SOCIAL LIFE THEN e n NOW & Little has changed in Ireland over the last two decades, not our obsession with property, not the traffic and certainly not climate lethargy, writes Trevor White In July 2006, then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the boom times are getting even more boomer. At the time, Grafton Street was one of the worlds most expensive shopping streets. Some retailers were paying an annual rent of over €1 million. Young Dubliners thought Ugg boots were the height of fashion, if you didnt have a fake tan, you were on the way to get one, and if you were on the N11, you were stuck in traffic. Some things never change. That September, THE GLOSS was launched by sisters Jane and Sarah McDonnell. It was a bold move by two publishing executives who had cut their teeth working, as I did, for Kevin Kelly, the most dynamic magazine publisher of his generation. Their timing was not fortuitous. In 2008, there were 1,200 helicopter landings at the Punchestown Festival. In 2009, there were fewer than 300. By 2010, no one could remember what a helicopter looked like. But THE GLOSS survived the death of the Celtic Tiger, and today the magazine is 20 years old. That is an extraordinary feat. What are the changes that Dublin has witnessed over the last two decades? If I were a more agreeable person, I would tell you that life in the city has changed a great deal, from the demise of the Blackberry and the arrival of many Michelin stars, to a larger footprint that includes Wicklow, Kildare and Meath. Today you can eat anchovy toast and summon a taxi with your phone. But what are the important differences between now and then? The smartphone may have turned us all into addicts. We may have welcomed Britains Queen Elizabeth II and witnessed the self-inflicted wound of Brexit. Leinster may have won four European cups. Dublin may have won six All-Irelands on the trot. But, in some respects, the city has changed little in the last 20 years. Here in Dublin, the middle classes remain obsessed with property, and the political establishment is strangely unmoved by the climate crisis. There is, or should be, a political connection here, because property owners and I include myself have the clout to put climate at the centre of political debate. We have yet to do so. In 2026, residential property prices are 26 per cent higher than they were at the height of the boom. The years from 2022 to 2025 were the four warmest recorded in Ireland. The crash did not shake our faith in growth; nor has the climate crisis. At this stage, the governments lethargy on climate action looks like selfparody. We are talking about an emissions reduction of, at best, 25 per cent by 2030 against a target of 51 per cent. Meanwhile property ownership continues to serve as the most common indicator of status in Ireland. Both of these failures reflect a fallacy that rising asset values and greater consumption are indisputable evidence of progress. In Ireland, 68 per cent of households own their homes. They have a median net wealth of €391,600, compared with €10,200 for renters. In other words, homeowners have 38 times as much wealth as people who rent. If your children are struggling to get out of the family home, and if they cant afford to buy anywhere near you, you may not feel lucky, but you are compared to anyone who has yet to get on the property ladder. Of course, if you are mortgage-free, like 56 per cent of homeowners, then you have real options to enjoy living in one of Europes most comfortable small cities. Good fortune is welcome, but with it comes responsibility. Cognitive dissonance, the discomfort produced when our values contradict our actions, is a feature of late capitalism. Many of us worry about the environment while benefiting from the carbon economy that is driving its destruction. We are the frequent flyers who claim to care about the planet. Artists are adept at calling out the contradictions of the age. In that regard, Ireland is currently