people’s responses to my work. My goal is to inspire others to get creative this season.”

Jen Nollaig: ‘This was made using an old raincoat which I then layered with faux fur, tinsel and covered in glitter stars’. Photograph: Edward Keegan
Jen Nollaig: ‘This was made using an old raincoat which I then layered with faux fur, tinsel and covered in glitter stars’. Photograph: Edward Keegan
‘I used an old nightgown and layered it with tinsel,’Jen Nollaig says. Photograph: Edward Keegan
‘I used an old nightgown and layered it with tinsel,’Jen Nollaig says. Photograph: Edward Keegan
‘This coat was a charity find, customised using ribbon glitter stars from Dealz and faux fur,’ Jen Nollaig says. Photograph: Edward Keegan
‘This coat was a charity find, customised using ribbon glitter stars from Dealz and faux fur,’ Jen Nollaig says. Photograph: Edward Keegan
‘The jacket was trimmed jsing curled up Christmas wrapping ribbon and tinsen,’ Jen Nollaig says. Photograph: Edward Keegan
‘The jacket was trimmed jsing curled up Christmas wrapping ribbon and tinsen,’ Jen Nollaig says. Photograph: Edward Keegan
‘The jacket was another great charity find which I then customised with Santa and candy cane decorations,’ Jen Nollaig says. Photograph: Edward Keegan
‘The jacket was another great charity find which I then customised with Santa and candy cane decorations,’ Jen Nollaig says. Photograph: Edward Keegan
‘This was made using 1980s inspired foil decorations bought from Dealz,’ Jen Nollaig says. Photograph: Edward Keegan
‘This was made using 1980s inspired foil decorations bought from Dealz,’ Jen Nollaig says. Photograph: Edward Keegan
Ireland’s most Christmassy woman Jen Nollaig in full regalia for the season. Photograph: Edward Keegan
Ireland’s most Christmassy woman Jen Nollaig in full regalia for the season. Photograph: Edward Keegan
‘I look at decorations and think how I can wear them rather than how they will look on my tree,’ Jen Nollaig says. Photograph: Edward Keegan
‘I look at decorations and think how I can wear them rather than how they will look on my tree,’ Jen Nollaig says. Photograph: Edward Keegan

Check out her Instagram #jen_nollaig or contact her at jennollaig@gmail.com