Shopping for classic clothes with vintage queen extraordinaire Irene O’Brien

Irene O’Brien is behind all the best vintage fashion shoots. So imagine how excited Paula Burns was when Irene took her vintage shopping?

WHEN I told my friends that vintage queen extraordinaire Irene O’Brien was going to style me in vintage wear for a photo shoot, one of the first questions I was asked was would it be in Downton Abbey style. Yes it was a bloke who asked but in a way it confirmed the costume fear that surrounds wearing vintage.

I must admit I haven’t dabbled in vintage wear in a few years. Back when Carrie Bradshaw made vintage cool thanks to the styling mastermind of Patricia Field I tried to channel my inner Carrie, but I’m not quite sure I ever really pulled it off.