The Glamorous History of Dublin’s Lost Department Stores
RTÉ, June 2023
You know Brown Thomas, Arnotts and maybe even Switzers, but what about the rest? Fashion historian Ruth Griffin explores the glamour and glitz of Dublin's forgotten department stores.
I’m writing a book
I'm Writing a Book
Tweed’s New Mood
Irish tweed has a rich history, one that the next generation are reinventing to make their own. In the Spring issue of IMAGE, @rua_ruth explores the fabric's evolution, and where it's going next.
A brief history of Dublin's seaside fashions
Bathing dresses that fall to your ankle. A special machine to enter the water. This is Ruth Griffin's description of bathing in Dublin in the early 1900s.
A Mini Clery’s
Come, lets step back in time to Dublin of 100 years ago…
A Dublin Wedding Trousseau
While I’ve been planning my post-lockdown wedding for the end of July I have been enjoying the opportunity to research bridal fashion history in Ireland.
Vintage Marianne
The highly anticipated TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s award winning book Normal People has been just the thing to light up our lockdown viewing and to get us thinking about life, love, sexuality and growing up. What I have been fascinated to see unfold is Marianne’s wardrobe.
Nestor’s Millinery Salon
The wonderful thing I have found about giving my Lost Fashion History of Dublin Tours over the last 5 summers is the fact that I have some wonderful tour-goers who share historical information and objects with me
The Lost Fashion of The Liberties
Thanks for joining the 4th tour in my series and welcome to me jewel and darlin’ Liberties. I have a line-up of hidden fashion and textile gems for you, please scroll along these pictures while we are walking to get a view of how people and places looked in the places I am highlighting on the tour.
By the Seaside
If you are hoping to be by the sea-side this summer, I’ve got some of the best sea bathing tips to share with you from Irish women’s magazines from the early 20th century.
Lady of the House
The Lady of the House and Domestic Economist was one of Ireland’s first women’s monthly magazines which catered to educated, upper middle class women. It ran from the 1890s until the 1920s when it reformed as Irish Tatler after Independence, a publication we all know and love today.
Lost Tour on Tv
I’m delighted at the interest the #LostTours and my contribution to Irish fashion history has been garnering over the years, see some of the highlights in the press and on TV below…
Switzers at Christmas
Switzer’s Department store is something which conjures up a lot of nostalgia at this time of year. For many who remember seeing the windows as children all lit up with glittering toys and figurines they were what Christmas dreams were made of.
The Ború Cape
I love a good old yarn (pardon the pun) about an item of clothing that has had an interesting life across the generations. One of the standout pieces from the National Treasures roadshow was a beautiful autumnal-hued 1970s Jimmy Hourihan wool cape which author Henrietta McKervey brought to the show.
Talking Treasures
National Treasures looks at history through a sporting, social, political, design and fashion lens. From Currachs to Crolly Dolls, bottles of Blue Nun to black mourning veils all of Irish life is reflected in its many guises through the objects on the show.
National Treasures
National Treasures looks at history through a sporting, social, political, design and fashion lens. From Currachs to Crolly Dolls, bottles of Blue Nun to black mourning veils all of Irish life is reflected in its many guises through the objects on the new RTÉ show. Read about my 'whistle-stop tour of what happened stylewise in Ireland'.
Television Treasures
Turn off that wireless and switch on the google-box this Sunday, 8th April at 6.30pm for National Treasures the first episode in a 4 part series.
Fashion Detectives
Photos are the best fashion history records because they don’t just show clothes they show you how gloriously people wore them! There is an exhibition on at the National Photographic Archive at the moment called Photo Detectives…
Mystic Nylons
Researching fashion history is an interesting process. One of my favourite ways to do it is to spend time in the library sifting through old Irish newspapers, magazines and reference books.
Snáithe - The Story of Irish Fashion
I am excited and delighted to be making a cameo appearance this Wednesday in Snáithe. The series was created and directed by the lovely Ciara Nic Chormaic (who has been a regular tour goer on the Lost Fashion History Tours) and who poses some very interesting questions about Irish fashion.