Like leaves in a breeze, the leading fashion magazines have been following the spiralling career of fashion designer, personal shopper and dresser to the stars, Edward O’Sullivan.
The Barrack Street, Castleisland native was a behind-the-scenes presence at the weekend’s Oscars awards.
He is credited with dressing Cate Blanchett – who wowed those same fashion writers and magazines with a look which Eddie had a big say in putting together.
Two Pairs of Pants and a Sweater
In the course of an interview with The Irish Times in June of 2000 he told the paper that he arrived in JFK Airport 10 years previous to that with two pairs of pants and a sweater. I certainly didn’t own a Prada suit, and now look at me!” he invited.
Eddie was the personal shopper at Prada on Fifth Avenue in New York, a role that saw him dressing stars such as: Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Leonardo di Caprio and Kevin Bacon. If you see paparazzi shots of Tom Cruise wearing a sharp Prada suit to a premiere, that’s Edward’s work. Catherine Zeta Jones at an award ceremony? Uma Thurman at the Oscars? They’ve all been to see Edward.
New York Times Style Section
“Such is his renown, the New York Times style section recently ran a piece describing Edward’s own personal style, and the particular way he wears an Ascot tie. Not bad work for a boy from Castleisland, Co Kerry.
“When I tell people at home that I work in Prada, they think it’s a bar,” laughs O’Sullivan, chatting in between clients from New York. “People don’t really understand exactly what I do. I think they think I work in the equivalent of Dunnes for $5 an hour.” It’s understandable, because there is no real equivalent to the New York-style personal shopper here in Ireland,’ he told ‘The Times’ back then.
Artistic Brother
Eddie’s equally talented sister, Mary Owens is a designer on the set of Sesame Street and she recalled her eclectic upbringing on Barrack Street with Eddie as an artistic brother.
“My early days were full of fun and adventure. First in my house with my very creative family, with my brother Ed buying up early fashion magazines from Griffin’s. He was always drawing and designing outfits. His room walls were a shrine with photos of models and pop stars,” Mary told The Maine Valley Post last year.
As The Irish Times report quipped 16 years ago: “Not bad work for a boy from Castleisland, Co Kerry.”
With thanks to Mary Owens in New York and Jill Hannon in Castleisland.
