In this post-analysis episode, we reflect on our conversation with Mandy Johnston and explore the themes that stuck with us—effort, authenticity, and the subtle power of getting dressed.

From the blurred lines of post-COVID workwear to the quiet authority of a well-chosen outfit, we discuss why what we wear still matters. We also share a standout clip from The Diplomat that perfectly captures the politics of appearance in public life.

Don’t forget to catch Mandy’s full episode from earlier this week, and follow us to stay updated on what's happening next with Desert Island Dress.

In this episode of Desert Island Dress, journalist, broadcaster, and communications expert Mandy Johnston joins us to share the stories behind the clothes that have shaped her life.

From career-defining purchases to sentimental staples, Mandy reflects on the power of dressing with intention, the fine line between fashion and style, and why great clothes—like great friends—stand the test of time.

We also explore the shifting boundaries between workwear and leisurewear, the emotional weight of investment pieces, and how fashion plays a role in confidence and communication.

📌 Follow Mandy Johnston on Instagram: @mandyjohnstonpr

📌 Learn more about Mandy's radio show Taking Stock on Newstalk: https://www.newstalk.com/shows/taking-stock-834298

📌 Keep up with Desert Island Dress on Instagram: @desert_island_dress

Next Episode: We’ll be back this Friday with our post-analysis episode, where we reflect on Mandy's choices and dive deeper into the themes that emerged in this conversation. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it!

🎧 Desert Island Dress is available on all major podcast platforms. Subscribe, rate, and review to help us keep sharing these incredible stories!

In this post-analysis episode of Desert Island Dress, we reflect on our powerful conversation with Leon Diop. We explore his choice to wear a Charles Oliveira hoodie and what it reveals about resilience, identity, and surrounding yourself with positive role models.

We also unpack the cultural urgency of Netflix’s Adolescence, the rise of harmful online influencers like Andrew Tate, and the critical need for young people—especially boys—to see strength in empathy, discipline, and belonging.

From martial arts to mindset, this is an episode about the values we wear and the influence they carry.

📌 Follow Leon Diop on Instagram: @leon_diop_

📌 Learn more about Black & Irish: https://blackandirish.com/

📌 Keep up with Desert Island Dress on Instagram: @desert_island_dress

🎧 Desert Island Dress is available on all major podcast platforms. Subscribe, rate, and review to help us keep sharing these incredible stories!

In this episode of Desert Island Dress, we’re joined by activist, community leader, and founder of Black & Irish, Leon Diop. Through his chosen garments, Leon shares his journey of self-expression, resilience, and identity—exploring what it means to be both Black and Irish in modern Ireland. We talk about the power of storytelling, the importance of representation, and the personal experiences that led him to create Black & Irish, a platform dedicated to amplifying Black and mixed-race Irish voices.

Leon reflects on childhood nostalgia, the impact of fashion as a form of self-expression, and how clothing connects us to our past, our culture, and the communities we belong to.

We also get into an unexpected connection with Mariah Carey, the role of sport in shaping identity, and the importance of finding confidence in your own skin.

This is a conversation full of warmth, humour, and deep insights, and we are so grateful to Leon for sharing his stories with us.
📌 Follow Leon Diop on Instagram: @leon_diop_
📌 Learn more about Black & Irish: https://blackandirish.com/
📌 Keep up with Desert Island Dress on Instagram: @desert_island_dress

Next Episode:
We’ll be back this Friday with our post-analysis episode, where we reflect on Leon’s choices and dive deeper into the themes that emerged in this conversation. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it!

🎧 Desert Island Dress is available on all major podcast platforms. Subscribe, rate, and review to help us keep sharing these incredible stories!

In this post-analysis episode, we reflect on our conversation with Havana boutique founder Nikki Creedon—not just through the lens of fashion, but through a wider cultural conversation sparked by her long-standing support of Irish design.

Inspired by a quote from retail expert Mary Portas, who suggested that Irish retailers should "sell the feeling of being Irish," we consider what that feeling actually means.

From the cultural nostalgia of Claddagh rings and Aran jumpers to the modern expressions of Irishness in music, sport, and multicultural identity, we wonder: how is Irishness being redefined by a new generation of creatives?

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review to help more people discover Desert Island Dress!

Follow us on @desert_island_dress

🎧 Listen now on Spotify/Apple Podcasts/any other platform links!

In this episode of Desert Island Dress, we sit down with Nikki Creedon, the founder and owner of Havana boutique, one of Dublin’s most beloved fashion destinations. For over three decades, Nikki has curated a space where craftsmanship, individuality, and timeless design take centre stage.

From her early days working with Paul Costelloe to building a boutique that champions both international and Irish designers, Nikki shares the pivotal moments that shaped her journey in fashion. We explore the influence of her stylish mother, the joy of discovering extraordinary pieces, and the philosophy behind her approach to curating a wardrobe that lasts a lifetime.