a hotspot, from Sally Rooney to CMAT, whose Euro-Country eviscerates Bertie Ahern and the men behind the property crash. But we all have a role to play in making Ireland the best version of itself, and that includes the media. Good magazines bring a culture to life on the page. The best drag a nation into the future. The privilege of time is only useful if we spend it wisely. The last 20 years have seen some profound changes, but we are still heading towards climate chaos. We have a chance to do something about it. That doesnt mean eschewing all luxuries how dull the world would be without the odd slice of truffle brie but it does mean admitting that our planet is on fire, and taking urgent action. This magazine has spent 20 years defining a vision of the good life. The next 20 years will see if its readers have the voice to go with the look. Trevor White is a writer and founder of the Little Museum of Dublin. Good fortune is welcome, but with it comes responsibility. 48 October 2026 THE IRISH TIMES OCTOBER 2026 20 years of thE GLOSS d e l l e e w B Je M www.th egloss.ie e d o h n r l r i e m o o st o tr s a e e r u CONTENTS the gloss E D I TO R JE NNIFE R STE V E NS D EP UT Y ED ITOR S Í O MHA CO NNO LLY MASHA MEL STYLE E D I TO R AISLINN CO FFE Y B EAUT Y ED ITOR SARAH HALLIW E LL CO N T R I B U TI N G E D I TO R PE NNY MC CO RMICK A R T D IR EC TOR PATRICIA C MAR INHO D IGITA L ED ITOR RACHE L HE AL THE FIRST WORD The Edit restaurants, books, trends, culture ROGER VIVIER AW27 PHOTOGRAPHED BY FRANCESCO BRIGIDA This Month Tim Walker: Fairyland Annie Mac at Guinness Jazz Onóra, Capel Street Animals at the Abbey Theatre T For music lovers, Annie Mac returns to Cork this his month we are TREND o The Trend Spot S 2 Cheers to dirty martini greens By Aislinn Coffey 3 4 1 tep foot into any cocktail establishment in the city and youll see that the dirty martini is having a moment. And now, green is shaping up to be one of the key colours of the season. Olive tones, reminiscent of MORE R ANGE ROVER THAN E VER Model shown is a 27MY Range Rover Electric Autobiography Global Spec with optional features. Availability and specifications vary by market, check with your local retailer. Official Fuel Consumption Figures for the Range Rover Electric in I/100km: N/A; CO2: 0. Test Energ FORECAST Moodboard 3 4 2 By Susan Zelouf W 5 6 the mood is Otherworldly 1 hen Tiber left the world, asleep on his doggie bed next to ours, never to wake again, we werent ready. One would think, ten years after we scooped him up and held him close during the long ride from his birthplace in Photo: Flavien Carlod, for advertising purposes only. TASCHEN. DDM Architectuur. EXCEPTIONAL ONCE-A-YEAR OFFERS ON ALL COLLECTIONS DUBLIN 18 Beacon South Quarter, Sandyford, D18 XF34 In-store interior design & 3D modelling services. FASHION 2 1 DIOR small wonders Magical minaudières, to have and to hold By Síomha Connolly 9 8 7 10 1. Crystal-embellished peony clutch, Judith Leiber Couture; www.net-a-porter.com. 2. Gold metal heart minaudière; www.ysl.com. 3. Gold metal artichoke clutch, Simkhai, €635; www.mytheresa.com FASHION 2 1 Slip into something a little more comfortable By Síomha Connolly 6 7 10 9 8 1. Aqua blue leather shoes, Topshop, €49.99; www.asos.com. 2. Honey mustard satin Inez mules, €298; www.thereformation.com. 3. Black leather Otto mules, €410; www.staud.clothing. 4. Black velvet wedge mules, The Ultimate Show Night IN THE HEART OF 3ARENA Discover Annual Membership Experience the pinnacle of live entertainment with annual membership to the 1878. Entertain your guests in an exclusive, elevated atmosphere with access to the most sought-after performances. membership@3arena.ie the1878.ie face furniture ALEX HUTCHINSON ACCESSORIES With more frames on the market than ever before, knowing where to focus your attention can be difficult. Lifelong glasses wearer Niamh ODonoghue makes the case for finding joy in one of fashions most intimate accessories N ice frames! a stranger