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Taylor Swift mania is at an all-time high in Ireland, with the singer set to perform three sold-out shows at the Aviva this weekend. While we’re all scurrying to pull together our own Eras Tour outfits, the singer has had her costume changes sorted for months and it turns out, there’s even an Irish connection as Dublin designer Paula Rowan is the woman behind her fabulous gloves. In fact, she’s been spotted wearing the AIDA gloves twice this week alone.
Embodying classic features including flattering triple darts and individually hand-stitched panels of leather, she paired them with a custom-made, corseted Vivienne Westwood dress. The design, created from recycled white taffeta, featured lyrics from her latest single, “Fortnight”.
On the second occasion, Swift wore the AIDA gloves with another custom-made Vivienne Westwood getup – this one comprising a silver twill tailcoat with crystal-embellished lapel, a custom silver twill bustier and matching high-waisted briefs.
“Taylor Swift is known for her strength and confidence as well as her ability to constantly transform and evolve. For all of those reasons, I am delighted that she chose my gloves to wear,” says Paula. “Swift’s style has evolved over her career and she uses both her lyrics and her outfits to communicate and to craft a story so I am honoured to be a part of that narrative.”
If you’ve done your homework and watched the Eras concert movie on Disney+, you’ll already be familiar with most of Taylor’s tour looks which feature a string of bespoke outfits for each album/era. Rowan’s gloves feature in Swift’s newest era, The Tortured Poets Department.
Born and based in Dublin, Paula opened her first boutique in Westbury Mall back in 2006 – with her debut collection launching two short years later in 2008. Dipping her toes in the family luxury goods business after studying history and classics at UCD, she ended up taking things over completely and was soon channelling her creativity specifically into gloves. You might question why, and the answer is simple; it was hard to get a continuous supply of stock from any one designer/retailer. So, Paula took it upon herself to create her own. You know what they say, if you want something done well…
Intent on sourcing only the finest materials from genuine Italian producers and artisans, Paula is picky about who she works with but her commitment to getting things right is evident in everything she and her team produce. “I work with people who know how leather feels, it’s in their blood,” she explains on her website.
Combining the best of Irish design with Italian craftsmanship, all Paula Rowan gloves are handmade in Italy. The leather – which is ethically sourced in Ethiopia – is dyed, treated, and stitched in Italy by some of the world’s top producers of leather gloves, and all in the same ateliers that many of the world’s best-known luxury brands have been produced in. Makers rely on traditional techniques that have been honed over generations and yes, it can be a painstaking process. “We examine every stitch,” Paula confirms.
That sounds like quite a lengthy process? Well, yes, which is why each pair of gloves takes three months to produce. Already having been featured in many a magazine spread and fashion shoot, Paula’s catalogue of work includes appearances in the likes of Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, Tatler UK, W Magazine, and High Snobiety amongst others. A master of her craft, it’s safe to say that her reputation (*wink wink*) precedes her all the way to Hollywood where she counts many high-profile celebrities among her clients – everyone from Dua Lipa to Beyoncé to Cher has worn Rowan’s designs. Even Lady Gaga is a fan, having first been introduced to < target="_blank" rel="noopener">her work on House of Gucci.
Approached by the costume team and asked to create custom designs for the film, Rowan says they came to her with a very clear vision of what they wanted – one she most certainly delivered on. So impressed was Gaga that she subsequently wore some of Rowan’s pieces on her Chromatica tour. According to Rowan, “Lady Gaga is a style innovator who embodies my own design beliefs: adventure, playfulness, sensuality and classic re-invention.”
Designing with a range of different aspects in mind – glamour, style, durability, comfort – Rowan relies on different leathers and materials (deerskin, cashmere, sheepskin, etc.) to help her bring the image she sees in her head to life. “We use our hands for everything. We feed ourselves, we communicate – when you look at how people talk, it’s actually primarily with their hands. We do so much with our hands that they should be adorned. I kind of felt that there was no one doing anything very interesting with gloves so I’ve tried to make them into statement pieces, but they’re still practical because they keep your hands warm.”
Drawing inspiration primarily from her home in Monkstown which is within view of the sea, Paula said that people-watching is also very convenient in helping her to decide what kind of designs might work. “I’m a very visual person so I’m always looking at art, looking at architecture. I’m looking at what people are wearing in the streets, at how people are using their hands.” Unsurprisingly, Paula has been inordinately busy as of late, which does of course hinder the creative side of things. “It’s hectic,” she laughs over the phone to me.
As for what’s next? She’d love to continue the movie run and feature in more blockbusters, so expect to see a lot more of Paula Rowan very soon.
Imagery provided by Paula Rowan. Feature photography by Gareth Cattermole.
This is an updated version of an article first published in November 2021.