The Tamesis
Putting together an outfit comes naturally to Irish-born designer Maria McManus, who is known for her sustainable approach to wardrobe design. “I like two- or three-piece outfits because I can put more ideas together,” she tells me on a Zoom call from her Tribeca apartment, detailing her look for the day: white T-shirt, navy sweater, ivory silk pants and a pearl choker by Sophie Buhai.
McManus, who called New York home but traveled frequently for work, came to appreciate the structure and refined color palette of uniforms. “When you’re constantly thinking about dressing other people, sometimes you just wish your own clothes could be simple,” she said. She borrowed some constants from her own collection, mixing them with accessories from vintage Celine, The Row, Alaïa, Carven and Lemaire.
Tailoring is one of her style signatures. Her job is defined as that of a designer, making high-quality clothing that will stand the test of time. On weekdays, you’ll often find McManus wearing some kind of blazer and pants combo; if it’s a summer Friday, she might swap out her pleated pants for drawstring sateen or loose linen, depending on whether she’s busy around town or relaxing at home in Montauk.
Materials play a central role in McManus’ creative process and her personal wardrobe. In the five years since launching her brand, she has considered fabrics so carefully that she can identify the ingredients in any particular piece she designs or wears. For example, the navy sweater she’s wearing today is made from recycled cashmere and organic cotton from a factory in Italy. She wears mostly organic materials—wool, satin, silk, and organic cotton—but also likes to “break things up with a little lace or fringe.”
McManus commutes between Manhattan, Montauk and Ireland, with Fashion How she creates urban summer style with a week’s worth of outfits. See her breakdown below.
Photo: Courtesy of Elly McGaw
ladylike
While McManus is known for designing effortless, versatile dresses, she rarely wears them herself. Instead, she’ll put on a dress that can take her from day to night. Here, she wears a knee-length corduroy style from the Pre-Fall collection. “The slim fit of a pencil skirt gives the material a more feminine feel,” she says. “My clothes feel very minimalistic and unified, but there’s always an element of subversion.” The contrast is reflected in the skirt’s exposed zipper—”it’s a bit ‘sexy secretary,'” she joked. She completed the look with classic black pumps from The Row (Ornella) along with some key accessories. “I wear the same jewelry almost every day,” she said, such as her Sherman Fields bracelet and vintage tiger eye art deco ring, a gift from her grandfather after she got engaged.