mouths INVITATION TO CONSIGN FINE JEWELLERY AUCTION An Irish Connection to An International Market 26 St. Stephens Green, Dublin 2 +353 1 676 0261 - info@adams.ie Contact us for a free & confidential appointment (Deadline to consign, 30th October) Illustrated above: An Important Diamond Single-Stone Rin ACCESSORIES leap, there is often no going back. The conservative first pair gives way to something bigger, brighter or stranger; what initially feels daring quickly becomes normal. Its a progression I recognise. My own trajectory from barely-there 1990s-style frames to in-your-face ice-cream optica PRIVATE APPOINTMENTS DUBLIN THELANDSKEIN.COM FASHION The vertical lines of Valparaiso A months residency in Valparaiso, Chile, led to artist Sarah Walkers creative collaboration with fashion brand Noon by Noor By Amanda Cochrane W alking into Sarah Walkers eponymous gallery on the characterful Castletownsend dock in Co Cork, Justine Fairgri WELCOME HOME WITH DUX R New store now open, visit us in Sandyford. www.duxiana.ie DUXIANA SANDYFORD Beacon South Quarter Sandyford Dublin 01-5130607 FASHION Sarah Walker. and having looked at pictures of the city I already had many of the colours in my head, she says. After a couple of days I developed an idea to make an installation within the gallery. The busy arts centre was a far cry from her usually more tranquil work space. I was looking Cashmere www.lucynagle.com Also available in Brown Thomas Grafton Street & Dundrum, Dublin. BEAUTY Beauty Notes This months news and views By Sarah Halliwell M Need to know COOL KIT Sleeker equipment makes workouts less arduous. UK-based Onyx does some of the best-looking kit around, from yoga mats to hand weights, in chic colours, from €46.50; www.onyx-fitness.com. ake-up has taken a €2390 Theia 2 Stone Ring €215 Gold Loop Earrings €290 Willow Drop Earrings €1190 Triple Spinning Ring €840 Kaleidoscope Ring Stack €115 Essence Drop Earrings BEAUTIFULLY HANDCRAFTED Whether you are searching for the perfect pair of drop earrings or a bold statement ring, discover a thoughtfull TRAVEL N REST AND RESET Book in, zone out. Joyous spots at home and abroad for a reset this autumn By Sarah Halliwell eed a rest from daily life? A retreat, whether a day, a weekend or longer, can offer a valuable reset for both mind and body. And it doesnt have to mean self-sacrifice or lack of SKETCHTHELABEL.COM @SKETCH.THELABEL TRAVEL Anam Kara, Co Wicklow. Torre Sponda, Italy. Ballynahinch Castle, Connemara, Co Galway. Canta Retreats, Co Wexford. Canta Retreats, Ibiza. Cliffs of Moher Retreat, Co Clare. THE WILDS OF WEXFORD Palazo Fiuggi, Italy. Restoring body and soul, and hopefully setting new habits to take home ADVERTORIAL COCOONED IN VICTORY Wrap up for winter in the new Mayo throw from FOXFORD I s there anything more comforting than the feeling of soft lambswool against the skin? Or the addition of a new throw to give living spaces an instant update? Nowhere does luxurious, investment throws quite lik Castlebellingham, Co. Louth sales@oconnorsofdrumleck.ie +353 (0) 42 937 2625 oconnorsofdrumleck.ie BOOKS Reading Notes The best new books to read this month By Sarah Halliwell O ne of the most astonishing novels Ive read in years is GAINING GROUND by Joan Barfoot (Faber, €16). It was first published in 1978 but then went out of print, and its original UK publisher, Womens Press, shut down. As Once a Miele, Always a Miele. Available at our Experience Centre, Liffey Valley, Dublin and premium partners nationwide. ALEXIS KIRSCHBAUM BOOKS Writers Block with Louise Kennedy Louise Kennedy grew up a few miles from Belfast. She is the author of the acclaimed short story collection, The End of the World Is a Cul de Sac, which won the John McGahern Prize. Her debut novel Trespasses (2022) won numerous prizes and w ADVERTORIAL The financial topic that grows with you From your twenties to your sixties and beyond, few financial decisions shape your future more than your pension M ake Every Decade Count, the