Sybil Connolly
| Sybil Connolly | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
January 24, 1921 Swansea |
| Died | 6 May 1998 (aged 77) Dublin |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
| Notable credit(s) | Honorary doctorate National University of Ireland, 1991 |
Sybil Connolly (24 January 1921 – 6 May 1998) was a Dublin-based fashion designer who was known for creating haute couture from Irish textiles, including finely pleated linen and Carrickmacross lace, and later for her work with brands such as Tiffany & Co.. Her fashion label's famous clients included Jacqueline Kennedy.
Said to have put Irish fashion on the map, she was described by former Taoiseach (prime minister) Jack Lynch as: "a national treasure".
Sybil Connolly was born in Swansea. Her father was an Irish insurance salesman and her mother was of English and Welsh descent. Her education came largely from her Welsh grandfather and private tutors. Her father died while she was a teenager and the family moved to Ireland, where she spent two years at a convent school.
Her interest in fashion drew her to London where she worked for the prestigious firm of Bradley & Co – whose clients included Queen Mary. Connolly would attend Buckingham Palace fittings where she was allowed to hold the pins. Returning to Ireland in 1940, she worked for Richard Alan in Dublin, replacing the head designer in 1953. There her work was spotted by American buyers.
Connolly held her first major show in 1953. It was a huge success – thanks in part to Harpers Bazaar editor Carmel Snow. It was attended by American press and buyers and her career took off rapidly after that, especially in the United States. When she travelled to the US later that year, the cover of Life featured Anne Gunning in one of her crochet dresses and a full length red cape with the coverline: 'Irish invade fashion world'. Connolly officially launched her couture label in 1957; she was 36.
Part of Connolly's success may be attributed to her flair for publicity. She was also a glamorous advert for her brand – a 1954 feature in Housewife magazine gushed: "this fairytale person has looks. Short curling dark hair. Eyes the brown of peat...And a model figure too". She was made part of the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1965.
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