Celebrating a life well lived!

A woman of passion for #CoutureArt, beauty, elegance and timeless style.

I can see it in her eyes, she is a kindred spirit.

A few weeks ago, we received a call from Mr. Kenneth Block, husband of the late Vonnie Reynolds. He wanted to share some artifacts from his talented wife’s amazing fashion design career. We are grateful to receive these items and for the opportunity to keep her memory alive. Thank you Mr. Block for the honor. Today we are celebrating her legacy.

Born in 1938, Vonnie Reynolds was an Irish Fashion designer known for creating couture women’s fashion from her workshop, Bunratty Cottage, in Clare, Ireland. Vonnie was unique and unconventional; her designs attracted women like Vanessa Redgrave, Katherine Hepburn, and Diana Ross. Her ball gowns were worn at President Regan’s inaugural ball and her designs have been purchased by the J. Paul Getty Family and the United Nations Ambassador Jeanne Kirkpatrick. Her clothes are considered “collector’s pieces” and are esteemed for their charming, timeless quality.

Though initially known for her ball gowns, Vonnie is equally famous for utilizing traditional Irish fabrics in her other designs, such as tweeds, linens, laces, and silk. She is widely-credited for reinventing the basic tweed suit and for proudly reviving Limerick lace. In addition to her one-of-a-kind gowns, Vonnie created a ready-to-wear collection founded upon her belief that every woman deserves access to an affordable, well designed outfit.

In 1983, Vonnie opened a branch of Bunratty Cottage in Annapolis, Maryland and her garments were quickly sought after in fashion houses in New York, Washington, Massachusetts, Texas, and Florida. Her designs have sold to more than 100 retailers in the United States including Garfinckel’s and I. Magnin. Vonnie Reynolds celebrated the notion that a woman should wear what she feels beautiful wearing and is remembered for her feminine, elegant, and artistic designs.

A documentary film about the life and career of Vonnie Reynolds will become available soon; we are looking forward to it and will share it with you once it is released. For now, here is the trailer: