Your Shopping Bag is Empty
The Women Who Make It Happen
What’s In My Handbag?
As part of our International Women’s Day series, we speak to two inspirational women in our business to find out what a typical working day looks like for them and what they carry with them so that they can stay productive and feel great.
Michelle Curtin, Head of Personal Shopping
Michelle Curtin, Head of Personal Shopping
Michelle spends her working day building the fashionable wardrobes and confidence of
her clients in our Grafton Street store. Typically, her day starts at 6:30am dropping her 2 small children to
crèche, followed by brand training sessions and wardrobe appointments before it’s time to collect the kids and
later head out for an evening walk or to Pilates.
Today she opens up her Balenciaga Le Cagole Medium Tote Bag for us and shares everything she
carries day-to-day so that she can get the most out of her day while looking good and feeling great.
“This beautiful crossbody bag is quite a recent purchase, I don’t buy a bag every season or
every second season for that matter, I only buy when I am totally in love and this one stole my heart. It
must be all the early 2000’s nostalgia! I always fancied one back then and now I have this classic! It’s
actually a men's bag that I discovered one day draped across a mannequin in our menswear
department.”
Practical Purposes
Functionality is important for Michelle when it comes to a bag
“It has an outside pocket that I can put my travel pass in, along
with an AirPod holder. I love that something so beautiful can also
organise me better! It’s cracked leather makes me feel that I can enjoy it and not have to
protect it.”
Switching It Up
“Everyday demands a big bag but I also adore a light crossbody bag at the weekend. My current fave is the Miu Miu Wander in burnt leather”.
On The Daily
She added
“On a work day, I never leave
the house without my keys, a packed lunch, my Mother reusable coffee cup, Nars Audacious
lipstick (I wear shade Raquel), Charlotte’s Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir which keeps my
lips hydrated while adding a lovely gloss and Byredo
Blanche travel size perfume.”
Afternoon Tea
What Else?
“Oh I always have a tiny box
of decaf teabags with me as you’d be surprised how few places
stock them!”
Reading Lessons
Michelle carries her Kindle around every day too.
“Just in case I get a few quiet moments! I’m currently reading Lessons in
Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus; it’s a wonderful story of pioneering women fighting to prove
themselves, written with a comedy edge, right up my street.”
You can book a personal shopping appointment with Michelle in our Grafton Street store here or call us on +353 (0)1 617 1108.
Elena Costello, Personal Beauty Stylist
Elena Costello, Personal Beauty Stylist
Elena has over six years’ experience in the beauty industry and spends her days sharing her knowledge of makeup and skincare with her clients as well as giving one-to-one lessons, hosting events and creating content for various social media channels.
She spills her Stella McCartney Perforated Logo Camera Crossbody Bag for us to talk us through what’s it's contents and how it all empowers her to conquer anything the day may bring.
“I’ve had a hectic few days as we had the superstar that is Kate Moss visit us launching her new
brand Cosmoss so this is my go-to
bag for days when I need to keep it simple. It’s practical, stylish and works
with everything.
Size Matters
“I’m definitely a small bag girl. I’m quite petite so bigger bags can really drown me. Saying that, I do have a beautiful Mulberry Bayswater Tote, it’s a gorgeous Greige colour with a rich burgundy velvet interior, I tend to keep it for very special occasions.”
Daily Life
She added “I never leave the house without my AirPods, keys, phone, small black Mulberry purse and a pair of sunglasses - at the moment I am wearing a gorgeous dark tortoise shell pair from Prada.
The Beauty Bits
“I always carry a lip balm and lip liner- at the moment I have this divine balm from La Mer which has the most stunning scent and my liner is Charlotte Tilbury Pillowtalk, I wear shade medium as I find it perfect for everyday!
I’m big on fragrance so I’ll usually have a small travel size bottles wit me, today it’s Frédéric Malle Portrait of a Lady.
Sweet Spot
Elena confesses “I have a terrible sweet tooth so there’s always some sort of chocolate in there too. At the moment I have dark chocolate covered almonds.”
Don’t Lose Heart
“I don’t tend to carry anything sentimental in my bag because I have been known to lose things! My bags are sentimental to me though, I have bought special pieces to mark different milestones in my life.”
If you’d like to book a beauty consultation with Elena in our Grafton Street store, you can do so here or call us on +353 (0)1 617 1108.
MORE TO READ
As part of our International Women's Day series, the women who make fashion happen at Brown Thomas talk to us about those who helped shape their careers and what advice they have for the next generation of fashion lovers.
Read The Feature