Through her chosen pieces, Nikki reflects on fashion’s power to evoke memories, tell personal stories, and create lasting connections. Whether it’s a treasured garment from Japan, an iconic designer piece, or the dress that holds the most profound personal significance, her selections reveal a deep appreciation for fashion as more than just clothing—it’s a way of life.

Join us for a conversation filled with nostalgia, insight, and a true passion for style.

🔔 Don’t forget! Our post-analysis episode drops this Friday, where we’ll unpack key themes from today’s conversation and reflect on Nikki's selections in more depth.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review to help more people discover Desert Island Dress!

Follow us on Instagram: @desert_island_dress

🎧 Listen now on [Spotify/Apple Podcasts/Other platform links]

In this post-analysis episode, we dive deeper into Rich Gilligan’s Desert Island Dress choices, with a special focus on Levi’s 501s and their cultural significance. From their origins as durable workwear for Gold Rush miners to their association with rebellious youth, counterculture movements, and high fashion, we explore how Levi’s has continuously redefined itself through cultural storytelling.

We also discuss the groundbreaking Laundrette advert of 1985, which reimagined masculinity, and Levi’s latest REIIMAGINE campaign featuring Beyoncé—an intervention in the cowboy myth and American music history. What does it mean to frame and reframe history? And how do brands, fashion, and photography shape the narratives we tell?

Join us as we connect Rich Gilligan’s love for 501s with the broader conversation on identity, storytelling, and who gets to define Americana.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review to help more people discover Desert Island Dress!

Follow us on @desert_island_dress

🎧 Listen now on [Spotify/Apple Podcasts/Other platform links]

This week on Desert Island Dress, we’re joined by Irish photographer Rich Gilligan, whose work has captured everything from underground skate culture to high-profile editorial portraits. Known for his ability to find beauty in the in-between moments, Rich’s photography is deeply rooted in storytelling, nostalgia, and the personal connections we form with the things we wear.

In this episode, we dive into:
🎞️ How Rich’s early years in Dublin’s skate scene shaped his creative eye

📸 The connection between photography, identity, and self-expression

🧥 The sentimental power of clothing and the stories they carry🏙️ Life in New York, creative hustle, and finding a home in his work

Join us as we explore the emotional weight of garments, the importance of capturing authenticity, and how Rich’s journey—both on and off the skateboard—has influenced his approach to style and storytelling.

🔔 Don’t forget! Our post-analysis episode drops this Friday, where we’ll unpack key themes from today’s conversation and reflect on Rich’s selections in more depth.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review to help more people discover Desert Island Dress!

Follow us on @desert_island_dress

🎧 Listen now on [Spotify/Apple Podcasts/Other platform links]

In this post-analysis episode, we reflect on our conversation with journalist and BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour host, Nuala McGovern. From her formative years in Italy to the friendships that have shaped her, we explore how clothing serves as a marker of identity, memory, and personal evolution.

We discuss the deep connections between fashion and self-expression, the role of friendships in shaping who we become, and the concept of conspicuous consumption—how our relationship with clothing shifts as our lives and careers progress. Inspired by Nuala’s reflections, we also consider the enduring power of vintage finds, the influence of creative environments, and the changing dynamics of style between college life, work, and motherhood.

Get Involved: We’d love to hear from you! Do you have a treasured item from your past that still holds deep meaning? Send us a message on Instagram or share your story in the comments—we’d love to feature listener memories in a future episode.

📢 Support the Show:

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe, rate, and review to help more listeners discover the stories behind the clothes we love.

✨ Follow Desert Island Dress:

Instagram: ⁠⁠@desert_island_dress⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠www.desertislanddress.com⁠

Find out more about BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour:

Instagram: @bbcwomanshour

Website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007qlvb

Welcome back to Desert Island Dress, the podcast where we explore the garments that have shaped lives through memory, emotion, and experience. Today, we're joined by the brilliant Nuala McGovern – Dublin-born journalist and broadcaster, and now a familiar voice as a host on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.

Nuala’s career has taken her across the world, from Italy to the United States, from frontline reporting to the heart of one of the UK’s most iconic radio programmes. And while she might not consider herself a dedicated fashion enthusiast, her life has been surrounded by people who are – from her stylish mother, who still picks out clothes for her at 90, to the fashion designers she’s lived with along the way.

Clothes, for Nuala, are less about trends and more about the stories they hold – from the nostalgia of childhood outfits, to the vintage treasures of her time in Milan, to the practical, hard-wearing staples that have accompanied her on assignments from Westminster to war zones.

Her selections reflect the places she’s called home, the moments that shaped her, and the deep connections between clothing and identity. We were honoured to step into her world and hear the stories behind Nuala McGovern’s Desert Island Dress choices.

📢 Support the Show:

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe, rate, and review to help more listeners discover the stories behind the clothes we love.

✨ Follow Desert Island Dress:

Instagram: ⁠@desert_island_dress⁠

Website: ⁠www.desertislanddress.com

Find out more about BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour:

Instagram: @bbcwomanshour

Website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007qlvb