initiative launched this year by Goodbody and THE GLOSS, encourages women to think about their financia Blue polo-neck top, €19.95, at Zara. Blue Montserrat leather opera gloves, €475, at Paula Rowan, Westbury Mall, Dublin 2. Stainless steel Cubitus watch, Patek Philippe; 18ct white gold diamond necklace, Weir Collection; both at Weir & Sons, 96-99 Grafton Street, Dublin 2. prized possessions Modern ACCESSORIES Longines Stainless steel Longines Dolcevita watch, €1,600, at Longines, 32 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2. Patek Phillipe 18ct white gold Calatrava watch, at Weir & Sons, as before. Cartier 18ct gold Tortue watch, at Cartier, Chatham Court, Dublin 2. Rolex Hermès 18ct gold Oyster Perp Purple merino wool polo-neck top, €49, at Cos, 6-8 Wicklow Street, Dublin 2. Green pixelated Flemish bouquet-print cotton midi skirt, Dries Van Noten, €795, at Brown Thomas. Green Montserrat leather opera gloves, €475, at Paula Rowan, as before. Silver earrings, Jenny Bird, €140, at Havana, Donnybro ACCESSORIES Lie Studio Black Grace croc-print leather tote, €670; www.lie-studio.dk. Chanel Dark brown lambskin bag, €5,600, at Brown Thomas. Hermès Burgundy Clou de Forge leather bag, at Brown Thomas. bags of style Louis Vuitton Black Boundless perforated Mahina leather bag, €4,300, at Brow Blue polo-neck top, €19.95, at Zara. Grey turtle-neck knit top, €195; brown and multi-coloured check waistcoat, €395; grey wool culottes, €275; all Ecru Studios, Westbury Mall, Dublin 2. Grey tights, €15, at Tights Dept, Stephens Green shopping centre, Dublin 2. Blue Bilbao leather shoulder bag, Loe ACCESSORIES Newbridge Silverware Gold-plated floral revolving ring, €35; www.newbridgesilverware.com. Massimo Dutti Silver-tone melted-effect crystal ring, €50; www.massimodutti.com. Keanes Cartier 18ct gold Grain de Café diamond ring, at Cartier, as before. Ann Chapman 18ct gold Vibrance cit Green cut-out collar blouse, Victoria Beckham, €780, at Brown Thomas. Purple merino wool high neck top, €49, at Cos, as before. 18ct rose gold Play Of Light diamond and multi-gem pendant necklace; matching Play Of Light diamond and multi-gem pendant earrings; both at Boodles, 71 Grafton Street, Dubl ACCESSORIES Fope 18ct gold three-row diamond earrings, €6,420, at Keanes, as before. Alexis Bittar 14ct gold-plated Solanales crystal earrings, €299, at Loulerie, 14b Chatham Street, Dublin 2. Boodles 18ct gold Play of Light earrings, at 71 Grafton Street, Dublin 2. be jewelled Ryan Thomas FASHION 2 Menswear Notes T Octobers wish list By Aislinn Coffey STYLE CV 2 3 1 4 5 11 10 6 7 46 October 2026 3 4 he best leather jackets are timeless classics that never go out of style, and youre never too young or old to wear one. Every man should have a smartlooking version in his & bo ur RAN P arts la TY 5 AR AR W YE SOCIAL LIFE THEN e n NOW & Little has changed in Ireland over the last two decades, not our obsession with property, not the traffic and certainly not climate lethargy, writes Trevor White In July 2006, then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the boom times are getting even more boomer. At the time, Gr Experience the freedom of a cord-free lifestyle with our extensive range of cordless wall and table lights. Visit us at: Unit 1, The View, Carrickmines Manor, Dublin 18, D18 C6V4 info@hedgeroe.com hedgeroe.com 01-294 8932 20 YEARS THE GLOSS ANNIVERSARY Celebrating THE Twenty years is a significant milestone for any media brand, but particularly for one that has navigated seismic changes in publishing, technology and culture while remaining true to its original vision. As we celebrate THE GLOSS turning 20 this mon THE GLOSS ANNIVERSARY GLOSS G made IN MANHATTAN Shooting our big fashion stories in New York has always set THE GLOSS apart. Stylist Luis Rodriguez and his team are an incredible addition to our magazine family. He has loved working on THE GLOSS as much as we have: Over the many years, I forget e THE GLOSS ANNIVERSARY Beauty editor