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Couture in Kerry
E
VER SINCE her dress was becoming a finalist for the Best Dressed Award at the
crowned Best Dressed 2012 Melbourne Cup.
at the 2010 Galway For Karyn, inspiration stems from many places,
Races Karyn Moriartys the fashion eras of the 40s and 50s being one of
success has gone from those key inspirations. As Karyn herself puts it the
strength to strength. present with notes from the past. Though with that as
The cream, streamlined, fuss-free dress, a starting point its Karyns clients themselves that she
which was partly based on an old vogue takes the most inspiration from. As she says It might
pattern, sparked comment because it start off as a design process but its hard to put on
was the complete antithesis of Celtic paper sometimes. There is movement going on. It just
Tiger gaudiness and it also underlined evolves. With made to measure for a person its their
how fashion contradictions work to your personality as well and they always have to feel good
benefit. Fashion editor for the Irish and comfortable in it.
Independent, Bairbre Power perfectly Karyns start in the fashion world is widely noted
sums up why the dress had so much of as her time spent working with designer James
an impact at the time. The following year Acheson. Having the chance to be part of the Oscar
Karyn was award the Kerry Designer of winning design team for the films The Last Emperor
the Award bringing her designs to the and Dangerous Liaisons. However, the beginning of
forefront of Irish fashion. her love affair with style started back when she was
In the years to follow Karyns designs a child in the 70s. Watching her mother getting ready
would be featured on both the Irish and for local dances, she was in awe of the cacophony
International fashion scenes. At home of colours and with how the dresses moved and
they having been showcased on national sounded. As Karyn grew up she discovered a love and
television programmes such as Expos and talent for art and decided that she would studying
the Today Show. While also being worn something artistic after school. This led her to
by Irish celebrities to prestigious events choosing to attend Limerick College of Art and Design
such as the Irish Film and Television for a year with the intention of majoring in something
Awards and more recently by Muireann specific at the end. Karyn had decided she wanted to
Nic Amhlaoibh while presenting Gradam study fashion. The college however tried to encourage
Ceoil 2016. Internationally, Karyns her to study painting. This led to Karyns fated decision
dresses garnered attention in places to visit a family member in Brighton for the summer
such as Australia with one of her designs and in turn her working with James Acheson.
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