A few weeks ago, nine of the women who wear Kindred spent an afternoon with us in our Belfast studio. They tried on pieces across our size range, had their make-up done, and dressed up for the simple joy of it.
At the end of this story you will find a gallery of more photographs from the afternoon, each one linked to the piece being worn.
An invitation
We’re often asked how a piece will fit. Every piece has its own size guide, with garment measurements, and we are always glad to help by email. But a chart can only tell you so much. It cannot show you how a collar sits, how a skirt moves, or how a piece looks on someone built a little like you. We have always felt a piece only truly comes alive once it leaves the studio, on the woman who chooses it and makes it her own.
This autumn brought more tailored shapes into our collection than ever before, and with them more questions. So we asked some of our Kindred Spirits, the women who wear and keep our pieces, whether they would come into the studio and try them on for us.
The afternoon
It became one of the loveliest afternoons of our year. There were rails of tweed and linen, and a camera passed from hand to hand. Anna McConnell did everyone’s make-up with her baby on her front, and Amy had brought her little one along too. Between the clothes and the children, there was plenty going on, plenty of laughter and more than one twirl in the Poppy dress.
The size she felt best in
We asked each woman to choose the size she felt most comfortable in. Sometimes that matched the size guide exactly, and sometimes she went up or down a size, depending on the piece and on her. Afterwards, Amy wrote each woman’s name and size on the photographs, and beneath each one we have listed them from left to right, so you can find someone close to you.
Two of our Kindred Spirits share a name, so we have called them Hannah R, who is 5'7", and Hannah G, who is 5'11" and expecting.
The Inheritance Blazer
Dark brown Donegal tweed, shaped through the waist with a neat stand collar and shell buttons, and lined in black beetled Irish linen that you only glimpse when the jacket moves. Five women wore it in brown.
- Carol, 5'6", UK 12, wore the M.
- Jen, 5'4", UK 14, wore the XL.
- Selah, 5'8", UK 6 to 8, wore the XS.
- Hannah R, 5'7", UK 14 to 16, wore the XXL.
- Jemma, 5'5", UK 8 to 10, wore the S.
Jemma also tried it in Shamrock, a vibrant green woven in Ardara with little glints of gold, worn with our Boyfriend Trousers, both in S.
Shop the Inheritance Blazer
The Rose Dress
In a bespoke Irish linen check, with a stand collar and soft ruffles falling from shoulder to waist.
- Maria, 5'5", UK 8, wore the S.
- Gemma Louise, 5'9", UK 14 to 16, wore the XXL.
- Carol, 5'6", UK 12, wore the M.
- Mollie, 5'7", UK 14, wore the XL.
Shop The Rose Dress
The Hope Dress
Cut from our signature rainbow stripe, the fabric that helped us find our feet in those early lockdown days.
- Hannah G, 5'11", who is expecting, wore the M.
- Mollie, 5'7", UK 14, wore the L.
- Selah, 5'8", UK 6 to 8, wore the S.
Shop The Hope Dress
The Tillie Dress
A high neckline, a tie at the left shoulder and soft, tumbled linen, in two broad sizes, S/M and M/L.
- Jen, 5'4", UK 14, wore Bluebell in M/L.
- Carol, 5'6", UK 12, wore the Navy Stripe in S/M.
- Hannah G, 5'11", wore Bluebell in S/M.
Shop the Tillie Dress in Navy Stripe
The Puff Dress in Poppy
A full dress gathered at the waist, made to be worn with the V to the front or the back.
- Hannah R, 5'7", UK 14 to 16, wore the L.
- Maria, 5'5", UK 8, wore the S.
Neither stood still for long.
Shop The Puff Dress in Poppy
The Bow Skirt and the Marshmallow blouse
Our Beetled Bow Skirt in Loinnir pink, our own bespoke beetled Irish linen, worn with the Marshmallow blouse in white, turned back to front.
- Maria, 5'5", UK 8, wore the M.
- Selah, 5'8", UK 6 to 8, wore the S.
- Mollie, 5'7", UK 14, wore the XL.
From your letters
“The suit fits perfectly and is absolutely beautiful in design, colour and quality... I look forward to wearing them for many years.” Rachel
“They are all so beautiful and made me feel so happy trying them on.” Lynn
Finding your size
Every Kindred piece has its own size guide on its page, with garment measurements rather than body measurements, so you can compare it with something you already own and love. Our more relaxed pieces come in broad sizes, such as S/M and M/L. Our tailored pieces, like the Inheritance Blazer, come in XS to XXL, with the UK sizes shown beside each. If you are unsure, write to us at info@kindredofireland.com with your usual size, your height and the piece you have in mind, and we will gladly help.
Thank you
To Maria, Gemma Louise, Carol, Mollie, Jen, Selah, Jemma and both Hannahs, thank you for your afternoon.
More from the afternoon
Photography by Studio Kin. Make-up by Anna McConnell.