Sarah Halliwell with Kate Moss, Trinny Woodall and Charlotte Tilbury. famous FACES This Glossy Life featured interviews with fashions most prominent names. THE GLOSS has been the fi first rst choice for many fashion and beauty exclusive interviews. Beauty edi THE GLOSS ANNIVERSARY the GLOSS EVENTS THE GLOSS Gala Our guest speakers at THE GLOSS Gala (which features the longest catwalk in Ireland) have been wide-ranging, eclectic and always fascinating. Standouts amongst many include Gina Miller, Richard E Grant, Trinny Woodall and Anya Hindmarch. Inve TRAVEL window shopping A journey through some of the worlds most beautiful shops By Paula Flynn KARIMA MARUAN M y love affair with shops began in my teenage years and, through my work and travels, has taken me around the world in search of enchanting and inspiring shops. When I started The Shop TRAVEL Ulla Johnson, Los Angeles, CA, USA Gertrude Street Market, Victoria, Australia Ulla Johnson designs ethereal, bohemian clothing, drawing on diverse cultural influences with an emphasis on craftsmanship and intricate details. She has developed a loyal following around the world for her sign FOOD Recipe Notes Slowing things down for autumn By Kitty Coles E very autumn I have a small cooking identity crisis. I am, undoubtedly, a summer cook. Give me a pile of tomatoes with something grilled and I know exactly what Im doing. But the shift in weather always makes me think Im supposed to WINE Wine Notes The women who have marked the wine world By Julie Dupouy O ver the past 20 years and more, women have transformed the world of wine. They have challenged traditions, redefined wine education, opened doors for future generations and changed how we think, talk and write about wine. IN CONVERSATION Interview with a Man Fashion designer Roland Mouret By Sarah Caden VIANNEY LE CAER F ashion designer ROLAND MOURET, is celebrated for his ability to drape curves and for his iconic, body-sculpting Galaxy dress. Having stepped down from his eponymous label in 2025, he has moved i IN CONVERSATION My biggest strength is knowing nothing. Youve lived in both England and France, where do you consider home? England. French people outside of France are like the olive in the dirty martini. We are the best. In our own country, we become a bit average. Your most physically attractiv TRAVEL HAUTE HOLIDAYS Less crowds, cooler weather and better value now is the best time to book these alluring autumn getaways By Penny McCormick 2 For Design Lovers 1 COPENHAGEN 4 1. Nyhavns waterfront promenade. 2. Hotel Sanders; www.hotelsanders.com. 3. 14ct gold organically shaped bangle, TRAVEL For Healthy Hedonists 2 MARBELLA The allure of Marbella is guaranteed to lift the spirits as the season of mists sets in. Near perfect temperatures, leisurely days spent snoozing by the pool, or browsing the picturesque old town, punctuated by an ice-cold Tinto de verano and plates of And TRAVEL For Bucolic Bliss 1 BRUTON, SOMERSET Small yet quietly magnetic, Bruton has become known for its serious food, art and style credentials. Internationally renowned contemporary art gallery Hauser & Wirth has given Bruton much of its cultural clout with its interesting exhibitions and sculp TRAVEL Travel Notes Indulgent stays in the Lake District By Penny McCormick D ining in Langdale Chase, a seductive Victorian manor with impeccable taste, is cinematic. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer views over its gorgeous terraced gardens, designed by acclaimed landscape architect Thomas Mawson. ONE LAST THING The List TO READ: Table Energy: Entertaining with Italian Spirit, JJ Martin, Vendome Press. JJ Martin, the founder of luxury lifestyle brand La DoubleJ, opens her little black book T he independent fashion boutique I always make time for ... I adore the new Communité store in Ist Polestar 4 SUV Is it a car? Is it a statement? WLTP Polestar 4 SUV: 19.0-21.6 kWh/100 km and CO2: 0 g/km. Preliminary figures. Subject to final certification. Yes.