From Paris to Portlaoise

Fashion designer Valérie Mahé shares her fascinating story

I was recently featured in the Leinster Express, sharing my journey from Paris to Ireland and the story behind my business, What to Wear.

Fashion has been part of my life from a very young age. My mother taught me to sew when I was four, and by twelve I was designing and making my own clothes. At seventeen, I began formal training in dressmaking in Paris, before studying jewellery making and working with a high-end jewellery designer at twenty-one.

The article also shares how my career brought me to Ireland, where I built a bridal business before creating What to Wear — a concept designed to help women feel confident in their clothes and make the most of their wardrobes. My own experiences, from fashion to motherhood and health challenges, have shaped the way I approach style today.

You can read the full article in the Leinster Express [here]