Havana Boutique owner Nikki Creedon on subversive monochrome

Subversive Monochrome

Nikki Creedon, Havana Boutique

After three decades at the helm of avant-garde boutique Havana, Nikki Creedon is a fashion institution, recognisable for her achingly cool and super polished personal style. The way she dresses is, in its own way, a uniform: the uniform of a modern, intelligent, fashion-literate woman who doesn’t slavishly follow trends, but likes her clothes with a subversive twist. She describes her look as monochromatic, sculptural and contemporary.

“I love our Japanese brands – Comme des Garçons and Junya Watanabe in particular, and I mix these on a daily basis with standout pieces from Simone Rocha and Rick Owens as well as a beautiful Japanese knitwear brand, Suzusan, which is hand made in a traditional dye house outside Kyoto,” she says. Her daily uniform? “My blazers from Rick Owens – which just have the best cut – paired with skirts from Simone Rocha or Comme des Garçons. I tend to gravitate towards flat Prada brogues for comfort and style.”

The most hardworking piece in her wardrobe is a silk cashmere knit from Sian Jacobs that she wears layered under everything from Rick Owens to oversized tweed blazers by The Landskein. For Nikki, thoughtful styling involves personalising her outfit – adding an interesting fabric belt or embellished sock – and always introducing a feminine spin to soften androgynous pieces. She also takes her inspiration from travel.

“I’ve been lucky enough to visit Japan on several occasions. Closer to home, I love the colours and textures of Connemara, which have led to a renewed interest in Irish design, and I love how local designers such as Colin Burke, Sphere One and The Landskein sit so seamlessly with our international offering. I also take inspiration from menswear designers, and I’ve always loved Haider Ackermann and his magnificent use of colour